LIBUKA LI TENG! (THE BOOKS ARE HERE!)

Getting Ready for Library Books

Becky and Victoria facilitating workshops for teachers on library care, set-up etc.

One of the cabinets I've painted with a photo of the Moscow Library crew.

Painting the St. Theresa Library wall

In my last 2 months......

I'm in Maseru now for my Close of Service Workshop. I can't believe I'm almost finished with this amazing experience. In my last month and a half as a Peace Corps Lesotho volunteer I'll be in Mashai working on 5 school libraries, finishing painting some maps and murals, saying goodbye to other volunteers and then my village and family - both which will be very difficult.

Its Fall now though it feels like winter.

One of the cabinets I've painted in preparation for the library books.

Some of the kids in my village playing with their car.

Backpacking to "The Place of Smoke"

Just got back from a weekend/holiday backpacking with my girlz Casey & Kjessie. We walked from Caseys site to Semongkong. It was a 2 day trip and we overnighted in a remote village then spent 2 days in Semongkong watching friends rapell from the waterfall, hiking and visiting with other volunteers. The trip started with Kjessie and I walking through the taxi rank to find the right Kombi (taxi/van transport in Lesotho) to Ramabanta. While wondering through the chaos of the taxi rank we spotted a truck of watermelons. We couldn't resist and purchased a HUGE melon for only 20R! The 3 of us gals at the whole thing! A great way to start a trip!

We had incredible views of the mountains the entire trip.

Sunrise near Ha Mphmphe as we began our journey on Day 2Leaving the village of Ha Mphphe where we stayed the night with a family.
Grandmother and children in Ha Mphmphe

Waiting for a hitch near the end of the trail. We waited for about 2 hours on the "main-road". We gratefully accepted a hitch in the back of a boxed truck (like a cattle truck) - it was an adventure in itself! Hiking down to Semongkong Falls

Nick & Kjessie after Nick rappelled the waterfall

Such beautiful hiking!

A Few Photos of My Life

This is where I get my drinking water. Its a natural spring covered with stones to keep out "floaties".
I then haul the water about 15minutes up a relatively steep hill (as herd boys, donkeys, kids and everyone else watches)
Washing Laundry takes a lot of water and a lot of tubs. I usually wash inside my house so people don't stare as much :). When I go to the river or well the women usually tell me I'm doing it wrong and try and wash it for me.

I've learned baking. I'm getting really good at bread.

I spend a lot of time in my doorway reading, journaling, practicing guitar and people watching.

Presidential Inaguration

I was really anticipating the presidential inaguration and was hoping to listen to it live on BBC. Much to my suprise Jack (replaced James) talked to the woman at the clinic in St. Theresa and discovered they had a satellite dish. On Inaguration night we watched Obama get sworn in in a village in Africa thanks to nuns, a satellite dish and car batteries. It was really awesome! I walked over to St.Theresa early and sat at the secondary school making signs with the teachers and Jack. We made popcorn to share with the nuns and anxiously watched TV by candlelight when the inaguration started. The Bo-Me women -nuns, the priest and school teachers were very vocal speaking in Sesotho and English - asking questions about the president, his wife, the guests, the clothing of the Americans in the crowd and more. It was fun to answer their questions and share a piece of our culture on such a historic day.

After watching the inaguration we walked back to Jacks rondavel/house via, the light of our headlamps then only "electricity" shining in St.Theresa on that warm summer evening.

Prayer Flags about HIV

I’ve been working on a project in my river valley having students create Prayer Flags about HIV. I’ve asked the students to write messages about their feelings, hopes, fears and prayers about HIV or a tribute or memorial to a loved one with HIV. The students create their “flags” on old sheets and we’ve sewn them together. Its been a great project to work on, the students have enjoyed being creative and to express themselves in a different way.