Lesotho Update #3

March 17th, 2006

That’s it, I’m giving up on my own e-mail address. It’s not working at all. From now on, messages will go through Matt and come to you all.

Today’s my third full day in Lesotho. I’m still really enjoying myself. The best thing of all is the people. They are so kind, smiley, friendly and inquisitive. Everyone wants to know ‘Where are you going?’

Last night, I had a wonderful, clear conversation with Matt all the way in Canada. There was no delay and it was amazingly clear. I was shocked. He gave me a lot of confidence in the remainder of my journey, but knowing that it was the last time we’d talk for at least six weeks was difficult. I am very used to having him around every day. I do have some wonderful letters from him to open weekly, though.

Today was a pretty funny day. I woke up at 8:30 a.m. after falling asleep after 2 a.m. Last night, I had decided that I would not be heading to Ficksburg, South Africa until Saturday. That way Mel, who is familiar with Lesotho, can come with me. We will be able to eat a salad, which is exciting because you are strongly advised against eating any leafy veggies in Lesotho, due to debatable fertilizer conditions. So, I had another day in Leribe. It was a damp day, periodic showers that cooled my sweaty body off. I’m walking around so much with a huge backpack, and need the rain! I was given two missions for the morning, to head downtown and mail two letters and pick up thirteen umbrellas. The letters are from the St. Mary’s girls for their sponsors in Canada and the umbrellas are also for them. There are sixteen of them, and they only have three umbrellas. They were send home from school yesterday for being soaking wet.

I headed downtown (a fairly liberal title for it!) and took photos as I walked, lots of people were interested in having their photo taken, and called to me as I walked! I checked out umbrella prices at the booths set up on the side of the road. As I approached the post office, I noticed there was a huge group of elderly folks standing on the steps. I walked into the open door and noticed that there were dozens more people sitting inside on the benches in the post office. Their heads were all bowed in prayer, and a woman looked up at me and gave me a sign of the cross. I quickly bowed my head too. The prayer was long, but when it finished, I joined what I thought was a line. The gentleman at the counter beckoned me over and told me that the people inside were waiting for money and doing a prayer of thanks for that. The staff of the post office all came out to meet me. What a happy, welcoming place!

After I’d successfully joined an impromptu prayer group and mailed the letters, I continued comparison shopping for umbrellas. It turns out that the roadside stands have the best price (20 rand per umbrella – about $4 Canadian). No one stand had 13 umbrellas, so I divided my purchases between three happy sellers. By the time I had finished (and communicated the concept of a receipt to each one), I had 13 umbrellas hanging off my arms. And then, it started to rain. Good, you think, lots of shelter from the rain. But alas, I could not even maneuver the opening of a single one, as it was a careful balancing job. I must have looked really cool traipsing down the road with umbrellas hanging off every part of me, and getting soaked by the rain (“pula” in Sesotho).

I had lunch with Carolyn at her home on the outskirts of town. While we were walking there, we passed the health clinic that includes the Tsepong Clinic (an AIDS clinic run by Ontario doctors and featured recently on “The Nature of Things” and in “Walrus” magazine). I was very interested, so we peeked in. It was extremely busy, so we didn’t stay. At Carolyn’s, we worked on some finances for the 140+ sponsored orphans. We had a mix match lunch of spaghetti, frozen veg (she has a fridge) and canned tuna. Yummy and PROTEIN!

Tomorrow, I will be off to Ficksburg for a shopping trip for soccer balls. I have just been informed that I need to bring rat poison into the mountains. So, another thing to buy in Ficksburg!

I hope I’ll be able to e-mail once more before I’m up to Mahlekefane to teach. If I don’t however, I’ll tell you my stories when I’m back, I promise!

Thanks again for all the wonderful e-mails, support and donations!