Dining differences

Dining out in Gaborone is not something to do if you're in a hurry. We have been out to eat many times since we've been here, and it's usually the same. You wait to get your menus and place your "starter" drink order. Then the waiter will come back in 10-15 minutes with your drinks and take your food and dinner drink order. If you ordered an appetizer, you will get it in a minimum of 20 minutes. Then you wait another 20-30 minutes after you finish your appetizers to get your main course. After your main course plates have been cleared away, you wait for the waiter to come back with dessert menus. If you don't want dessert, that doesn't mean they will bring you the check. You have to specifically ask for it. And don't ask for separate checks. Even if you ask when you sit down, they won't do it. Oh, they'll tell you they can, but at the end of the meal, they'll only bring one check. The good news is that a reservation means your table will be available whenever you get there. Last night Mike and I had dinner with his boss and two contractors who were in town for a couple of weeks. We had a reservation for 6:30 last night, but didn't get there until 6:45, because of traffic. When you reserve a table, it is reserved for the entire night. They even put a reserved sign on it. There is no double seating here. Oh, and there are no refills on drinks, either. That's what annoys me! I'm usually thirsty (no matter where I am here), so I frequently have 3 340mL cans of Tab with a meal. Tab is the only drink in this country that has no sugar, caffeine, or alcohol (besides water, of course).