Hoa Bata!. Its cold. Its cold..... Its really cold. Im not sure how cold, but when I was taking my bucket bath this morning in my room, I was able to see my breath. Have I mentioned before how impractical skirts are in the winter?
Ive got some awesome pictures... but Ive been having problems doing it from the internet cafes. (it takes forever. maybe my next blog will be just pictures) Im working on trying to set up a link to picasso.
Ok, enough complaining. Ke phela homonate (Im doing well) Last saturday, PC took us to a place called Thabo Busiu. (mountain of the night) We hiked to the top about 1 hour staight up. Picture the steps for the mist trail and then make them about 1/3 taller... and loose. In skirts. It was a fun hike and beautiful on the top. King Moshoeshoe (first king of Lesotho) along with about 4000 Basotho, fought to hold off the boers at this site in the 1830's. (the Boers had guns, the basotho didn't) Lesotho was born at this time. All of the royal family up to the present are buried at the top of Thabo Busiu. Moshoeshoe died in the 1860's and he turned Lesotho over to britain as a protectorate. Lesotho jsut got its independence in the 1960's. King Moshoeshoe is a big deal here.
We just finished week 5 if training. Less than a month till swearing in (aug 6) This week weve learned more about business development here, our roles in Lesotho, gender diversity and of cours... sesotho. We had a practice language eveluation (i did od) Today we went on a field trip to a province called TY. we visited a women's weaving group that started 10 plus years ago (they started because they wanted to raise money to pay their childrens' school fees) We learned about the entire process.. from buying the mohair (sheep) from the local farmers, washing it... they showed us how they take the hair and spin it into yarn and dye it and weave it. They do really beautiful work. a PCV is assigned to this group and has really been able to help with the business end of things. It seems like she's really been able to help (16 women are now employed at this business)
Next we went to see a youth center that has just opened up... with a PCV helping them. The ministry of youth (a govt organization) is behind this and is opening several centers. Thecenters are supposed to be providing outreach, HIV?aids, STI education etc... It seems hough that the Ministry of Youth is geared to opening the buildings and then not helping much with funding after that. A lot of work for the youth and community to do.
Then we were taken to a local farm The man running it jsut started by wanting to produce enough for himself. and then realized how viable it would be. He expanded and grows a lot of the "exotic" stuff...brocolli, cauliflower, spinach, etc... He sells to the local camp town and to Maseru. He employs 5 full time workers, built a dam for water shartage times, started a piggery (the biggest pigs Ive ever seen..) explained to us some of the problems he faces... very inspirtational.
Sunday we are going for 3 days to visit a place called Bethel. We will get dirty and build "key hole gardens" (if anyone is interested, google key hole gardens in Lesotho)
Tomorrow is our first saturday free, and my host family wants me to go to church with them. They are 7th day adventists.. should be interesting
I miss you all. I hope all is well for you. Someone told me California is burning. Is this true.
You are all in my prayers.
Merrill
Dennis, by the way, Megan is doing really well. She did a presentation on water dehydration this week and it was great
About Me
- merrill
- Lesotho
phone number
In addition to email, you can now reach me at the following number: country code 00266. Phone number 59798168. If you email me your cell phone, I'll be happy to sms you! (talking for me to the states is pricey, but texting is reasonable)
Wish list, updated 1/31/10
Several people asked me to update this. Thanks for asking!! Just know that I know that shipping is expensive and I don’t need anything, this stuff is just “wants” I’m always thrilled when I hear from people on email, get letters, receive phone calls.... Sometimes hearing a voice from home can put everything in perspective in such a great way. With that, here it is:
WISH LIST:
Communication:
-phone calls... calling cards available on callingcards.com...10$ for 60 minutes.
-email... how are you doing? how's the family?
-letters... .94 for airmail stamp
-external hard drive
-double A batteries
-external speakers for my ipod. I had one set, but they died in about 2 weeks. They were great while they lasted!!
-Powdered milk (I can buy regular milk here, but it wont keep past a couple of days)
-crystal light. (or any brand) The individual sugar free packs... love raspberrty, fruit punch, any non tea flavors
-packages of just add water soup mixes.
-Pictures. I love to get pictures of people, kids, places… anything. They all go up on my wall and besides just enjoying looking at them, they are great conversation starters with the Basotho.
-tuna, chicken packets
- DVDs. All Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, TV series like Heroes, House, Star Trek, Will and Grace...anything that’s not terror. I will soon have access to electricity at the school during the week which would mean laptop charged and more movies.
-cinnamon
-garlic powder
-Im good with Zip locks for now
- CD’s… music (not country or acid rock) sermons would be awesome... I dont even care whose they are:)Please dont put them in mp3 format... I cant play em, and don't have enough battery power on my computer to figure em out.
- protein bars. Preferably high protein, lower carbs… nothing keeps here, so most of my protein comes from beans and sometimes eggs if the village shop has em. Sometimes, I crave protein.
Beef Jerkey, pepperoni sticks... did I mention protein?
-sugar free hot chocolate/chai tea
-Lorraine Rothenberg is storing my guitar and all my music… maybe get the music from her and throw in a few songs here and there as I may pick up a used guitar in S. Africa in the next 3 or 4 months.
- books. Magazines. I really love Time. Anything.
- sugar free hard candy.
-mix packages for salad dressing.. preferably ones made with vinegar as mayo doesn’t keep long (unless its during the cold months… feb-august)
-choc chips
- glue. My bible is falling apart…its small and a soft cover, so glue for the spine.
-extra set of guitar strings
-But it really is the thought that counts... anything is always welcome
-chai tea
-Barack Obama tshirt :)
- solar powered refrigerator and freezer. (just kidding)
WISH LIST:
Communication:
-phone calls... calling cards available on callingcards.com...10$ for 60 minutes.
-email... how are you doing? how's the family?
-letters... .94 for airmail stamp
-external hard drive
-double A batteries
-external speakers for my ipod. I had one set, but they died in about 2 weeks. They were great while they lasted!!
-Powdered milk (I can buy regular milk here, but it wont keep past a couple of days)
-crystal light. (or any brand) The individual sugar free packs... love raspberrty, fruit punch, any non tea flavors
-packages of just add water soup mixes.
-Pictures. I love to get pictures of people, kids, places… anything. They all go up on my wall and besides just enjoying looking at them, they are great conversation starters with the Basotho.
-tuna, chicken packets
- DVDs. All Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, TV series like Heroes, House, Star Trek, Will and Grace...anything that’s not terror. I will soon have access to electricity at the school during the week which would mean laptop charged and more movies.
-cinnamon
-garlic powder
-Im good with Zip locks for now
- CD’s… music (not country or acid rock) sermons would be awesome... I dont even care whose they are:)Please dont put them in mp3 format... I cant play em, and don't have enough battery power on my computer to figure em out.
- protein bars. Preferably high protein, lower carbs… nothing keeps here, so most of my protein comes from beans and sometimes eggs if the village shop has em. Sometimes, I crave protein.
Beef Jerkey, pepperoni sticks... did I mention protein?
-sugar free hot chocolate/chai tea
-Lorraine Rothenberg is storing my guitar and all my music… maybe get the music from her and throw in a few songs here and there as I may pick up a used guitar in S. Africa in the next 3 or 4 months.
- books. Magazines. I really love Time. Anything.
- sugar free hard candy.
-mix packages for salad dressing.. preferably ones made with vinegar as mayo doesn’t keep long (unless its during the cold months… feb-august)
-choc chips
- glue. My bible is falling apart…its small and a soft cover, so glue for the spine.
-extra set of guitar strings
-But it really is the thought that counts... anything is always welcome
-chai tea
-Barack Obama tshirt :)
- solar powered refrigerator and freezer. (just kidding)
oscar, lesotho
Megan, Lesotho
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous.? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel secure around you. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; its in eveyone. And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, presence automatically liberated others."
Nelson Mandella, 1994 Inaugural speech.
Nelson Mandella, 1994 Inaugural speech.
The flag of Lesotho
"Khotso, Pula, Nala" (Sesotho)"Peace, Rain, Prosperity"
Lesotho, Africa
Lesotho is a country about the size of Maryland and is surrounded by the country of South Africa. And no Kent, I didn't make up the name of this country.
How to stay in touch.
There are 3 ways to stay in touch with me. The first is through this blog. The second is by email at cubbiesrock2010@gmail.com. The third is by old fashion post. My address is:
Merrill Nosler, PCV
c/o Peace Corps/Lesotho
PO Box 554
Maseru, 100 LESOTHO.
Use the above address for packages. Use the following address for any letters:
Merrill Nosler %
Lesotho Durham Link
P.O. Box 895
TY 200 Lesotho
Of course if you send letters to the Maseru address they will eventually reach me. Thanks
Merrill Nosler, PCV
c/o Peace Corps/Lesotho
PO Box 554
Maseru, 100 LESOTHO.
Use the above address for packages. Use the following address for any letters:
Merrill Nosler %
Lesotho Durham Link
P.O. Box 895
TY 200 Lesotho
Of course if you send letters to the Maseru address they will eventually reach me. Thanks
"HIV/AIDS is a devastating pandemic in many villages in Africa, moving silently and rapidly through homesteads and leaving a trail of death and misery. This is partly because it predisposes infected persons to opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis. As a result, HIV/AIDS continues to undermine development efforts of both the present and future Africa. It is a new, silent, powerful, misunderstood and overwhelming threat to peace and security on the continent. Walking around the villages burying the dead beside the graves of their relatives, the reality of losing tens of thousands to AIDS-related illnesses leaves me and fellow Africans with tremendous pain and fear for the future."
Wangari Maathai received the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize for her “contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.”
December 12, 2004
Wangari Maathai received the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize for her “contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.”
December 12, 2004
"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone."
Thomas Merton, "Thoughts In Solitude."
Thomas Merton, "Thoughts In Solitude."
7 comments:
Merrill, great to read your update and know you're doing okay. Hiking in a skirt - what an adventure! We could use a dose of your winter weather as it is HOT and smoky here. I'm praying for your language acquisition and good health.
Wow - all of that sounds so amazing! It is wonderful to hear how much you've learned - about the people and the country, and how quickly you are adjusting to life there.
I've always thought that maybe hiking in a skirt was a good idea (easier for "pit stops") - but it sounds like the challenges may outweigh the benefits.
The keyhole gardens are very cool. La Providencia has a similar setup for their homes. It amazed me to hear the ingenuity and creativity of this process.
Wow! Sounds like such an amazing experience. Not that I think I could handle it but I do think it sounds amazing! I'm glad to hear you are doing well.
Oh and yes... California is burning. Well a good chunck of it is. It is so smoky and smells awful outside. It has been this way (with a small break for a few days last week) for about 3 weeks. YUCK. The 107 degree weather this week didn't help either.
God bless and I can't wait for pitures!
Hugs, Amy Middleton
merrill,
sounds like you are doing quite well over there!! As you you would assume the store is plugin along. A couple of new hires that are quite annoying :) Im keeping the store up to date with you are up to...so dont stop blogging!! Everyone asks me about you at least once a week...so im giving them the best info i can! Once you get some pics up ill copy them to my computer and get them printed out so everyone can see what you are up to!
Good luck!!
Ben
Moshoeshoe died in 1870, to be precise. And he is indeed a big deal, like George Washington is a big deal in the United States.
Hoa Bata
should be
HO OA BATA
/hoo wa bahtah/
Ke phela homonate
should be
KE PHELA HAMONATE
/key pee lah hahmoonahtee/
Cheers and good luck.
Merrill, thanks for the update on Meg (Beanie!) and thanks for thi pictures. I cannot wait to come - by the time I do, you will all be pros and can really show me the 'good stuff'! Like the piggery! ;-). I'm still trying to wrap my mind around hot here cold there, cold here-hot there.
What a great journey!
Dennis
Hi Merrill! We all miss you too and I enjoyed reading your blog just now and catching up on how you're doing.
Weston and Kalon say "Hi!" to you and we all send you a big hug.
Michelle
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