Definitely been staying busy since my last post. On march 21st, I went down to Maseru for phase 3 training. For about ten days, the ED ’10 group got together and shared ideas and attended sessions on our new lives in Lesotho. Phase 3 ended with a 2-day workshop with our supervisors on secondary projects.
My supervisor wants to work on a project involving getting running water in my community. Currently, the village gets their water from streams. It is okay for some families. Mine has a water pump and a truck, so they pump the water from a stream about 15 minutes away into a big plastic container and bring the water to the family compound. Most families, however, walk down the side of the mountain and get water from a fairly unsanitary stream. There was running water in the village at one point, but it was taken advantage of and not maintained properly. It sounds like a lot of work. I’m already teaching 28 sessions a week, which is more than the peace corps recommends. Hopefully I can find someone to delegate to who can carry this project.
Anyways, phase 3 had its ups and downs. Some sessions were a lot better than others, but it was amazing to see how all the volunteers in my group are doing. We did what we could to have fun while we were there. One of my friends set up the annual ‘mustache competitions’. I’ll upload pictures at some point, but for now you’ll just have to trust me that peace corps volunteers can sport some seriously fine mustaches(guys and girls alike). I won the biker award. Sorry mom.
After phase 3, we started what the volunteers affectionately dubbed, “Phase 4000″ over Easter Break. A group of 12 of us took a group vacation to the South Coast of South Africa. We went to an amazing hostel called “Mantis and Moon Backpackers” near Port Shepstone and had a genuinely awesome time. The place was amazing. I’ll just have to upload pictures some time soon.
By American standards, the vacation was pretty cheap, but by peace corps volunteer standards, well….i’ll just say it was worth every penny. I went white water rafting and went on the world’s highest rope swing at Oribi Gorge. The rafting was great, and the gorge jump was awesome…you jump off and fall 300 feet before the swing catches you and swings you across the forest. Back at the hostel, I played a game of poker that, for me, ended up negating the cost of the jump. At the table, we had people from Germany, Holland, South Africa, America, and England. I met some wonderful people and had a trip that I won’t be forgetting any time soon.
It’s late and I have a lot of work to do getting my house back in order after being gone for so long. Tomorrow I get the student’s tests back and will get to start grading them, too. So much to do…ugh. Anyways, hope life is treating you well, I will be uploading pictures soon.
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“Biker Award” for facial hair! What is happening to my innocent baby????? Gorge jumping??? You might hit your head…did you wear a helmet? I want you to come home right now. LOL Glad you are having fun, I think. When Noah and I visit we will pass on the gorge jump, but the rapids sound like a blast. I sure missed you at Easter. Noah wanted to call you tonight but it is 3:30 AM you time. When I told him the time there he replied, “So, I want to talk to him.” You owe me one when I see you again. Hugs, and glad to hear you are safe. Love Mom
Oh Yea, forgot to mention your first bungee jump was with Richard. I asssumed you were safe with Aunt Elaine and Uncle Bubba until they sent home the video! How old were you? I think you were 8 or 9? Still have the video!