Oluwadamilola Awojobi — Dami for brief — is a rising senior at Howard College in Washington, D.C We requested Howard coach Shaun Kupferburg if one among his gamers would chronicle their crew’s journey Could 16-27 to Botswana and Zimbabwe. Fortunately for us, Dami, a 6-foot-1 pin hitter from Hempstead, New York, took it on:
My crew and I have been blessed with an unimaginable alternative to be a part of an 11-day journey to the continent of Africa! We went to Botswana as sports activities diplomats, teaching volleyball clinics and enjoying in a global match. We additionally met with members of the U.S. Embassy, went on 4 safaris, and visited Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe! I’m honored to have the ability to share the small print of our latest journey.
After a yr of, planning, uncertainty, fundraising, and extra planning, our journey lastly turned a actuality.
What does one take to Africa? Nicely, bug spray for positive.
On Thursday morning, Could 16, we made our approach to Dulles Worldwide Airport to embark on a journey we’d always remember. The airplane experience was, nicely, let’s simply say lengthy. Actually lengthy. Did I point out lengthy? After 20 hours of flicks, crying youngsters, sleeping, a sundown, and a dawn, we landed in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana.
As we walked down the airplane’s stairs, the air was sizzling, and the solar was beaming. I even caught some warmth waves on digicam. Inside, after getting a Botswana stamp in our passports, we have been welcomed with a shock greeting from the Botswana senior nationwide volleyball crew. The entire interplay was being filmed on TV. Cameras caught the numerous hugs and smiles that crammed the realm. Excited squeals could possibly be heard all through the whole airport. Earlier than heading out, we took a gaggle picture in entrance of their symbolic ivory sculpture of a life-sized elephant. That’s when it hit me, I used to be going to see precise elephants within the wild!
Exterior of Sir Seretse Khama Worldwide airport, there was a blue and white bus, resembling Botswana’s flag colours, already ready for us. As we loaded our baggage into trailers, we heard the loud roar of 4 bikes. On them have been males in blue apparel and sun shades. We’d be escorted by the police to our first lodge of the journey. On our method, with bikes in entrance and behind us, we caught our first glimpse of town. As we weaved via site visitors, our bus bought wonderous stares from males driving in vehicles to girls strolling with youngsters on their again, making an attempt to determine who these police have been escorting.
Had been we celebrities?
Royalty?
Hardly, as a result of as soon as we bought to the lodge and settled it was a fast turnaround, as a result of we needed to go to observe.
We arrived at an out of doors venue which had eating places and procuring areas across the court docket. Strolling off the bus, it smelled of smoke from a fireplace burning, we noticed males enjoying soccer throughout the car parking zone, and an enormous see-through wire sculpture of a chook close to the court docket. Earlier than seeing the court docket, we heard the balls bouncing and loud discuss from across the nook. Then we walked onto the turquoise and purple court docket lit by shiny purple and white strobe lights shining onto it. An out of doors court docket is lot completely different than what we’re used to. Fortunately, we solely performed through the night, so we loved the nice and cozy breeze whereas we performed. This could be the identical court docket we’d play our match on for the subsequent three days. The Botswana crew practiced with us too. After warming up individually, for the remainder of the observe we combined in collectively and performed a variation of queen of the court docket. It was a pleasant and aggressive setting. We may inform how excited they have been to be enjoying with us via their real smiles and laughter, and we have been excited too.
The following day can be the beginning of our first worldwide volleyball match!
Three matches in three nights
We performed at 6 o’clock each night, and every evening introduced extra pleasure than the final. The out of doors court docket was stunning at evening. We nearly all the time caught the sundown, when the scarlet glow of the sky would shine via the massive wire chook. I feel I’d desire out of doors courts now. Each time we walked into the venue heads turned, folks couldn’t assist however look with amazement, and, boy, have been there lots of people. The stands have been full however there have been solely so many. Whoever wasn’t sitting made positive that they had a spot standing. We gained supporters simply from doing hitting traces throughout warmups. After each swing a loud roar erupted from the gang; you’ll have thought the sport began.
Very quickly they knew us by identify, screaming them from the stands. The actual HU was representing! We performed the Inexperienced Buffaloes from Zambia and gained all three units.
It was set as much as be a pleasant match, so on the finish, we mingled with the opposite crew and took numerous footage. Individuals from the stands crowded the court docket and everybody needed an image with us. It was like nothing we’ve ever skilled earlier than. Often after a “pleasant match” we shake fingers and go about our day, however right here we have been showered with love from little youngsters, to folks our ages, to adults, it was so heartwarming. This was constant all through the three days of the match.
The second evening we performed Lepreng Olymafrica, from a rustic inside South Africa named Lesotho. A small nation with a volleyball crew with a giant coronary heart. The crew and I watched them play earlier than our recreation the day before today. We cherished watching them have a good time after they scored factors. They might make a loud stomp after sprinting to the top line with pleasure, and all leaping in unison shouting “BOOM” as their braids flipped from one aspect to the opposite. My crew couldn’t assist however smile as we sat collectively watching them. The truth is, I needed to hitch in too. They even had us making an attempt some new cheers throughout our video games. It was enjoyable enjoying them as a result of they have been scrappy and performed with a whole lot of power. However we gained all three units once more.
The ultimate day of the match was in opposition to the Botswana senior nationwide crew. This was what everybody was ready for. From the primary day we met there was pleasant banter about who was going to win. Phrase of mouth introduced tons extra folks to this match than the others. The setting felt much more intense and was probably the most enjoyable. We have been enjoying onerous, whereas laughing and joking with the gang. We gained in three once more and after we did merchandise swaps. We exchanged our warmups, t-shirts, and jackets for some Botswana volleyball gear that mirrored the colours of their flag. It felt good representing a international nation.
We had a farewell dinner with the Botswana crew and the Botswana Volleyball Federation. Right here I used to be launched to malva pudding which tasted like scrumptious, candy pound cake. I do know sooner or later I’ll be craving it once more. As we ate, we actually bought get to know the women of the crew there. It took a bit to heat up to one another however finally the conversations flowed naturally. There was a whole lot of curiosity on each groups which made the conversations fruitful. They’d questions on our tradition, and we had simply as many about theirs. Trying across the desk, I noticed folks leaned in engaged in deep dialog, eyes widened, and jaws unhinged after listening to how inexpensive it’s to get your hair braided, in contrast to the U.S. I loved dissecting the great thing about their language, Setswana, and African names with one of many women as nicely. On the finish of the dinner, we obtained some stunning shiny blue jackets with blends of yellow, purple, and turquoise stitched with “Botswana” on the again. A candy present from the Botswana Volleyball Federation. Good!
Conducting volleyball clinics
The volleyball clinics impacted everybody who participated. It was plain in everybody’s eyes that spirits have been filled with pleasure. The crew and I coached 4 volleyball clinics at 4 completely different faculties all through the nation, working with youngsters ages 4-19.
The primary clinic was at Bakamoso Junior Secondary Faculty close to our lodge. Right here we coached 13-to-16-year olds, who had by no means performed volleyball earlier than.
We had the glory of introducing our sport to the youngsters, they usually bought the glory of being taught by one of the best, Howard volleyball. We confirmed up, within the morning round 8:30 the place the solar was already onerous at work. It was sizzling, actually sizzling! We have been greeted with shy smiles; they’d barely take a look at us however that every one flipped by the top. We bought a fast tour of their college earlier than beginning. The best half to me was their large inexperienced discipline of agriculture. We watched as youngsters tilted watering cans, tending to their large leafy spinach and onion vegetation, positioned so neatly within the floor. That’s a category I want I may have taken in class.
The varsity grounds have been manufactured from sand, so for the clinic we gathered within the largest open space we may discover and taught all of them the fundamentals of volleyball. Passing, setting, hitting, and serving. Excessive focus was plastered throughout their all faces. They have been attentive, hanging on to each phrase, affected person, and caught on rapidly too. By the top of the clinic, they cherished us! In all places you turned somebody was taking a selfie or making a TikTok!
I’m assured I don’t stand alone after I say the second clinic was my favourite. This one was at Tshiamo Major Faculty. The nationwide crew joined us and there have been a thousand youngsters there. I don’t assume I’ve ever seen so many youngsters in a single place in my life. They have been ages 4 via 13 and completely lovely. It was outside on this enormous open sandy discipline. Once we bought off the buses, they have been all sitting in chairs escaping the warmth below some timber waving at us. Cuteness overload. Their happiness and pleasure radiated off them a lot it was contagious. A few of my teammates have been even delivered to tears. We walked up with excessive fives for everyone, nicely possibly not eachphysique. Did I point out there have been a thousand youngsters? I’ve by no means been surrounded by so many joyful youngsters or given so many hugs, however I used to be so joyful to. I used to be smiling a lot I felt goofy.
In some way our coaches ended up splitting a few of the youngsters into teams. My teammates Leah Reeves and Maddie Siegel and I had a gaggle of about 12 to fifteen youngsters. We put them via easy passing and setting drills, then performed a passing recreation in a giant circle. If the ball went too far behind us, the remainder of the youngsters behind us would wrestle to get the ball and produce it again to one among us. It was clear this clinic was extra about interplay. They have been so playful. When it was time for us to depart the youngsters surrounded us with massive group hugs. I imply they nearly took me down. They requested for our autographs of their notebooks, and finally a pattern began the place they’d ask for cash and our jewellery. They’d us feeling like celebrities. I gave one of many little women my necklace when she requested, however I realized later that it could possibly result in resentment when one individual will get one thing and everybody else doesn’t. That was one among many classes I realized on this journey. As we drove off in our buses the youngsters didn’t need us to go. They saved up with our buses operating and waving and smiling and yelling till their legs couldn’t sustain anymore. Wonderful!
The third clinic was at CSE Secondary Faculty. There was a cool breeze outdoors that morning. We lastly caught a break from the recent solar. Once we arrived, the scholars have been already warming up. They circled around the 5 courts transferring and counting in unison, it appeared like a dance routine. These college students have been extra skilled and nearer to our age (16-19). The court docket I used to be on taught blocking actions. Every group of scholars that rotated onto our court docket gave their all. Their onerous work was evident from the sweat gleaming on their faces. They meant enterprise. On the finish of the clinic my teammates and I got here out of short-term retirement to scrimmage with the scholars (it had solely been two days since our final recreation)!
The final clinic was in Kasane, Botswana at Plateau Major Faculty. This was my second favourite clinic. We bought to the varsity and the youngsters have been in matching gentle blue monitor fits able to play some volleyball. They already had expertise enjoying they usually made positive we knew it. Once we confirmed them how one can maintain their platform, they have been like “thanks however we bought this.” OK then!
After a number of passing and hitting drills, we ended up enjoying extra video games which actually lit up the faces of the youngsters. We performed freeze tag, sizzling potato, and the “head, shoulders, ball” accomplice recreation. Volleyball folks know what I’m speaking about.
On the finish of this clinic the lecturers and principal of the varsity voiced their gratitude for us being there and the affect it had. I bought the chance commemorate our expertise in a journal that holds the recollections of impactful moments on the college. What an honor!
A particular U.S. Embassy morning
One morning throughout our journey we had the chance to be hosted on the house of the ambassador of the U.S. Embassy of Botswana’s house. It was a giant stunning white home. The yard was properly arrange with picket benches, a pool, and delightful blooming flowers. They sat us as a big picket desk, the place we indulged in fluffy croissants, teas, espresso, candy fruits, and different finger meals. We have been joined by the Botswana senior nationwide crew and the volleyball federation as nicely. We mingled and laughed with the nationwide crew, studying extra about their tradition, and some members of the embassy spoke on the significance of our journey and the affect it could go away. It was additionally an ideal alternative to community with the members of the U.S. embassy in Botswana and we did precisely that. Just a few of my teammates and I had a protracted insightful dialog with a chief of mission and a regional safety officer. We bought cool tales in regards to the risks, struggles, and advantages of their job. We gained curiosity in profession paths we didn’t know existed or it could possibly be an possibility.
Having fun with non-volleyball time, too
All through the journey, once we weren’t touring from metropolis to metropolis, we normally had some downtime earlier than matches, meals, clinics or safaris. I cherished the journey in its entirety, however I’ll say, we had a really full itinerary, so the downtime was rewarding and one among my favourite components of the journey. Actually that’s after I assume the actual crew bonding got here into play.
After the clinic on the primary day, we had some downtime earlier than our match, so we went to a shopping center. I bought to change my U.S. {dollars} for some multicolored Botswanan pula. It was thrilling, getting some new greenback payments! The shopping center was completely different than any I’d ever been in. It wasn’t a constructing precisely however extra of an open space that had shops, memento stands, and a movie show inside it. I favored that construction, and that’s how majority of the procuring facilities have been. All of the memento markets had some stunning handmade clothes, jewellery, statues, bowls, and so on.
The climate was stunning the entire time we have been there, and each lodge we went to had a pool. Tanning time! Each likelihood we bought a few of my teammates and I laid out on the pool chairs (with sunscreen on, in fact) and soaked within the solar. We laughed, listened to music, I learn my ebook, and journaled right here and there. I bear in mind one evening a few of my teammates and I even sat by the pool doing random accents and laughing about it. It felt like a mini trip; particularly after we completed the volleyball portion of the journey.
4 completely different safaris
The safaris have been fingers down one of the crucial thrilling components of the journey. We went on 4 completely different safaris and noticed three completely different cities in Botswana.
The primary safari was on the Mokolodi Sport Reserve, the place we have been launched to statuesque Kudu, skittish impala (members of the antelope household), towering giraffe, a retreating warthog, water-guzzling zebra, and shy orphaned cheetah hiding behind bushes. There have been different animals that we didn’t get an opportunity to see, however the tire on the primary safari truck we have been in went flat, in order that made it attention-grabbing. We thought we have been going to have to modify to a strolling safari. A few of my teammates and I have been all for it, however most have been against the thought. Once we heard there was a defensive mom rhino close by together with her one-month-old child, all of us agreed strolling was not a good suggestion. On the finish of this safari, we had lunch at a picnic website. It was a wonderful setup with scrumptious meals and a wide ranging view of Lake Gwithian. I heard the bellows of hippopotamus throughout the lake, and a few others noticed a crocodile swim throughout. A stupendous expertise.
Our second safari was in Palapye, Botswana, on the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. This was a extra informative safari. We realized in regards to the distinction between black and white rhinos, how one can spot their footprints, and the strict safety and poaching safety they’ve over the sanctuary. Botswana could be very stern about preserving wildlife. Though we didn’t spot any black rhino, we did see three white rhino up shut: So shut that we nearly bumped into them in our safari truck. Scary! Proper after we have been again on our bus heading to our subsequent metropolis.
Our final two safaris have been my absolute favourite of the 4, and I’m positive my teammates would agree. Each have been in Kasane, Botswana, in Chobe Nationwide Park. The primary was a river safari. We have been on a double-decker boat and spent three hours on the water. We noticed some superb issues. The primary few animals have been scaly crocodiles basking within the solar and one little water monitor lizard with a blue tongue. Namibia was throughout the river, and we realized that the island within the center, Sedudu Island, brought about battle at one level between the 2 nations however now it belongs to Botswana. On that island have been African Buffalo, large hippopotamus, and an enormous herd of elephants that we noticed from afar. Not too lengthy after we have been in a position to witness a younger elephant crossing the water to be with the remainder of its herd. It was superb! I prayed to see an elephant cross the water and I noticed simply that. It was so cute. Not too lengthy after that our information pulled us very near some elephants that have been on land, and we bought to simply stand and admire them. As we circled again to our place to begin, we witnessed a wonderful sundown and the moon rising. One other stunning expertise.
The following morning, we have been up shiny and early for a six-hour land safari in Chobe Nationwide Park. 4 safari vehicles got here to select us up from our lodge so early it was nonetheless darkish. Beginning off with a full-circle second we noticed the solar rise after seeing it set the night prior. Every truck bought to expertise, one thing superb. We noticed completely different species of birds, eagles, and even drove into the midst of a big household of defiant baboons. That half was somewhat nerve wracking, as a result of our safari truck was very open so they may have simply jumped in and had us for breakfast. Yikes! Their infants, tiny purple balls of cuteness, have been hanging the other way up from their mother’s stomach. At our first relaxation cease we have been visited by fluffy vervet monkeys, their black faces framed in white fur who have been extra concerned with our meals than us. They ambushed our snack baggage and took a few of our snacks. Actually all we may do was snort. By the top of the journey, I concluded that vervet monkeys we’re like our squirrels right here in America.
As we continued the safari it bought much more mind-blowing. My truck’s information ended up recognizing some sleeping elephants behind a tree, and we bought shut to 1 standing on the financial institution of the river utilizing its trunk as a straw. Majestic! A few of my teammates in different vehicles bought to see a complete household of elephants strolling so near their vehicles it created a wide-eyed second! My teammate mentioned one even lifted its trunk to pose for an image. We had but to see a lion till our information bought a radio name saying a lioness had been noticed. Once we bought to that spot all our vehicles have been already there. We waited holding our breath. The suspense was intense. For a minute, there was silence. When she lastly emerged, we set free our breath in a protracted “wow”. Wonderful. Much more superb, our information determined to trace her. Shout out to Chika. The following factor we knew she strutted out the bushes and stood proper in entrance of our truck. We have been silent. In that silence, she determined stroll across the aspect of the truck. The place we have been sitting. We froze. We have been lower than three ft away from a lioness in an open truck. Chika backed the truck up in sync together with her stride so we may maintain on to that visible. She gleamed within the solar. As she walked, her muscle groups rippled. No phrases! This safari made me realized I would like extra. I grew up watching Nationwide Geographic, Animal Planet, wildlife documentaries and nonetheless watch them, so these safaris have been really a full-circle second for me.
Victoria Falls
As we approached the top of our journey, we drove from Kasane, Botswana, to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Once we arrived on the falls, we have been greeted by locals dancing in a market space. One among our coaches, Jaimeson Lee, bought in on the motion and my teammates Amari Patterson and Sydnei Jones and I jumped in, too.
Then it was time to see one of many wonders of the world: The “Smoke that Thunders,” Victoria Falls. From the statement decks we marveled on the avalanche of water raining on us like a tropical storm. It was extraordinary, to say the least. I’ve by no means seen one thing so large and highly effective in individual like that. Now I’m motivated to see the opposite wonders of the world. My poncho was like carrying plastic wrap in a tsunami. I bought soaked, however I couldn’t even be mad.
Takeaways, classes, crew bonding
As pupil athletes, this journey was so particular. The time calls for of enjoying a school sport don’t enable many journey alternatives other than school-issued breaks. We will learn and listen to about different cultures as a lot as we wish, however experiencing them for ourselves creates one other degree of understanding. Loads of us are oblivious to the existence of individuals outdoors of the USA and what it entails, particularly in nations with much less assets than we’re used to.
Each interplay I had with somebody was a healthful one, and I say that with out exaggeration. It jogged my memory of “southern hospitality” turned up a number of notches. It was refreshing to see that the folks as a complete, made one of the best of their conditions, discovered the enjoyable in them, and have been content material/labored what that they had. That’s not all the time evident in American tradition.
Respect what you have already got, get snug being uncomfortable, be affected person and sort in all conditions. These classes offered themselves in lots of types throughout our journey. A situation that stood out to me was having to pay for items of bathroom paper to make use of the toilet in sure areas. This isn’t one thing you’ll usually see in the USA, however I’ve heard of this taking place in different nations, so it was attention-grabbing to expertise in individual. At first it was somewhat vexing to have to tug out cash simply to make use of the toilet. Then I spotted that locations could not have the cash to restock rolls of bathroom paper in all of the stalls on a constant foundation. Individuals typically use method an excessive amount of bathroom paper anyway, and folks have households to feed, so charging 2 pula (Botswanan) for every few sheets of bathroom paper may doubtlessly be serving to to place meals on the desk and be a supply of revenue.
Whatever the cause, it was experiences like people who made the journey all that extra essential, my thoughts was opened, and ignorance was lifted. It pressured much more humility in my way of life whereas residing right here in the USA. Hopefully that affect was felt by everybody on the journey. Conditions like that may be uncomfortable and are simple to complain about as a result of it’s not acquainted. So, throughout this journey it was particularly essential for me to be the place my ft have been, absorbing each expertise for what it was, constantly making an attempt to make the selection to look at and discover the lesson in them.
Since being part of the Howard volleyball program, we’ve tried to give you one of the best crew bonding concepts to create extra intimacy and belief between one another. This expertise takes the lead as one of the best, most enjoyable, and efficient crew bonding (at the very least in my eyes). We had the platform. We simply wanted the plan.
We’d by no means spent that a lot time collectively outdoors of volleyball. One of the best half was realizing that all of it occurred by itself, within the small moments off digicam. The tire bursting on our first safari is one thing I’m positive we’ll convey up and all the time snort about. On high of that we now have a brand new teammate that got here alongside on this journey. We bought to get to know her and make her really feel like a part of the crew. These girls are just like the sisters I by no means had, and this expertise introduced us nearer.
And to assume I nearly didn’t go on this journey makes me much more grateful that I did. So, on behalf of myself and my crew, I ship out an enormous thanks to the Howard College volleyball program, Convey It Promotions, and all people who have been concerned in making this journey what it was.
