Action

Girls playing Net Ball

   Last weekend I went to a rural village with for a youth group event.  One of the PC volunteers, Lauren, works with a youth group that recently got a donation.  With the money they received they had an event which included HIV testing, drama and sports.  They had a good turnout and they were able to offer some prize money to winning teams. Their drama focused on the importance of knowing your status.  Many people got tested and everyone had fun.  I had so much fun watching the sports.  The girls played net ball, kind of like basketball, but no dribbling and protected shooting once you are in a zone.  It is funny because I actually remember playing this game in gym class in high school, I never knew it was a real organized sport!  I was so impressed with the girls athletic ability and their sportsmanship.  Players are pretty aggressive when fighting for the ball and there is even some tackling, but nobody got angry or mean.  I think it is due to the peaceful culture here, people seem to rarely fight and they handle disagreements calmly.
    While the girls were busy with net ball, the boys and men stayed busy with their football tournament.  I was equally impressed with their skills, especially since they were playing in very high grass.  The tournament started out great with one whole team getting their HIV test to help to promote the testing.  It is quite a challenge to convince people to get tested, it seems even more true for young men, so this was a great help.

Footballers

  The youth group also used some of the money that was donated to get uniforms for their group.  This was good because it was easy to spot who was in charge and it made their drama and speaking stand out.  They were very proud and Lauren, the PCV who works with them, was so happy that they had such a successful day.
   I spent most of my time wandering around and taking pictures, such a beautiful setting.  I also talked with the youth group a little and tried to practice some of my Sesotho.  I had a really good day and felt inspired by the work that many of the youth and peace corps volunteers are doing here.  It is essential that HIV awareness becomes ingrained in the culture here, the rates are so high and the effects are alarming, life expectancy here is less than 40 years!

Lauren with youth group in their new uniforms

   This week I was also able to attend a forum on Autism.  When I first found out about it I was kind of disappointed that they did not ask me to participate, however I eventually understood that decision.  The presentation was all done in Sesotho, which I can't speak well enough, and it was given by parents of children with autism.  They did a great job and the large crowd that was there was fascinated by them.   I was surprised how much I was able to understand without a translator, I think it is because I know the subject matter so well.  After the presentation I met with the parents and let them know that I would be happy to facilitate further workshops with teachers or parents.  I am really hoping that they contact me because awareness of autism here is still very minimal and I would love to help increase it.  There is sometimes a belief here that children with autism and "strange" behaviors are possessed by demons.  This is extremely hurtful to families and leads to a lack of education.
   Finally, our school project is continuing smoothly.  We are still having a lot of small issues with the plumber, but we have accepted it!  I am really excited because I think everything will be done soon and that means that I will have some time to work with the teachers in the new classrooms before leaving.

Village kids posing for me

New classrooms, with windows and doors

 

Shopping

Itjareng Vocational Centre for Adults with Disabilities

   Our new classroom project is moving right along.  This week the electrician finished all the wiring and we now have working lights and outlets in the building.  We bought most of the plumbing supplies and also went shopping for furniture.
     Our plan is to have the furniture made at Itjareng, a vocational center for people with disabilities near Maseru.  This way we are supporting their school and the cost is less than most stores.  Itjareng is school that runs a  program for adults with mild to moderate disabilities.  The students live at the centre for two years and focus on learning metal work, carpentry, leather work or sewing.  Our school has sent a few students there after they have left here.  They are going to make some sample pieces and bring them out to us next week.  They might even build them right here if we can organize all of the materials in time.  The picture below is one of our former students who is now attending there, he is showing us some potential sink options.  It was fun for my principal to see him again.  All of our errands took much longer than planned and I ended up having to stay the night in Maseru.  My Principal's brother hosted us (gave me their bed, I tried to refuse but couldn't) and a yummy dinner.  Their 1 year old baby was not so excited about me and he spent the first hour or so crying whenever I was near him.  I think pale faces are scary for babies here, it happens a lot!  Eventually he warmed up and figured out that I am a lot of fun, as long as his mom was nearby!

 

My Principal's Nephew and sitter

So we got really lucky with our builder and electrician being both efficient and skillful.  The luck must run out somewhere and it might be with the plumber.  Here is how our shopping trip to the hardware store went:


Lisa:  Excuse me Ntate (respectful term) Plumber, I was wondering why the two different quotations we got have so many different items on them?
Plumber: Yes Me'Lisa, I will look at them and make sure we get  everything we need. (this was on the way to store)
Lisa:  Excuse me Ntate, don't we need to buy a cistern, top part of the toilet? (at the store after list was finalized)
Plumber: Oh yes, we also need that.
Lisa:  Excuse me, (no more polite after 2 hours in store) don't we need all of the stuff that goes into the top of the toilet?
Plumber:  Oh yes, I forgot about that.
Lisa: Don't we need something to put the basin and geyser on? (when we are in line to pay)
Plumber:  Oh yes, let me run and get some more things.
After going through line a few times, multiple receipts and one returned item, we finally finished our 3 hour shopping trip.  Each day since the trip someone has had to run out and buy another thing that is needed for the plumbing.  Oh well, it can't all go smoothly!  At least the plumber is very nice and polite.

My shopping trip

Crazy Hail storm in my yard

Refreshed

Notice Peaches drying on the line

   On Monday I headed out to Maliba Lodge, very fancy, where I did a presentation about the Get Ready to Learn Yoga program.  Sentebale was having a meeting with 12 of its' partners, organizations serving vulnerable children.  They have been thrilled with the program and they wanted me to come and present on it to others.  I was also able to be there for my Principal's presentation on our activities at the center.  Getting out there was not so fun.  I happened to be the person who got the very back corner in a very crowded taxi van.  I was so hot and feeling claustrophobic, thinking, why I am doing this?  Then I got very sweaty on the hour hike, mostly uphill, into the lodge.  Not the way you want to start a presentation.  The presentation went smoothly and Sentebale provided me with lodging for the night.  Taking advantage of a bathtub and a shower, I had a very relaxing evening.  I also had a beautiful hike out the next morning and felt renewed and refreshed.  Having access to a nice bathroom and solitary hiking did me wonders.  I was also pleased to learn about more of the organizations serving vulnerable children in Lesotho.  There are some very committed people here who take care of hundreds of of orphans with only a little support.  Sentebale is providing support for them now, but they won't be there forever.

Ntate Neo and his fans

  Speaking of very committed people, I wanted to highlight another one of our staff members.  Ntate Neo is one of our 2 house fathers.  He has been at the centre for a number of years and he works very hard.  The 30 plus boys here all look up to him a lot and he has a fun relationship with most of the kids.  He also leads our physical therapy group each morning and he always seems interested in learning and trying new things.  After school he is always organizing some kind of sport activity and sometimes taking groups of kids into town.  I have also been told that he will volunteer to stay with students at the centre if they do not get picked up for vacations.  I wish that we did not have a language barrier so that I could get to know him better, but without words, I can tell that he is a committed caretaker and hard worker.  Most importantly he is like family for the kids at the centre.
    The new building is coming along nicely and school is continuing as usual.  Next week I will spend the week team teaching in another classroom.  I keep doing this in the hopes that some of my routine and activity will rub off.  I still get frustrated with the amount of "down time" that the students have.  One day this week 3 of 5 teachers did not show up for school and those students pretty much just sat in their rooms all day, no subs here.  I am really hoping that the new classrooms and materials are inspiring to the teachers.  I know that things take time to change, but my time here is running out.  On a lighter note my principal had several of us over to her house last weekend.  She even went shopping in the next town away and got Bacon for me, so nice.  We had fun singing and dancing and eating too much!!

Dancing at My Principal's House

On my restorative Hike, Self Portrait

Kea Leboha!

Roof On

Kea Leboha (Thank You).  The Grant for our new building was fully funded by last week.  It took under one week to raise close to $3500 towards our new classrooms.  People are so generous.  Thank you so much everyone who donated.  I know some people wanted to donate but didn't make it in time, sorry, but there are soooo many other good causes in the world that will happily use your money.  In lesotho there is Sentebale and Friends of Lesotho that also help children in this community.
   As you can see our building is moving right along.  This week they are working on the roof and next week we will start with all of the electrical work.  Later today I am headed to the hardware store to do our first big purchase of electrical supplies from the money that was donated.  Next week my prinicipal will be gone for the week and I will be responsible for overseeing and purchasing materials on my own!! I am a little nervous, but I think there are plenty of people around to help me.  I wish Dan, my brother in-law, was here!

Playing Dress Up

  Over the last few weeks I have noticed many children dressed funny on Fridays.  Apparently the schools here have dress-up days sometimes.  On these days kids can dress up in any way they want, some where nice clothes, some where costumes, etc. The point is to have fun and raise funds.  For the privledge of not wearing their school uniform they get to pay 1 Maluti (about 15cents).  It has been fun to watch them and see how creative they can get.  On the right is my host sister, age 12, dressed up as a lady.  She is wearing her monther's dress and has stuffed a winter coat in to give her a funny shape.  My other neighbor, 16 year old boy, dressed up in a girl's school uniform.  We have been laughing a lot, it is well worth the 1Rand.
  At school this week I have been pretty busy working on reports and plans with my principal.  She has to report next week on the progress of the centre and work on the budget for next year.  She is pretty good at using excel for budgeting, but she had never used powerpoint.  We had fun creating a powerpoint together about the successes and goals for the school.  She was so excited about the photos and videos that we incorporated and she is convinced that she will have the best presentation at her meeting.  She was actually jumping up and down and hugging me when we finished.  I have also been preparing for a presentation on our Get Ready To Learn yoga program that we have been using.  Sentebale asked me to present about it to 12 organizations that serve vulnerable children at a meeting next week.  Too much time in the office this week and not enough time with the students.
  I have had plenty of time at home with the kids.  For the most part I have had a sort of unstated rule that the kids don't really come in my house.  For one it is important for me to have a tiny bit of my own space, and two it is just more fun to play outside nobody really hangs out inside here.  BUT I often break the rule and let kids come in briefly to look at pictures, etc.  Well this week I broke the rule too many times and now the little ones think it is a game to just stand at my door and yell.  They actually try to fit through the bars, it is really funny.  I love it because they are so cute, but it makes it hard to get my cooking, etc. done.  I know I will miss this time in a few months.
 

Let Us In

Maybe we can reach the keys