Now that I've been at site for over six weeks, I feel like I'm starting to get settled and develop a routine. Daily life as a volunteer is much different than daily life as a trainee where every day was structured by the Peace Corps Training Staff. Now I get to create my own schedule every week which makes me much happier. I seem to be getting a little busier every week, but I'm sure things will slow down closer to the holidays (just like America).
I live in my own rondavel on my ntate-moholo's family compound (host grandfather). My rondavel is made of stones on the outside, and my walls are made of mud and dung on the inside. Inside my house I have a bed propped up on some cement blocks so there is storage room underneath my bed where I keep my buckets and luggage. I have a wardrobe, a short bookcase, a table with my electric stove on it, and two bright blue plastic lawn chairs. There are lots of holes and cracks and ripped-off paint spots on my walls so I am thinking about having my walls "smeared" (which involves wet mud and cow poop) and painting them, but I need some advice and help with the smearing... obviously. I'm also in the market for a cabinet for my food and a dining table.
During the week I usually wake up anywhere from 6-7am depending on what time I need to be in town. I boil water which takes a while because my stove is pretty slow, and then have some English Breakfast Tea and oatmeal. Then I'll get dressed, pack my bag, pack a lunch, empty my pee bucket outside, and leave for town. It's about a 5-minute walk down the hill to the road (usually 10 minutes in the opposite direction going up the hill), then I wait for a taxi to take me into town (about an 8-minute drive). While walking through my village and waiting at the bus-stop, I have to greet every person I pass or meet in Sesotho--"Hello, how are you? I am fine, thank you." Some people stop me and ask me 20 questions--"Where are you from? Where are you going? What is your name? Where do you live? Who do you live with? Where do you work?" etc. Sometimes it goes on for a long time, but I have to greet people and answer their questions or else they will think I am rude. Eventually I either stop understanding their questions as they get more detailed or pretend to stop understanding. :) Sometimes kids ask me for candy or money too, but they're getting better in my village.
In town I have meetings scheduled which sometimes happen. I had two meetings scheduled today, but both women are out of town (hence the blog). I'll also usually check in at both of my jobs and talk to my supervisors to see what's going on or coming up. Last week, I gave my first presentation at a youth workshop. It was on "Decision-Making Skills." Luckily, they were smart and older kids so they understood English. Sometimes I go on "outreaches" with PSI where we go to rural villages to test people for HIV and give them counseling and information. Because my Sesotho is limited though, there's only so much I can do on the outreaches. It's more for me to observe and see more of the country. When I'm in town I also do my grocery shopping or meet up with other volunteers or ex-pats when they are in town.
I usually head back home mid-to-late afternoon before it gets dark. At home I'll do some cleaning or just relax depending on the day. I'll cook dinner in the evening. After dinner I have a lot of alone time, unless I hang out with my ntate-moholo or neighbor. In my free time I like to write and read, and I do yoga a couple nights a week when I'm good. I listen to my CDs or the radio sometimes too (Durban, SA radio!). If I'm feeling productive I'll study Sesotho or prepare for future presentations. I usually go to bed around 10:30 or so.
On the weekends I sleep in and take it easy--I'll usually do some laundry if it's sunny. Sometimes I visit other volunteers, sometimes I go for a walk or a hike. The weekends are awesome for reflecting on the previous week and preparing for the week ahead.
So that's pretty much my life these days. Hopefully things will get a bit more interesting after lockdown and "In-Service Training" at the end of November.
I've included my address in my Profile if anyone wants to send me letters or packages. A big THANK YOU to those of you who have thought of me already. I love hearing from you and getting mail! :)
I live in my own rondavel on my ntate-moholo's family compound (host grandfather). My rondavel is made of stones on the outside, and my walls are made of mud and dung on the inside. Inside my house I have a bed propped up on some cement blocks so there is storage room underneath my bed where I keep my buckets and luggage. I have a wardrobe, a short bookcase, a table with my electric stove on it, and two bright blue plastic lawn chairs. There are lots of holes and cracks and ripped-off paint spots on my walls so I am thinking about having my walls "smeared" (which involves wet mud and cow poop) and painting them, but I need some advice and help with the smearing... obviously. I'm also in the market for a cabinet for my food and a dining table.
During the week I usually wake up anywhere from 6-7am depending on what time I need to be in town. I boil water which takes a while because my stove is pretty slow, and then have some English Breakfast Tea and oatmeal. Then I'll get dressed, pack my bag, pack a lunch, empty my pee bucket outside, and leave for town. It's about a 5-minute walk down the hill to the road (usually 10 minutes in the opposite direction going up the hill), then I wait for a taxi to take me into town (about an 8-minute drive). While walking through my village and waiting at the bus-stop, I have to greet every person I pass or meet in Sesotho--"Hello, how are you? I am fine, thank you." Some people stop me and ask me 20 questions--"Where are you from? Where are you going? What is your name? Where do you live? Who do you live with? Where do you work?" etc. Sometimes it goes on for a long time, but I have to greet people and answer their questions or else they will think I am rude. Eventually I either stop understanding their questions as they get more detailed or pretend to stop understanding. :) Sometimes kids ask me for candy or money too, but they're getting better in my village.
In town I have meetings scheduled which sometimes happen. I had two meetings scheduled today, but both women are out of town (hence the blog). I'll also usually check in at both of my jobs and talk to my supervisors to see what's going on or coming up. Last week, I gave my first presentation at a youth workshop. It was on "Decision-Making Skills." Luckily, they were smart and older kids so they understood English. Sometimes I go on "outreaches" with PSI where we go to rural villages to test people for HIV and give them counseling and information. Because my Sesotho is limited though, there's only so much I can do on the outreaches. It's more for me to observe and see more of the country. When I'm in town I also do my grocery shopping or meet up with other volunteers or ex-pats when they are in town.
I usually head back home mid-to-late afternoon before it gets dark. At home I'll do some cleaning or just relax depending on the day. I'll cook dinner in the evening. After dinner I have a lot of alone time, unless I hang out with my ntate-moholo or neighbor. In my free time I like to write and read, and I do yoga a couple nights a week when I'm good. I listen to my CDs or the radio sometimes too (Durban, SA radio!). If I'm feeling productive I'll study Sesotho or prepare for future presentations. I usually go to bed around 10:30 or so.
On the weekends I sleep in and take it easy--I'll usually do some laundry if it's sunny. Sometimes I visit other volunteers, sometimes I go for a walk or a hike. The weekends are awesome for reflecting on the previous week and preparing for the week ahead.
So that's pretty much my life these days. Hopefully things will get a bit more interesting after lockdown and "In-Service Training" at the end of November.
I've included my address in my Profile if anyone wants to send me letters or packages. A big THANK YOU to those of you who have thought of me already. I love hearing from you and getting mail! :)
3 comments:
hi teen. i love reading your blog and learning about your new life in Lesotho. I am so happy that life is settling in. keep writing and i will keep enjoying reading.
hi teen! wow...i dont know what else to say, other than your amazing! right now, it sounds like you have a pretty sweet life! I love you tons!!! MUAH!!
Hey xtina! Glad you're doing well out there and I'm enjoying the blog.. even if I haven't checked it as much as I should have. :)
Can I send you a fresh bucket or something?
-Chris
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