Friday 2nd June
Busy week. Monday to Wednesday was the staff training event held at the hotel across the road. This was my first chance to meet some of the people who will work at the new college. The big announcement was the appointment of the Principal, who is currently the Principal of Gaborone Technical College. Everyone seemed pleased.

I had my first visit to the new college site on Monday afternoon. There is still a lot of work to do. Handover was meant to be end July, but it will be later than this. Even then, all the equipment will need to be delivered and installed, so I doubt whether we will be moved in until November or December, with students following early in 2007. It is a very impressive campus. Not one like it in Scotland. It’s huge! Perhaps as big as some of our Universities. And it’s only for 1500 students! It will also be extensively equipped, again, no expense spared. It has tennis, football, basketball courts (outside), a crèche/nursery building, student hostels, hospitality suite (where guests can stay), a training restaurant, a bar, a clinic building, and all the other usual teaching rooms and labs/workshops. All contained in what will be a landscaped campus with a water feature. Very nice working surroundings.

We also toured the staff accommodation, which was not approved by all. The only housing available in the first phase will be 2 bedroomed maisonettes, and there are of course, staff with larger or extended families.

But! The big news of the week is that I’ve got a house. It’s in block A, very close to town, 15 minute walk. It’s also very close to the golf course! But that didn’t influence my choice at all ;) I’ll post some pictures next week.
It has 3 bedrooms (master ensuite), 2 other bathrooms, large kitchen and living/dining room and utility room. Double garage, maid quarters, garden shed. It has a good-sized garden with a barbecue area and a small plunge swimming pool. It is walled and has an electric fence, security system. Automatic (remote) sliding gate - I’ll have fun with that. Most importantly, it has aircon in the living room and main bedroom. I would have liked to go without the security stuff, especially the bars on the windows, but all advice suggested otherwise. The finish is not great – vinyl tiles in the living room, but it’s reasonably clean. Kitchen units are metal, so if you are watching Alan - a kitchen job to do here! The rent is 4500Pula per month, about £470. I’m told this is a reasonable price for what I’ve got.

I signed the lease this afternoon and then went to the house where I met the owner and got the keys. Ashan was very pleasant and we established a common interest – he is a member of the golf club and plays every Sunday moring! So, I’ll perhaps be seeing him more frequently than the once a month I go to pay the rent.

Its unfurnished, there is no furnished accommodation here, so its off tommorrow to buy a bed, some camp chairs and other bits and pieces. I’ll probably not move in until Monday. Klavs will take me with my cases from the hotel in the morning.

Because its so near to town and our temporary offices, I don’t need to get a car urgently. Found out to-day – petrol is about 46p a litre! Half the price back home!

Douglas, one of the team had the afternoon off. He was off for a 600Km drive south for the unvieling of his father-in-laws head stone.

I’m still not connected to the internet at work. All this is being done at internet cafes in the town. The speed isn’t great, probably a shared 64Kb ISDN line!