tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51374017117819397102024-03-25T02:10:02.254-04:00Life in Lesotho!A Peace Corps Volunteer blogs about life in the Mountain Kingdom. Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.comBlogger798125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-25391027660288352742014-11-21T00:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T15:58:00.598-05:00Leaving Lesotho<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i> </i><i>This season has been one of clarity and transformation, truly one of the best of my life. I'll always be grateful for my Peace Corps experience.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> When
I applied for the Peace Corps nearly three years ago, my recruiter said that my
application wasn’t strong enough. At the time, Peace Corps was suffering from budget cuts--resulting in few service opportunities--so in order for me to be competitive, I had a lot of work to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> My recruiter
advised me to take formal language classes, do more volunteer work and get more
teaching experience. I
had three months to get my act together. And I’m glad that I did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> My
experience in the Peace Corps has been some kind of everything –mainly
awesome—and I’m forever grateful for this season of growth, service and for the
rich and rewarding relationships that I was immersed in these days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> It’s
hard for me to believe that my time in Lesotho is up, though. Today is my last day of service and I am boarding a plane to America. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
joined Peace Corps to be of service to others, my way of thanking God for all my blessings. I didn’t know what to expect in
Lesotho, or what I was doing as I taught and served. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Funny thing is that I
learned and received way more than I taught and gave. I lived with a selfless
host family who wrapped me with tender arms of warmth, protection and love. My
host siblings –those little chocolate nuggets—and my host mom, colored my life,
kept me sane and ultimately alive during my time here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
worked with model Peace Corps staffers, supportive Peace Corps volunteers and
open-minded teachers who nurtured my vision and guided me to some kind of
greatness that I rarely felt before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
daily saw children – my beautiful, brilliant students—who embodied what
resilience truly is. My life brimmed with hope and meaning, even when my
American bank account fell below $25 USD.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Alas,
this milestone did not come without sacrifice. Every day, the sun acted as my
electricity. Sometimes, a baby wipe became running water. During brutal
winters, fleece blankets posed as central heating. The list goes on: bed bugs,
diarrhea, bad transport, lack of customer service, psychopathic teachers, and
homesickness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Back
home, I missed many engagements and weddings and births and birthdays. Haven’t
seen my loved ones in two years, and they were the ones who truly allowed me to
live out this dream with their words of encouragement, unwavering support, care
packages, cards and letters. My peace and bliss here were always their anxiety
and concern stateside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> To
their delight, I’m coming home soon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I’ll
be a much better version of myself than when I left, for *I* developed in a
developing country!! Ha! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> This experience has pressed a reset button in my life. My
vision, purpose and passion are clear. And this all-encompassing season in
Lesotho helped me to get there.</span></div>
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Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-11732670250715854522014-11-20T00:00:00.000-05:002016-01-12T20:24:06.768-05:00What I Will Miss About Lesotho<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh09e0r946eixkoiccheeL21Pd_ynae3IQtS5AIPnDn8dLu_2_B1eJ2Kb3YnVGsWIa_YmBPBEZ9yh1Au5MzE9dVE3OirlD5ROeQtut2T1dW1rw1B1KF4f4HDw1ufpy7lYF3GVAnoGPj9Kl/s1600/meandclass5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh09e0r946eixkoiccheeL21Pd_ynae3IQtS5AIPnDn8dLu_2_B1eJ2Kb3YnVGsWIa_YmBPBEZ9yh1Au5MzE9dVE3OirlD5ROeQtut2T1dW1rw1B1KF4f4HDw1ufpy7lYF3GVAnoGPj9Kl/s400/meandclass5.jpg" width="400" /></a><i><br /></i> <i>I will miss the children of Lesotho the most.</i><br />
<br />
Lesotho will always have a special place in my heart. It is the place where I finally felt that I was enough as a person. The place where I discovered my passion and purpose and how to combine the two. The place that changed my life for the better. For those reasons alone, I'll always have love for The Mountain Kingdom in the Sky, and there will be many things that I will always miss about Lesotho land.<br />
I'll miss the children, who were little pebbles, my rocks who unknowingly kept me grounded and lifted me when my spirits were down.<br />
I'll miss my host family, who held me down and lifted me up for two years.<br />
I'll miss the Peace Corps Volunteers, who heavily supported my craft project and water pump.<br />
I'll miss Peace Corps Lesotho staff, who were open enough to take chances with my far-left thinking and ideas, and guided me and doled out unwavering support.<br />
I'll miss village life: climbing that mountain to get home. Pumping my water. Boiling it to drink and bathe with. Cleaning my produce in my dish water. Washing my panties and socks in my just used bath water. Bucket baths. Pee buckets. Latrines. Talking freely about poop with other Peace Corps Volunteers. Reading by candlelight. Wearing the same clothes over and over and over again like I'm in college. Eating beans and rice so that I can have enough money to backpack all over southern Africa. Peace Corps parties. Surviving and thriving on $200 USD a month.<br />
My host siblings. Them karati-kicking the front door shut. <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Listening
to Famo music, South African house and classic Brenda Fassie music.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Washing
my dishes on the stoop behind my host family’s latrine.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Wrapping
beautiful pieces of fabric around my waste.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Playing
UNO and reading bedtime stories by flashlight.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Scrambling
to grab my solar chargers right before a big rainstorm.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Seeing
the Peace Corps Land Cruiser roar through my village.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The
kindness of strangers, especially that of Basotho women</span>. <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
host mom’s warm, soft bread.</span>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Baking
cakes for the kids on Sundays. Allocating
at least one day every two weeks or so to charge up all of my electronics.</span></div>
Donkeys. Cows. Wheelbarrows. Aloe trees. Mountains. Malealea Lodge. Maseru. Mafeteng. Craft markets. My students, who taught me more than I taught them. Good teachers. The Basotho, who taught me true generosity and kindness. Living off of the land. Pink and purple sunsets. Dirt roads. Clear air. Quiet moments. Solitude. Serenity. Peace. Giving a piece of my core. Peace from my core. Peace Corps. </div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-18898163202940011972014-11-19T00:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T17:46:23.933-05:00Backpacking throughout southern Africa!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
During my time in Lesotho, I've been fortunate enough to backpack all throughout the southern Africa region at places like Ladybrand, South Africa.<br />
Here are other places I've visited:<br />
<br />
Allover, Lesotho:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7p95zgx0k2_kaG-ZaNv2LYppnMO8VM0MTREFJtnFCvuSLtHm8mhNT5MxI2qO3rx822rK8u5OAWwyFoWmHUuyFGOnvLiUxIc2FQpJjAjKiz79ThJndYLV-DgY8eRhG0QIatrRKOcHeBZNL/s1600/meandrachel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7p95zgx0k2_kaG-ZaNv2LYppnMO8VM0MTREFJtnFCvuSLtHm8mhNT5MxI2qO3rx822rK8u5OAWwyFoWmHUuyFGOnvLiUxIc2FQpJjAjKiz79ThJndYLV-DgY8eRhG0QIatrRKOcHeBZNL/s320/meandrachel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>I'm here with my girl Rachel at the highest pub in Africa at Sani Pass in Mokhotlong, Lesotho. I've been to every district (state) in Lesotho except for two.</i> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2013/04/durban-south-africa.html">Durban</a>, South Africa: <i>This was my very first vacation as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I really liked the beach and the culture of Durban, the place Gandhi called home for nearly 20 years.</i><br />
<br />
Bloemfontein, South Africa: <i>I stayed in and out of Bloemfontein for medical and vacation. It's a nice city with lots of shopping and things to do!</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2014/01/cape-town-south-africa.html">Cape Town</a>, South Africa:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ps7hs_HzxxA" width="459"></iframe><br />
<i>Here's footage of the clouds blanketing Table Mountain during my trip to Cape Town, South Africa. It's an old video but I've finally uploaded it. Enjoy!</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2014/05/clarens-south-africa.html">Clarens</a>, South Africa: <i>Clarens was a nice little weekend getaway. The town is cute and quaint and filled with lots of little specialty shops.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2014/07/my-trip-to-mozambique-part-1.html">Mapoto </a><a href="http://make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2014/07/my-trip-to-mozambique-part-2-food.html">and</a> <a href="http://make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2014/07/my-trip-to-mozambique-part-3-videos.html">Tofo </a><a href="http://make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2014/07/peep-how-people-pee-here.html">Beach</a>, Mozambique: <i>Moz was niiiiiice, especially the beach and the fresh seafood! </i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2014/11/swaziland-part-1.html">Swaziland</a>: <i>I stayed in Lobamba about a 10-minute taxi ride from the capital, Mbabane.</i><br />
<br />
I traveled very cheaply, spending at least $300 USD on each trip. That allowed me to splurge on tasty food and cool crafts.<br />
My favorite places? Cape Town and Mozambique and Swaziland.<br />
I loved Cape Town for its diversity and vibe. There was something for everyone. And there were times when I felt like I was in New Orleans or Miami. Or Brooklyn.<br />
Mozambique was thee perfect getaway because I went the week after school had let out for winter break. It was a cold one and it was so nice to just chill on the beach. I loved Mozambique's tropical atmosphere, scrumptious seafood and the fabric!<br />
And I was just impressed with the infrastructure of tourist-friendly Swaziland.<br />
Traveling throughout this region was a dream, and satisfied my wanderlust!</div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-35572399573478115942014-11-18T00:00:00.000-05:002016-01-12T20:25:09.255-05:00Tips for a successful International Development Project (Part 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've worked very hard during my Peace Corps service. As a result, my school has received an income-generating craft project, a business plan, skills, a bank account, a Gmail account, a library and a water pump.<br />
What many of you don't know is that all of these projects came with hefty price tags: frustration, meltdowns and at some times, doubt.<br />
I didn't always work with some teachers who valued what I brought to the table. In fact, they constantly questioned my presence, experience and education. Very passive aggressively, of course.<br />
It hurt but I had to grow up and put things in perspective: I work for myself, the children and most importantly, God. That mindset, along with support from post staff, helped me to succeed in a hostile environment.<br />
If you are an aspiring Peace Corps volunteer or international developer, you might come across these situations, especially if you work with small micro enterprises.<br />
Here are some tips for you:<br />
<br />
<b>-Murder your counterparts: </b>Some of the people you work with might piss you the hell off! They might question your skills and credentials, try to make you feel like you're nothing. They might even be jealous of you. They might talk negatively of you in the mother tongue while you are in the room one minute, then compliment your hairdo the next. Hmph. Off with their heads! Besides, murder looks good on your resume.<br />
<br />
<b>-Hold your breath:</b> In developing countries, everything runs on time. Time is money and money is time. What takes one day to do in America takes one second to do in the Third World, especially when it comes to service projects. So hold your breath. It's the key to life.<br />
<br />
<b>-Don't have fun: </b>F-U-N. What's that? What's the point? It's just a three-letter word, OK? Don't do it. Life is much more colorful without it, and your service project will be, too. Fun is nothing but a bunch of F-U-N-K.<br />
<br />
<b>-Eat your counterparts:</b> If you can't murder them, eat them! My recommendation: dice up one jerk and throw in a three-legged pot with one litre of water. Add seven tablespoons of Mrs. Dash seasoning and enjoy!<br />
<br />
<b>-If all else fails, listen to Pharrell Williams' "Happy." </b>It'll ruin your life.<br />
<br />
<b>NOTE: </b>I wrote the above post out of frustration one brutally cold winter. It's strictly satire, OK? No one was murdered, eaten or died during the process of my service project. I did not hold my breath, well, I did, but only when teachers were using the pump for the first time. And I did have some fun.<br />
<br /></div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-23916965603040383362014-11-17T00:00:00.000-05:002014-11-17T00:00:00.976-05:00Tips for a Successful International Development Project (Part 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I first got to site about two years
ago, my school said that their main need was a water pump. They thought that it
would be a good idea to use profits from an income-generating craft project to
make the pump happen. They were right. In July, my school got its water pump. They
worked hard but they didn’t attain success on their own. Peace Corps
volunteers, staff and their friends and families bought lots of jewelry to help
make the craft project and water pump a success and a reality. I am forever
grateful for their support. I’ve compiled a list of things that helped me and
my school to have a successful international development and/or secondary project:</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Respect the culture.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Respect and accept the Basotho
culture as much as possible, even if you don’t agree with it. Time, for
example, stressed me out but I came to accept that meetings would never start
on time. Also, I’d push my school to work on grant applications at least three
months before the deadlines so we wouldn’t miss out on good opportunities. Work
little by little, one step at a time, and respect the culture.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Let your counterparts have ownership
of the project.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Simply put, let go. This will be hard to do but you must let your counterparts
do most of the work with you and Peace Corps’ guidance. This is a great way to
create sustainability for any secondary project. Everyone has something to
contribute and focus on people’s strengths. And help people help themselves.
Guide them, and then back off. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Find a healthy balance of communication.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Initially, my American assertive
aggression didn’t always mix well with the Basotho’s passive aggression. To solve
this problem, I’d discuss sensitive matters with my principal before staff
meetings and afterward, let her say it to staff in a way that wouldn’t offend
them. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Learn to work around difficult
people.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People aren’t always receptive to change, and
they won’t always fall at your feet neither. You’ll want to kill the haters (read:
psychopaths) at first, but then you’ll learn to just work around them. Haters
are going to hate but let them hate and let your work speak for itself. Forgive
them and continue to do the work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Put energy in all of the right places.</b> Your
counterparts will feed off of your energy, whether it is negative or positive. Check
your attitude and emotions. Feeling down? Go put all of that negative energy
into a grant application. Or a business plan. Or a Facebook page. And see how
far your project will flourish.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Don’t be afraid to ask for help. </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Reach out to Peace Corps, those books
in the Maseru VRC, the Basotho and other volunteers if you have questions.
Learn as much as you can. Research. Read. Ask questions. Utilize all of your
resources. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Know your role as a teacher or youth
advocate.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> That comes
first. Your project shouldn’t interfere with your primary duties.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Engage the kids!</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Utilize the skills and talents of
the children as much as possible, especially if you want to maintain and
sustain your project. They’ll be excited to help in any way so incorporate them
into the project as much as possible. This also creates sustainability.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Know your intent.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Know exactly why you are doing the
project. Really think about it. Is it for you, the children or the community?
You’ll come back to this when days get tough. And this will determine how much
commitment and support you get from your counterparts.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Have a sense of humor. </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes things will happen and all
you can do is just laugh! </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Don’t compete with other volunteers.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Help each other! Bounce ideas off of
one another. Your volunteers will be your strongest support system.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Have a life outside of your project.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It’s important and healthy to have
other interests and hobbies outside of your secondary project so you don’t go
insane.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Focus on small victories!</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It’s OK if your project doesn’t work
out because there’s a myriad of factors that go into project success. Just focus
on other things. You can make an impact in so many other, smaller ways. Tutor.
Teach ESL classes. Hold art classes. You don’t know who you’re impacting just
by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">being </i>here. So don’t be so hard on
yourself. Do your thing! You can make an impact in smaller ways through smaller
projects. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Have fun</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. Take advantage of all of this creative
control and freedom that you’ll likely have while working on your secondary
project. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Be thankful for the opportunity!</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Gratitude is always the best
attitude so be grateful for this unique opportunity to serve people and make a
difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Flourish in the dysfunction.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> You will have to function in
dysfunction and flourish. This is a very difficult thing to do but a very
important life skill that will always stick with you. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Be transparent.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Be honest with people. No one likes
a liar. Or a thief. Or a phony. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If all else fails, listen to “Happy” by
Pharrell Williams. </b>Yeah, it’s cheesy but who cares. This song got me
through some rough days. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truth is that working on this project
was one of the toughest parts of my service because of cultural differences,
money issues and haters (read: psychopaths.) Still, the school and I soldiered
on to success and the rewards have been very fruitful. There are many factors
that go into having a successful international development/secondary project and hopefully, some of these
tips will help you.</span></div>
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Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-63125706883794541272014-11-16T00:00:00.000-05:002014-11-16T00:00:00.345-05:00The Story Behind My School's Water Pump<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<img alt="waterpump1CROP.jpg" border="" height="301" src="https://www.nsu.edu/Assets/websites/news/images/2014/09/waterpump1CROP.jpg" title="" width="400" /><i> </i><br />
<i>A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into making this water pump a reality!</i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Story Behind the Pump</b></div>
Every
day during lunch break at school, I take a brisk stroll past the 6-foot
tall red water pump located on school grounds. I watch as my students,
many of them orphans, carefully pump water into their bottles and lunch
boxes. They used to hike half a mile up the mountain next to their
school to fetch water from the springs. Or, they’d bring water from
home, if their villages had pumps or taps. Now, they have a much more
accessible source of water with their pump on school grounds. And over
the past two years, they worked very hard with their teachers to make it
happen.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Success and Resourcefulness</b></div>
When
I first came to Lesotho in 2012, teachers at my school kept admiring my
earrings and necklaces. I offered to teach jewelry-making classes. As a
Peace Corps volunteer, I must do a service project with my community
involving some kind of skill or training. When teachers said they needed
water and wanted a pump, we all decided that’s where the craft classes
would come in handy: we’d start a craft project and put profits toward
the pump. With Peace Corps’ guidance and permission to invest $200 USD of my own money, I started the project.<br />
Every Tuesday and Thursday after school, teachers and I held craft
classes on jewelry making, crocheting and manicures. Later on, we added
classes on economic development and financial management to help
strengthen the business management aspect of the income-generating
activity. Within about a few months, we opened a bank account, created a
Facebook page and wrote a business plan. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Bringing the Pump to Lesotho </b></div>
We
placed our marketing materials all over Maseru, the country’s
capital, and in our shopping district. We partnered with area businesses
to increase sales, and used local and available resources to save
money. For example, students and teachers used old matchboxes to house
earrings.<br />
They also made beads and jewelry using candy sold in
village, old magazine paper, and clay from the mountain next to our
school and the national fabric of Lesotho. Our items were sold all
throughout the village, and country, thanks to friendly Basotho and
supportive Peace Corps volunteers and staffers.<br />
We participated in the Peace Corps Partnership Program, which helps
volunteers and their counterparts to design and manage community
projects. This meant that we had to raise $500 USD or 25 percent of the
cost for our pump, which would total about $2,000 USD. We did it easily
through fair trade business conducted on our Facebook page and through
other volunteers and their families back in America. <br />
My friends and family also donated to the project when Peace Corps put
it up on its website. A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer group from North
Carolina fully funded the project. We spent our portion on pump
expenses. Work on the water pump started in July and was completed in
August. Students made small thank-you gifts and notes to our donors and supporters and we sent those out shortly afterward.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Growing Pains </b></div>
This
project was not easy. I worked with a group of three women teachers who didn't initially believe in
the project. Sometimes the money
made from American orders was spent on other things, even though I encouraged
teachers to save their 25 percent of the partnership. I was accused of underpaying for jewelry and not bringing in enough profit from America (project revenues totaled around $1,100 USD.) The women often talked about me in Sesotho while I was in their presence; said I was an unqualified teacher, and questioned my presence in Lesotho. (This is the importance of knowing the Mother Tongue of the country in which you live and work!!!!!)<br />
Honestly, I wanted to murder a few of the Black Mambas I worked with. I couldn't always make sense of the difficult
times. But this is where I had to grow up. The Peace Corps made an
exception to make this project work, and I sacrificed so much. We all
did. You see, the pump was for my students, many of whom are orphans. If
I would've quit, it would've been their loss. So the teachers and I had to put our differences aside to come together in order to make the pump a reality.<br />
<br />
So, that’s the story behind the water pump. Despite all of our
differences, everyone came together to pull it off. I learned just as
much as I taught, and more importantly, the school — especially the kids
— accomplished their goal.<br />
The kids were a part of a creative
solution to a problem that plagues Lesotho and many other places in
Third World countries—lack of water. They did it with no electricity,
wireless access and a lot of determination.<br />
<br /></div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-30405366031173616472014-11-15T00:00:00.001-05:002016-01-13T14:58:00.919-05:00The Death of a Dog and the Treatment of Animals Here<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaKTn3b0_NultGLFuHn1n8ExyGrhzfMT42d9cEqUE1ObC2-uHcBfjCVi_JOb9trmwNnzijTn7aelkhY_7Cmjg1XeXCDsLztcGlPYLqOBbavO0GEzl9JLks0EIOYDUTSNzX6RRWK4f-N7G/s1600/lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaKTn3b0_NultGLFuHn1n8ExyGrhzfMT42d9cEqUE1ObC2-uHcBfjCVi_JOb9trmwNnzijTn7aelkhY_7Cmjg1XeXCDsLztcGlPYLqOBbavO0GEzl9JLks0EIOYDUTSNzX6RRWK4f-N7G/s400/lion.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<i><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">My dog, Lion, used to follow me everywhere, even to school. Sadly, he was recently poisoned to death by one of my neighbors.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"><i> </i>My host mother kept calling his name.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> "Lion!" She'd scream in her nasal voice. "Lion!" </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> I told her that our family dog,</span><a href="http://make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2014/09/lion-family-dog-world-wise-post.html" style="text-indent: 36pt;"> Lion</a><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">, had
probably ventured off with the boys, who’d gone down the mountain to grind
maize early that morning. It’s not unusual for Lion to follow the family when
we leave the house.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> “Don’t worry,” I reassured her.
“He’ll come back.”</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> But my host mom knew differently.
Lion had not eaten his breakfast or drank the water she pumped for him that
Saturday morning.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> “Something is wrong with Lion,”
she said.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> A little while later, she found
Lion splayed out on the ground nearly 30 feet away from our home. He was sick.
Poor thing had vomited, excreted and blood was streaming out of his testicles.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> My host mom tried to nurse him
back to good health with milk and a mixture of alcohol and water (a common way
to cure poisoning out here.)</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> Unfortunately, Lion did not make
it. He was 8 months old.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> This wasn’t the first time he was poisoned.
Several months ago, he was poisoned but he survived that bout.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> It’s common here for some people
to poison dogs, cats and other animals, especially if they are angry or jealous
with someone.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> And animal abuse is rampant in
Lesotho. Some Basotho beat their animals to keep them from venturing into other
peoples’ yards, where they could potentially be poisoned.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> That’s what my host family thinks
happen to Lion. We even suspect who did, it but with no real proof, nothing can
be done.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: 36pt;"> “God will take care of them,” my
host mom said of the perps.”And I will get more dogs.”</span></div>
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Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-59725358304373362362014-11-14T00:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T16:53:19.511-05:00Swaziland (Part 2: Lots of Pix and Video!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacfC0nwb6YzZJjoBwEOSmKy9oZBeBiNyQaZQHw8fIetzlBMqcvDI2mjr8EpKC3_r6cE_Lov7xCL3mj1wZT6AuPoTfgGAfmlkIqnYxWsG6oyoBWeZO5W6nBVu6x1BXKI4MqbiCChOFNWRi/s1600/gamedrive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacfC0nwb6YzZJjoBwEOSmKy9oZBeBiNyQaZQHw8fIetzlBMqcvDI2mjr8EpKC3_r6cE_Lov7xCL3mj1wZT6AuPoTfgGAfmlkIqnYxWsG6oyoBWeZO5W6nBVu6x1BXKI4MqbiCChOFNWRi/s400/gamedrive.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i style="line-height: 18.4px;">I'm getting ready to go on a game drive at the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the best parts of my Peace Corps service.</i><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px; text-align: justify;"><i>The park is buffeted by Mount Zimeba, where deceased members of the Royal Family are buried.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> One
of my favorite parts of this trip –and during my entire Peace Corps service--
was the Mliwane Wildlife Sanctuary, a 15-minute drive from the lodge. It’s one
of three game parks in the country, and a real treat to visit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Here’s
how my visit went:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Saw this colorful southern tree agama:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_bYhAaxVfvAt35ZvzvVOdtf9dfZANOzDZQLHWttMnKBO7jum5xpiDT20gOwlNNjvfujInQNkIS5dZVTvMLxNnn4howr_c-rIn3pFnoMWp26fyz1tZmUBZL3rYMb_2ff1oEipjAPvBIvv/s1600/agama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_bYhAaxVfvAt35ZvzvVOdtf9dfZANOzDZQLHWttMnKBO7jum5xpiDT20gOwlNNjvfujInQNkIS5dZVTvMLxNnn4howr_c-rIn3pFnoMWp26fyz1tZmUBZL3rYMb_2ff1oEipjAPvBIvv/s400/agama.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
saw nyalas, an antelope species:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLoAa7QGrvWt25bv_AcI8lHNypq4mSIiLqZEc4gXG2N7syiGFLSoQuMcCsqI-5y7-mALp3kVsrOWqGDPbJxMy3LxvD6Z7-Y5NXfHxPQzo-T3S2j0zcYJj6P3-_M59eg3_OFUTNED_Q3ck/s1600/nyalas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLoAa7QGrvWt25bv_AcI8lHNypq4mSIiLqZEc4gXG2N7syiGFLSoQuMcCsqI-5y7-mALp3kVsrOWqGDPbJxMy3LxvD6Z7-Y5NXfHxPQzo-T3S2j0zcYJj6P3-_M59eg3_OFUTNED_Q3ck/s400/nyalas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They were roaming free around the reception area at Mlilwane. </span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
scenery here was absolutely stunning!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjZvceCFnghDe9rzvClETTaLzRXvEk-X_DvYxv0K8uxfmzywv4fbskitI0dWiR-fRPyz9wmKsVLnuXeuV_a5C89EugBpxH8OsBabqcT8syKsE5BoA48ushcwOmy4lhqTvEj09WbBL7mId/s1600/scenery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjZvceCFnghDe9rzvClETTaLzRXvEk-X_DvYxv0K8uxfmzywv4fbskitI0dWiR-fRPyz9wmKsVLnuXeuV_a5C89EugBpxH8OsBabqcT8syKsE5BoA48ushcwOmy4lhqTvEj09WbBL7mId/s400/scenery.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They
had plenty of crocodiles, which are also known as or flatdogs or tingwenyas:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil093qygLg9mOdMZyduV0KN81OZC8EoDSTVf_4hA_g7a5E4fnbbWl819-pE16HsGscoNPoBFv4FGxmz6EJy4IKm4YbKDYtfinPzPuKv6lutsrcWBqoX-ovyeZmsbGm1rFsI8Jivf3isEMK/s1600/croc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil093qygLg9mOdMZyduV0KN81OZC8EoDSTVf_4hA_g7a5E4fnbbWl819-pE16HsGscoNPoBFv4FGxmz6EJy4IKm4YbKDYtfinPzPuKv6lutsrcWBqoX-ovyeZmsbGm1rFsI8Jivf3isEMK/s400/croc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">OK,
this was a scary moment for Narin and I! Mary decided to turn into Steve Irwin
when she spotted this bad boy from the other side of the pond. She found the
trail that led to his presence and snapped his photo, all but 5 feet away from
him!! I was scared as crap but followed suit!! Mary walked back but I ran away
after I got my shot. Didn’t want for the croc to see me play paparazzi! </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">OK,
this was one of the most fascinating things I’ve ever seen in my life. Just
peep this video and you’ll see why:</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/f6zwKOY4Pwo" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This was another one of my favorites. We were just walking on the trail,
minding our business when we came across a herd of zebras and antelope species.
We immediately stopped and got quiet. The herd was about 10-15 feet away:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Rm03RtscCloUV0jQtNWFlYFgnRLga4wbPkPy_XuSCPqG31X7N2NS1VV7Dufjw-CvIbJtrqJFBebaIhuJ7OBijMw5oxJCC_KqUKub_8j2DDb3Mkl-ZC5ZWNePIgB7hscy3IBrMZ_SeOd1/s1600/zebras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Rm03RtscCloUV0jQtNWFlYFgnRLga4wbPkPy_XuSCPqG31X7N2NS1VV7Dufjw-CvIbJtrqJFBebaIhuJ7OBijMw5oxJCC_KqUKub_8j2DDb3Mkl-ZC5ZWNePIgB7hscy3IBrMZ_SeOd1/s400/zebras.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here's some video footage of my zebra encounter:</span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/C8Xn2yhOWrU" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;" width="560"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lonely
monkey:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM10Cb5_OXeTxR6DIguI83KeMSgGgWq70xSUV8haYyYW9ixqcZcpAo_OiuWxGj6e8U-wELqZZjK_lluYBhj6IJMLW3IRnQIryqYfTd_cELTvfezvN3YTcFREHEq3fGq4Y0ZyhfcUBsDak2/s1600/monkies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM10Cb5_OXeTxR6DIguI83KeMSgGgWq70xSUV8haYyYW9ixqcZcpAo_OiuWxGj6e8U-wELqZZjK_lluYBhj6IJMLW3IRnQIryqYfTd_cELTvfezvN3YTcFREHEq3fGq4Y0ZyhfcUBsDak2/s400/monkies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m
sorry but these warthogs were so freaking ugly!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EkYmNuDfSaKTIkpxqD1SVS-KiGNxVJnGs-Py9kNxru-IXe65NoXqq3v2Gp6oWmLP7jcfcC-fxYR7gunjHTR4LeWzDz89z_Yz440a4GjWxImWY8m9050Rz3N1rcrd63LH80J99MH-8d9v/s1600/warthogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EkYmNuDfSaKTIkpxqD1SVS-KiGNxVJnGs-Py9kNxru-IXe65NoXqq3v2Gp6oWmLP7jcfcC-fxYR7gunjHTR4LeWzDz89z_Yz440a4GjWxImWY8m9050Rz3N1rcrd63LH80J99MH-8d9v/s400/warthogs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here
is a kudu:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqouQ6NkSkcObfOya_ouutgKAgfPVA9zte4CBvZsq96D_4RgDu3nMimnHpLT-EKFROKIdt4IYJqut_TG7abnx7ryuY1xdnIPscnfwkka9STU4tjCgWLZzra3nD3I7KAbDdOqPMO89wUzj3/s1600/kudu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqouQ6NkSkcObfOya_ouutgKAgfPVA9zte4CBvZsq96D_4RgDu3nMimnHpLT-EKFROKIdt4IYJqut_TG7abnx7ryuY1xdnIPscnfwkka9STU4tjCgWLZzra3nD3I7KAbDdOqPMO89wUzj3/s400/kudu.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>They are the third largest antelope species in the world, according
to the tour guide, Secelo.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here
is a blue wildebeest:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-G_m2VeMvoY8rRb3YAvEqAMg3mW9dVOof1RhH8RyZDi0X4avkSJ1kFgazEFF1ZfHqrr8FkDBECddsnB19DV87qubYAG12W4-yH5cd98XtnwkDeLQejN-x1NXH_RNOGIi4bF28B1Fc10K/s1600/wildebeest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-G_m2VeMvoY8rRb3YAvEqAMg3mW9dVOof1RhH8RyZDi0X4avkSJ1kFgazEFF1ZfHqrr8FkDBECddsnB19DV87qubYAG12W4-yH5cd98XtnwkDeLQejN-x1NXH_RNOGIi4bF28B1Fc10K/s400/wildebeest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>He is called “blue” because of his black tail and mane.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
tour guide was Sicelo:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRGA1CD4d-ximwCjLwBF0jVvfE1e2xII53MAUpaoCZWNHmwy0pjBzt-_Io0Xlw8qArpGI6lWkUSfGCKbEd23x7edKSeX6nzrtTDMKYJaP7b6dKBYtHvEj0HB0XQsUBRiS8Lx6Y_yAaw9y/s1600/cicelo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRGA1CD4d-ximwCjLwBF0jVvfE1e2xII53MAUpaoCZWNHmwy0pjBzt-_Io0Xlw8qArpGI6lWkUSfGCKbEd23x7edKSeX6nzrtTDMKYJaP7b6dKBYtHvEj0HB0XQsUBRiS8Lx6Y_yAaw9y/s400/cicelo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I think he was having an off day. You usually can
tell when someone’s not their best.</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Here are some other places I visited during my time in Swaziland:<br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here is a scene from a taxi stop in Lobamba:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gDH4_0mjCucPK_4riryMlbvW1ZNAjKvaye4OxDG0q_3BRUOj3Vd4xkxOaENE9_uA1btrLRDQlKgXnn4sgC8Tc9bDdH22am4GHdKAzBrtM9YHYE2vTcIAEgIE4eTS8eseYRjayiNdqSBq/s1600/taxistop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gDH4_0mjCucPK_4riryMlbvW1ZNAjKvaye4OxDG0q_3BRUOj3Vd4xkxOaENE9_uA1btrLRDQlKgXnn4sgC8Tc9bDdH22am4GHdKAzBrtM9YHYE2vTcIAEgIE4eTS8eseYRjayiNdqSBq/s400/taxistop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here
is the King’s office:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5SdfBTcZQLbQ1vApIIYkCMEKtUWXMOyKWUF0bu-af5cWseP8guUU-6bxENXw24QgNZ9Syov_R23Hs9eXfmfXB9gqWBA0AEV8GxSe4H5jr9EGJZ7dU-2esLvZPf7al2pm6Ue5r88goEQc/s1600/kingsoffice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5SdfBTcZQLbQ1vApIIYkCMEKtUWXMOyKWUF0bu-af5cWseP8guUU-6bxENXw24QgNZ9Syov_R23Hs9eXfmfXB9gqWBA0AEV8GxSe4H5jr9EGJZ7dU-2esLvZPf7al2pm6Ue5r88goEQc/s400/kingsoffice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Again, he’s a highly controversial figure because of his
politics and lavish lifestyle. </i></span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
visited the Swaziland National Museum:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmcLu5p-WBv58v7Hk018QjGFlNKt_qgRB-1iaogvGjulPQrMjEbTtfHrAJovgROVWWjdLc1OH1rIoDhoVJbahrC1o98Hwk8f97KX8G_N2odqWHkEI3nQD0XyFCtwCJy7SSdpdNJk3xI2w/s1600/museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmcLu5p-WBv58v7Hk018QjGFlNKt_qgRB-1iaogvGjulPQrMjEbTtfHrAJovgROVWWjdLc1OH1rIoDhoVJbahrC1o98Hwk8f97KX8G_N2odqWHkEI3nQD0XyFCtwCJy7SSdpdNJk3xI2w/s400/museum.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Here, I learned a lot about Swaziland’s
history and culture.</i></span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here
is an example of a traditional village that was on display at the Swaziland National Museum:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEgqr_LSShJFQrYJeFrkN460gHlGocQoC4ePB4YlzFou_hRr5yOvSRyQ1shySP-affZarUaIGeVbfobXjC37DzuQp7jidJ92hP2Ylt918-06-knh4fdANEd8L2i3aQMOWSMzojIwUi4oK/s1600/tradhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEgqr_LSShJFQrYJeFrkN460gHlGocQoC4ePB4YlzFou_hRr5yOvSRyQ1shySP-affZarUaIGeVbfobXjC37DzuQp7jidJ92hP2Ylt918-06-knh4fdANEd8L2i3aQMOWSMzojIwUi4oK/s400/tradhouse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><i>The houses are called beehives.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Currency in Swaziland is called emalangeni:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVdtcwBybAaiYy22EjY_aCesnElfc3JrKC0Kn9_27s4wPXPLFdGjn6X0KdvqvgsFHscwHKtfYkcSTBWBXtYn21haFUZuoQH9MbQmAjdTtXjz0lWgag2cMZy391U9HkcBXZzUpRvUXoZ2P/s1600/currency.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVdtcwBybAaiYy22EjY_aCesnElfc3JrKC0Kn9_27s4wPXPLFdGjn6X0KdvqvgsFHscwHKtfYkcSTBWBXtYn21haFUZuoQH9MbQmAjdTtXjz0lWgag2cMZy391U9HkcBXZzUpRvUXoZ2P/s400/currency.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>It’s equal to South African Rand. I loved the
scalloped-edge coins.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Internet Café in Mbabane offered video games and had many happy customers:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhrXh35dYxY4VacF0oSa8CbRQNbbtIL2i5bvNBIviQewcMyaI0HiErVFynR9ay7wv_mHrhbFUayZRsumaWw1mFGSz0LpxIEkoScfmtZHQm2dSFAJzuWDt6LZ0FHTQI0Z9c2KmeugryjGq/s1600/netcafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhrXh35dYxY4VacF0oSa8CbRQNbbtIL2i5bvNBIviQewcMyaI0HiErVFynR9ay7wv_mHrhbFUayZRsumaWw1mFGSz0LpxIEkoScfmtZHQm2dSFAJzuWDt6LZ0FHTQI0Z9c2KmeugryjGq/s400/netcafe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
were many, many paved roads!!!!!!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPpeEQ2pFNlQQ7c0s-FDKORm0Z9viNAYJsbYSsRN62PGF9WG3hOYRJmLHXflf_4Xy9tkQC6CjuTi0tqHlPLmZCbYzUZAl_HnFtnVPwY_DXqbzlWtM5KosmUS1HDZOGzVjp6Uj7D8o6_yc/s1600/roads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPpeEQ2pFNlQQ7c0s-FDKORm0Z9viNAYJsbYSsRN62PGF9WG3hOYRJmLHXflf_4Xy9tkQC6CjuTi0tqHlPLmZCbYzUZAl_HnFtnVPwY_DXqbzlWtM5KosmUS1HDZOGzVjp6Uj7D8o6_yc/s400/roads.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>This was a nice treat because Lesotho has lots of
dirt, rocky roads, even in the capital, Maseru.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
went out with a bang in Swaziland:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpueno4TSXpI5pdRl9P55xr75uvDclau2Dxw29XHrRSNaX9jsHn2rPNt8i199tgIOqC_QBJbeOrLs3HCN2T8CZEaoqMzar4cOdJFGsxdmdIJpwyeaHlwZoojMbzg5A3fElrsQiJ6Jw8VR8/s1600/casino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpueno4TSXpI5pdRl9P55xr75uvDclau2Dxw29XHrRSNaX9jsHn2rPNt8i199tgIOqC_QBJbeOrLs3HCN2T8CZEaoqMzar4cOdJFGsxdmdIJpwyeaHlwZoojMbzg5A3fElrsQiJ6Jw8VR8/s400/casino.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>The hotel across the street from The Gables
had a casino so of course, I went and had fun. I didn’t spend all my money
because I had to get back to Lesotho, but I still had a good time!!</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Overall,
I really enjoyed myself in Swaziland. There was so much to do and everything
was affordable and reasonable. I spent about $400 USD during my stay there,
money well spent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sources:</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Lonely Planet book and various Swaziland
tour books and brochures.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-66096394910693930802014-11-13T00:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T16:23:04.057-05:00Swaziland (Part 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrb4P2R9dOclbmVG67wsLuCy4HvKlTbA8F-1JBPz1To01eNNQB8Ux1wUprmMEI2pD97J-L852vXE-TjAel8-eN3PizHnWI3-WOKAHRt8ZOzEw3ra78qmW7Rga6mL3wDNk2bde9Q8bNgfg/s1600/memarynarin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrb4P2R9dOclbmVG67wsLuCy4HvKlTbA8F-1JBPz1To01eNNQB8Ux1wUprmMEI2pD97J-L852vXE-TjAel8-eN3PizHnWI3-WOKAHRt8ZOzEw3ra78qmW7Rga6mL3wDNk2bde9Q8bNgfg/s400/memarynarin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>I went to Swaziland with my buddies <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Narin and Mary. Here we are after climbing Sheba's Breast.</span></span></i><br />
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<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Swaziland! Swaziland!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Take my hand!</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Marry me now,</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh, Swaziland!</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Ok,
that was real, real corny but my recent trip to the tiny southern African
country has me going goo goo gah gah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
found the country to be an accessible tourist-friendly place where English was
widely spoken. The infrastructure, including many paved roads, accessible taxi
ranks and abundance of electricity, really impressed me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Bordered
by South Africa and Mozambique, the country has about 1.2 million people, and
gained its independence in 1968. Like Lesotho, Swaziland was a British
protectorate, and has a king, the very controversial <a href="https://www.google.co.ls/?gws_rd=cr,ssl&ei=ypJcVKHxJcnraM2agcgC#q=king+mswati+iii">King Mswati III</a>. The
country also has one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
ventured the country in late September/early October with two PVC friends, Mary
and Narin, the perfect travel companions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Take
a peek:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-I
stayed at the Lidwala Backpacker Lodge, a 15-minute taxi ride from the capital,
Mbabane. The lodge is in the city of Lobamba’s Ezulwini Valley. It’s reportedly
one of the fastest developing areas in the country.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<br />
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<i>The grounds of the lodge made me feel like I was in a tropical rain forest.</i> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-I
climbed Sheba’s Breasts on my second day there. The storybook trail started
behind the lodge and took about an hour to complete. I saw beautiful flora and
took in spectacular views, especially at the summit. The mountain’s twin peaks
are named after Queen of Sheba from Ethiopia. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-After
the hike, Mary, Narin and I went to the Ezulwini Craft Market, a 20-minute walk
from the lodge. The market was covered in blue and spanned at least one
football field. Of course, I was in heaven! Good thing is that I didn’t buy the
entire craft market because I came armored with a list – and a budget! I wanted
to have enough money for other activities later in the week. Yes, yes, my
friends, I’m growing up!</span><br />
<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuJVlE7gMZsn6x97X-6f6WnBf7A8ubRfqFdYfmXSCOuwBxihAdSheidbp1ybx2xXAmr3HpDKaSoTHv_yyLtPH4YEYmzRERRgCHzBeQS5CtcEZdo1GZv_3Of30SObGtYNOi2H0F6Qbol-H/s1600/craftmarket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuJVlE7gMZsn6x97X-6f6WnBf7A8ubRfqFdYfmXSCOuwBxihAdSheidbp1ybx2xXAmr3HpDKaSoTHv_yyLtPH4YEYmzRERRgCHzBeQS5CtcEZdo1GZv_3Of30SObGtYNOi2H0F6Qbol-H/s400/craftmarket.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>The craft market was HUGE, unlike any other one I'd seen in this part of the world. I was happy. Real happy.</i></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
couple of other tidbits:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On food: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
ate fruit for breakfast, and a lot of cheese and salami sandwiches for lunch
and dinner. I bought these items from a nice shopping complex called The
Gables, which was about a 30-minute walk from the lodge. I did splurge on a
nice glass of wine and lasagna at a nice hotel on my last day, though.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On transport:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I hopped on and off taxis when I wasn’t walking. They ran regularly until
around 8 p.m.-ish. The conductors and drivers spoke English and were friendly.
The taxis weren’t crowded like the ones in Lesotho, and one of them had a
TV!!!! At the taxi rank in Mbabane, the line going past my stop at the lodge
snaked around the building but moved fairly quickly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On Language:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
The Mother Tongue of Swaziland is Siswati, and I spoke it as much as I could. (Out
of respect, I always try to attempt to speak basic phrases in the language of
where I visit.) “Sawbona” is hello. “Yebo” is the response. “Malini” is how
much? Of course, the locals were happy that I at least tried to communicate
with them in their tongue. I did like that Siswati had some similarities to
Sesotho, the Mother Tongue of Lesotho. Swazis click on their c’s, while Basotho
click on their q’s. And Swazis say “lalela,” which means listen, while Basotho
say “mamela.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
can go on and on and on about Swazi but this will be all for today. Stay tuned
for part two tomorrow!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sources:</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Lonely Planet book and various Swaziland
tour books and brochures.</span></i></div>
</div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-49646276781085671782014-11-11T00:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T16:17:15.840-05:00Crazy Taxi Names!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"> Baby
boy. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"> Taliban. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"> Miami.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Some
of the taxis here have names that make you go hmmmmm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Case
in point:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">School
bus: </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2aQ18yNCdYAnx1GNcKSU12QEaSUQYpNONZ_0yvqHK0uPEqGOlWqE3c14ugxqMvhQ2mVRmBTlxw2tXImIR_4KHpGzW3pb2039SIeO1cgbCA4CNVberibYaXfoyI-OXsG6xY990_ayuNEF/s1600/schoolbus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2aQ18yNCdYAnx1GNcKSU12QEaSUQYpNONZ_0yvqHK0uPEqGOlWqE3c14ugxqMvhQ2mVRmBTlxw2tXImIR_4KHpGzW3pb2039SIeO1cgbCA4CNVberibYaXfoyI-OXsG6xY990_ayuNEF/s400/schoolbus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>This definitely is not the cheese bus I rode to school!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rich
and Famous: </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHjnXXk_hjGqAWIO4DFuyvgDB-H0edMBVBMlSx5LVrXQrIUd4s-PyETghgwkBXc1Y4YdG2vWQ2VhPh-_Q-majjX06NbKd4YNTkAOVK9nhaXbugONIANZnBMziO5PJvCgw2YCkCugtzHTr/s1600/rich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHjnXXk_hjGqAWIO4DFuyvgDB-H0edMBVBMlSx5LVrXQrIUd4s-PyETghgwkBXc1Y4YdG2vWQ2VhPh-_Q-majjX06NbKd4YNTkAOVK9nhaXbugONIANZnBMziO5PJvCgw2YCkCugtzHTr/s400/rich.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If I you were really rich and famous, would you ride in this getup??</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prince: </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Sk3lcM3-3a_Y7mlx40pOVDi_oEehHM90nTziTWT_3kCGFu0yBuLF8I0IJktuY3c7PDDhN9jOuvmzGf4Y-HY2cWNpcFmuw00Tsj_-vPJf2tz3MK30zuyZ1nwQIG5pnMFPl1coi0APp9OM/s1600/prince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Sk3lcM3-3a_Y7mlx40pOVDi_oEehHM90nTziTWT_3kCGFu0yBuLF8I0IJktuY3c7PDDhN9jOuvmzGf4Y-HY2cWNpcFmuw00Tsj_-vPJf2tz3MK30zuyZ1nwQIG5pnMFPl1coi0APp9OM/s400/prince.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t think any prince would be seen in this baby!</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>I’m
not sure of who names these rides but don’t they make you think? What’s your
favorite?</i></span></div>
</div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-47984397935359351492014-11-10T00:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T16:00:34.753-05:00Thank You World Wise Schools Partners!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16RKQc0ly3Li7_SDdGnZPtaMihV7JkgJPIOhc9QUYA70PlixcMJhPeG1wsZvniSOBDjfp8pVFbp1FG6QY-sAa2XhokCe-StWUEjiQeI8w2GHoyO96EP5D2o9Px8tG6xKrN6sE5JGKSbFi/s1600/friendly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16RKQc0ly3Li7_SDdGnZPtaMihV7JkgJPIOhc9QUYA70PlixcMJhPeG1wsZvniSOBDjfp8pVFbp1FG6QY-sAa2XhokCe-StWUEjiQeI8w2GHoyO96EP5D2o9Px8tG6xKrN6sE5JGKSbFi/s400/friendly.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">My Class 5 students showing off their friendly letters and goodies from their pen pals in Smithfield, Virginia.</span></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> For
the past two years, you have followed my students and I here at Tsoaing Primary
School through the Peace Corps’ World Wise program. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> You’ve
read about our lives, our likes, our Lesotho. You’ve watched our silly videos.
Encouraged our efforts. Sent messages to say “hi” just because.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Although
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received your warm letters, got a box of candy from you or opened a parcel of
your bracelets and other goodies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> My
students and I are so grateful to have made this meaningful connection with you
through this program. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> We are forever grateful for your support and generosity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Relebohile
haholoholoholo (Thank you so very much!!!)</span></div>
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Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-20550240349123597562014-11-09T00:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T16:01:51.739-05:00The Extremes of Peace Corps Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4wXDlhhVSba6Kv4J3I7XFiL0LkT_aSTYfjhq2C0NXMQp5XcRcFQlMTOt8jTPyTTyCGNQRnto5AsvUIFwoxn1FSfe8yvqE-jmJxjoJrs5PnI3grJZWp6ZG90UlEu2hFsPxt5RhkJZlq9D/s1600/kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4wXDlhhVSba6Kv4J3I7XFiL0LkT_aSTYfjhq2C0NXMQp5XcRcFQlMTOt8jTPyTTyCGNQRnto5AsvUIFwoxn1FSfe8yvqE-jmJxjoJrs5PnI3grJZWp6ZG90UlEu2hFsPxt5RhkJZlq9D/s400/kids.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>Lord knows I'll miss these goofy kids but it's time to go back home to my family in America.</i><br />
<br />
My time in Peace Corps has been very black and white. There were quite a few ups and downs. Many extremes. And paradoxes. No grey areas here!<br />
This has been a perfectly imperfect season where I was able to be selfish so that I can hopefully one day be selfless. I've had time to heal, grow and learn. And at sometimes, things here have been so right that they were so wrong. And vice versa.<br />
I either found or made structure where there was no infrastructure. The bush is a <a href="http://make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2014/01/reflections-on-my-mid-year-service.html">raw </a>existence. Shit gets really real really quickly. It ain't for everybody. But I made it. I survived, and thrived. Maintained and sustained. Was able to build and develop at school, a place where I found the sane in an insane situation, and function in dysfunction.<br />
Even leaving Lesotho has me on the fence for many reasons. I'll miss my host family and friends here dearly, but it's time to go home to be with my loved ones in America, whom I haven't seen in two years.<br />
It feels sweet and sour. Bittersweet. Extreme. </div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-42908315800777574082014-11-08T00:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T16:12:47.455-05:00The Cheetah Experience!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"> I
recently got a chance to visit the Cheetah Experience in Bloemfontein, South
Africa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The
registered nonprofit was started in 2006 by Riana van Niewenhuizen and aims to
“save endangered species through captive breeding, education and awareness.”</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This is Luna, an 8-month old cheetah:</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi2_BY3EmfqSrPN30_4jdKYdbojuUrbIqhQxWfxRfnlaDjTlkHQH9EJ1ubv0r3pLGdbWc4vKv1hNAnW9gv2dLm6TEe81IJVV1WIqGg2JXhYoNGK6puTbKjcnUJcQO93GYoNKkRwRXRIl0/s1600/IMG_1272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi2_BY3EmfqSrPN30_4jdKYdbojuUrbIqhQxWfxRfnlaDjTlkHQH9EJ1ubv0r3pLGdbWc4vKv1hNAnW9gv2dLm6TEe81IJVV1WIqGg2JXhYoNGK6puTbKjcnUJcQO93GYoNKkRwRXRIl0/s1600/IMG_1272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<i> <span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">She was a feisty little thing. She looks like a panther but her dark brown hair is covering her spots.</span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><i>This is Buttercup the goat:</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYwEnYV8G7OUW6ZLvgDzX5lhqb8YrXzI1nNT2R_u6AvVLPqYgQz_H1EQn4lpV1Oj2WCC9Qok0rTsH7IXEfq3gVIzpLkXE-P-x7XINS5AmROHrVRs3e2jcUhYguovPVSqOd0OZOaGsidYK/s1600/IMG_1331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYwEnYV8G7OUW6ZLvgDzX5lhqb8YrXzI1nNT2R_u6AvVLPqYgQz_H1EQn4lpV1Oj2WCC9Qok0rTsH7IXEfq3gVIzpLkXE-P-x7XINS5AmROHrVRs3e2jcUhYguovPVSqOd0OZOaGsidYK/s1600/IMG_1331.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> Random to see a goat here but her cage was adjacent to the wolves and lions. Poor thing.</span></i></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Posing in between two cheetahs:</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_JYHCTIyW2OEWEdNhrBiPtIdu6ZzjmWXKsvEGrDSEC8YgmEqT_FdSrAjK8SwqjPETWfy06kXEQD-ePMmTX9QMdDd7s-OGvEv31cQ1vBKo_LNW8rzatPquenktE8blU1g7V2dgQmyBpjN/s1600/IMG_1417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_JYHCTIyW2OEWEdNhrBiPtIdu6ZzjmWXKsvEGrDSEC8YgmEqT_FdSrAjK8SwqjPETWfy06kXEQD-ePMmTX9QMdDd7s-OGvEv31cQ1vBKo_LNW8rzatPquenktE8blU1g7V2dgQmyBpjN/s1600/IMG_1417.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> </i><i>Again, I was sccccccuuuuurrrreeedddd!!!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>They had wolves, too:</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHw35JybpHezRCQgW0Y8x-rf5TVNJQWEA7gfsg-aQkrpqy7S918WwqR78x5ueVP1vPIHOGLxorYyDWWVDJLYJJJFqy7VpEn-FvlFMRThzgKeyyiMg0fliJBDC9wSCBLQgo63bMHXAtRqa2/s1600/IMG_1342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHw35JybpHezRCQgW0Y8x-rf5TVNJQWEA7gfsg-aQkrpqy7S918WwqR78x5ueVP1vPIHOGLxorYyDWWVDJLYJJJFqy7VpEn-FvlFMRThzgKeyyiMg0fliJBDC9wSCBLQgo63bMHXAtRqa2/s1600/IMG_1342.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> Poor dude looked like he was thirsty. And hungry.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px; text-align: justify;"><i>Here's an owl: </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgFpsyMQnD_alvLPvQK7uenaBALOshBLnp9eVa5LdJm6hCA4bH3I8H5GX0g9oTAXwrpKW-ZvV6YrUZ2GMbItJezGoKHNfH4PKXhODOgotO3k-pvntk2s8okEsUW1uS1xX_WikLc0hCAFk/s1600/IMG_1400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgFpsyMQnD_alvLPvQK7uenaBALOshBLnp9eVa5LdJm6hCA4bH3I8H5GX0g9oTAXwrpKW-ZvV6YrUZ2GMbItJezGoKHNfH4PKXhODOgotO3k-pvntk2s8okEsUW1uS1xX_WikLc0hCAFk/s1600/IMG_1400.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px; text-align: justify;">Look into his eyes…</i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And here's a real king:</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqbuKesG0lsEHU-05kQwablRRXhqbmSj34Za3BSTCqGbla3qeuGLzKosRjlP3xGIi7jKDsMV6ELylzgObqV2bEtEgP4vgHXbDekA3arVoCcloxOKPx5Yf8ObmdWeIQWo_CKpBScz6LpCo/s1600/IMG_1346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqbuKesG0lsEHU-05kQwablRRXhqbmSj34Za3BSTCqGbla3qeuGLzKosRjlP3xGIi7jKDsMV6ELylzgObqV2bEtEgP4vgHXbDekA3arVoCcloxOKPx5Yf8ObmdWeIQWo_CKpBScz6LpCo/s1600/IMG_1346.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px; text-align: justify;"><i>I was scared, even in front of the fence! This big boy looked hungry. White lions don’t </i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><i>survive in the wild because they don’t blend in too well with their surroundings.</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">During the tour, I had to stay very quiet and
be very careful, especially while petting the cats. I didn’t want any
“cat-tastrophies!”</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I
learned a lot, especially about the servals, which have stripes and spots.
Overall, I had a great time. Big cats are where it’s at!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-86492387412522315202014-11-07T00:00:00.000-05:002014-11-07T00:00:09.488-05:00How I Feel Right Now (Video Footage)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/wDMMckf5aLc?list=UUPxKa_YCJyRqpq-dhQhO05A" width="459"></iframe><br />
<br />
<i>I really am sad to leave Lesotho, but I also feel the same way my students in the above video feel: elated.</i></div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-41891660168814879292014-11-06T00:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T16:12:13.977-05:00Reverse Basotho Gender Roles <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>My host mother is a pretty progressive Mosotho woman. She makes my host brother, Tsepiso (pictured here) do laundry, wash dishes, sweep and mop.</i><br />
<br />
I’ve written before about how strictly <a href="http://make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2014/03/basotho-gender-roles-and-cultural-norms.html">gender roles</a> are
defined and enforced here in Lesotho.</div>
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But I’ve seen reverse gender roles in my village lately.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sweeping
is traditionally a woman's or a young girl's role, so I was happy to
see one of my students cleaning his family's compound. His granny is in the doorway smiling and possibly saying, "Boy, you better sweep that stoop!"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The gender bender incident that recently resonated with me the most was the one of the
man in my village washing laundry. Aside from my host brother washing his school uniform
everyday, I’ve never seen a male performing the task. This one particular man didn’t
seem to mind doing it, neither. Said he was washing his daughter's clothes. He was also very happy to have his picture
taken.</div>
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Some of my students passed while we were talking. I told the
group of preteens that they can ask ntate (man/father/husband) to help them
with chores around the house.<br />
“He can do laundry,” I told them in Sesotho.
“Look at this man."</div>
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<br /></div>
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Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-15586118941643350612014-11-05T00:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T16:09:53.714-05:00You’re a Peace Corps Volunteer If... (Part 8)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">1...If
you never have to buy toiletries because you always receive them in care
packages.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">2...If
it’s too cold to wash your booty all the time during winter.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">3...If
it’s too hot to wash your booty all the time during summer.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">4...If
bathing every day, especially during winter, is overrated.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">5...If
you feel like a million maloti the minute you finish grading a large stack of
papers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">6...If
you think any volunteer in the highlands should be referred to as a Highland
Hero for braving sub-zero winters with no central heating and dealing with
snow.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">7...If
the worst day of your service was when you finished your favorite food item
from America.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">8...If you operate on the same <span style="font-family: inherit;">exact things that <span style="font-family: inherit;">taxis here run on: ho<span style="font-family: inherit;">pe and a prayer.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">9...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If people <span style="font-family: inherit;">automatically know you're a volunteer simply because you always wear a big backpack.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0px;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0px;">10...If you feel rich when you ge<span style="font-family: inherit;">t your $200 USD monthly stipend.</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-36119676188414028632014-11-04T00:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T16:08:36.965-05:00Best Books I've Read Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here are more books
that I’ve fallen in love with during my service:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
This story grabbed me from the beginning to the end. It’s a wisely told tale of
an Afghani boy who witnesses both terror and beauty in his homeland and abroad.
The characters and plotline have stuck with me ever since reading it earlier
this year. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dy5KrCi-1fcDF-WFFPGL3-ctWUBzfky3RVwxfhgPpCdcsrflCwX-mv2AI4NodAbfrbIsAhWZ5omiMurnFbYl1ddwRpJmMlp9D2Hh0nr3bo6aVqVcuhjnJWIUy2GBcM20iCnTeAkwY82K/s1600/kite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dy5KrCi-1fcDF-WFFPGL3-ctWUBzfky3RVwxfhgPpCdcsrflCwX-mv2AI4NodAbfrbIsAhWZ5omiMurnFbYl1ddwRpJmMlp9D2Hh0nr3bo6aVqVcuhjnJWIUy2GBcM20iCnTeAkwY82K/s400/kite.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">-</span><b style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Leaning In by Sheryl Sandberg:</b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I really liked this book. Sure, it’s part feminist manifesto but it also has great career advice and management tips
that I could’ve used when I was a young journalist. This book has helped me to
deal with jealousy and hatred (caused by women in the workplace here!!!) and helped me to realize that I want to go to business school and need to work for myself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceE3RKsVuK6hzTOkOugr8nAFzAuR5usY3-n8jqZ9gtLlN-xwOMBv6SubUKJWjR3E4fPT_XMRAtSMme1fM_E8eCh86ZatvQ7VwY6H5j3b4FrK8KzhaYfZvYHPfJ3owiJCi-oQE8zsFEONC/s1600/leanin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceE3RKsVuK6hzTOkOugr8nAFzAuR5usY3-n8jqZ9gtLlN-xwOMBv6SubUKJWjR3E4fPT_XMRAtSMme1fM_E8eCh86ZatvQ7VwY6H5j3b4FrK8KzhaYfZvYHPfJ3owiJCi-oQE8zsFEONC/s400/leanin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<b>Bossy Pants by Tina Fey: </b>Very funny. That is all:)</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBLZSxLI0o_ao65Pr0WElDMCoXo65hDazwUIzvQTJPkzqYDlAIo9xzkQQjJdQUUGx9maVzsVTvLwEVRX1g_s1pZixVx-fR9kIfQJAAjEFRRWZ_3BBNWPy4eFcSO1TKynMIircqFq6Ycte/s1600/bossy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBLZSxLI0o_ao65Pr0WElDMCoXo65hDazwUIzvQTJPkzqYDlAIo9xzkQQjJdQUUGx9maVzsVTvLwEVRX1g_s1pZixVx-fR9kIfQJAAjEFRRWZ_3BBNWPy4eFcSO1TKynMIircqFq6Ycte/s400/bossy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Have you read any of these books? If not, what are you reading? And don't forget to check out <a href="http://make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2014/09/best-books-ive-read-during-my-service.html">Part 1</a> of lovely tomes I've read out here.</i></span></div>
</div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-42819212819306888902014-11-03T00:00:00.000-05:002016-02-09T16:06:25.294-05:00THANK YOU for your care packages!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdjSUTur2XjamVU1EJJ4LkQ6g8t6UsPLg94_aacsrkdwoFAbATsTSqZZwUXFbICiI1lSCczJxEOlw3xPL-WpAtodSYZcu0PdBDvAxW_o7WP_NXcwrzNJHioUJRLpR6t5Z2sGhQ4TJkB1y/s1600/package.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdjSUTur2XjamVU1EJJ4LkQ6g8t6UsPLg94_aacsrkdwoFAbATsTSqZZwUXFbICiI1lSCczJxEOlw3xPL-WpAtodSYZcu0PdBDvAxW_o7WP_NXcwrzNJHioUJRLpR6t5Z2sGhQ4TJkB1y/s400/package.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>My big brother puts "Bucket Head" on my care pacakges. LOL.</i><br />
<br />
Many of you have sent me care packages filled with food, toiletries and most of all, love.<br />
I usually send you Thank You notes, but here's another thank you:<br />
<br />
<b>T</b>hank you for sending packages of love!<br />
<b>H</b>aving them really makes my day,<br />
<b>A</b>nd brightens my service.<br />
<b>N</b>othing beats receiving one.<br />
<b>K</b>indness and love: that's what's in them.<br />
<br />
<b>Y</b>ou all are SO generous because postage is a mothersucker!<br />
<b>O</b>pening your boxes makes me feel like a billion bucks.<br />
<b>U</b>nexpected ones are great because I love nice surprises!<br />
<br />
Getting a care package makes me feel like a drag queen at a Beyonce concert. Or a Kardashian with a black man. Or a teen girl at a Drake show.<br />
I am so grateful for your support--and your packages of warmth!<br />
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-67043099774005355282014-11-01T00:00:00.000-04:002016-02-09T16:04:38.897-05:00More on Basotho Cultural Norms<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5hk_12BRg320j7ptASkehPn5khu4cieAMvzTPMbUW5m3_wrpxlILxo10m94EiWnpcLUluugq78xp4Dxg89Dwv5hQu-DGWm6BhQlQrBcSx0n2kFWFulQ16w4QpYA2LDmXIHgnSF5oMV9U/s1600/ladytaxi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5hk_12BRg320j7ptASkehPn5khu4cieAMvzTPMbUW5m3_wrpxlILxo10m94EiWnpcLUluugq78xp4Dxg89Dwv5hQu-DGWm6BhQlQrBcSx0n2kFWFulQ16w4QpYA2LDmXIHgnSF5oMV9U/s400/ladytaxi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>I sometimes ride the taxi to village with this lady, 'M'e Monrongoe. She is only the second lady driver I've had during my service. Driving is considered a job for men.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
did a post a while back on Basotho <a href="http://make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2014/03/basotho-gender-roles-and-cultural-norms.html">cultural/gender norms</a>. Here are some of my
recent experiences with these topics:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-Space: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lesotho
is a very communal society, like most of African culture. Everything is shared,
even space. I understand the spirit of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_(philosophy)">ubuntu</a> and togetherness and all, but I take my space very seriously and have really struggled with this matter. For example, I like to read, rest and write on Sundays. My host mom used
to think this was insane, until I explained to her that Sunday – my favorite
day of the week – is my only full day to myself. I use all of Sunday to restore
my body and prepare for the madness that is Monday. She now understands and
doesn’t question why I always lounge around on “God’s Day.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Passive aggression:</b> Lesotho is the land
of passive aggression and indirect communication, the complete opposite of
America. I have problems with this, especially at work. I’m blunt and believe
that passive aggression is a weak form of communication. But in Lesotho, it is
a way of saving face. My boss explained this perfectly to me. He said that
Basotho communicate this way because the resources are limited and people need each other so they don't want to piss each other off. So speaking bluntly can hurt someone’s feelings, business deals and
ultimately much-needed resources, he said. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mental illness: </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a student at my school who told the
teachers that she was seeing things that no one else did. It freaked her
classmates out, even the teachers. After talking to her privately, the teachers
told the entire student body that the devil, Satan, was in the girl. Many
Basotho believe that Satanism is spreading quickly throughout their country,
and the girl was one of his victims. Everyone prayed for the little girl during
assembly, and then they all went home. There aren't a lot of resources for
Basotho suffering from mental illness, so prayer is how the people here deal
with mental illness.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">-</span><b style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Circumcision: </b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a highly
controversial topic here that splits many Basotho. Some want to send their boys
to the mountains for circumcision, where traditional methods will be performed
in initiation schools. Others want to send their boys to hospitals or clinics
that use more modern techniques and receive lots of foreign aid to administer the
procedure, which reduces a man’s chance of contracting HIV by about 60 percent.
I don’t have a penis but I am all for anything that mitigates against a disease
that’s plaguing this country.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Church/religion: </b>Lesotho is a Christian
nation as many Basotho attend church every Sunday and believe in God and God
only. If you don’t believe in God and God only, they’ll look at you like you
have ten eyes. Church/religion is a very black or white thing here. And a
tricky area for many volunteers. When Basotho ask me about my religious beliefs,
I now tell them in Sesotho “Ke etsa motsebeli oa Molimo khamehla,” which translates to "I do God’s work every day" because I do, got dammit! Hell, I gave up my ENTIRE life to
come here and work with poor people. I don’t think God is mad with me at all
for not going to church every Sunday!</span><br />
<br />
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It is believed that traditional healers (read: witch doctors) can control
thunder and lightning. Some Basotho go to these traditional healers with the
hope that they can send a bolt of thunder to their enemy. If someone does in
fact get struck by lightning, it is believed that it was purposely sent by a
witch doctor. Interesting, right?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-Qoi:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
(You have to click when you pronounce the “Q” in this word.) This is a form of
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</span>Stories begin with “ba re e ne re” or “They say it was said…”</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-Hair</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:
Hair here is often worn short for several reasons. Teachers say it keeps the
kids looking clean and neat at school. And it’s easier to maintain when you
live without running water and during the dusty windy seasons. Hair is shaved
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> These
are all of the Basotho cultural and societal norms that I can think of at the moment. I
don’t agree with all of them, like the ones about mental illness and
church/religion but I have to accept them. My
motto is when in Lesotho, do as the Basotho.</span></div>
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Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-83408631506047935292014-10-31T00:00:00.000-04:002016-02-09T15:37:50.747-05:00You’re a Peace Corps Volunteer If... (Part 7)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhpO5JcA9zJegu0tz1uNotaArYnP6fmPKRLiWxN3PasnfmN7a3RfR4uDRC2rLBE5wCeDMYPIXwxM-Y1cXrtZfxTEC5aCcA1Zv_ZUkfRZjF1n8J3yZEssSfXrj0G_e_KK4fHVrhEtzOHfz/s1600/vodacom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhpO5JcA9zJegu0tz1uNotaArYnP6fmPKRLiWxN3PasnfmN7a3RfR4uDRC2rLBE5wCeDMYPIXwxM-Y1cXrtZfxTEC5aCcA1Zv_ZUkfRZjF1n8J3yZEssSfXrj0G_e_KK4fHVrhEtzOHfz/s400/vodacom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>You're definitely a Peace Corps Volunteer if you've had many troubles with the telecommunications company Vodacom, or should I say, VodaCON!!</i><br />
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Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-7675585092839735272014-10-30T00:00:00.000-04:002016-02-09T15:40:08.704-05:00Location, Location, Location!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoedjqCjpRt3l7TLwXTd7jJSkDqn1BWRRet9lL7hG-AbSAq9GXIF29bnHVITmUQU8beSwUikmDi5_3m7ng8aWFrKeDvhK-purlt0PDmcljlsrWEqtXFL8USQwM0cCXSQU2f49A2QbOAYCY/s1600/malealea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoedjqCjpRt3l7TLwXTd7jJSkDqn1BWRRet9lL7hG-AbSAq9GXIF29bnHVITmUQU8beSwUikmDi5_3m7ng8aWFrKeDvhK-purlt0PDmcljlsrWEqtXFL8USQwM0cCXSQU2f49A2QbOAYCY/s400/malealea.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>Malealea Lodge is one of my favorite places on Earth, and I'm glad that I'm located about an hour away!</i><br />
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<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Location is important
to realtors and prospective home buyers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> It’s also vital to
Peace Corps Volunteers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> During Pre-Service
Training, all volunteers get the opportunity to have a say in where they’d like
to be placed in the country.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I told my bosses not
to place me in the highlands. There’s absolutely NO way that my black ass could
survive a <a href="http://www.make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2014/07/winter-in-lesotho.html">harsh winter</a> with no central heating in the big mountains. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> And I didn’t want to
be too far out there in a remote village. I’d go insane if I was in the boonies
and it took me more than a day to get home. Nope, that life wasn’t going to be
for me and I knew it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> My bosses ended up
doing right by me, though.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> They placed me in a
rural village in Mafeteng, one district down from the capital of Maseru, which
sells nice crafts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> This makes accessing
Maseru a cinch, since it’s only about 40 minutes away via public transport.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> There are other perks
to my site location, too. Read on:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-Mafeteng, my camptown
(or shopping district), is about 40 minutes away from my village via public
transport. It’s a decent camptown that has a Western-style grocery store, a
brand new Post Office and more importantly, a bakery that sells cupcakes.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-I’m nearly an hour
away from heaven, AKA Malealea Lodge. The popular lodge is located in a remote
part of Mafeteng but their homemade carrot cake makes every visit there
worthwhile. And they have a craft centre.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/y8yvlEPMBgI" width="420"></iframe></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><i>This video shows the ride to Malealea Lodge. It's located what's commonly called the "Gates of Paradise."</i></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-I’m nearly 20 minutes
away from Morija, the craft and culture capital of the country. They have a
nice little museum that features Basotho culture and history. There’s also a
pottery studio nearby. Yes, please and thank you!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOi95D6QjUUOQWlXVxvjPDOQLyhvdujIjGS17NjREzEjbNWFVXI_YbT7b2zwDG3pD6sp3nCzvalEgRSTpm3Oh9ytkqncOkPQspnJ9iKo-ybox7bI-4c5K4i2EpGKddzsbUw_rII1NKGkI/s1600/morija.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOi95D6QjUUOQWlXVxvjPDOQLyhvdujIjGS17NjREzEjbNWFVXI_YbT7b2zwDG3pD6sp3nCzvalEgRSTpm3Oh9ytkqncOkPQspnJ9iKo-ybox7bI-4c5K4i2EpGKddzsbUw_rII1NKGkI/s400/morija.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>I love the bright, bold colors on this building!</i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The Peace Corps really
tries to take a volunteer’s site suggestions into account. The last thing they
want is for the volunteer to ET (early terminate)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>because they were unhappy with their location.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 19.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> They really listened
to me, the crack, er, <a href="http://make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2014/08/arts-and-crack-ercrafts.html">craft addict</a>. They rightfully placed me near crafts
cupcakes, culture and the capital! </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-39784972266103521842014-10-28T00:00:00.000-04:002016-02-09T15:41:20.173-05:00Living Off of the Land <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3CgI-z13ajOS5BYPKDaL2uwHzypcL4eJvwE5H_-Estrx2ablpzElbBXmy5sLsjWK5QMr6PkicgMd2c5Bh8cHWDUF3Ae5vQbjiwXHnjhezNYMSsttSntCMpQfdN5847ts2mQigEhOtdpO/s1600/land.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3CgI-z13ajOS5BYPKDaL2uwHzypcL4eJvwE5H_-Estrx2ablpzElbBXmy5sLsjWK5QMr6PkicgMd2c5Bh8cHWDUF3Ae5vQbjiwXHnjhezNYMSsttSntCMpQfdN5847ts2mQigEhOtdpO/s400/land.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>I live off of the land, like the Basotho people.</i><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The
Basotho are mountain people who’ve always lived off of the land and Mother
Nature. There’s no simple way to explain their lives, and the life I live with
them as a Peace Corps Volunteer. The land and weather have a huge impact here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For
example:</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-The sun:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I use the sun to juice up my solar chargers so I can charge my phone and Ipod.
If it rains, I’m simply out of luck.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>-The rain: </b>I pay a </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">lady in village to do my laundry by hand (Sorry, I’m just too lazy to do
it.) If it rains, she’s shit out of luck, well, actually, I am. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-The wind: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
wind is my “dryer” as it dries my clothes as they hang on my clothing line.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-The ground:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I eat fresh spinach, tomatoes, and potatoes from my host mother’s bountiful
garden.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-The mountains:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
The Basotho live on, in, at, by, next to, through, beyond and amongst
mountains. They don’t call this country the “Mountain Kingdom in the Sky” for
nothing! My village is located on a mountain that I must climb to access it.
And you wonder why I’ve lost so much damn weight?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-The rainbow: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
is spiritual medicine because rainbows make me smile. Corny, I know. But when
you live as raw of an existence as I do, you’ll find happiness in anything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> As
you can see, life here is totally dependent on the land and weather. This is
one reason why I take my service day by day, one moment at a time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
never know what Mother Nature will bring my way!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-63357737805804834582014-10-27T00:00:00.000-04:002016-02-09T15:56:33.515-05:00The Tsoaing Primary School Library!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1Xd3vhNqbPkd3BxBT3aDThJOg4T4jbpxuIL9BTuzaCrvrAsQTTc_s1K-0-6KLfZDIfmwPQhIuFjCSwMEYfDDAqPMXemY7jPJFeUj1820EifaLWRJlBtjZVLXSb5MSbtZe-euAQXBKn3E/s1600/newlibrary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1Xd3vhNqbPkd3BxBT3aDThJOg4T4jbpxuIL9BTuzaCrvrAsQTTc_s1K-0-6KLfZDIfmwPQhIuFjCSwMEYfDDAqPMXemY7jPJFeUj1820EifaLWRJlBtjZVLXSb5MSbtZe-euAQXBKn3E/s400/newlibrary.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>Here is Class 5's new school library. My school received a donation of books and supplies earlier this year through the African Library Project and <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Concord
Presbyterian Church in Delaware.</span></i><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> It
was time for my English lesson so instead of opening up an old, crummy
textbook, I pulled out a Dr. Seuss number, “Hop on Pop,” from my school’s new
library and began to read.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> My
students sat still, for once. They listened.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
often do this, thanks to a huge book donation from the African Library Project,
an organization that helps to start libraries on the continent. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Concord
Presbyterian Church in Delaware was my school’s donor. Led by church member
Karyn Sundleaf, the church held a massive book drive and sent us nearly 1,000
books and school and craft supplies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;">We received 13 boxes of books and supplies from
Concord Presbyterian Church through the African Library Project.</span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTF9iQ2GnpPEfv-idcih8iXxBeKG7ipQbph24ksEBIzmLqJN4QfGPE8EIY5CX9BlOb8_F48wEuaockOwSaPbgQKdFduVtmA8vDaXCYWZ3ALOHN4pRgvLMmi_D7HL-DXWbeLnLhNSt4uzF/s1600/books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTF9iQ2GnpPEfv-idcih8iXxBeKG7ipQbph24ksEBIzmLqJN4QfGPE8EIY5CX9BlOb8_F48wEuaockOwSaPbgQKdFduVtmA8vDaXCYWZ3ALOHN4pRgvLMmi_D7HL-DXWbeLnLhNSt4uzF/s400/books.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The boxes contained my favorite childhood books
including ones from Dr. Seuss, Corduroy and Clifford the
Big Red Dog.</span></i><br />
<br />
<i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
placed the books in lockers that the school already had. We also used benches
for overflow.</span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Osj62QakRzPKMRaKqxKc1KOxkCY-EOdKlIeekA6oycRBHTp4YvvLc1poQfa7lED11i8Xc10G7jFcZ3yNxlowRDxs1SN3W3cUPY0rBJkCBao9Ws72uN1hYvHEdBldBdstTMENbfaftxk4/s1600/locker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Osj62QakRzPKMRaKqxKc1KOxkCY-EOdKlIeekA6oycRBHTp4YvvLc1poQfa7lED11i8Xc10G7jFcZ3yNxlowRDxs1SN3W3cUPY0rBJkCBao9Ws72uN1hYvHEdBldBdstTMENbfaftxk4/s400/locker.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The books were classified by type such as
reference, and subject such as animals. It was easier for the teachers and
students to organize the books this way because the school doesn’t have
electricity.</span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"> There
are two libraries, one for classes 1-4, and another for classes 5-7. The ALP
recommended that we break up the libraries for primary school students so that they
won’t be overwhelmed and the libraries will be easier to manage.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"> Each
class has a set day and time to visit the libraries.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
held a workshop for teachers and students about library usage and book care. This
was important because it helps to maintain and sustain the libraries. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> We
selected boys and girls to act as library monitors. This helps to create
sustainability and maintain the library, and gives the children ownership of their books.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Teachers
often supplement their lessons with some of the books from the libraries. They
really like the children’s encyclopedia books because the kids are always
asking questions, especially about animals and nature, so it's nice to have books on hand that details those topics.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> When
I read to my students (and the kids at home), I sometimes have to read in
Sesotho so all of my students can follow the story. I teach all English levels
in one class.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Overall,
the kids love both libraries and are so grateful for the books, and I’m happy
to be promoting literacy here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Libraries
tend to not do so well in this country because the lifestyle doesn’t promote a
reading culture. Most people work in the fields all day and don’t have
electricity so when they come home, they’re too tired to do anything other than
cook and bath, and barely have enough light read a book. (I sometimes read to
my kids at home by flashlight.) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 286.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Despite
those facts, Lesotho does have a high literacy rate and these books will hopefully
help my students to be bilingual and have fun while learning. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Thank you again
to Concord Presbyterian Church, Karyn Sundleaf, the African Library Project and
the Peace Corps for helping Tsoaing Primary School with its libraries!!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-12176596416849367882014-10-26T00:00:00.000-04:002016-02-09T15:42:30.092-05:00You Know You’re a Peace Corps Volunteer If... (Part 6)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaqtOeTAvANMdDfTgFOMwe7CggYx3s1gRFDThIJWFYtbOs5VDX6HoLNRtuLj1bnCjLyoGBrc_cFtlDrjp_unwx4gA_JIdi6esTFURY1TCO7a9b4-LUKMdNumXB3X3U606uYCJ_jkOrv9S/s1600/boxonhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaqtOeTAvANMdDfTgFOMwe7CggYx3s1gRFDThIJWFYtbOs5VDX6HoLNRtuLj1bnCjLyoGBrc_cFtlDrjp_unwx4gA_JIdi6esTFURY1TCO7a9b4-LUKMdNumXB3X3U606uYCJ_jkOrv9S/s400/boxonhead.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>Balancing boxes and other things on your head is a really difficult thing to do. Kudos to the African woman who do it and do it well!</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">If you think bed bugs should be called <i>bad</i> bugs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you’ve practiced balancing
something—anything!—on your head.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you’re tired of me writing these
‘You Know You’re a Peace Corps Volunteer If…’ posts! Ha!</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 37.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you’re not tired of me writing these
‘You Know You’re a Peace Corps Volunteer If…’ posts! Ha!</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 37.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you’ve come up with your own ‘You
Know You’re a Peace Corps Volunteer If…’ lists! Ha!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If it feels like you’ve watched more TV
shows and movies during your service than in your entire lifetime!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If your idea of heaven is getting lost
in a good book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If your entire view of water and its
preparation and consumption have changed since living in a developing country.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 37.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you miss central heating as much as
you miss your loved ones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If
you’ve become a better (or worse!) version of yourself during your service.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Any thoughts on these
? Any more to add? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137401711781939710.post-74688728469638093432014-10-25T00:00:00.000-04:002016-02-09T15:45:00.993-05:00Things I Admire about the Basotho<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>The Basotho get three things right: patience, connection and kindness.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> </i>Life in Lesotho ain't easy.<br />
It's a whole other world when you have no electricity, running water or Chipotle nearby.<br />
Still, I've learned a lot from my simple way of living--and have come to admire several things about the Basotho: their patience, way of connection to people and genuine kindness.<br />
The Basotho certainly know how to be patient. My school quickly raised the money for our water pump project. But it took three contractors and nearly three months to start construction on the pump. I thought things would start much sooner because I come from a fast-paced society. Um, no. What a naive thing to think! Things are done very differently in Lesotho. Even when it pertains to construction. It took nearly a week for the contractor to secure a tractor to bring his drilling machine up the mountain that the school is on. He said that was the main hold up. Um, whatever. He did eventually come and we did eventually get our pump, after my host mother told me to be patient.<br />
The Basotho also know what it means to truly connect with people. My host family isn't on Facebook. They don't know a thing about Twitter. They don't have a blog. But everyday, we sit down at the kitchen table and talk. We play<a href="http://make-upmusicmoneyme.blogspot.com/2014/07/bonding-with-my-host-family-and-uno.html"> UNO</a>. We read bedtime stories. We laugh. We fret. We eat homemade cake every Sunday. There's nothing wrong with technology or social networking, I use them to connect with my loved ones back in America. But the digital divide is real here in Lesotho; personal connection is not.<br />
Most Basotho are warm, welcoming and kind. I notice this in the little things they do. One day, I arrived to village from vacation and a Peace Corps training session with two huge bags. I saw my host brother's teacher at the bus stop. We began to talk about everything and nothing. Afterward, she called her son and his friend over to help me carry my luggage up the mountain. I didn't ask her for help. And I didn't have to.<br />
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Jiggettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676495860335390861noreply@blogger.com0