I'm sitting in KMA's office at the Agricultural Resource Center right now. Waiting for Ntate Makhele to arrive is a fair warning given during PCV training and I remember back to when volunteers who were at the point I am just about at now said “take a book because inevitably they will be late”. There was even a rule that gave at least an hour to any stated time. I have seen it before. People show up to workshops or meetings one, two, or even three hours late. What's the point of coming by then?! Even when people were telling me about how Nthabileng's wedding would go they described a scene where they would start the actual wedding around 11 with very few people present. By 2 you would have half the crowd that would show by 4. Really!
That's African time and it has grown on me here. In getting accustom to reality though I refuse to give up the thought that two people can not somehow communicate a certain time and then be there at that particular time. I can read the sun and my shadow so don't tell me no one has a watch. This may be a winter project. At one of my workshops I will introduce how to tell time by the sun.
If you happen to have any information to aid in this effort please send my way. I would greatly appreciate it. Until then, I am going to read “The Crow Indians” by Robert Lowie and play some music.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!!
I spent March 18th pretty busy with work. My Farmers are finishing up their surveys of the organic group and the paperwork is coming in. While they are doing that Palesa and I are planning the potato storage demonstration for Ha Lesala next week. A date for the wool spinner's business workshop is set finally which is nice. I've collected the last of the bobatse seed from my garden. I will thankfully not be stung by the stuff ever again(this year at least)! My other plot for the winter has been tilled up thanks to a local farmer who did some work for me. He worked really hard in only three days. And finally, I had a good stout at the bar in honor of the day! My pool game was, however, not on par with the general luck that is supposed to permeate everyone's ethnicity on such an auspicious day.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Measuring success in kid steps.
It's a greeting that's hard to adore. Anybody will yell “Lekhooa” but kids are usually the worst yelling it with vigor and repetition at that high octave child's tone. It means 'white man', and though I'm used to mono-cultures and their words of endearment for foreigners -Taiwan's was “Adoua” which means “big nosed foreigner”-but it still originates from some derogatory connotation . A chorus of kids yelling “Lekhooa, Lekhooa” and waving is obviously not hostile. Surely they simply don't know what to say to a passing white guy. More than anything, I would just like to be greeted without knowing that I'm being called “Whitey, Whitey”. Kids who don't know what to say get stopped and I try to help them out.
Each time I tell them, in Sesotho, to greet better because I am “Ntate” which is Mr. or Sir. They usually look at me funny and run off laughing cause I just tried to talk to them. On my way to work one day, however, Palesa and I heard one group of kids try out the new greeting I had previously given them. “Ntate Lekhooa” they yelled with a wave. I could not resist laughing out loud but the mother of these children scolded them “that is not his name” she said. Small steps; at least they are more polite using Mr. Whitey! I will leave the rest up to the mom. Hopefully she will get them to introduce themselves next time so they can call me something else.
Each time I tell them, in Sesotho, to greet better because I am “Ntate” which is Mr. or Sir. They usually look at me funny and run off laughing cause I just tried to talk to them. On my way to work one day, however, Palesa and I heard one group of kids try out the new greeting I had previously given them. “Ntate Lekhooa” they yelled with a wave. I could not resist laughing out loud but the mother of these children scolded them “that is not his name” she said. Small steps; at least they are more polite using Mr. Whitey! I will leave the rest up to the mom. Hopefully she will get them to introduce themselves next time so they can call me something else.
Yesterday renewed a waning faith in development organizations. KMA applied for a UNDP (United Nations Development Program) Global Environmental Facility grant. Their concept paper cleared the first round and entered the second round which brought three UNDP representatives to Semonkong in further review of the project's vision. After visiting a single site and several long discussions, the representatives had seen enough. Maybe that sounds quick to judge but their analysis was quick and amazingly thorough.
Jaded by the rampant abuses I've heard from all around Lesotho by various NGO's and international organizations, I received these representatives with a professional disguise. Yea, even with an international organization with the reputation like UNDP had me doubting. Their advice from professional observation was keen(in tune with national need and local perspective).
It was nice to finally hear something different for a change. KMA is now working to adjust some of their vision to include their advice; including more local involvement and cooperation from multiple interests.
Jaded by the rampant abuses I've heard from all around Lesotho by various NGO's and international organizations, I received these representatives with a professional disguise. Yea, even with an international organization with the reputation like UNDP had me doubting. Their advice from professional observation was keen(in tune with national need and local perspective).
It was nice to finally hear something different for a change. KMA is now working to adjust some of their vision to include their advice; including more local involvement and cooperation from multiple interests.
The Country Director, Ted Mooney, visited Semonkong this past week and weekend (March 12-15). Casey, Pam, and Kjessie also hiked up from Ha Ramabanta for the weekend. It was a pretty nice weekend hanging out with a good group of people.
There was some good food with dinner down at the lodge on Thursday night, I made dinner Friday night, and Ro made dinner Saturday night. The drinks hit the mark every shot and with Kjessie DJing the music never missed a beat. You can always count on that girl to seek out the MJ music mix at some point in any given night! Pam is the mega trixster and between her and Casey they convinced the new lodge manager, Alex, to tack on an additional R2000 bill on Ted's room tab. That was a fun morning when Ted came to pick the girls up heading back to Maseru! Ted, Robbie, Ro and I also all did the abseiling(repelling) down along the falls. It was really awesome and I loved it so much I have to do it again. I'm thinking during the winter next time.
I must say it will be sad to see these girls go when they head back to the States. Less than three months to go! We had fun though and I can't wait to enjoy a St. Patty's Day celebration/Casey's going away party in Ha Ramabanta!
There was some good food with dinner down at the lodge on Thursday night, I made dinner Friday night, and Ro made dinner Saturday night. The drinks hit the mark every shot and with Kjessie DJing the music never missed a beat. You can always count on that girl to seek out the MJ music mix at some point in any given night! Pam is the mega trixster and between her and Casey they convinced the new lodge manager, Alex, to tack on an additional R2000 bill on Ted's room tab. That was a fun morning when Ted came to pick the girls up heading back to Maseru! Ted, Robbie, Ro and I also all did the abseiling(repelling) down along the falls. It was really awesome and I loved it so much I have to do it again. I'm thinking during the winter next time.
I must say it will be sad to see these girls go when they head back to the States. Less than three months to go! We had fun though and I can't wait to enjoy a St. Patty's Day celebration/Casey's going away party in Ha Ramabanta!
A Christmas card reborn.
Bokang and Lineo are two elementary age kids that hang out on the mission because their mom works for the priest. They are your normal 6 and 9 year old kids that get into trouble, hang out with the older boarders on the mission, and like to have fun.
They are a nice distraction most days when they come to visit. Both love to draw with the crayons I leave sitting out for them. The two girls know where they put their large pieces of poster paper and the crayons. Then they get to drawing. It figures best to do an activity with them rather than give them crayons. I still can't give people much of anything here.
If it's not drawing then its goofing off, playing with the blow-up globe, or cards. Recently, however, they discovered my trash. I know this sounds disgusting and all those moms at home are getting out the hand sanitizer; squirt one, two, relief! The thing is I can't really stop them.
Yea, we do talk about hygiene; primarily when I break out the tissue and show them how to wipe away the messes under their noses. No worries parents, these kids do know to wash their hands before eating...at least I hope they remember!
Really, if these kids can find some use for the things I call trash then more power to them. I hope they are creative and keep it up. Maybe they can tell their friends too. Recycling takes many forms!
There is some regulation to it and at first I was not sure what to think. Now I will figure what the kids might like to play with and I keep it out for them. Their favorites are containers. The best worst thing they ever got, however, was a Christmas card that a certain set of parents sent me (sorry Mom and Dad but I was throwing it away/RECYCLING!).
The musical card was a huge hit, so much so I started to sense the nightmares coming on as this card became a permanent fixture. Bokang and Lineo would switch between the two of them sharing the chance to pop this card open and listen to the thirty second melody of Bing's “Holly, Jolly Christmas”. Each thirty seconds, like a switch, prompted the girls to dance, or wobble, back and forth gleefully smiling. I must say I never grew tired of their excitement for this card though I may have avoided turning a corner or two once I heard them!
In honest truth, I miss the card which just recently disappeared from the kids' collection. I haven't asked but maybe the entertainment value died. More likely someone else became annoyed with its uninterrupted play. I'm sure there aren't too many teachers in town here that could teach over such a distraction!
They are a nice distraction most days when they come to visit. Both love to draw with the crayons I leave sitting out for them. The two girls know where they put their large pieces of poster paper and the crayons. Then they get to drawing. It figures best to do an activity with them rather than give them crayons. I still can't give people much of anything here.
If it's not drawing then its goofing off, playing with the blow-up globe, or cards. Recently, however, they discovered my trash. I know this sounds disgusting and all those moms at home are getting out the hand sanitizer; squirt one, two, relief! The thing is I can't really stop them.
Yea, we do talk about hygiene; primarily when I break out the tissue and show them how to wipe away the messes under their noses. No worries parents, these kids do know to wash their hands before eating...at least I hope they remember!
Really, if these kids can find some use for the things I call trash then more power to them. I hope they are creative and keep it up. Maybe they can tell their friends too. Recycling takes many forms!
There is some regulation to it and at first I was not sure what to think. Now I will figure what the kids might like to play with and I keep it out for them. Their favorites are containers. The best worst thing they ever got, however, was a Christmas card that a certain set of parents sent me (sorry Mom and Dad but I was throwing it away/RECYCLING!).
The musical card was a huge hit, so much so I started to sense the nightmares coming on as this card became a permanent fixture. Bokang and Lineo would switch between the two of them sharing the chance to pop this card open and listen to the thirty second melody of Bing's “Holly, Jolly Christmas”. Each thirty seconds, like a switch, prompted the girls to dance, or wobble, back and forth gleefully smiling. I must say I never grew tired of their excitement for this card though I may have avoided turning a corner or two once I heard them!
In honest truth, I miss the card which just recently disappeared from the kids' collection. I haven't asked but maybe the entertainment value died. More likely someone else became annoyed with its uninterrupted play. I'm sure there aren't too many teachers in town here that could teach over such a distraction!
Kids here will pester you for candy the first, second, or how ever many times their energy will muster. They've learned from their parents and from stories about foreigners that carry huge bags of candy around Lesotho giving it to those kids that beg the best, the loudest of all the rest. My double standard forgives these kids for begging but banishes the adults who I wish could be to proud to beg. The worst, for no real reason, are those adults that beg for candy. Money or food, even a beer at the local bar, would be more acceptable than begging for candy. Maybe I am resistant to the idea of adults enjoying a moment of sweet bliss and sugar high.
Because I am constantly asked for just about anything (the limit seems to be local peoples' imaginations) I often joke those people away. Begging can't be taken serious anymore. Cynicism surely pops into your head. Don't think by living here I can't appreciate the dire problems facing the people I see daily. If it was possible for some quick fix to stop people from starving here or suffering from illness then it would have already been done. Quick fixes don't fix anything. Like rapping a plastic bag around a leaking pipe and taping it—you hide the real problems. Welcome to the dilemmas of food aid and international development.
Wonka's everlasting gob-stopper would be great if he could ever get is marketed. That would really get everybody thinking when WFP hauls up with bags of colorful candy and hands that out instead of beans, corn meal, and oil.
My new moral imperative informs me of the consequences of what constant charity can do to someone's mind—pride can permanently be replaced with helplessness. People here wait all day for someone to come with big plans and bags of money. When they leave so do the ideas of what that community could be because too much outside influence changes the faith of a community to recognize itself or to understand what is best for itself.
Because I am constantly asked for just about anything (the limit seems to be local peoples' imaginations) I often joke those people away. Begging can't be taken serious anymore. Cynicism surely pops into your head. Don't think by living here I can't appreciate the dire problems facing the people I see daily. If it was possible for some quick fix to stop people from starving here or suffering from illness then it would have already been done. Quick fixes don't fix anything. Like rapping a plastic bag around a leaking pipe and taping it—you hide the real problems. Welcome to the dilemmas of food aid and international development.
Wonka's everlasting gob-stopper would be great if he could ever get is marketed. That would really get everybody thinking when WFP hauls up with bags of colorful candy and hands that out instead of beans, corn meal, and oil.
My new moral imperative informs me of the consequences of what constant charity can do to someone's mind—pride can permanently be replaced with helplessness. People here wait all day for someone to come with big plans and bags of money. When they leave so do the ideas of what that community could be because too much outside influence changes the faith of a community to recognize itself or to understand what is best for itself.
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