No more summer break

So it’s been a while since I updated. This is largely due to the fact that there was a period of doing very little followed immediately by doing so much that I didn’t have time to think. I’m settling into a pattern now and this seems like a good time to let all you folks […]

A Year in Review

I’ve decided that since 2018 was such a momentous year for me to do a wrap up by the numbers. (In no particular order…) Countries- 11 (USA, Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England, France, Italy, Switzerland, South Africa, Lesotho) Continents- 3 (North America, Europe, Africa) Number of hours in planes- 51 (Longest flight was 15 hours […]

A Summer Christmas

Yes- I have not gotten used to the fact that it is now summer down here in the Southern Hemisphere. Yes- it was the hottest Christmas I’ve ever had. Yes- it was odd to see folks going to Mass wearing short sleeves and sundresses. Yes- we listened to a lot of Christmas music, forcing one […]

I Solemnly Swear…

It’s official! I have now completed training, passed my language tests, and been sworn in as a Peace Corps volunteer. We had a big ceremony on Wednesday. It was attended by all the PC staff, the current volunteers who have been here for a year, and many dignitaries. These include and are not limited to […]

Rollercoaster Blues

Everyone says the life of volunteer is a rollercoaster of emotions. Each day, each week, each month, each year… the ups and downs of life outside our comfort zones. Most days it’s frustrations about language barriers or enthusiasm about something new we cooked, new friends we made or a irritating student in class. Small things […]

Up, up, up and away

It’s been a very busy few weeks, so sorry about the delay in posting. First piece of news- I am no longer sick! I took a day off from classes since I felt like passing out every time I moved and was still running a major fever. A day of rest plus some serious antibiotics […]

Mountain Cats and Demon Taxis

This past week I was able to travel through the country and visit a volunteer who has been serving here for a year. Traveling here is always an adventure. For this trip, that adventure included fitting 17 people in a taxi van built for 14, a 4 hour wait for a car to move, dirt […]

Thunder and music

Three, two, one… go! Time to celebrate the noise of my new home. Everywhere there is conversation. While I still don’t understand much, I do understand some and that is thrilling. There are roosters and cow bells and bleeting sheep. There are screams and giggles of playing children and music blaring out car windows as […]

Welcome to Lesotho

Lumela!! That means Hello and is pronounced doo-mey-la, for anyone out there who doesn’t speak Sesotho. Pretty safe to assume that includes most of you. I don’t either but I’m learning quickly. I’m nearly done with my first week in this wonderful country and already have several hours of language training a day, among other […]

And we’re off!

The title says it all. This morning I said goodbye to home and all things familiar. I spent the day hoping airports and eating little bags of pretzels. And so I crossed the country, staring out the window at the ground below, contemplating the gravity of the adventure I had begun, and starting to let […]