Even in Peace Corps, being an artist has its advantages and disadvantages. It’s obnoxious when people ask me to paint their portraits—for free, of course. And every other time I visit Maseru, Lesotho’s capital, someone in Peace Corps nonchalantly asks me to draw or design something for them like it’s a small, effortless task. Depending on the situation, the project, the person asking, and my mood, I’ll accept or refuse. Lately, people want me to make a card which I often refuse to do.
Luckily, Becky, a PCV in Teyateyaneng (or TY), got me on a good day. She asked me to paint a mural on a wall at her high school, and I agreed because all the supplies were purchased and some of my favorite PCVs live in TY. I only had a week to design it before I started painting so I kept it simple and flexible. It took about 5 days to paint with the help of some friends. I painted during the school break so there were no kids on campus, but busloads of Basotho “Anglican Mothers” showed up one day for a convention. That kept things interesting. The day they arrived I was painting in my soccer shorts with a male PCV so I’m pretty sure all the old women thought I was a slut. I wore my paint pants for the remainder of the week though (yup, still got ‘em!).
After a week of painting I was exhausted, but it felt amazing to finish something. Projects move unbearably slowly in Lesotho, and that can be discouraging. For example, introducing Life Skills into the high school curriculum in my village is still in progress two months after school started. Having a project with a tangible end-product in a reasonable amount of time has proved to be uplifting as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I’m grateful to be an artist in that respect. After completing the mural, I returned to Qacha’s Nek with renewed vigor and motivation. Although I’m still working with the high schools, the Youth Club in my village will be my main priority for the rest of the month. I think they can help to keep my spirits high. I’m also going to start working with a new youth group in a nearby village. Nothing like a little painting to get me back on my feet!
Luckily, Becky, a PCV in Teyateyaneng (or TY), got me on a good day. She asked me to paint a mural on a wall at her high school, and I agreed because all the supplies were purchased and some of my favorite PCVs live in TY. I only had a week to design it before I started painting so I kept it simple and flexible. It took about 5 days to paint with the help of some friends. I painted during the school break so there were no kids on campus, but busloads of Basotho “Anglican Mothers” showed up one day for a convention. That kept things interesting. The day they arrived I was painting in my soccer shorts with a male PCV so I’m pretty sure all the old women thought I was a slut. I wore my paint pants for the remainder of the week though (yup, still got ‘em!).
After a week of painting I was exhausted, but it felt amazing to finish something. Projects move unbearably slowly in Lesotho, and that can be discouraging. For example, introducing Life Skills into the high school curriculum in my village is still in progress two months after school started. Having a project with a tangible end-product in a reasonable amount of time has proved to be uplifting as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I’m grateful to be an artist in that respect. After completing the mural, I returned to Qacha’s Nek with renewed vigor and motivation. Although I’m still working with the high schools, the Youth Club in my village will be my main priority for the rest of the month. I think they can help to keep my spirits high. I’m also going to start working with a new youth group in a nearby village. Nothing like a little painting to get me back on my feet!
8 comments:
Teen...I would die to see you in those paint pants again. It brings tears to my eyes. I'm glad that you got to do a little bit of what you love and I'm sure it was the most beautiful mural ever!! I LOVE YOU!
I like how you incorporated the flag's colors into the overall palette!
I'm going to hold off on my mural requests until I know it's safe...
that is awesome! i wish the side of my house had some original artwork on it, what's the going rate for that in rand? :)
considering the rand to dollar exchange rate these days, there are a lot of zeros at the end of that number.
Miss you! Did you get my halloween costume I sent you?
SA
Oh I miss the paint pants! The mural looks great!
Lumela,
This is Me Marethabile who with my husband, Ntate Khotso, were the PCVs who lived and worked at the Qachas Nek FTC from 1999-2001. In 2002, we re-upped for PC and went to Panama for a stint there. Both experiences were just incredible. We now live on a small island off the coast of Panama and ran into your friend Piper who is the new PCV here. She gave us your info and thought we just had to get in touch. Things happen for a reason even though we don't know what that reason might be. Anyway, we loved your website and hope you'll give our regards to everyone at the FTC where we lived and worked and everyone in the PC office. I know most have come and gone but perhaps there is still someone who remembers us. We miss them all and hope one day to make it back there. Thanks for helping out with the AIDS issues there. We knew it was long overdue and that it would be an uphill battle. Do you need Oreos? Crest Toothpaste? or just hugs? You got 'em....Karan and Willy Schreiber
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