Sunday, August 13, 11:30 a.m. Jeff and I have packed up our tent and other camp sundries in preparation for driving to the village of D'kar. Jeff will be attending a Tocadi coordinators staff meeting in and near D'kar for the next three days; I have not yet decided whether to stay in the nearby town of Ghanzi until he finishes on Wednesday, or to drive back to Shakawe. I was here in part to watch the festival, but also was here because we have some immigration issues to solve in this part of the country, and that requires my physical presence, as well as Jeff's. As we drive toward the dance festival performance area near the lodge on our way out of the game farm, however, we discover that the groups of dancers who were transported from Shakawe on Friday have not departed on busses at 9:30 a.m. as scheduled. There are nearly 100 people of all ages, including babies, milling around, and becoming hungrier as the hours pass.

After a quick consultation with the other Tocadi staff present, Jeff and I drive to Ghanzi, which has at least two large grocery stores, to buy some portable food to take back to the dancers. As it was Sunday afternoon, we knew that there was a real possibility that there would be nothing available. One of the grocery stores was closed, but another, called Score, was still open. We arrived at 2 p.m.; the store was scheduled to close at 3 p.m. After explaining our plight, the deli manager and other store personnel put together enough hot meals and cold drinks for us to make everyone happy. The service we received at this store, within an hour of their closing time, was absolutely stellar.

The busses finally arrived just before 5 p.m., loaded, and were driving away by 5:15. Jeff and I departed for Ghanzi to stay overnight.