Tuesday, 28 April 1987: Junk-Food Sex & Out of a Job

UB Environmental Science Computer Room, 2:20 PM 

Since arriving in southern Africa more than a year ago, I’ve had two very short-lived, meaningless affairs with white women, one in South Africa and one in Botswana.  The other night, I picked up a young Motswana woman in the bar at the President Hotel in Gaborone.  We went back to my flat for maybe 20 minutes of lust (“safe” sex, by the way).  It was hardly worth the effort.  Nothing against her personally – she seemed like a nice person.  But there was nothing there.  She didn’t ask for money but I gave her some anyway.

Now that I got that out of the way, I can return to the life of a monk – hanging out in the library, drinking beer with friends, and lifting weights at the gym.    

Prostitution was considered a problem in Gaborone but I never felt intimidated by the “good-time girls”.  I found them fun to talk or flirt with even if I didn’t want to do monkey business with them. 

 

My hopes for a two-year contract to stay on teaching here appears to have been squashed by the university administration.  Our department chairman, John Cooke, told me that my application went up before the final selection committee yesterday.  They wondered why the department had recommended me over an applicant from Ghana who had a Ph.D. and 20 years’ experience.  John replied that they like me, I work hard, and have done a commendable job.  The devil you know is better than the one you don’t, he added.  He doesn’t think that cut any ice because, as he explained, the administration wants to hire an African.  So unless the Ghanaian doesn’t accept their offer, I’ll be out of here for good on June 10. 

I’m disappointed, but not staying here two more years has its pluses.  As much as I like Botswana, life here is starting to drive me a bit crazy.  And, honestly, I can’t blame the university for wanting to hire a well-qualified African.