Fade Out

Pictures.

Finally got some pictures up. Hopefully I'll get more when I get my camera cd. Until then, some pictures from Marion's camera. Lesotho Part One

Also for some good pictures of all of Lesotho check out: TRC.org Pictures

Nice to Meet You...

So I could never remember anyone's name in the states, let alone here where the names aren't exactly Bill and Joe. I meet people everyday and a lot of them make me wonder if it was the first time or not. Out of the teachers that I work with I know like three names. It isn't for lack of trying either... Or maybe it is, it's hard to tell anymore.
I would venture to guess that I have about 20 random conversations a day. People wanting to know where I'm from, what I do, where I live and what my name is. Some of the other volunteers find this invasive, depending on what time of the day it is my opinion varies. By far the best are the kids. It could be 6:30 pm here and kids are still screaming "good morning" to me in a very high-pitched voice. Some of the braver children will recite the mantra of "give me some money," all in all a very direct approach. I find that the most entertaining response is asking them for money right back. It isn't even begging really, it's just recitation. Things to say to English speakers. Good times.

Double Day

Well since the internet is crawling, I'll put up another entry today. Though a bit less business like in content... Or not. Anyway:
- I have seriously considered a TV, or at least a DVD player, which I could use with the school's projector. A man can only read so much.
- Initially I was excited about the library at the T-House. Anymore I'm not so sure. I've already gone through about 20 books from there and it is getting pretty hard to find things I want to read. Pretty much have to hover around as people COS and see what they bring in. Other than that I find myself eyeing Grisham books...

-Recent reads: (Of a recommendable nature)"Me Talk Pretty One Day" - David Sedaris, “Herzog” – Saul Bellow, “Zodiac” and “The Diamond Age” – Neal Stephenson (Awesome. Both of these, though very different. Can’t wait to get my hands on “Snow Crash”).
(Perhaps not so much) “Shopgirl” – Steve Martin, “A Widow for One Year” – John Irving (made me remember why I never finished garp)
-Reading: “Lord Jim” – Joseph Conrad (commencing my informal month of Conrad), “Mr. Sammler’s Planet” – Saul Bellow, “The Plague” – Albert Camus, and “Cascade Point” – Timothy Zahn.

-Other than that I think that Drew is winning the hair contest. But I'm pretty excited to find out that I really don't have to cut my hair for the next two years. Maybe I'll even stick with this beard thing.

National University

Well I'm getting a glimpse of the national University of Lesotho. The only University in the entire country for the most part. Can't really imagine having your hands tied that much when it comes/came to options in colleges.
I'm involved in training for the Cisco Networking Academy Program. It's pretty much worth it to hear how the Afrikaans lady says "router." Somewhere along the lines of route 66... Anyway the end goal of this class and training will be technology outreach to neighboring high schools and hopefully internet for St. Mary's. Not exactly like having a T3 line, but their promised ISDL line will be better than anything with a modem.

Hmm what else is happening. Celebrated my birthday by eating some bad fish. Always a good time. Marion got her camera drivers so hopefully next time I am in Maseru I can get some pictures uploaded. And also my drivers should be forthcoming in a few weeks so maybe that will work out as well.
Peace.