We got our first taste of rain here in Hlotse last night. Well, sort of. I actually never saw the rain, only heard the thunder and saw the lightening. I was out for a walk after an early dinner of fried eggs, tomato, cheese and toast when the lightening started off in the distance. It was impressive to say the least. Then the thunder started but the sky over my head was still blue with a few white clouds. I hoped the storm clouds would roll our way as all of Lesotho needs the rain. As I returned home, a kind lady who lives on the compound assured me the rain would arrive around midnight. I suspect it must have since I slept through any rain but the ground was certainly less dusty than usual when I awoke. I have no idea how much rain fell. Considering the 4 years of drought, any rain is better than no rain.
The electricity has been coming and going. We only lost power at home for about 10 minutes last night and 10 minutes this morning. There is no power at the office today, although there was initially. Luckily my laptop has some juice so I can type this. The internet does not seem to be down either. The sun is coming out despite a few short showers earlier this morning. It was cool when I woke (at 6) but I suspect it will warm up again soon.
Aish, enough about the weather.
Yesterday and today I got down to business. I spent a lot of time reading over the letters that the sponsored children are sending to their sponsors. Many write with an expressive, flowerly style, using words and expressions that light up the page. I will try my level best to incorporate some in my writing. See what I just did there?
I know you want to see photos and I will post some soon…maybe. First I have to take some. I think I’ve only taken 5 or 6. I want to observe with my eyes first and then get into the pointing and shooting.
It has been my pleasure to jot this note to you.
Catch you later
Oh and yesterday there was a rooster strutting about the yard outside the office, cock-a-doodle-doo-ing as he pleased throughout the day. I hope he only visits once a week...or less
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Ha Ha
Check me out...
http://www.helplesotho.ca/aboutus46.html
That's a self photo I took of me and some potato fields in PEI.
You can also check out the other staff in Lesotho on the site.
http://www.helplesotho.ca/aboutus46.html
That's a self photo I took of me and some potato fields in PEI.
You can also check out the other staff in Lesotho on the site.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
I have Arrived
Hello from Lesotho! Or rather Lumelang (pronounced Dumelang)
I arrived safe and sound on the 28th of October. It only took an 8 hour flight, 8 hour layover, 11 hour flight and 5 hour drive to get to Hlotse in Leribe, Lesotho. Oh that reminds me, if you are going to mail me anything, please put Southern Africa after Lesotho – apparently NO ONE knows where this place is. All the harder to track me down I suppose. You know, I’m sure there are people after me for something.
As usual, I had a little bit of a hard time getting here. Just checking in in Toronto they tried to tell me I couldn’t fly to South Africa without a visa as my ticket was for more than 90 days and I had no proof I was leaving the country – telling them a man was picking me up at the airport to take me to Lesotho wasn’t enough (which I totally get). They also tried to tell me I need my yellow fever vaccine card, which makes zero sense as you only need if you are flying through a country with a yellow fever issue – London, England, as far as I know, does not have such an issue. They ended up getting the word from some guy who knows these things and poof, all my problems disappeared. They did overlook the fact that one of my bags was 7kg overweight so I guess you win some and you lose some and life goes on.
I’m settling into my new home. A small house with 2 bedrooms – one for me and one for Tara (the other intern) – a kitchen, sitting room and washroom – complete with a toilet and hot shower. Yes I have running water, which to drink I have to boil first.
Anyone know how long I have to boil it before it’s safe to drink?
The house is located on the same property as the Help Lesotho office so it’s not a far walk. However, I should be moving into the new centre upon its completion…now projected to be sometime around Christmas. This past August was too ambitious a goal it would seem.
This entry is too long so I’ll leave it there. I hope to have regular internet access during the week but I am not sure how often I’ll get to use it for personal emails. There are quite a few of us in the office sharing a slow dial up connection.
Sala Hantle
I arrived safe and sound on the 28th of October. It only took an 8 hour flight, 8 hour layover, 11 hour flight and 5 hour drive to get to Hlotse in Leribe, Lesotho. Oh that reminds me, if you are going to mail me anything, please put Southern Africa after Lesotho – apparently NO ONE knows where this place is. All the harder to track me down I suppose. You know, I’m sure there are people after me for something.
As usual, I had a little bit of a hard time getting here. Just checking in in Toronto they tried to tell me I couldn’t fly to South Africa without a visa as my ticket was for more than 90 days and I had no proof I was leaving the country – telling them a man was picking me up at the airport to take me to Lesotho wasn’t enough (which I totally get). They also tried to tell me I need my yellow fever vaccine card, which makes zero sense as you only need if you are flying through a country with a yellow fever issue – London, England, as far as I know, does not have such an issue. They ended up getting the word from some guy who knows these things and poof, all my problems disappeared. They did overlook the fact that one of my bags was 7kg overweight so I guess you win some and you lose some and life goes on.
I’m settling into my new home. A small house with 2 bedrooms – one for me and one for Tara (the other intern) – a kitchen, sitting room and washroom – complete with a toilet and hot shower. Yes I have running water, which to drink I have to boil first.
Anyone know how long I have to boil it before it’s safe to drink?
The house is located on the same property as the Help Lesotho office so it’s not a far walk. However, I should be moving into the new centre upon its completion…now projected to be sometime around Christmas. This past August was too ambitious a goal it would seem.
This entry is too long so I’ll leave it there. I hope to have regular internet access during the week but I am not sure how often I’ll get to use it for personal emails. There are quite a few of us in the office sharing a slow dial up connection.
Sala Hantle
Monday, October 4, 2010
I have an Address!
If you would like to send me anything by snail mail, feel free to do so to the address below. You can send post cards, coffee, notes, games, books, mazes, colouring books, anything you want. Um, no hate mail though please. I don't need that. Hopefully I'll be able to send a few things to Canada so email me your address and I'll try.
Alison MacDonald
c/o Help Lesotho
P.O. Box 231
Hlotse, Leribe 300
Lesotho
Southern Africa
Apparently the Southern Africa part is key!
Alison MacDonald
c/o Help Lesotho
P.O. Box 231
Hlotse, Leribe 300
Lesotho
Southern Africa
Apparently the Southern Africa part is key!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Le..what did you say?
Lesotho - pronounced, Lesutu or Lesootoo - clearly I know nothing about phonetics and I'm sure once I arrive I'll really find out if I can say it right or not. I'm hoping my semester of Zulu and home Qhosa cds will give me an ear for the language of Sesotho...cough cough.
Where is it?
Check out the maps below to see the Mountain Kingdom, surrounded entirely by South Africa.
What else might you like to know about Lesotho? It's the 3rd highest country in the world, with the highest, lowest point in the world. Read it again, it'll make sense. It's not tropical, it gets warm - up to 30 degrees and it gets cold - down to -5 with snow. Being in the southern hemisphere its seasons are opposite (thanks tips).
Check out more about this country, which is about the size of Belgium or Maryland, here - http://www.lesotho.gov.ls/home/
Where is it?
Check out the maps below to see the Mountain Kingdom, surrounded entirely by South Africa.
What else might you like to know about Lesotho? It's the 3rd highest country in the world, with the highest, lowest point in the world. Read it again, it'll make sense. It's not tropical, it gets warm - up to 30 degrees and it gets cold - down to -5 with snow. Being in the southern hemisphere its seasons are opposite (thanks tips).
Check out more about this country, which is about the size of Belgium or Maryland, here - http://www.lesotho.gov.ls/home/
Thursday, September 2, 2010
The Blog is Back
Looks like the blog is going to be reactivated.
Perhaps with regular posts, perhaps not.
But while away on my internship, I'm sure going to try.
What internship?
Oh right, just got it, 6 hours ago.
I'm headed to Lesotho.
Look it up if you need to.
I'll post a map before you know it.
Guess I'll get to fly somewhere soon after all.
Perhaps with regular posts, perhaps not.
But while away on my internship, I'm sure going to try.
What internship?
Oh right, just got it, 6 hours ago.
I'm headed to Lesotho.
Look it up if you need to.
I'll post a map before you know it.
Guess I'll get to fly somewhere soon after all.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Stitches
That's my new nickname.
I've got 5 new ones since that last picture.
Sara, my only reader, can you see these?
I've got 5 new ones since that last picture.
Sara, my only reader, can you see these?
I Forgot!
Totally forgot about my blog!
I don't have internet at home anymore so my posts will be sporadic but...
I'm done school, working at a great burger place, now love beer and smell like onions, potatoes or cheese burgers most of the time.
Eat bison or visit them at the High Park zoo.
Holler
Oh and I'm pretty famous being on the jumbotron at Jays games all the freakin' time.
I don't have internet at home anymore so my posts will be sporadic but...
I'm done school, working at a great burger place, now love beer and smell like onions, potatoes or cheese burgers most of the time.
Eat bison or visit them at the High Park zoo.
Holler
Oh and I'm pretty famous being on the jumbotron at Jays games all the freakin' time.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
How Annoying
I don't know why those videos posted that way. I find it highly annoying, luckily I'm the only one who notices aka reads my own blog.
Today I added a 5th Toronto hospital to the list of Hospitals I've been to in this city. It's pretty cool there are so many. I've got to spread myself around. This time was a self sustained injury. I cut myself on a significantly chipped glass when I was washing it for unknown reasons. I didn't actually notice the glass I was cleaning was chipped and sliced my way through my hand. WIN.
I shall post a picture for my own future enjoyment.
Oh right, I got 4 stitches. I was hoping someone would offer me juice or at least ask me if I'd eaten today as I'd only had a grapefruit and was worried about the whole blood loss slash shock fainting potential. Oh well, no free juice for me. I look pretty relaxed about the whole thing I think.
Today I added a 5th Toronto hospital to the list of Hospitals I've been to in this city. It's pretty cool there are so many. I've got to spread myself around. This time was a self sustained injury. I cut myself on a significantly chipped glass when I was washing it for unknown reasons. I didn't actually notice the glass I was cleaning was chipped and sliced my way through my hand. WIN.
I shall post a picture for my own future enjoyment.
Oh right, I got 4 stitches. I was hoping someone would offer me juice or at least ask me if I'd eaten today as I'd only had a grapefruit and was worried about the whole blood loss slash shock fainting potential. Oh well, no free juice for me. I look pretty relaxed about the whole thing I think.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
New to me Music
A friend just tipped me off to this Nigerian raised, German based artist Nneka. Great sound I am really enjoying.
http://www.okayplayer.com/news/Audio-Nneka-The-Uncomfortable-Truth-.html
or check her at her myspace page.
www.myspace.com/nnekaworld
http://www.okayplayer.com/news/Audio-Nneka-The-Uncomfortable-Truth-.html
or check her at her myspace page.
www.myspace.com/nnekaworld
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