Gary Ashworth
@gmashworth
English expat in Botswana
Forum posts
18
Contacts
15
About me
English
Lives in Gaborone
Speaks English
Registration: 19 November 2014
Activity
I need someone to be able to bounce ideas off and generally help me by mandidove
Hi there I'm planning the big move from SA to Bots. I am normally confident about things in life, but I must confess that I am extremely daunted. I need someone to be able to bounce ideas off and generally help me with all the ...
Ask any questions and I'll answer the ones I can. Read More
Your experience of culture shock in Botswana by Christine
Hi, Living in a foreign country implies to discover its culture, to learn and master the cultural codes. How did you deal with that? Share with us your culture shock stories where you experienced a funny or awkward moment in Botswana. What ...
In my opinion Botswana is battling between tradition and modernising. The older generation are reluctant to change, either through fear or just simply happy with the status-quo. The younger generation are far more progressive, but it seems to be a ... Read More
Business etiquette in Botswana by Julien
Hello everybody, As you know, professional habits may differ from one country to another. In order to help newly arrived expats better understand their new professional environment in Botswana, we warmly encourage you to share information and ...
The simple answer is the starting point, which is establishing a professional network. It's who you know first, then what you know. Botswana is quite traditional in business related matters, so formal dress for office environments and they have ... Read More
In retrospect, would you move again to Botswana? by Christine
Hi all, If you had to look back on your expat experience in Botswana, would you heartily say "let聮s do it again"? From the preparation stage to your actual everyday life in your new country, what did you enjoy the most? Would you do certain ...
If you had to look back on your expat experience in Botswana, would you heartily say "let鈥檚 do it again"? The short answer is yes. Of course, this depends on your reasons for moving to Botswana. I moved with what little money we ... Read More
Adapting to the climate in Botswana by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Adjusting to new climatic conditions is key in any expatriation process. Moving to Botswana is no exception. What are the climate characteristics of Botswana? How does the local weather impact your daily life, mood or ...
As a Brit in Botswana, the weather is different and different in a nice way. I suppose there's only two seasons here - Summer and Winter. Summer temperatures in the south can reach 40 degrees centigrade, the average is mid 30s. Temperatures can ... Read More
Expand your social circle in Botswana by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Moving to Botswana means leaving one's family and friends behind. Creating a circle of friends or joining an existing one should therefore be paramount in order to fight loneliness in your host country. But how can one develop ...
Batswana are very sociable people, maybe too much as the drinking culture is an issue here, but there are plenty of ways to socialise. Pretty much most malls have restaurants and bars. Sorry to mention other website groups, but Internations is an ... Read More
Tips and advice to thrive in Botswana by Priscilla
Hi, When living in a foreign country, you have to adapt to a new environment, various cultures and different social codes. How did you manage to adjust to Botswana? How long does it take to feel at home? Would you say it is an easy ...
Speaking from personal experience, adjusting to the social and business culture is taking longer than I thought it would do. It's difficult to clearly and diplomatically express why. There are some nice expats, but the community on a whole seems ... Read More
Best cities to live in Botswana by Julien
Hi, It聮s not always easy to decide in which area to settle in when moving to Botswana. According to you, what are the best cites to live in? Which regions offer most of the job opportunities, a good quality of life, an affordable cost of ...
Well, the main city is Gaborone, which is also very near the border and only a few hours drive from Johannesburg. If you're coming from a country that is westernised then Gaborone is the closest city to this type of lifestyle. Maun is also a ... Read More
Essentials to live in Botswana by Christine
Hi, As an expat living in Botswana, what would you advise the ones about to pack to bring along? What are the items you can easily find in Botswana? On the other hand, what is less common or quite expensive? Share with us what you would ...
It's very difficult to name exact items or advise people on specific items. The reason being there are shops/stores that sell most of what you want or need, but you can find yourself going all around the city before you find what you're ... Read More
Making phone calls in Botswana by Maximilien
Hi, When settling in Botswana, one of the priorities is to be able to make phone calls. How to proceed to get a landline installed in Botswana? What are the mobile operators? What is your average monthly budget? Thank you in advance ...
BTC (Botswana Telecommunications Corporation) is a state owned organisation and the the only provider for landlines. The installation comes at a cost, but I can't remember how much we paid, it definitely wasn't over P1000 that's for ... Read More
Batswana cuisine by Priscilla
Hi, When living abroad, tasting the local cuisine is part of discovering the country. What is your favorite food in Botswana? What is the local speciality? Share with us the local tastes of Botswana and why not your best ...
I cannot fault the food in Botswana, especially if you love your meat. One of Botswana's great exports is beef and it is amazing, especially when flame-grilled on a braai (BBQ).There are some brilliant traditional/local dishes - Seswaa (pounded ... Read More
Safety in Botswana by Christine
Hi, We would like to talk about a sensitive but important topic: do you feel safe in Botswana? How would you define the level of safety in the country? Can you walk safely during the day and at night without any fear? Do you think there ...
Botswana is no different to any other country, it has crime at both ends of the spectrum. Before I relocated to Botswana, many people told us about burglaries yet in the 2 years I've been living here, I haven't seen or heard of any such ... Read More
Tips for getting your first job in Botswana by expat.com
Hi, What are your tips and advice for getting a first job in Botswana? What are the job hunting steps to follow? Where to look for offers: newspapers, Internet, recruitment agencies, word-of-mouth? What are the top hiring sectors? What ...
The best way to get a job in Botswana is to use a network. For those who are new to Botswana, I suggest you start networking before you arrive. Use other social media and professional websites (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc) to try and establish contact ... Read More
Healthcare in Botswana by Julien
Hi, how does the healthcare system work in Botswana ? Is it efficient ? What are the main differences between public and private sectors? Is it recommended to purchase private health insurance in Botswana? Thanks in advance for sharing ...
Like most countries, Botswana does offer both a national health service and private healthcare. As you can imagine, the national health service is not as good as going private, which is the same anywhere really. I don't actually have medical ... Read More
Cost of living in Botswana 聳 2015 by expat.com
Hi all, We invite you to talk about the cost of living in Botswana in 2015, with an updated price listing. Don't forget to mention in which city of Botswana you are living in. How much does it cost to live in Botswana? > accommodation ...
Hi molaizza. Where I'm living is 24/7 guarded village and this is invaluable as my home is also my office. If I moved somewhere without this level of security, I run the risk of being a victim of thieves. If my computer was stolen, I lose my ... Read More