Since becoming settled in my new home I can't help but take note of the many differences between by morning routine here in Lesotho compared to that in America. I will now share those differences with you fine people :)
~I wake up to the buzz of flies and the crow of roosters instead of to an alarm.
~I wake up hours early vs. minutes late.
~I drink instant coffee instead of the real stuff (although sometimes I do splurge).
~I look out the window at a mountain vs. a manicured golf course.
~I watch herd boys go by instead of golfers.
~I listen to O FM "The Sound of Your Life" instead of watching the Today's Show.
~I talk to Fetus, the dog rather than my boyfriend.
~I ALWAYS take the time to fix breakfast vs. relying on a last minute Starbucks run.
~I do my dishes vs. doing my hair.
~I apply sunscreen vs. makeup
~I get dressed in the same clothes I've worn for days vs. a fresh, clean outfit.
~I have a 20 minute hike down the mountain to get to work vs. a 5 minute drive or bike ride.
~Once at work I listen to Sesotho rather than speaking English.
~I rarely have a schedule or agenda to follow vs. having every minute accounted for.
~I maybe work 2-3 hours a day vs. always working 8 or more.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Top 10 Reasons to Love Your Pit Latrine
These are in no particular order, and I wanted to include a picture, but it's not happening today.
*You can't stink it up because it already smells.
*You don't have to worry about flushing with your foot vs. your hand to avoid germs....you just don't flush.
*You can see what's happening in the yard through the crack in the door.
*It's self cleaning...the lizards eat the bugs.
*You can flush anything down it; tin cans, wine bottles, whatever....although I don't.
*No water is wasted.
*The toilet will never flood.
*No one can hear you pee.
*There's great ventilation through the holes in the walls and ceiling.
*You don't have to worry about dropping something in and having to fish it out. Once it falls in it's gone forever! Unless it's Rusty's torch and then your host family will fish it out and give it back to you in the morning!
*You can't stink it up because it already smells.
*You don't have to worry about flushing with your foot vs. your hand to avoid germs....you just don't flush.
*You can see what's happening in the yard through the crack in the door.
*It's self cleaning...the lizards eat the bugs.
*You can flush anything down it; tin cans, wine bottles, whatever....although I don't.
*No water is wasted.
*The toilet will never flood.
*No one can hear you pee.
*There's great ventilation through the holes in the walls and ceiling.
*You don't have to worry about dropping something in and having to fish it out. Once it falls in it's gone forever! Unless it's Rusty's torch and then your host family will fish it out and give it back to you in the morning!
No pics again :(
I'm trying to post pics again, and it isn't working. Not sure why. I'll post some on Facebook and try again in the morning. Sorry guys!
February a Month of Visits
HAPPY B-DAY DAD AND HAPPY V-DAY EVERYONE!!! Thanks so much for all of the packages and letters. I'm convinced that I've got the most devoted friends and family around. I am receiving both packages and letters at the new address in two weeks!!! Thank you again for all of your love and support, it truly brightens my days here!
February so far has been consumed with visits of all kinds. I spend my week days touring the Leribe distircit, one ECCD center at a time. Once in a while a visit gets canceled at the last minute, or traded for a home visit with a teacher to drink coke, eat, and socialize instead. I take these variations in scheduling as they come, and try to view the time as cultural learning opportunities. I am extremely grateful to finally be visiting the schools that I will be working with. If these visits get off track once in a while I have to remind myself to be happy that I'm being shown around at all. Finding the silver lining in things is something I find myself doing on a very regular basis in Lesotho. Positive things happen to positive people and I challenge myself to stay optimistic even during the most frustrating of situations.
My weekends have also been filled with visits. These visits to fellow PCV's, although expensive at times, are necessary for my sanity. PCV gatherings allow me perks that aren't available at my site. These include, but are not limited to, washing machines, internet access, movies, t.v. shows, new music, meat in meals, and good old fashioned companionship. I look forward to these visits as they break up the monotony of the weeks. I haven't had this many slumber parties since junior high!
The month of March will be filled with more school visits. On the 21st all of the ED 10 group will reconvene in Maseru for more training, and then off to Durban for our first official vacation! We'll no longer be on "lock down" so I'll be able to travel to Maseru to use the VRC (volunteer resource center) for reliable internet access and thus more consistent blog updates.
Enjoy your hot showers while I struggle to keep my feet clean!
~Haley
February so far has been consumed with visits of all kinds. I spend my week days touring the Leribe distircit, one ECCD center at a time. Once in a while a visit gets canceled at the last minute, or traded for a home visit with a teacher to drink coke, eat, and socialize instead. I take these variations in scheduling as they come, and try to view the time as cultural learning opportunities. I am extremely grateful to finally be visiting the schools that I will be working with. If these visits get off track once in a while I have to remind myself to be happy that I'm being shown around at all. Finding the silver lining in things is something I find myself doing on a very regular basis in Lesotho. Positive things happen to positive people and I challenge myself to stay optimistic even during the most frustrating of situations.
My weekends have also been filled with visits. These visits to fellow PCV's, although expensive at times, are necessary for my sanity. PCV gatherings allow me perks that aren't available at my site. These include, but are not limited to, washing machines, internet access, movies, t.v. shows, new music, meat in meals, and good old fashioned companionship. I look forward to these visits as they break up the monotony of the weeks. I haven't had this many slumber parties since junior high!
The month of March will be filled with more school visits. On the 21st all of the ED 10 group will reconvene in Maseru for more training, and then off to Durban for our first official vacation! We'll no longer be on "lock down" so I'll be able to travel to Maseru to use the VRC (volunteer resource center) for reliable internet access and thus more consistent blog updates.
Enjoy your hot showers while I struggle to keep my feet clean!
~Haley
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)