Seasons of Change

Hardships here in Lesotho that are tough to swallow. I struggle seeing the pain in some of my students’ eyes as some of them fall victim to harassment, rape, abandonment, and various diseases. It’s difficult to watch them have to be so strong. I know if I were handed situations such as theirs, I would just crumble. But not here-nope-they have to keep their heads up, walk hours to go to school, find money somehow, find fire wood to cook papa, fetch water from the cilibeng, tend their gardens, feed their younger siblings..all with the hope in their minds that this education will pay off and lead them to opportunities for success. Yes, the longer I am here the more of these scaring experiences I will witness but I like to see it rather that I get to be part of their healing processes. I get to be here for my students and friends and support them through these devastations and for this I am forever grateful.

This being said-my life here is not depressing at this first statement I have made, for I have learned many cool new life lessons here. The other day I was slowly walking up the gentle slope to my home from school. I wasn’t walking with the slightest haste, hungry but not urgently hungry, tired but not exhausted, just reflecting back on my day of teaching at school.. We teachers held an hour meeting at school to discuss the punishment for the students who lead a food strike at school before winter holiday, arriving at one or two points with every point being meticulously clear by “once-thought” painstakingly slow speech. I left school with most of my lessons plans written for the next day, however, I wasn’t too worried about what exactly it was that I was going to teach. Even though I love those ten minutes right after a long day at school where I get to just be inside, alone, decompress..I not longer felt this hurry to get home. I just put one foot in front of the other and partook in every opportunity that crossed my path. I stopped to watch the chickens forage in the mangy heaps of cow and donkey dung, practiced my Sesotho with a gang of primary school boys that were on their way to play some after-school futbol, and spoke with one of my students about his cool toy car that is pictured below. It was like life here has finally clicked and fell into place. My American angst is fading and a most relaxed, patient, version of myself is taking form. I can now truly enjoy the words from the wise (a former education PCV who lived in a neighboring village in Lesotho several years ago) that are as follows: “Enjoy the pace of life - it'll never be that chill again.” When I read this in our monthly Volunteer newsletter I just chuckled and continued reading. But no joke, as I walk home with my Basotho pace from school, I could not agree more with her. This life, the life of no appointments to run and do after work, no places to have to drive to and meet someone (with what car?), really enables me to embrace every moment that I have.

Rethabile and his very cool up-cycled toy car

Ntate herding his cattle in Morija

We have a new young male science and maths teachers (yip yip-I’m no longer the rookie teacher!) who is joy to be around. Electricity is well underway. We have had a million school trips to other schools where we participated in quizzes, debates, competitions, etc. I spent a week at a Grassroots Soccer SKILLZ Girl training with my Mosotho counterpart, M’e Matlotliso, whom happens to be the cook at my school. Her and I are to implement this 12 session program at our school that educates young women about their rights to life choices that can empower, protect, and encourage them to live a happy healthy life. The program parallels challenges faced in girls’ lives to those on the soccer field. So far its been a gang of fun-it’s rewarding knowing that these girls feel they are in safe place during practice and allowing them to discuses topics on their own. One of my favorite moments was hearing the passion behind one our students’, Limpo, voice as she told the group that not only men can propose love-women have voices too! It.was.awesome. The season of change is upon us here in Ha Khoro- and I’m not just talking about all the peach blossoms and electric green buds on the Willow trees.

Three Form C students as they celebrate their success at an Agriculture Fair

(Jon, Me Matlotliso, Cassie, Grace, and I at GRS training)      

After we had our big huge Farewell ceremony for our Form C students as the sit to write their big national exams in a month (huge party-we slaughtered four sheep for the occasion!) we break for a week from school and four other volunteers and I are off to trek some 200 kms through the mountains to end at the iconic Semongkong Waterfall in Lesotho. Should be fun and difficult. I am looking forward to getting out and fully surrounded by nature, sleep under the most brilliant stars ever seen (no light pollution here), eat nothing but oatmeal, peanuts n raisins, and hang with some good o’ Americans.

Traditional dances performed by our students. SO COOL!!