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.