Monday, October 8, 2012

It's Starting to Hit Me

Although I am very excited to start my journey, I can't help but begin to think of the things I will be missing in the coming years while I am away from the states. I will definitely be missing weekly sushi, and most of all random epic restaurants. I will miss grilling, and definitely driving my very powerful yet eco friendly Prius. I will miss driving with my knees in EV mode blasting folk-indie songs under 25mph. I will miss free monthly Godiva, being down for whatever, and random ways to waste/spend money. I will miss lots of bojangling and excessive inapropriate jokes and actions. Most of all, I will miss the people I have done all these things with. And in honor of the people I will be missing, I wanted to share their pre-departure thoughts with me that have surfaced through loving text and Facebook messages:

  • I think that fortune teller was wrong...gonna get yourself hitched in Lesotho!
  • Stay Safe in Africa! Do good.
  • Good luck being African. And making a difference in the world. And powering things with your solar powered backpack. You can be solar man for halloween.
  • I thought you had left already. Party!
  • Maybe I'll get you an inflatable Indian girl. Therefore you will never feel alone or...Lonely...
  • Avatar is def inspiration
  • Don't get arrested, deported, or make any enemies :P
  • I miss you so much it hurts
  • I miss our mini adventures and I am soooo nervous!!
  • Africa will be an experience...A lot of bucket showers and food poisoning haha
  • If you get bit by a snake do not cut or suck the wound, do not elevate the wound, keep it below ur heart.
  • Use your allergen to latex as your AIDS prevention talking point.
  • Get one for Africa so we can see u from fucking space
  • The answer to all of ur questions should be...I'm going to Africa in a week.
  • Poor David, now he is gonna get the full force of nagging and complaining, we are gonna drive him crazy while you're gone. :)
  • Be safe and have fun man, love you no homo.
  • Who knows when you'll decide to return from Mother Africa.
  • I had to leave quickly cuz i wouldve cried hehe.
  • I am most fucking definitely comin to your going away party. 
  • By the time you get back the world might be running on some sort of alternative fuel source...but prolly not...
  • No sex with the locals.
  • Just do some crunches while in Africa. There's always the floor lololol
  • I won't b a tease on our last night (that sounds reallllly gay) lol
  • Look at pic 105 from last night. That is my goodbye.

Pic 105

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement and I hope to talk to you all soon! Just one full day at home left!

Monday, October 1, 2012

Lesotho 101

July 23rd I had a four minute conversation with my Dad around 5:00am in CancĂșn, Mexico. He told me I would be leaving October 12th for Lesotho in Southern Africa. Although I was excited, I like most people had never heard of Lesotho.

Here is what i have learned since then:
          Cautionary Discretion: Some of these facts could be wrong, but I guess I won't know until I am there!

20 Facts of Lesotho
  1. Lesotho roughly translates to the land of the people who speak Sesotho. Therefore, Basotho (people of Lesotho) speak Sesotho. Also English is the 2nd Language. 
  2. Lesotho is about the size of Maryland, and landlocked within South Africa with about two million citizens. 
  3. Lesotho has the highest low point of any country in the world, therefore it is quite mountainous and perhaps I will become an avid marathon runner when my lungs adjust.
  4. 24% of the population is afflicted with HIV/AIDS and life expectancy is about 48 years.
  5. Peace Corps volunteers can get pretty good cellular access and internet on their phones. (really hoping this is true for me)
  6. Lesotho can range from 86°F in the summer to 0°F in the winter and because it is south of the equator, the seasons are flipped. 
  7. Unemployment rate is 45% although a lot of Basotho are subsistence farmers and practice animal husbandry. 
  8. The Peace Corps says it can be difficult for vegetarians to find food in some parts of Lesotho. (very excited for this)
  9. Lesotho produces 90% of its own electricity and provides electricity to parts of South Africa.
  10. In Maseru, the capital, there is a KFC, Sushi restaurant, and an Italian pizzeria.
  11. Lesotho has kept generally close ties to Ireland. Dangerous Alliance. 
  12. Basotho dress extremely well. Time to up my game. Girls often wear high heels.
  13. Lesotho has an 82% literacy rate and females have a higher literacy rate than males.
  14. Peace Corps has had volunteers in Lesotho since 1967 with a brief intermission in 1998 due to political uprising. 
  15. 49% of the population is under the poverty line.
  16. Traditional Basotho homes are round houses (rondavels) because locals believe evil spirits can hide in the corners. 
  17. Children's classrooms can be up to 75 students. 
  18. No malaria! Due to its high altitude tropical diseases are insignificant although waterborne diseases can be prevalent. Hopefully I have eaten enough clementines in my life to sustain a robust immune system. 
  19. Afriski is one of the best ski resorts in Africa and even the world. Located in Lesotho it flourishes with tourists and backpackers every year. 
  20. Lesotho is the Kingdom in the Sky.