Happy Holidays

M'e' Matiiso and Amy

This is Me Matiiso, she is a teacher at my school.  We took this picture because we thought it was funny that almost all of the dolls that they sell here look like this one.  Not only is the doll white with yellow hair, but it is also kind of funny that her name is Amy!  As you can see in the background of the picture there are some Christmas decorations here also.  There is definately not the same level of focus on presents and such here, but Christmas is the time of year that people choose to buy new clothes for their families and clean and repair their houses.  I have heard that all of the children go parading around town in their new clothes on Christmas day, I will be sad to miss it. I am hoping to spend Christmas with Carrie riding horses around Lesotho!   I guess we will see other kids in their new clothes, just not the ones that I know.

    School is quiet this week.  All students have now gone home, Seabata and I made it smoothly to his village and I really did enjoy seeing the southern part of Lesotho.  My supervisor and I still go to work each day and we are busy trying to get estimates from builders for a few more classrooms at out school.  We are also working on getting the money to pay for them.

Seabata having ice cream

 Otherwise I have been having a nice time hanging out with my host family a little more this week.  Yesterday we just sad in the yard together playing with the baby and playing some games with stones for a few hours at sunset.  It was really nice, although I still get frustrated that my host mother and I are really unable to talk to each other because of not knowing each other's language!  Why am I so bad at learning languages?
     Only two more days until Carrie comes to visit.  I am so excited to have a friend here to travel around with.  My blogs may take a break for a bit, but I will try to update after the holidays.  After Carrie leaves I will have my parents and sister here for another 2 weeks.  I am so happy that I have adventurous friends and family.  Can't wait to post some exciting new photos from new parts of Lesotho, Mozambique and South Africa.  Happy Holidays!

Long Week

Parents washing blankets, with feet!

Over the last week my host family has killed 5 pigs, my school killed 9 geese and we got a Cow!  Strange week for animals.  Our cow was a donation from someone in Germany via Sentebale.  The cow was promised several years ago, but never actually given to the school.  Then we found out that the German donor would be visiting our school this week, so within a week Sentebale had the cow driven from South Africa and our principal had about 3 days to have a corral built, train a staff member to take care of the cow and prepare our school for the visitor.  The cow is beautiful, a Jersey, and she is about to have a calf (which might be named Lisa :) She will provide milk for our students and hopefully generate future income.
  On Wednesday our school officially closed.  Parents came mostly on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning and they helped with washing blankets, cleaning and cooking.  We had a parent meeting on Wednesday and I did a session about goals for their children.  I really enjoyed meeting so many parents, a lot of grandmothers, and talking with them about their children (mostly via translator and charades)

Seabata, not so happy

Our visitors, the German donor and Sentebale CEO from London, came via helicopter on Friday.  The families and staff were so excited, I have to say it was pretty cool to see them land in our school yard.  They stayed for around an hour or two and our kids demonstrated some of their craft skills, gardening, and yoga.  They were very nice and although they kept our kids at school an extra two days, seeing the helicopter and getting the cow were worth it!  They also provide most of the funding for our centre so we kind of have to be accommodating.  After a tiring week I came back to school on Saturday morning to organize some things and charge my computer and I found that 2 students were still here.  Both are double orphans but have teenage brothers that were supposed to come pick them up.  One of the children is severely autistic and he seems just as happy to stay here and keep his routine in place.  But the other student, Seabata, has only physically disabilities and he is very upset that he has not been picked up.  He is very sweet and it is so hard to see him sad.  We tried to have a fun day out in town, but he just really wants to go home to his brothers, around 7 hours away.  We finally got to talk to his brother and he said that he just does not have any money to pay for transport.  The school can give him money, but he has no way to get here to get it.  Most of our school staff has to attend a workshop tomorrow so it makes the most sense for me to take him home.  It should be quite an adventure and I am happy that I will get to meet his brother and see another part of the country, Mohale's Hoek.  I am a little nervous because we can't take his wheelchair in the taxis and I will have to carry him and his stuff twice when changing vehicles.  He is little so it should be OK.  Today, Sunday, when I came to school he greeted me with a huge smile and I know he is eagerly awaiting our trip tomorrow.

Thanksgiving

Just a random Peacock hanging out by the Post Office

Maolosi with Mom, better now.

  Well this is my second year in a row being out of the US for Thanksgiving.  Last year I was in India and now Africa.  Next year I promise to eat 3 years worth of food.  For now I am going to go to work, try to make some thanksgiving like food, skype with my family and remember everything that I am thankful for.
     At home I am thankful for good health care (it's all relative), friends  and family, electricity, indoor plumbing, special education laws, OTs, PTs, Speech therapists, the diversity of the US, Target (yes the store), and functional government (again relative, but it is actually functional).  I am also thankful that privacy is considered normal and that "you look fat" is not thought of as a compliment, I just can't get used to it!  I am thankful for being anonymous on the streets of NY, and for cheese, bagels, coffee shops, bookstores, and NPR.  I am thankful for growing up with the "Dold" work ethic, being able to go out after dark, having opportunities and education, teaching materials, museums, parties, etc.  I am very thankful for people who are so generous, mail, and packages and for volunteers.

Thanks for the art stuff Jess!

    In Lesotho I am thankful for friends, people who work for maybe $5 a day and still treat the children well.  I am thankful for beautiful singing that happens spontaneously, my yard full of kids, cooking from scratch, peace corps support, villages and my greetings full of smiles every morning.  I am also thankful of children who are so respectful and appreciative of school, huge thunder storms, lots of animals, people who always want to help, YOGA, people who are so happy without material possessions, babies on backs, blankets, baby donkeys (so cute) and beautiful mornings.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Notice the little guy eating packet of  drink mix in the back! I remember doing that with Koolaide

 

Independence

Since getting here in august I have been a little bit worried about what happens when I run out of gas.  I like to be independent and without a car, the idea of bringing back my gas container and getting a new one seemed challenging.  Well this week I did run out and my supervisor, who does have a car, is out of town for the week.  I asked several people at work what I should do.  Their answers scared me a little.  For one I wasn't aware that there had been a strike at the gas company and for the last few weeks there was a shortage, this also caused the prices to go up.  Also one women told me to just carry my empty container to the main road and then catch a taxi to town.  My empty container, larger than the one in the picture, was not that light, and I am strong, but not as strong as the women here.  I finally decided on the last option which was to take my empty one in a wheel barrel to the closer shop, not that close, and exchange it.  BUT I had to first leave school early and go to that shop to make sure they had the gas, they did.  I had a friend help me because I was a little worried about navigating the wheel barrel on hills, sand, rocks.  We made it and now I know for next time that I can handle this challenge.  

Maolosi Leading Yoga

New Hospital in Maseru

Lesotho has a brand new hospital, much needed.  This week I volunteered to take one of our students there with another teacher.  The hospital itself is very nice, large and clean, and since it just opened it has a very positive feeling to it.  Unfortunately it was not as easy to navigate.  We weren't sure where to go to and after waiting in a few lines and being sent to 5 different reception type desks we finally took our place in the line to see the doctor.  After waiting around 3 hours the nurse told us that there were currently not enough doctors and gave us another appointment for March.  This was a non-emergency, but it still would have been nice if we knew this ahead of going.  They are still working out the kinks.  I have to say that waiting in the hospital was probably the most pleasant part of our day.  The student we brought, Neo, is 11 years old but small for his age.  When you are 11 you do not get your own seat in public transportation so the 3 plus hour journeys there and back we had Neo squished in on our laps.  This was fine for a while, but eventually your legs turn numb.  Additionally Neo, not used to riding in vehicles was car sick 2 times.  The first time unexpectedly he got my bag and skirt, the second time we were prepared with plastic bags.  Not to mention that it was probably 90 degrees and people here don't like to open windows or use AC, I am surprised more people didn't get sick.  Needless to say it was not pleasant traveling, and Neo was very hungry by the time we got home!

Neo

Well it is supposed to start raining here in November, but we haven't seen too much yet.  Everyone here likes to talk about how all the seasons are changing too much.  The climate change is a big topic here because people depend so much on the weather for their food.  Planting, grazing, and water.  I have had a few days when there is just no water at all coming out by my house, and many people have it even worse.  I have some back up containers, but I am curious what is going to happen when it is worse.  Water is one of the resources in Lesotho and it is heavily exported to South Africa, yet the taps run dry, I don't get it!

The most capable students tending their plots

The middle group socializing and trying to figure
out what to do.

Despite the climate concerns our students are working on their plots and gardens in the hopes that all will work out.  The older and more capable students actually have their own plots that they work on each day.  The younger and more severely disabled students work more as a group to take care of the schools plants.  Or as you can see from the picture, sometimes they just socialize.  Either way they are outside and learning about something that will be vital in their lives.  As usual I continue to try to encourage the teachers to include the most severely disabled into these tasks, even if it is just a minor role, at least it is something.  Most often they just find a spot to watch the action but don't necessarily do anything. I get really frustrated by this sometimes because I feel like they could be doing more, but then I have to remember where I am and be happy that they are even attending school.

The observers (my favorites) Thanks for the Helmet!

Before and After

    This is Retse, he is my 8 year old neighbor.  Every evening I look forward to watching him go out and round up the sheep.  He will hold them all by ropes, so they won't eat the veggies or flowers, and herd them back to their pen.  Most of the time they fully drag him along, but he always has a big smile on his face.  I sometimes go out and try to help him, after all I did grow up with sheep, but usually there is not much for me to do.  The children here are given a lot of responsibility and they grow up quick.  Of course this has both its good and bad points, but for the most part I am usually highly impressed with their maturity and skills.

    This was another busy week at school.  Teachers finished up working on their IEPs for their students and we were happy to have my principal back, she was away last week.  I had the Peace Corps country director come for a visit.  Of course she came on the day that I was giving a presentation and I was even more nervous than usual.  The presentation was on mental retardation (mental disability to be more pc), causes, characteristics, prevalence, etc.  I was surprised at how much the teachers wanted to discuss these topics and about how much I learned.  Apparently there is a strong belief here that if you have a child with a cognitive or mental disability a lot of people believe that it is because of witchcraft.  I also learned that there is a common medicine that the natural healers give to pregnant women that now is believed to cause some disabilites.  Also that pregnant women don't want to be around people with disabilities because they think their fetus can catch it.  We tried to clear all of this up, in an hour, but I can see that there is still a lot of disability awareness work to be done here!  I was happy that the director got to meet the students, many of whom entertained her with impromptu yoga routines which they learned from our regular morning routine.  I think that will be sustainable.

BEFORE

          Finally I wanted to show you my "before" and "after" photos of our storage closet at school.  A few weeks ago I got a peek into the closet for the first time when they were putting away winter blankets.  I couldn't believe it.  There were bags and bags of donated clothes, bedding, school supplies, etc.  I don't think that anyone intended for it to get this bad, but the school is grossly understaffed and it just wasn't really anyone's job to organize or distribute.  I begged my principal at the time to let me clean it out, but she wanted to wait until a time when teachers could help me and we could actually give away the clothes to students who need them.  Well this week she finally agreed to let me dig for some shoes for a boy, and once I started I couldn't stop. After two days of sorting, piling, labeling, etc. two teachers and myself got the job done. It would be even better if there was a Container Store here.  Unfortunately the clothes still have not been given out, I have found that people really like to save things here, probably from fear of tougher times when they will not have anything.  I will continue to work on encouraging them to use the things they have instead of just locking them up, but I also know that their fears are justified.  I also found 3 good wheelchairs under the pile.  One was given to a student who needed it and the other 2 are now easy to grab when needed.                                          

AFTER

   

Good thing I have burglar bars!

Being Patient

Taxi or Kombi, can hold sooo many people

    When I arrived here in August I asked one of the other volunteers "What should I know about Lesotho?"  He said just remember to be patient.  So this week I had my test at being patient.  On Monday I had my week planned out, mostly helping teachers with creating IEPs (Individual Education Programs) for their students and I was going to do a workshop on cognitive disabilities on Wednesday.  Monday went as planned, although instead of helping several teachers I worked with one teacher the entire day on her IEPs.  I think her version of "help" was that I would do each one for her, oh well, we did them together.  Tuesday I was asked if I could go to Maseru (capital 3 hours away) on Wednesday for a meeting.  My principal forgot that she wouldn't be able to attend and needed someone to go. This was fine, except that it meant that I couldn't do my workshop planned for Wednesday, oh well.
     Going to Maseru with public transportation meant that I had to leave town by 6:00 to get there by 9:00.  As I was walking to the taxi rink in the wee hours of the morning, my principal called and asked me if I could go back to the school because she didn't know how to put the new printer cartridge in.  How does a very smart woman who budgets for and manages an entire school not know how to do this?  Not to mention the fact that they have had this printer since before I came, oh well.  After a printer cartridge insert lesson, I was finally on my way.  I squished into the Venture with 9 other people (size of a SUV) and was off.  As I always do I asked the driver to find me a Sprinter (second taxi thing) to transfer to.  Unfortunately I got into the Quantum instead, this looks like a sprinter but makes all the local stops.  Finally I get to Maseru and have to take a "special" taxi to the meeting.  I think it was special because I am foreign and they want to charge me a lot more, oh well.  Finally I get there, over 40 minutes late.  I am never late, I hate being late, but I was late.  Of course this is the day that the heads of the meeting, forum, decide to talk about being professional, on time, etc.
   At the forum I was able to talk to a few people about obtaining services, wheelchairs, etc.  However most of the presentations were done in Sesotho and the translator (who is very helpful) was very busy with other things and I missed a lot, oh well.  I decided to walk to the mall after the meeting and there I got some groceries, REAL CHEESE and wine.  I also had a latte at the coffee shop, first one since NY, yummy.  I decided that I better get going so I could be back to my house before dark.  My taxi to the taxi rink got stuck in traffic, so I got out and walked not knowing it would take over 30 minutes.  Finally reaching the taxi rink I settled on a quantum, too tired to search for the sprinter.  We sat there for at least another 40 minutes waiting to fill up, they won't leave until every possible inch of space is full!  On our way and going fast until TY, town along the way.  Several people get in and out in this town and then the quantum conductor kicks us all out and we have to get into a different quantum, oh well.  In this next one we take forever, but finally reach the midpoint where I sit in another Venture for at least 30 minutes waiting to leave.  This particular Venture is really falling apart, no inspection process here for vehicles.  I think my door might fall off so I spend the whole ride holding onto it and leaning in with my fingers crossed.  FINALLY I was back in BB, after leaving over 12 hours earlier, and I just had another 30 minute walk home.  At least I had a latte!

     Thursday started off with a phone call at 5:30am. MacDonald's mother asking me to go with her to the Social Welfare office with both of her disabled children.  I thought this was a good idea because last time she went they were not so helpful and we decide if we brought the kids they might make something happen.  For those of you in the US, picture going to the DMV.  We sat at the office for over 2 hours just waiting for someone to show up.  Then when they did show up they said that they couldn't help us, it had to be the other person from the last time who couldn't help her before.  This is when I decided to mention that I had met the head of the ministry, their boss, at my meeting in Maseru and she gave me some info about wheelchairs etc. Soon after someone finally came to help us.  They asked me to go with them to the hospital and they would give us a new wheelchair for MacDonald.  At the hospital I was led to a storage room and had move boxes around to reveal brand new wheelchairs!!  Hooray. Unfortunately our ride to the hospital was only one way, so I got a lot of funny comments walking back through town pushing an empty wheelchair.  Back to the office, paperwork filled out, and our 4 hour visit was over.  MacDonald left in his new ride, brand new adult size wheel chair!!!  THANK YOU was all we said, but I wanted to say "How come we were originally told that there were no wheel chairs? How come we had to bring 2 disabled children to the office when you are supposed to go to their house? How come you wouldn't help their mother the first time she came?"  I didn't say any of these things because I am remembering to be patient!!

MacD and his brother with his new wheelchair!!

     Finally it is Friday and I am trying to cram in working with 3 more teachers on their IEPs.  Everything happens here in its own time and I am slowly adjusting.  It is not always easy to be patient and it is exhausting.  This week has reminded me that we have it pretty good at home.  I miss the subway and the organized chaos of NYC.  At least I had a latte!