Feliz Navidad

So Christmas in Lesotho. Hmmm. VERY loud Basotho music all day long and random children (and adults) coming up to me and saying, "Ke kopa Christmas." (I want Christmas.) I don't really know what that means so I just replied with, "YES MERRY CHRISTMAS to you too!!" Anyway, getting ready for an adventure on the Wild Coast of South Africa. Hmmp! I even bought a zebra-looking dress for NYE! Let you know how it goes...

<3 Am

P.S. Posted more pics

A couple links...

Check these out! Hmm hm!!
http://www.peacecorps.gov/multimediapages/photos/index.cfm?gallery=worldaidsday

If you want to see my pictures...but bigger
http://picasaweb.google.com/amsber

Alright...need your opinions

So I uploaded a picture slideshow on the blog. I know it's incredibly small, but I had to resize the pics in order to upload them in a semi-reasonable amount of time. Are they too small?? Let me know what you think!!

I'm doing very well. Lockdown ended about 10 days ago. I went to the CherryFest in Ficksburg that first FREE weekend. Then five of us RENTED a car (a very tiny VW Chico by the way!) in South Africa and vacayed in Swaziland for a few days! WOW WOW WOW!!! If you ever get the chance, go there! Some of the animal pictures at the end are from there -- Pevel: I saw baby zebras!!! Anyhow, it was a much needed change of scenery. Now, I'll be in Maseru for the next 10 days for my last phase of training. A new group of trainees has already arrived in Lesotho since I came, which means I'm not a "Newbie" anymore!!!

P.S. Thanks for the random texts --I was pleasantly surprised when I got them-- and taking a lifesize replica of me to my parents' house on Turkey Day -- Don't put anything past Bill Bergen! <3 you guys lots!!!

<3
Am

Sorry to be a tease...I can't really figure out pictures yet

So yeah like I said I can't figure out pictures yet. (Casey thanks for waiting for about forever for me to come to no avail!!!) Anyway, wanted to say that things have been much better lately in my Lesotho life. and Yes, I call my little rectangovel my "home" now!!! So, no worries!! Things are going as fantastic as can be in a developing country!!! I'll try to figure out pics in a few weeks!


<3 (LOTS) Am

OMG PICTURES....FINALLY!!!!

So, how about you check out the last FIVE (!?!?!) months of my life...

<3 Am

Its been a while huh???

So i just thought about it and last time i posted anything was about a month ago...jees. Well I am an official Volunteer now and I have my own home and my own assignment. It's in the northern part of Lesotho, in the Leribe district. It's at a center that was originally started for disabled adults and then it has slowly evolved into a center that houses disabled adults and children, orphans, has a primary school, an agriculture group, hat weaving group, Warrior Women and a sports group...oh and a youth group. SO! I will have my hands full for the next 24 months...that's a guarantee!

The previous volunteer at first was going to extend for a year and then changed his mind because he missed his mommy and daddy too much! Anyway, he did extend for a month which means that he and I overlapped for 4-5 weeks. Which is very much awesome, except that we have gotten to know each other so much we can pick on one another like brother and sister. But he just had his going away party yesterday and let me tell you...every single person in the project had fallen in LOVE with him...which means I have huge shoes to fill!!![I keep forgetting how to spell words in English..its the most peculiar thing...]

Anyhow, too bad I can't post pictures for a while. Actually I probably could sooner but i dont want viruses on my camera!! and I just haven't figured it out! The peach trees started to bloom about 2 weeks ago and believe me they are all over Pitseng (where I live)!!! They are beautiful pink and purple! Oh and Ntate Moshe is leaving a dog for me to take care of -- I have no objections whatsoever. Although Seshlana will never replace my OBI!!

I have had to some harsh realizations too, while I'm here. No not everything is honky dorey in these parts. Ask my mom. She knows. I've already called her (in the middle of her work day at that!) and started sobbing. It's kinda like I've read about all kinds of things -- conditions, diseases, hardships and then I've discusses in theory how would be the best to solve some of these issues, but its much MUCH MUCH different when you see it up close and personal! This little 5 yr old single orphaned girl was left all by herself and given food only once a week. Nobody visited (except the father who dropped off a single bowl of food once a week) because they were all scared of her or what diseases she might give them... Just think about that.
WELL. I met this little girl. She did not laugh or make sounds or even smile when she first moved into our center. But now she has been here and around other kids and having people CARE for and about her and she smiles and laughs and plays and makes sounds. ALMOST TALKING!! Luckily, she will be starting ARVs soon and who knows after that??!! But just think how it COULD have turned out...hache.

Okay well just so you all know, I love all the letters and I actually received 3 of my packages! THanks mom and dad and Ryan and Krysta! Get ready for fall and winter and cold temperatures everyone back home in MI!!! Muahahahha

<3 Am

REAL quotes/ popular LES catch phrases... =)

"I'm beginning to feel like I know what menopause is like. Now I can relate to my mom."

"I'm afraid to pick my nose while riding in the car [Ted's driving]. I might poke an eye out or penetrate my brain."

"I'm gonna need a donga REAL soon!"

"Did you hear the dog fight last night?"

"Last night, I woke myself up farting."

"Hona joala."

"Dude, you just fell in a donga!!"

"M'e oa hau"

"Eng.T.F."

"Lebitsa la lehola le Mary Jane."

In a really really low voice..."Ha ha ha, ha ha ha."

"Masepa monna!"

"Libolo li masepa!"

Good Morning Jesus! / Exchoose me!

"Look guys! Bikes!"

Ntate Mokopu =)


So yes, these are all real words that have been spoken by trainees, teachers, trainers, etc during my time here so far. I have left out the names of the speakers simply to spare from embarrassment...but I'm pretty sure we all may or may not have said every single one of these lines! Yes, some are not in English, but ask me some day...and I will explain it all to you!!!

<3 Am

On to the next leg of PC life...

Hey hey,

So I thought you all might be interested to know about where exactly i'll be for the next two years...I was certainly excited. I've had about enough of living out of my suitcase with only half of the stuff that I brought to country!!! ANyway, they told us our assignments on Wednesday, a few days ago and we were all happy. (Well, for the most part...)

Anyway, I'll be in Leribe district which is in the northwestern part of Lesotho (very near the South African city of Ficksburg, which is awesome) in a small village just south of the camptown Pitseng. If [and I say IF because it's definitely not an easy task] you find a large map of Lesotho, look it up and check it out. I'll be working with a Disabled group...I have no idea what exactly I'll be doing, but I will find out soon enough! The kid that I'm replacing is actually extending his service for a couple months, so I will overlap with him for one month. This is really beneficial because he has been there for the past two years and he can show me the ropes and tell me where to go and get things and what works and share good ideas and what not... Most volunteers COS (close of service) before the new volunteer takes over their site, which is ridiculous on the PC's part because HOW IN THE WORLD ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE SURE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS ARE SUSTAINABLE if you don't know what you're walking into??? Like some other trainees won't even MEET the people they're replacing...In other words, I'm lucky!

So we meet our supervisors and possibly counterparts tomorrow morning and shortly after start the chaotic MOVE to our new homes...which let me give you a picture: I have my suitcase and groceries in the kitchen at the training center, my basins and buckets and mop and pots outside on the front porch somewhere, my hiking pack still full of stuff that i haven't used in the past two months in our shared bunk room as well as toothbrushes and shoes and towels and clothes and electronic charger things and chocolate bars in and around my own bunkbed.... and that's just MY stuff. There are 19 other trainees who are in the same boat... Hmmm. Maybe I'll take some pictures to prove this... Forreal chaos that won't be fun. But i'm happy to finally have all my stuff in one place and finally get to do WORK here!!

Let me just tell you. I already have some weird and Only in Africa stories and I only just moved out of the village yesterday, only to move into a new one tomorrow. Stories about dog fights and cows and farts and guard rails (or lack of guard rails) and dongas and bicycles!!! and weird squash-like vegetables called mokopus... These have been our normal topics of conversation for the 5 of us that lived in Mokhethoaneng for the past 6 weeks, so trust me when I get home... I will be overwhelmed by not having these "normal" conversations i'm sure...

Hope you have enjoyed your summer so far...oh that reminds me we had a weird storm last week with really strong gusts of wind and sleet and rain and i honestly was scared for a few minutes that my tin roof was going to fly off my room!!! Over that! Now looking forward to warmer weather!!!

Kbye<3 Am

XOXOX to everyone!

Almost done with training!!!

So, we have one more week in the village. It's been good this whole time, but SHIT MAN (our language trainer says this all the time!) I am ready to be done with this part and just find out where my site is already... Apparently, they will tell us next Wednesday WHERE we will all be throughout the country and WHAT jobs we will be doing. Everyone's very anxious to find out. It will be way weird for 3 months of lock-down though. But that's all part of survival of the fittest!!

Oh so I definitely thought that winter was over here...definitely not! It got way cold the other night and it just happened to be the same night that my propane tank ran out!!! NO worries. I wore 4 layers to bed and called it good! We are supposed to take another Permy field trip this weekend to Quting. BUT since it's up in the mountains, it may snow and we may have to cancel because PC does not want dangerous driving mixed with field trips. It is sort of nice though being in the group that I am. We have gotten to go to all sorts of places!

Also, I met a girl -- a PCV -- that does pony treks as part of her project...so those of you that come visit...a pony trek may be in the itinerary to experience REAL Lesotho!!

So far I have been on an emotional rollercoaster. Some days it's awesome to be here and I feel like I will have an awesome project and do all these cool things. But other days, it kinda sucks and there's a lot of negativity -- pretty much just looking at the big picture and knowing that as ONE PERSON I cannot change cultural customs and practices and social structure. People here are very "LEsotho-centric". They know one way of doing things and they want to keep it that way! It's very much like a small, small rural USA town. For example, one belief is that ALL AMERICANS are WHITE. What?@!??? Oh and Americans are kind of like gods...we know everything and can fix any type of problem...and we do not use latrines (EVER) and we ALWAYS have candy...so whenever kids see us, they automatically ask for candy...or money. Yeah we're all rich too. So some days it can be kind of overwhelming as far as how closed-minded and homogeneous things are here...

Anyhow, I hope things are going well for everyone else...! Keep the letters coming!! I have been updated on everyone's drama with emails and letters from time to time -- it's funny because I can reply back in letters...ONLY you get them 3 weeks later...and I'm sure all things are the complete other way around by that time.

I miss obi. I actually pet the chief's dog the other day when nobody was looking. If you pet dogs here, it means you love the dogs more than the people. But they're excellent guard dogs.

I will miss parts of my village...like hearing the roosters cock a doodle dooing and the donkeys hee hawing and the taxi honking endlessly and the crazy man yelling the same thing over and over and over every morning starting at 530...this combo is typical every morning BTW. I will also miss my family, although I haven't gotten to meet my father yet...he's been working in the mines somewhere in South Africa this whole past month...and I'll also miss singing every morning...it kinda takes me back to grade school...except I don't always know the meaning of the words in the songs that I sing now. Oh and thanks to Ausi Mosa, our village now knows the Makarena by heart. Yep we performed at a concert and that dance really STUCK with them. It "stuckile". HAHAHA Apparently if you don't know how to say a word in Sesotho, just say it in English and add an "ile" to the end and they will know what you are trying to say...???

Oh BOY!! The life I'm living right now!!! =)

Love you all and I'll do my best to keep this updated...Seriously keep the letters coming. aNd send pictures if you can. Of anything in the USA. Okay well not party or nude pictures...cmon now...like outdoor naturey pictures just to show different parts of our country or action pictures..?? I really don't know what that means...

Ok Kbye
<3 Am

OK SO I accidentally hit return...i wasnt done yet

So we have continued training while living in our new homes. A typical day consists of waking up, making JUngle Oats for breakfast, taking a bucket bath, having a Sesotho (language) lesson for two hours at the village school with the other four trainees, having another session i.e. culture and perceptions, health, HIV, mapping, singing, economics, marketing, many many different things. THen LUNCH back the the house and then one more two hour session before we head home and do what we need to do before it gets dark out ~ 530/6ish. WE are not supposed to be out after dark, and since it gets so cold so early, I tend to be in bed by like 830 or 9 because i'm awesome like that! =) There's no power or running water...just so you can picture the whole scenario.

Oh and it snowed the other week. It was kind of cool because the kids had only seen snow in the mountains in the distance or on TV. So a few of us built snowmen for them. Loved it!

So we are in town today because we had a long weekend with current volunteers, to meet them and find out more about their sites and living situations and overall experience so far... It was awesome! It's crazy because we are all so different, but you can tell we all share many of the same values and goals and general open-minded and flexible outlook on life. I'm not going to say too much about the beginning of the weekend, except for LOUD music in the kombi (taxi), bar situations, and 20 people sleeping in one rondavel! Overall, it was a trip that we needed to have, to get a feel for life outside of training.

WE will get our assigned sites in the beginning of August, I think. And then there's the 3 month lock-down as it's called. Yeah we can't leave our districts that whole time. But for good reason. To integrate into the new community and become familiar with people. But it will be a long time for limited traveling!

Well i think that's all for now! I'll try to catch up more when i can! I miss you all and hope everything is going good for everyone!

"Salang hantle!" = Remain well!

<3 Am

First IN COUNTRY post!

So as of this weekend, I will have been here in Lesotho for an entire month. Crazy weird. Because it feels like it has been much longer than that -- mainly because I feel like i have been fast tracked into learning the culture and language and little things that i should and should not be doing. Also, it feels like i've known the other 19 trainees for most of my lifetime...or at least a few years rather than weeks!

Anyway, a little recap:

We arrived in the middle of the night -- and had to get out of the bus and WALK across the border, and then get back on the same bus. None of us knew what was happening really...we were just glad that the bus actually stopped and waited for us on the other side!!

We then spent a week at training center, being slowly introduced to food, language, customs (sweeping everyday?!?), singing ALOT, safety and security, gardening, medical information, getting endless vaccinations, learning how to use gas heaters and stoves, how to take bucket baths, more language...more food. This week was alot like what summer camp is -- or at least what i think it would be, considering i never really did summer camp. OH minus the canoeing and lake swimming seeing as it is WINTER HERE RIGHT NOW!! We trainees did EVERYTHING together! Oh and just so everyone knows, another Michigander trainee and I have a goal of making Euchre a legacy in Lesotho --- we've taught about a good TEN people so far and by the way we've gotten pretty good at spotting Midwesterners that should know how to play!

OKay so the second week, we all split up and moved out to three different villages. Nothing like getting acquainted with culture and customs REAL FAST!!! I moved into a family's house with all these buckets and basins and huge gas tank and heater (all of which i wasn't really sure what to do with by the way) and matches and some of my clothes and stuff. My family is pretty awesome and very welcoming. They have had other trainees live with them before, so they're pretty used to thinking i'm weird and playing a lot of charades to communicate. SLOWLY, we five permies (permaculture and nutrition trainees) have started to grasp the language more. Although it can be frustrating at times. Oh and let me tell you what my current village fashion consists of: long wool underwear with bright green soccer socks and my tennis shoes under my plaid skirt with my lifeguarding hoodie, sunglasses and big red puffy down coat. Seriously, i should be in a magazine centerfold! No but really, all the girls wear skirts in village -- its just what you do. NO matter how silly you look by pairing with other clothes.

First Post Ever

So I really just wanted to see if this worked. I've never done this before, seeing as I am behind with the times and prefer to stay away from the very addicting (so I hear) blog websites.....

Anyway, since I'll be half way around the world from everyone that I know, I figured this might be a good idea to stay connected with multiple people at once. Or to avoid sending out those nasty MASS EMAILS to everyone whenever I can. And believe me, two years' worth of those emails might get pretty annoying. Can you block email addresses like you can block screen names? (Sorry again, Sara. I still don't know how that happened!)

Ok so btw this is far LESS exciting than what any of the future posts will be. Don't throw the towel in yet!!

<3 Am