50th Anniversary Celebrations

Hello again,
Two posts in one week... you lucky ducks! (Though I won't even comment on the quality of these posts... I haven't really been in the writing mood recently)
All of the volunteers in Lesotho recently gathered for a joint All-Volunteer conference and 50th Anniversary Celebration. The 50th celebration had speeches, singing, dancing and even the King attended. It was fun to get dressed up and hear the good things people had to say about the work we're doing (recognition is always nice!) and that they hope the States will continue to send volunteers here. The cultural dancing was great fun to watch - I'd seen the female dance before but the male dance is very entertaining, with lots of stomping and showy moves.
The King did not give a speech but plenty of other important people did - one of whom was the principal of my school! He was incredibly honored and (I think) did a great job. After the ceremony, they split us into groups (important people, school dance troups and everyone else) and he made it into the important people tent; when I saw him later, he was absolutely beaming at the honor of eating in the King's tent.
I'm told the celebrations were televised but I doubt I'll be able to find a television in time to watch it! I do think the photos will find their way to some website somewhere.
Not too much else to report. I have something like 12 weeks left! All my appointments are scheduled (medical, dental, language assessment, etc) and I'm more than ready to leave! (...though I will miss this place once I'm gone)
Love from Africa
-katie

September 12, 2011

Greetings from Lesotho!
I realize it has been a long, long time since I’ve updated at all… probably since Kilimanjaro? Life has been a rollercoaster since then, lots of ups and downs, and somehow I never quite know what to post.
Probably the biggest thing is that the school’s generator is now completely fixed and functional. Much thanks to the Hilbert students in Wisconsin for their incredible fundraising, we were able to get the alternator fixed and installed. The electrician had to come several times to make sure everything was usable and on his final visit, a student came running to my house and told me to try my lights. I flipped the switch and THERE WAS LIGHT. IN EVERY ROOM OF MY HOUSE. Since then the school has been using it to pump water and provide light for the older students to study in the evenings. It’s wonderful!
Other than that, the biggest news is that I’ll be leaving my school early December to finalize all my paperwork and leaving Lesotho several days later. Though I don’t have my trip all planned yet, I’m looking forward to a couple weeks of travel before arriving home for Christmas!
With my COS (close of service) date looming just a couple months away, I’m trying to make sure all the things I’ve been working on are appropriately wrapped up and handed over to people who will be able to continue them in my absence. The egg project is finished – the chickens haven’t been producing enough eggs, meaning they’re no longer worth keeping. I believe almost all 150 chickens have been sold so I’m not going to have to worry about eggs or chickens anymore, probably for the rest of my life. The library is still a library, and as long as my teachers can choose new librarians for next year, it will be just fine.
Classes continue to be fine. We have just under 3 weeks left before Independence Holiday (a week off in October), after which the external classes begin their serious exams. After that, only a month and a half of school before we close in November.
That’s all for now, folks…
Love from Lesotho!