Saturday, February 07, 2004

Bill and Arden left today. There is definitely a bit of a void with them being gone. Shelley and I decided that we needed to do something to take our minds off of the fact that we are now on our own. So we turned the TV on for the first time (we have 5 channels) just in time for the start of Disney’s 102 Dalmations! And we knitted while we watched (which explains the many holes in my 4 inches of scarf…oops!). It turned out to be a pretty fun night! As a side-note, you can see some of our chalet in the picture…ah, the third world life. :o)

  Thursday, February 05, 2004

The past week has been filled, but not in a crazy way. Barry and Carly Smith (Director of the Dreyfus Foundation and his wife who are funding the Problem Solving for Better Health workshop) arrived in Lesotho on Monday. They are two of the kindest, most dedicated people with nothing but the best of intentions. Shelley and I are so excited to be working with them.

Today I started my work for PSI and also received my scope of work from Boston University. All this business all of a sudden! But I am SO ready to get to work.

On a more personal note, since I arrived in Lesotho, I have tried to explain to Arden and Shelley my “extreme luck” theory. It’s very difficult to explain. I’m not a “bad luck” or “good luck” person, if you want to call it luck. But certain things just happen to me that don’t really happen to other people… either really good or really bad. For instance, today I ate some ice cream with chocolate dip (this doesn’t quite taste right). Arden had picked up this ice cream for all three of us and carried all three cups uncovered along with an armful of other stuff for a couple blocks, accident-free. She walked in the door and handed me the cup of ice cream. I then promptly managed to drip chocolate all over my hands, down my outer shirt (from top to bottom), down my tank top (starting mid-belly), down my skirt (from mid-thigh to shin), and all over the floor. This of course defied physics since I had more chocolate all over the place than was in the cup to begin with, thus proving my “extreme luck” theory to Arden and Shelley.

  Tuesday, February 03, 2004

Let me introduce you to my temporary pet, Bliksom. I do not really consider myself a cat person, but this may be the only significant length of time I have an animal to love for the next 5 years…since Buck refuses to move our belongings to another apartment for the sake of getting a puppy. Bliksom lives with about five to eight other cats under the cars in the parking lot. Bliksom is special, though, because she likes people and is the only cat that will frequent the reception area and outdoor restaurant…and she’s the prettiest. But for reasons unbeknownst to me, Bliksom is the skinniest of all the cats…I think the other cats must be jealous and bully her around. So on our last shopping trip, I tried to find some cat treats but they did not exist, so I bought an entire box of cat food instead. I now carry cat food around in my purse (the outer pouch…I learned my lesson the first day that cat food REAKS) and Bliksom has learned to love me.

And for anyone who is concerned, don’t be. I am a public health student, and therefore, deeply concerned about the sustainability of my feeding program. I intend to implement a “make a cat fat” program before I leave. ;-)

  Sunday, February 01, 2004

I hate to break up all the fun and beautiful pictures, but I really feel I have no other choice. Before I left for Lesotho, so many people offered to buy things for the kids. Since I thought it would be a lot more fun to meet the kids and then put in special requests for dolls or soccer balls, I promised that I would post any requests on my website. It is my sincerest wish that I could name for you all the toys that the children want, but the truth remains, many children cannot afford to go to school. And this one specific situation has really been on my heart and mind since I first heard about it last week.

Right now, Lesotho’s Ministry of Education is in the process of offering free education. Each year, another grade is added to those that have no school fees. Right now it is through Standard 4 (4th grade). For its orphans, the Ministry of Education has started an application process so that no orphan should have to pay school fees. But very few districts even know that this exists.

I had already told you about the agricultural program that Mokhuthu Makhalanyane has started in the Maputeng district. He has also been trying to get orphans back into schools. He was able to persuade the families of 30 orphans to allow them to return to school and he raised funds for 20, but 10 remain without school fees. Classes begin this week and those kids are ready to go to school. Mokhutu has already arranged for late payment, but if he does not get the funds, the kids will be pulled out of the school, and they are likely to never return. It is too late for the kids to apply to the Ministry for this year, but we will be working with Mokhutu on developing a system so that those 30 and others can easily apply for next year.

In the meantime, the kids need about 4400 rand in school fees and 6500 rand for books and uniforms, the equivalent of about US $1555 in total. If you would like to contribute, please send a check to Buck who will then deposit it in an account I can easily access. Contributions are, for obvious reasons, not tax-deductable, but I can personally guarantee that 100% of the funds will go straight to the kids. Shelley and I hope to go to Maputeng in two or three weeks and we will personally go to the schools to pay the fees and meet the kids we hope to help. No amount is too small.

Checks can be made out to “Lauren Babich” with “Maputeng orphans” in the memo and sent to: 15 Colborne Rd, Apt. 16, Brighton, MA 02135.

PICTURES maphale1.jpg maphale2.jpg maphale3.jpg maphale4.jpg maphale5.jpg maphale6.jpg maphale7.jpg maphale8.jpg maphaleroad.jpg

One of my favorite things about this country is that everywhere is fair game for picnicking. It is also nearly impossible to get lost since each direction only has one very windy road. We drove up into the mountains through God Help Me Pass and Blue Mountain Pass towards a lake. We saw the most beautiful spot on the road towards the lake and decided to picnic there at about 7700 feet altitude. It was such a relaxing afternoon. I am looking forward to many more like it. I hope you enjoy the tons of pictures (all of which were taken at our picnic spot)!