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 workforce’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 workforce and I had 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 taking part in in a world 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 12 months of, planning, uncertainty, fundraising, and extra planning, our journey lastly grew to become a actuality.
What does one take to Africa? Properly, bug spray for certain.
On Thursday morning, Could 16, we made our approach to Dulles Worldwide Airport to embark on a journey we’d always remember. The aircraft trip was, nicely, let’s simply say lengthy. Actually lengthy. Did I point out lengthy? After 20 hours of flicks, crying kids, sleeping, a sundown, and a dawn, we landed in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana.
As we walked down the aircraft’s stairs, the air was sizzling, and the solar was beaming. I even caught some warmth waves on digital camera. Inside, after getting a Botswana stamp in our passports, we had been welcomed with a shock greeting from the Botswana senior nationwide volleyball workforce. The entire interplay was being filmed on TV. Cameras caught the various hugs and smiles that stuffed the realm. Excited squeals might be heard all through the whole airport. Earlier than heading out, we took a bunch 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!
Outdoors 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 had been males in blue apparel and sun shades. We’d be escorted by the police to our first resort of the journey. On our manner, with bikes in entrance and behind us, we caught our first glimpse of the town. As we weaved via visitors, our bus bought wonderous stares from males driving in vehicles to girls strolling with kids on their again, attempting to determine who these police had been escorting.
Have been we celebrities?
Royalty?
Hardly, as a result of as soon as we bought to the resort and settled it was a fast turnaround, as a result of we needed to go to apply.
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 hearth burning, we noticed males taking part in 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 crimson court docket lit by brilliant crimson 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 might be the identical court docket we’d play our match on for the following three days. The Botswana workforce practiced with us too. After warming up individually, for the remainder of the apply we blended in collectively and performed a variation of queen of the court docket. It was a pleasant and aggressive atmosphere. We might inform how excited they had been to be taking part in with us via their real smiles and laughter, and we had been excited too.
The following day could be the beginning of our first worldwide volleyball match!
Three matches in three nights
We performed at 6 o’clock each night, and every night time introduced extra pleasure than the final. The outside court docket was lovely at night time. 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 would desire outside courts now. Each time we walked into the venue heads turned, folks couldn’t assist however look with amazement, and, boy, had been there lots of people. The stands had been full however there have been solely so many. Whoever wasn’t sitting made certain they’d a spot standing. We gained supporters simply from doing hitting traces throughout warmups. After each swing a loud roar erupted from the gang; you’d have thought the sport began.
Very quickly they knew us by title, screaming them from the stands. The true HU was representing! We performed the Inexperienced Buffaloes from Zambia and received all three units.
It was set as much as be a pleasant match, so on the finish, we mingled with the opposite workforce and took a number of footage. Folks from the stands crowded the court docket and everybody wished an image with us. It was like nothing we’ve ever skilled earlier than. Normally after a “pleasant match” we shake fingers and go about our day, however right here we had 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 night time we performed Lepreng Olymafrica, from a rustic inside South Africa named Lesotho. A small nation with a volleyball workforce with a giant coronary heart. The workforce and I watched them play earlier than our recreation the day gone by. We beloved watching them rejoice after they scored factors. They’d 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 workforce couldn’t assist however smile as we sat collectively watching them. In actual fact, I wished to hitch in too. They even had us attempting some new cheers throughout our video games. It was enjoyable taking part in them as a result of they had been scrappy and performed with a whole lot of vitality. However we received all three units once more.
The ultimate day of the match was in opposition to the Botswana senior nationwide workforce. 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 heaps extra folks to this match than the others. The atmosphere felt much more intense and was probably the most enjoyable. We had been taking part in laborious, whereas laughing and joking with the gang. We received 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 overseas nation.
We had a farewell dinner with the Botswana workforce 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 in some unspecified time in the future I’ll be craving it once more. As we ate, we actually bought get to know the women of the workforce there. It took a bit to heat up to one another however ultimately 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. Wanting 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, not like 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 lovely brilliant blue jackets with blends of yellow, crimson, and turquoise stitched with “Botswana” on the again. A candy reward from the Botswana Volleyball Federation. Good!
Conducting volleyball clinics
The volleyball clinics impacted everybody who participated. It was simple in everybody’s eyes that spirits had been stuffed with pleasure. The workforce and I coached 4 volleyball clinics at 4 completely different colleges all through the nation, working with youngsters ages 4-19.
The primary clinic was at Bakamoso Junior Secondary Faculty close to our resort. Right here we coached 13-to-16-year olds, who had by no means performed volleyball earlier than.
We had the respect of introducing our sport to the children, and so they bought the respect of being taught by the perfect, Howard volleyball. We confirmed up, within the morning round 8:30 the place the solar was already laborious at work. It was sizzling, actually sizzling! We had been greeted with shy smiles; they’d barely take a look at us however that each one flipped by the top. We bought a fast tour of their faculty earlier than beginning. The best half to me was their large inexperienced subject of agriculture. We watched as kids tilted watering cans, tending to their large leafy spinach and onion crops, positioned so neatly within the floor. That’s a category I want I might have taken at school.
The college grounds had been product of sand, so for the clinic we gathered within the greatest open space we might discover and taught all of them the fundamentals of volleyball. Passing, setting, hitting, and serving. Excessive focus was plastered throughout their all faces. They had been attentive, hanging on to each phrase, affected person, and caught on rapidly too. By the top of the clinic, they beloved us! All over the place 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 Main Faculty. The nationwide workforce joined us and there have been a thousand youngsters there. I don’t suppose I’ve ever seen so many kids in a single place in my life. They had been ages 4 via 13 and completely lovable. It was outdoor on this large open sandy subject. Once we bought off the buses, they had been all sitting in chairs escaping the warmth beneath some timber waving at us. Cuteness overload. Their happiness and pleasure radiated off them a lot it was contagious. A few of my teammates had been even delivered to tears. We walked up with excessive fives for everyone, nicely perhaps not eachphysique. Did I point out there have been a thousand youngsters? I’ve by no means been surrounded by so many blissful youngsters or given so many hugs, however I used to be so blissful to. I used to be smiling a lot I felt goofy.
Someway our coaches ended up splitting a few of the youngsters into teams. My teammates Leah Reeves and Maddie Siegel and I had a bunch 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 children 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 had been so playful. When it was time for us to depart the children surrounded us with giant group hugs. I imply they nearly took me down. They requested for our autographs of their notebooks, and ultimately 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 discovered later that it will probably result in resentment when one particular person will get one thing and everybody else doesn’t. That was one among many classes I discovered on this journey. As we drove off in our buses the children didn’t need us to go. They stored up with our buses working 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 had been already warming up. They circled around the 5 courts shifting and counting in unison, it seemed like a dance routine. These college students had 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 laborious 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 Main Faculty. This was my second favourite clinic. We bought to the varsity and the children had been in matching gentle blue observe fits able to play some volleyball. They already had expertise taking part in and so they made certain we knew it. Once we confirmed them the best way to maintain their platform, they had been like “thanks however we bought this.” OK then!
After a couple of passing and hitting drills, we ended up taking part in extra video games which actually lit up the faces of the children. We performed freeze tag, sizzling potato, and the “head, shoulders, ball” companion recreation. Volleyball folks know what I’m speaking about.
On the finish of this clinic the academics and principal of the varsity voiced their gratitude for us being there and the influence it had. I bought the chance commemorate our expertise in a journal that holds the recollections of impactful moments on the faculty. 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 lovely white home. The yard was properly arrange with wood benches, a pool, and exquisite blooming flowers. They sat us as a big wood desk, the place we indulged in fluffy croissants, teas, espresso, candy fruits, and different finger meals. We had been joined by the Botswana senior nationwide workforce and the volleyball federation as nicely. We mingled and laughed with the nationwide workforce, studying extra about their tradition, and some members of the embassy spoke on the significance of our journey and the influence it might depart. It was additionally an awesome alternative to community with the members of the U.S. embassy in Botswana and we did precisely that. A number of 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 might be an choice.
Having fun with non-volleyball time, too
All through the journey, after we weren’t touring from metropolis to metropolis, we normally had some downtime earlier than matches, meals, clinics or safaris. I beloved 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 elements of the journey. Actually that’s after I suppose the true workforce 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 preferred that construction, and that’s how majority of the procuring facilities had been. All of the memento markets had some lovely handmade clothes, jewellery, statues, bowls, and many others.
The climate was lovely the entire time we had been there, and each resort 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, after all) and soaked within the solar. We laughed, listened to music, I learn my e book, and journaled right here and there. I bear in mind one night time 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 had been fingers down one of the vital thrilling elements 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 Recreation Reserve, the place we had 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 had been in went flat, in order that made it attention-grabbing. We thought we had been going to have to modify to a strolling safari. A few of my teammates and I had been all for it, however most had been against the concept. Once we heard there was a defensive mom rhino close by along 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 good looking 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 phenomenal expertise.
Our second safari was in Palapye, Botswana, on the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. This was a extra informative safari. We discovered in regards to the distinction between black and white rhinos, the best way to 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 had been again on our bus heading to our subsequent metropolis.
Our final two safaris had been my absolute favourite of the 4, and I’m certain my teammates would agree. Each had been in Kasane, Botswana, in Chobe Nationwide Park. The primary was a river safari. We had been on a double-decker boat and spent three hours on the water. We noticed some wonderful issues. The primary few animals had been scaly crocodiles basking within the solar and one little water monitor lizard with a blue tongue. Namibia was throughout the river, and we discovered that the island within the center, Sedudu Island, triggered battle at one level between the 2 nations however now it belongs to Botswana. On that island had been African Buffalo, large hippopotamus, and an enormous herd of elephants that we noticed from afar. Not too lengthy after we had been capable of witness a younger elephant crossing the water to be with the remainder of its herd. It was wonderful! 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 had been on land, and we bought to only stand and admire them. As we circled again to our start line, we witnessed a good looking sundown and the moon rising. One other lovely expertise.
The following morning, we had been up brilliant 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 wonderful. We noticed completely different species of birds, eagles, and even drove into the midst of a big household of defiant baboons. That half was slightly nerve wracking, as a result of our safari truck was very open so they might have simply jumped in and had us for breakfast. Yikes! Their infants, tiny crimson balls of cuteness, had been hanging the other way up from their mother’s stomach. At our first relaxation cease we had been visited by fluffy vervet monkeys, their black faces framed in white fur who had been extra concerned with our meals than us. They ambushed our snack baggage and took a few of our snacks. Actually all we might 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 at least one 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 stated 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 had been already there. We waited holding our breath. The suspense was intense. For a minute, there was silence. When she lastly emerged, we let loose our breath in a protracted “wow”. Wonderful. Much more wonderful, 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 had been silent. In that silence, she determined stroll across the aspect of the truck. The place we had been sitting. We froze. We had been lower than three ft away from a lioness in an open truck. Chika backed the truck up in sync along with her stride so we might maintain on to that visible. She gleamed within the solar. As she walked, her muscle tissues rippled. No phrases! This safari made me realized I need extra. I grew up watching Nationwide Geographic, Animal Planet, wildlife documentaries and nonetheless watch them, so these safaris had 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 had 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 particular person like that. Now I’m motivated to see the opposite wonders of the world. My poncho was like sporting plastic wrap in a tsunami. I bought soaked, however I couldn’t even be mad.
Takeaways, classes, workforce bonding
As pupil athletes, this journey was so particular. The time calls for of taking part in 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 would like, however experiencing them for ourselves creates one other stage of understanding. Numerous 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 couple of notches. It was refreshing to see that the folks as a complete, made the perfect of their conditions, discovered the enjoyable in them, and had been content material/labored what they’d. That’s not all the time evident in American tradition.
Respect what you have already got, get snug being uncomfortable, be affected person and type in all conditions. These classes introduced 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 particular person. At first it was slightly vexing to have to drag 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. Folks usually use manner an excessive amount of rest room paper anyway, and other people have households to feed, so charging 2 pula (Botswanan) for every few sheets of bathroom paper might doubtlessly be serving to to place meals on the desk and be a supply of revenue.
Whatever the motive, it was experiences like people who made the journey all that extra vital, my thoughts was opened, and ignorance was lifted. It pressured much more humility in my life-style whereas residing right here in the USA. Hopefully that influence was felt by everybody on the journey. Conditions like that may be uncomfortable and are straightforward to complain about as a result of it’s not acquainted. So, throughout this journey it was particularly vital for me to be the place my ft had been, absorbing each expertise for what it was, constantly attempting to make the selection to watch and discover the lesson in them.
Since being part of the Howard volleyball program, we’ve tried to give you the perfect workforce bonding concepts to create extra intimacy and belief between one another. This expertise takes the lead as the perfect, most enjoyable, and efficient workforce 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. The perfect half was realizing that all of it occurred by itself, within the small moments off digital camera. The tire bursting on our first safari is one thing I’m certain we’ll carry up and all the time snort about. On prime of that now we 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 workforce. These girls are just like the sisters I by no means had, and this expertise introduced us nearer.
And to suppose I nearly didn’t go on this journey makes me much more grateful that I did. So, on behalf of myself and my workforce, I ship out an enormous thanks to the Howard College volleyball program, Carry It Promotions, and all people who had been concerned in making this journey what it was.
