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A review by clarereadstheworld
Twenty Chickens For A Saddle: The Story Of An African Childhood by Robyn Scott
4.0
This is a really in depth, detailed account of the years Robyn Scott spent in Botswana with her family during her childhood. As well as discussing family life, Scott also fill this book with details of Botswana's history and politics. This makes it a really interesting read, and I feel like I learnt a lot about Botswana.
In the early 90's, when her family moved there from New Zealand, Botswana was one of the wealthiest African countries. Scott's father reluctantly agrees to take over as the local flying doctor (the pervious one having recently died in a plane crash). Through the stories of her fathers visits to rural health clinics, we get a real insight into the culture and mentalities of people living in rural Botswana. Scott's father has to learn how to balance Western medicines and cultural beliefs and superstitions about disease, not always easy!
Scott's family are not very conventional either. The 3 children are home achooled by their mother, in a very haphazard, but not ineffective manner. They spend most of their 'school' days out exploring the bush, discovering the local fawn and fauna, or trying (and not quite succeeding) to break in their wild horses. From crocodiles and poachers to unexploded devices found in the mine dump, danger is never far away, but somehow the children always bounce back ...
Tragically, Botswana changed forever when AIDS pandemic hit in the mid-90's, largely thanks to the governments lack of action. Through Scott's father medical practice the family has a front row seat to the devastating effects of the AIDS pandemic. It's heartbreaking to read about the lack of education and understanding of the disease which lead to so many more deaths. This is not uniques to Botswana, or even to the African Contient, but Botswana is one of the worst affected African nations.
Scott also does not shy away from discussing her problematicaly privileged position in Botswana as a white. Even to her child's mind the racism and discrimination was troubling. While her own family tried hard to encourage inclusion and diversity, not everyone agrees with them.
Recommend
In the early 90's, when her family moved there from New Zealand, Botswana was one of the wealthiest African countries. Scott's father reluctantly agrees to take over as the local flying doctor (the pervious one having recently died in a plane crash). Through the stories of her fathers visits to rural health clinics, we get a real insight into the culture and mentalities of people living in rural Botswana. Scott's father has to learn how to balance Western medicines and cultural beliefs and superstitions about disease, not always easy!
Scott's family are not very conventional either. The 3 children are home achooled by their mother, in a very haphazard, but not ineffective manner. They spend most of their 'school' days out exploring the bush, discovering the local fawn and fauna, or trying (and not quite succeeding) to break in their wild horses. From crocodiles and poachers to unexploded devices found in the mine dump, danger is never far away, but somehow the children always bounce back ...
Tragically, Botswana changed forever when AIDS pandemic hit in the mid-90's, largely thanks to the governments lack of action. Through Scott's father medical practice the family has a front row seat to the devastating effects of the AIDS pandemic. It's heartbreaking to read about the lack of education and understanding of the disease which lead to so many more deaths. This is not uniques to Botswana, or even to the African Contient, but Botswana is one of the worst affected African nations.
Scott also does not shy away from discussing her problematicaly privileged position in Botswana as a white. Even to her child's mind the racism and discrimination was troubling. While her own family tried hard to encourage inclusion and diversity, not everyone agrees with them.
Recommend