Paballong Site Visit

So for the past couple of days I have been at my site at Paballong checking out the site, house, and meeting the people here. Both good and bad have thus far resulted from the visit. We will do the bad first, not because it will make the good seem better than what it actually is, but plainly stated, there is just more bad than there is good. Which causes intial worry, for I’m sure all of you, but you can only imagine the “oh shit” face I procured when I discovered the bad. First sincerely bad point: my job here is to update their record keeping. Yes, it seems as if though I have traveled all the way to effing Africa to do record keeping. The exact reason why I hated the bank so much. I told myself, if I have to file one more loan payment or savings slip, I would shoot myself. So there you have the worst of it. I just read my job description, the real one not the vague as hell one they gave me at site placement. Oh, I will be updating medical records on the computers here and such, but I will also be working on agriculture records. I don’t know how to grow a damn cabbage, let alone keep a record on it’s progress. Argghhhh…..the other bit of bad news is that I have literally left the compound I live on once unaccompanied, which brings me to leaving it all together 3 times. I may just go crazy. They “escort” me everywhere, which is way annoying. Humph…
Okay now for the good points. First of all, since I am a community health volunteer I can live here and do the record keeping stuff, but assess what the community wants and also go from there. Also in my job I will be helping with income generating activities, which is basically helping them figuring out what art and craft to do to sell in town. And I love me some arts and crafts, (does Martha have a book on this stuff yet???) Soooo, little do they know the amount of food demo’s and nutrition workshops coming their way. Another good point is the place where I actually am living. My house is actually nicer than what I would get in the states at this point in my life anyways. I have solar electricity, a shower, and toilet. Thus far the hot water or running water doesn’t really work, but I think I can watch dvd’s on my computer, which is a nice plus, since I can always heat up water on my stove to bathe with, which I do. Despite the wonderful conveniences and the nice short distance away from town and some other volunteers in my CHED group, I have an absolutely fantastic view. I am on the Barea Plateau about 30 minutes out of Maseru. In the not too far distance is the Maluti Mountain range and right outside the compound I have my own little, miniature “grand canyon.” I shall call it “mini grand canyon” as a result. Oh and I forgot to mention, how the compound I am on has a barbed wire fence surrounding it and a security guard, on top of my burglar barred house which takes 5 keys to get into. Okay so I lied there are more good points than bad, because I have one more good point. At the end of August (I’m going to put this in the words of the manager that told me this because it is way funnier) “The Dutch is coming, I don’t know if it is male or female, but it will be here for a month to help with the agriculture.” I about died laughing. This is exciting because right now I’m the only person on the compound at night besides the security guard. Let’s just pray for a cute dutch guys from the age of 23-28. I should be so lucky, right…
Okay so the blog has accomplished it’s mission and I feel more positive about my 2 year outlook, I just hope they don’t think I’m a damn fool when I actually start giving out suggestions, ehh, screw it, they probably already do…
Well that’s it for now, I love you all and send emails!!!!!
Quick update: so I wrote the other part yesterday and I’m following up because, as previously stated, I have an update. So while today was yet again a drag, I have had two noteworthy experiences. The first is that I think I may have made my first Basotho friends. They are, well I’m assuming a couple b/c of how touchy-feely they are, but one is the pharmacy tech and the other is the counselor here at paballong. I’m not sure of their names b/c they are Sesotho names and it is hard to keep track at times, but I have named them frick and frack for now until I’m sure of their real names. They other experience however is not so pleasant. So I live on the top of a plateau, like I’ve already described and so today I wanted to explore the mini grand canyon outside of my door, so I did and as I’m walking along the ridge, I hear noises behind me, look around to notices the swarm (I’m not exaggerating at all by using the word swarm) of children that had accumulated while my back was turned. So being the optimist I’ve become while in Africa, I’m like okay kiddo’s bring on the slew of Sesotho questions, I have no qualms about answering “lebitso la hau u mong?” (what is your name) ten million times. Boy did I overestimate the kindness of these children. Not kidding you first words out of their mouth “just give me the money.” my jaw dropped to bottom of the canyon, and my inner dialogue was “oh no you didn’t.” instead I said I had no money in Sesotho (ha ke na chelete) and told them in English they better never ask me that again. I am now the bitch of ha-senekane. Despite my harsh words, they follow me back the way I had come asking me absurd questions like, where is your baby, or do you have a dog, would you like this one (pointing to the scrawniest dog I have ever seen along with the worst case of fleas), where is your car, do you know how to ride a motorcycle, and the one that broke the camel’s back “do you have any sweets?” (u na le Lipompnog?) at this point I turned to them and yelled “tsamaea bana!” (leave children!). And walked my white American ass home….