This is what my town looks like. I live close to where these women are walking on a hillside with a beautiful view of the mountains. If you look at this picture you will notice how much the women are carrying, and on their heads! The women here work so hard, the people here in general are very tough. It is enough to make me not complain about anything that I have to do! It is amazing how people live so differently in different parts of the world. My host mother laughed at me the other day for the way I was doing laundry. When I told her that I don't normally wash by hand she couldn't understand it.
On the right is a picture of the inside of my house. It is rather large, almost bigger than my apartment in NYC! I have many many buckets, for water, washing, cooking, bathing, etc. I have a gas heater and stove and a small kitchen area. Most of my time is spent sitting at my table reading or in my bed. The problem is if I read in bed I follow asleep way to early. As it is I am finding it hard to keep myself awake past 8:30, it is so dark!! I do wake up very early, before 6:00, but still 9 hours of sleep seems like too much.
My school is called Thuso E Tla Tsoa Kae, and I have finally learned how to say the name. The students and teachers spend a lot of time working on life skills. They plant their own gardens and eat the food that they grow. They have 1 pig, geese, and a cow on the way. The school started out run by volunteers and the teachers used to work for free. Now there are 5 teachers that are paid to work there and several house mothers and fathers that take care of the children who live there. Although their teaching methods and materials are minimal, I have been very impressed by what they are accomplishing. The other day I watched 1 teacher teach a class of 45 children, all with multiple disabilities, and most of the students were able to attend. Some of the children have severe autism and they still manage to follow most of the routine with very little assistance. I have to learn their secret!! Today was my first day "teaching" I did the Get Ready to Learn yoga program with all the students, 65, and staff in one room. They all liked it and want to do it every morning. Starting off well.
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| Students are planting potatoes. |
This is what my town looks like. I live close to where these women are walking on a hillside with a beautiful view of the mountains. If you look at this picture you will notice how much the women are carrying, and on their heads! The women here work so hard, the people here in general are very tough. It is enough to make me not complain about anything that I have to do! It is amazing how people live so differently in different parts of the world. My host mother laughed at me the other day for the way I was doing laundry. When I told her that I don't normally wash by hand she couldn't understand it. 
My school is called Thuso E Tla Tsoa Kae, and I have finally learned how to say the name. The students and teachers spend a lot of time working on life skills. They plant their own gardens and eat the food that they grow. They have 1 pig, geese, and a cow on the way. The school started out run by volunteers and the teachers used to work for free. Now there are 5 teachers that are paid to work there and several house mothers and fathers that take care of the children who live there. Although their teaching methods and materials are minimal, I have been very impressed by what they are accomplishing. The other day I watched 1 teacher teach a class of 45 children, all with multiple disabilities, and most of the students were able to attend. Some of the children have severe autism and they still manage to follow most of the routine with very little assistance. I have to learn their secret!! Today was my first day "teaching" I did the Get Ready to Learn yoga program with all the students, 65, and staff in one room. They all liked it and want to do it every morning. Starting off well.
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