Pictures!

Hey there!

I've taken lots of pix since I've been here and wanted to share some with you!


This cow wouldn't moooooooooove its behind from the path I take to go home.


My host siblings: Tsepiso (Tepy-saw), Rethabile (Reta-bee-lay), and Katleho (Kah-clay-o). Their names mean I promise, we are happy, and success, respectively. Love these kids!

 Reading, reading, reading!

This mani was inspired by this candy-cane flavored ChapStick bottle.


Loving these pink and purple sunsets. 

My Happy New Year Post!

The view of my new village, Ha Rametseliso (Ha Rah-met-seh-dee-so), from the top of the mountain I live on.

Hey everyone!

I trust that your holiday season has been joyous, loving, happy and merry.
Mine has been.
Had a very quiet, but beautiful Christmas. (I stayed in the village and gave small gifts to my host family.)
And I'm hoping to have a very slightly bubbly New Year's:)
Since the move to my new village about two weeks ago, I've settled-in, and spend a lot of time getting to know my new host family and village.
My days are spent reading, playing with my host brothers and taking in my scenic, lush village. I'm also still learning the language and meeting the villagers.
At night, I write, read some more, and surprise surprise, paint my beautiful nail beds.
It sure is nice to have a break. Lord knows I needed it after PST.
I start teaching Jan. 28 so until then, I will enjoy my time and try to blog a little bit more often (when I can get to the Internet cafe in town.)
Have a happy, prosperous New Year.

Much love,

Jiggetts

P.S. My new African name is Ausi Lerato Tsiane (See-ah-nee). I decided to keep the first name that my pre-service training host mother gave me and am taking the last name of my current host family. 

Living with the Chief was easy!

Chief 'M'e Matumo Thamahane and I at my swearing-in ceremony last week.

During my pre-service training, I lived with the chief of my small village, Hamabekenyane.
Her name was 'M'e Matumo Thamahane. (Note: 'M'e is like saying "Ma'am, Miss or Mrs.)
I really liked that the village chief was a woman.
'M'e Matumo's husband, like many of the men in Lesotho, is a miner and lives and works in South Africa most of the year. In such instances, their wives assume the chiefdom.
'M'e Matumo was cooler than a fan.
She was pretty normal: She ate cornflakes, placed a teddy bear that one of her daughters gave her as a gift in the middle of her made-up bed everyday and she loved sports.
After my long, intense days of language and culture training, 'M'e Matumo would cook for me.
She was an awesome cook and fed me HUGE portions of papa (a thick, grit-like dish) and meroho (greens) because "I was too skinny."
We'd spend the evenings watching the news and the African soap operas. (She was one of the few families in the village who had electricity.)
On the weekends, we'd kick back-I with a Maluti beer, she with a Black Label- and play cards and watch the futbol games with two of her four children.
Her team was the Orlando Pirates and we'd both go crazy when a Pirates player scored.
"Black or White, do or die!" I'd scream.
When I first met 'M'e Matumo, she called me a princess.
When pre-service training wrapped-up, I became very sad because it meant that I had to leave the woman who had truly treated me like one.
I miss her hospitality, good food and most importantly, her.
I think she misses me too.
The day after I moved out of her house, she called wanting to know why I hadn't called her.

It's Official: I'm a Peace Corps Volunteer!!!!

Hey everyone!

It's official: I swore in as a Peace Corps Volunteer on Monday! This has been a goal of mine for a long time and it feels so good to finally accomplish a personal goal! Yay!
I've moved to my new home: a rondavel in the Mafeteng district of the country. I'll be posting a couple of times a month, whenever I get to the camptown.
Thanks again for all your prayers and support and happy holidays!

Hugs and kisses,

Jiggetts

Happy December!

Happy December!

How are you all?
I have about a week left before I'm an official Peace Corps Volunteer and things are getting super busy.
I have to prepare for the up-coming swearing -in ceremony, study for my big language test and pack up my things for my move next week.
But I've been having fun. Here's a pictorial guide to what I've been up to in the past month or so:

Hiking in the national park:



Painting everybody's nails:





Eating traditional Basotho food of papa (a thick porridge), moroho (chopped spinach or cabbage), and nama (chicken or other meat). It's yummy!


Practice teaching:

I will be moving next week and my Internet access will be spotty. I won't be able to post as much, as I will be getting used to a new host family and community. I will post when I can. That said, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you for your support, prayers and most importantly, your love.

Hugs and kisses to you all,

Jiggetts