Postcard from Lesotho

So I was happy to find a humidifier here in Maseru as it has been SO dry/drying out my skin (pity pity me!).  When I took it out of the box, though, I discovered it had a “European plug” and so of course needs an adapter for my African outlet.  Luckily I had an extra, but it made me think – and not for the first time – wouldn’t you think electrical outlets would be something the world could sit down and agree on?  I mean, seriously, it just seems DUMB that every region/country has to have their own particular style/type of outlet.  C’mon people, it’s 2014!

So about a month after I started, we also got a new Director of Programming & Training (DPT).  Debra is fresh from DC and is also an RPCV (“Returned Peace Corps Volunteer” for those of you keeping track of all the Peace corps acronyms).  Now, granted, she arrived in country in the midst of Lesotho’s “political crisis” AND she is a woman living alone in a supposedly dangerous country, but it has been a bit….um, interesting to see just how “cautious” she was her first couple of weeks here.  I’m trying to be understanding, but the other day when she made it clear she STILL wasn’t comfortable walking to the mall by herself in the middle of the day – the mall that is literally around the corner/down the very busy street from our office – well, let’s just say it was hard for me to not be like, “Girl, please – you lived in DC!  You’d be more likely to get mugged there.  Will be interested to see how long it DOES take her to “let go” a little bit.

One of the downsides to living here: if I have a craving for, say, ice cream, at night, I can’t go get any.  One thing I will say America (and most Western, hell even Asian big cities) has that’s nice is that whole “convenience” thing.  Of course, I know that also leads to obesity, heart disease, and a demanding impatience, but still….ice cream!

We got a new group of trainees!  The latest Education group arrived awhile back – 33 of them – and it was actually very cool/exciting to go meet them at the airport, welcome them, etc.  See the mix of exhaustion, terror, and excitement on their faces.  Sigh.  It totally took me back.

Now, one of the GOOD things about living here is I can afford a maid.  And even have her come once a week (as opposed to about once a month in China – although, to be honest, I really could have afforded to have her come more often in China, but I was kind of cheap/saving my money).  The downside is, while this maid is very good at cleaning (I share her with the Country Director and the above mentioned DPT), she also hides all my shit.  I LIKE having my honey out on the table, honey, and NOT in the refrigerator.  I don’t WANT my popcorn and nuts in the cabinet – I want them on that one particular counter where I’ll see it and remember it.  She even decided my coat rack would be better off in my bedroom, rather than the entryway (to be fair, I was actually kind of happy about this, since, due to the layout of my house, I was often startling myself by coming across the coat rack and thinking it was an intruder).  Some stuff took me forever to find.  Apparently she does this with the CD and DPT, too.  So now I just embrace it and look forward to the “treasure hunt” after her weekly cleaning.  Well, look forward to it, until I can’t find something immediately that I want, then I rant and rave and stomp around the house, cursing her, until I figure out where my adapter/cell phone/salt/eye drop medicine is.  J  When I do that, I yell like this old woman from this book I recently read.  She sat at her window screeching at passers by in staccato sentences: “Hair too short!”  “Stupid pants!”  “Walk too slow!”  I say stuff like “Honey on table!”  “Sweet snacks on top shelf!”  Yes, apparently, I am turning into a crazy old lady.

Regular readers of my blog will be un-surprised to hear that I am “unimpressed” with the drivers here.  Clearly, no one in the world can drive as well as me.  But seriously, it’s a good thing there aren’t as many people here as in China, as the driving here is insanely reckless.  They drive at ridiculous speeds through residential areas and in general – except for the one-third of drivers who barely crawl along.  They pass with abandon – two lane/two way city streets, treacherously narrow mountain roads, you name it.  Red lights are merely a suggestion.  Seriously.  While many folks WILL stop for a red light, many others will simply stop, look around, and if it’s clear, sail right through.  Still others will simply blow right through it.  Needless to say, I’ve seen numerous accidents since I’ve been here, and already had two reported from staff while working (not their fault) since I’ve been here.  Four years ago, one of our drivers, in a run to the airport to pick up a staff person, tried to pass two cars on the way, but the one in front of the first one—a taxi—decided to just suddenly make a u-turn on the two-lane/two-way road and so the PC driver plowed right into said taxi, killing the driver.  Peace Corps had to give the taxi driver’s family a cow (seriously), and the driver is still in the process of being sued – but the courts here operate even more slowly than in America, so who knows if anything will ever come of it.

I found out the other day that the security guards stationed at my house are required to make a circuit of the perimeter of my yard every 15 minutes.  Apparently, there are little scan checkpoints scattered around the perimeter, which is how the security company knows the guys do it.  If they do it more often than every 15 minutes they get a bonus.  Between that, the wall, the razor wire on top of said wall, and the bars on all my windows and doors, you’d think I wouldn’t jump at night when the old house I’m in makes a sound, but I do.  Hmmm, maybe it’s because of the hyped up security?

In any case, I’m moving to a different house when I get back from DC.  Very excited to find a newer/nicer place just a few blocks from where I am now with a great view.  Two story, 3 bedroom, much smaller lot.  Nice master bedroom suite/master bathroom, multiple balconies and porches, very clean/white/modern looking.  Pics to come!