Rocks and Rolling

It's been an interesting few weeks. I've been busy, but rarely at my site. We've been working hard on training materials, spending time with "newbies" (new PC trainees), and facilitating training sessions. It's a great feeling to be part of their training because I feel like I do have enough knowledge and experience to answer questions confidently.

At the end of June, a group of three PCT's came to Ramabanta to see what life of a PCV is like in Lesotho - I remember looking forward to this part of my training so much last year! I might have frightened them a bit when our taxi stalled halfway up a hill and started rolling backwards (the hills to Ramabanta are steep and two of them often give the beat up vans trouble). Our conductor jumped out to grab a rock (which serves as the emergency break) but as soon as he did, the driver decided to roll back down to the bottom and pull over leaving the man running after us with a large stone in his arms. I was laughing - you laugh or you cry - but I turned and realized the newbies looked less than amused (terrified?). I explained we'd all get out at the bottom and walk up the hill where the taxi would meet us. And I promised that while the emergency brake, radiator and engine were all on the fritz, the brakes did work and we wouldn't be depending on that stone to stop our momentum at the bottom. They survived and managed to laugh about it later.

The next day we went on a little stroll part-way up a nearby mountain. Along the way we stopped to talk to people I've worked with in the area and it really helped to remind me that I have accomplished a few things in my time here. The books for the library are ready to be shelved (as soon as those shelves arrive...), the winter OVC garden is growing, the supplies for the preschool are safely stored for the winter break... Showing them these things helped me focus on successes, small as they may be. Hopefully the visit was just as useful for them as it was for me.

As for Maseru, it's loud and the power shortages are obnoxious. Having electricity is such a tease when rolling blackouts plague the city all day, making things like meals and hot showers trickier to come by. But on the weekends, my dear friend Sean takes us just over the border to South Africa to climb at a lodge/game reserve called Oldenberg. Being on the rock again, away from noise and crowds, helps me keep my sanity and recharge for the week. Scraped knees and sore shoulders are familiar to me and make Maseru much more enjoyable.

Oldenberg Lodge (just outside Ladybrand, SA)

(Photo by Pam Rogers)

Cave paintings at Oldenberg.

Next week, we're off to Mozambique for 8 days of seafood, sunshine and ocean. (Remember, it's winter here, so a seaside vacation is an exciting thing.) Pam, Kjessie, Amber and I are renting a car and driving there and back (2 days each way = Roadtrip!). I'm counting down the days 'till we leave (<72 color="#ccccff">:)