Community Based Training

Trip Start Jun 02, 2008
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Trip End Ongoing


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Where I stayed
With the Maphethekatse family
(Maseru hotels)

Flag of Lesotho  ,
Saturday, June 21, 2008

So we have all been thrown into true Basotho life! My Sesotho name is now Ausi Thato Maphethekatse (aka Sister Love Maphethekatse). I live on top of a hill in a village about an hour outside of Maseru. My room is about 3m x 5 m and has a bed, a desk, a bureau and a table with a double burner stove that connects to a propane tank. I also have a heater that i can connect to the tank when its really cold (Though the tin roof and wood slat door do not hold the heat very well). My 'M'e brings me a tea kettle full of hot water in the morning that i mix with cold water to bath with. I'm sure you all would be quite amused at the spectacle of me trying to clean myself standing in a tub with a pitcher of water. It's become pretty easy though. I soap up with a wet and soapy wash cloth and then rinse with the clean water. I really only use about a gallon of water and I'm just as clean as when i take a 5 or 10 gallon shower (i have no idea how much water i would use for a regular shower in the states).  I don't have electricity but I do have a parrafin lamp and a candle, plus my head lamp which is very helpful when making a trip to the latrine after dark Beautiful basotho ladies
Beautiful basotho ladies
 . However for late night/ middle of the night pee breaks I have my handy pee bucket that stays by my bed (with a lid of course).

I have four brothers and two sisters plus a couple of sister-in-laws and a bunch of neices and nephews. My sister-in-laws and brothers speak enough english that we can talk a little bit and they can help me learn sesotho. As I expected everyone works pretty much all day long. They are either hauling water, working in the garden, de-cobing (??) corn or washing clothes.

The staple breakfast in Lesotho is Lesheleshele, or a sorghum porridge that tastes a lot like cream of wheat when you mix it with sugar. This past week our family has been cooking for us so we have all eaten it every morning. My 'M'e assures me it will make me nice and fat just like the Basotho men like it! We start cooking for ourselves tonight so, although the lesheleshele was not bad, I think I will opt for something more like yogurt.

One of the best things about living out in the country now is the spectacular sceneries! My families houses sit atop a hill looking west over  a river not 2 km away that separates Lesotho from South Africa Jules and Kate at the Pump
Jules and Kate at the Pump
 . The sunsets are beautiful. We have also had a few rain and thunderstorms that are accompanied by pretty impressive lightening shows (but the current volunteers assure us that we havent seen anything yet).

The weather has been getting a little colder but it is still nothing like an Ithaca winter so I think I will manage. My sleeping bag keeps me nice and toasty at night so I haven't resorted to sleeping in long underwear or using my extra sleep liner yet... I figure thats good in case I get posted in the mountains. One thing though is that since the villlages are a bit more traditional than the city, us women have to wear  skirts everyday and especially when hoa moea (the wind is blowing) they are a bit more drafty than I would like.

Time is almost up so I will close for now.

PEACE AND LOVE


So I know it has been a while since I last wrote but we have been busy busy busy with training and have only come into Maseru or internet-accessed camptowns on a few occasions My 'M'e and neighbor at the house
My 'M'e and neighbor at the house
 . Plus internet connections are fairly lethargic in most cafes so a half hour really only gets you a quick email here or there.

Anyway! We are almost done with training now! Friday was our last day in the villages (I know I just wrote about moving in there it seems but we have moved out and back to the training center for our final two weeks). I grew very attached to my host family. The generosity and warmth of most Basotho is inspiring. I have a few stories to tell about living in village but first I want to talk about where I will be working for the next two years!

So Friday the 18th, the US Ambassador Robert Nolan had all the PCTs over to his  house for lunch. I felt slightly out of place and dirty in his carpeted, beautifully-decorated, well landscaped house but I am told not all Ambassadors are as welcoming to Peace Corps volunteers so I was grateful for his (and his wife's) hospitality. Anyway after lunch our APCD surprised us with our site announcements three days ahead of schedule! I will be living in the villlage of Menkhoaneng in the district of Butha Buthe. I will be working with the Menkhoaneng Community Council doing pretty much whatever I can get my hands into but hopefully some agriculture work, agri-business training, tourism marketing and HIV/AIDs outreach. So im really exicted.

times up but I will write mmore tomorrow!

KHOTSO!
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Comments

ashleyareed
ashleyareed on Jun 21, 2008 at 02:21PM

hello from bk
dear big little sister,
it sounds like you have quickly acclimated to your new lifestyle, the rhode island cabin must have been good training. i want to see pictures! (if it's possible) i sent you a care package two days ago. i didn't know what type of religious phrases to write on it, so i just wrote 'jesus' randomly. i got some strange looks at the post office. i will send another one soon, is there anything specific besides coffee that you need?
love,
ashley
p.s. yes to the world cup if you can get us tickets!

redrum35
redrum35 on Jun 26, 2008 at 01:08PM

Braveheart...
Kristan that sounds very interesting.You sure are very adaptedable.And I doubt that you will ever be fat.Well mayb unless you get knocked up.I'm glad your save.Please keep in touch.I miss you a lot and I know everyone else @ Sazio's does also. Love you and beware of wild jungle African animals!!

rreedvi
rreedvi on Jul 26, 2008 at 10:53AM

Greetings Sister Love!
Good Morning Kristan,
What a wonderful surprise getting your message this am and reading your update. I am so glad you are excited about your assignment. Will you have a host family in this village like in your training? or will you be living on your own? Lunch at the Ambassador's residence must have been very special and a treat. I am sure they understood that you were not able to dress for the occasion. Your sisters are having a great visit. I took off from work yesterday afternoon and we went to the beach. We talked about wishing you were with us. We have had some typical drama. I know you would have calmed the waters if you had been here, but we are managing somehow. The girls love the house too. We had dinner at Jeness' last night. she is good. Earnest is in Panama for two weeks surfing. She sends her love.

I sent a letter and grandma sent a package so I hope you get them before you leave the city again. And I really hope you can get the phone. that would be wonderful! Let us know what else you need. Love you very much oxox Mommy

lesliereed
lesliereed on Jul 26, 2008 at 02:22PM

trashley just farted :-(
big middle seeeeester!!!!!!
im sitting here w/ mom and trashley standing over my shoulder b/c even though they have been up for hours and have already read your blog and email multiple times, they still need to read it as i do (just in case something new appears magically). anyways, it sounds like everything is going great over there. you must be uber excited to start your assignment. i dont think this message is going to be as long as i want b/c trashley is making me look through some of her architectures books with her and she is getting angry that im not really paying attention (i think she is going stir crazy in stx not having any big project to work on). living with mommy is going really well. she is very happy in her new house and seems the most laid back and happy that ive seen her in years. like she said however, we all really wish that you were here. you are def the level-head to our hot-heads. everyone in town always asks about you (matt r, paul c, etc.). ren told me that her friend from elon is in pc with you. what a small world it is! im sorry that i havent sent you anything yet. i have post cards from europe that i promise to mail out w/ a nice cruzan care package asap. i really really miss you and have already started researching flights and such to south africa for spring break. keep us updated when you can. i love you so much and think of you all the time! xoxoxoxoxo

lesliereed
lesliereed on Jul 26, 2008 at 02:23PM

trashley just farted :-(
big middle seeeeester!!!!!!
im sitting here w/ mom and trashley standing over my shoulder b/c even though they have been up for hours and have already read your blog and email multiple times, they still need to read it as i do (just in case something new appears magically). anyways, it sounds like everything is going great over there. you must be uber excited to start your assignment. i dont think this message is going to be as long as i want b/c trashley is making me look through some of her architectures books with her and she is getting angry that im not really paying attention (i think she is going stir crazy in stx not having any big project to work on). living with mommy is going really well. she is very happy in her new house and seems the most laid back and happy that ive seen her in years. like she said however, we all really wish that you were here. you are def the level-head to our hot-heads. everyone in town always asks about you (matt r, paul c, etc.). ren told me that her friend from elon is in pc with you. what a small world it is! im sorry that i havent sent you anything yet. i have post cards from europe that i promise to mail out w/ a nice cruzan care package asap. i really really miss you and have already started researching flights and such to south africa for spring break. keep us updated when you can. i love you so much and think of you all the time! xoxoxoxoxo

your baby sis,
leslie

lesliereed
lesliereed on Jul 26, 2008 at 02:26PM

i'm retartded
sorry, didn't mean to post that one twice...

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