Ke tla lula mona ka lilema tse pedi! “I will stay here for
two years.” Its real! It has officially set in that this will be my new African
life! I spent the last week in the district of Mafeteng at my site that Peace
Corps has matched me with. It is here in the small rural village of Ha Khoro where I will reside for two years come
December 18th! It’s a big deal and I am quite excited. I spent the
weekend at a workshop where all the volunteers that are to be living in
Southern Lesotho got to meet their counterparts (principal of the their school
and their “introductory liaison”) and do work-shop things. It was quite helpful
to both be on the same page as to what they know and expect from us as
volunteers at their school. My principal, N’tate Romalula, thought I was from
the UK...well at least it’s kinda close to the USA?? Ha! But nonetheless my principal
rocks. Seriously, his energy and enthusiasm for shaping the youth of Lesotho is
contagious. He has a big ol’ smile that radiates into everyone-not to mention
he is quite handsome and alllll the BoM’e just giggle when they are around him.
During the training workshop both my counterparts where very involved and
opinionated; I liked and appreciated that a lot. I really enjoyed knowing they
advocate for public schools and not church schools because they do not address
the factuality of premarital sex and the spread of HIV. I have a good group-it’s gonna work out guys!
N’tate Paseka, myself, and N'tate Romalula
I was introduced to all the students at a surprise assembly
and I feel very welcomed. The gospel and school choir sang. They can harmonize
without an effort I swear. It’s beautiful. All the students are very excited to
see me but don’t really know what to think yet, as I am the first volunteer at
this school. Khoro high school is only two years old and has just Forms A and B
(equivalent to Freshman and Sophmore) but has 223 students with only six
teachers..yeah needless to say the classes are BIG with around 50 students in a
class. Next year we are adding Form C and are expecting 100 to 150 more- not
sure how its going to work out! I have bonded with the teachers already and
they seem genuinely pumped that I am there, can speak Sesotho (although its
minimal at the point they keep reiterating how well I can already speak so that
makes happy inside), and that I am active and involved in life. I have already
been training with our girls’ track team and got my but kicked in sprints. Damn
they are fast! Apparently once of the girls has the second best time for the
200m in Lesotho. The connection I felt with the girls while we were stretching
together after and huddleded with our arms around one another was honestly so
touching I can’t find words. Wedesday and Friday are “sports day” at Khoro and
classes end early to play organized volleybol, futbol, track and field, and
netbol. N’tate Romalula says that participation in sports is just as important
as classroom subjects because it teaches students how to learn new things and
the concept of training to get better at something. I couldn’t agree more! Lots
of effort, money, etc has been allotted to sports and areas such as a school
kitchen, library, crops and livestock (as we have an agriculture class) are
lacking so I find this all…interesting. We shall see what can be done as all
the teachers and I have lots of ideas for secondary projects during my stay.
Ha Khoro High School
The view from my front door. We have 2 doinkis and 9 sheep!
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I felt very uplifted after speaking to our science teacher,
N’tate Pati, about his gratitude that I will be teaching “life skills” to
students as it has not been taught to them yet due to lack of teachers. He
shared a story with me about how devastated he was when he heard of one his
best Form A students drop out of school due to teen pregnancy and he wants his
students to know sex is a choice. We spoke of the high rates of HIV infection
and drug/alcohol abuse and how they are directly correlated with lack of
self-confidence. I had another teacher, Albert, ask me about how he can loose
weight and if I could run with him in the mornings and create and diet and
exercise plan for him…I had to chuckle a little as I am not to confident in my
personal trainer skills..but it just brings to my attention how certain things
we learn in one life are not common knowledge to those living a different life.
We discussed carbohydrates, sodium and salt intake, and exercise. However,
Albert stated that he is aware that papa (the stable corn meal here) is all carbs
and has little nutrients, but it is what Basotho eat to “fill their stomachs.”
So it is hard in Lesotho; it is difficult to be educated because one can feel
frustrated with the limited resources available to them. But with these
resources we have here-we get and stay healthy by being conscious and creative.
For the record: I get to keep my name Mosa, have been nicknamed
“Sasa,” changed my last name to Hlalele, and I am now a member of the Bataung
clan- directly translated to “Place of the Lion People.” The chief herself has
changed her name to Mamosa-“Mother of Mosa.” She is a female chief and the
strongest-yet-so-kind looking woman I have seen..I swear she is in her 80’s and
works in the fields every day. I feel very safe and loved in her presence. As
for now I go back to more training in Ha Motobesuane where I will practice
teach at Pukane high school and live with my Makheta family. So far we have
learned a lot: how make keyhole gardens, teaching aids with local resources,
everything there is know about AIDS and on and on. This next month I will gain
the skills I need and want to teach effectively at Khoro High to live up to the
expectations the teachers have of me. At the moment life is bitter sweet; I am
elated that I like my new site but I will miss my Makheta host family dearly.
We have grown quite close-especially my M’e and sister, Morakane. I guess I
will have to visit them!
Making a keyhole garden for our community
Family plus M'pho all dolled up and ready for church + |
Bana hanging out in our training village. All smiles.
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