This Blogs for Dobbs

Howdy,

This is my first official post. Thanks Pablo for posting my previous emails.

Before posting this I took a minute to read over my previous emails/posts. It's funny, they weren't quite as boring as a I remember them. I especially liked how it started...with my naive email downplaying the trouble in Kenya and complaints of how the media was distorting everything. Sorry.

Of course, I did live in an area that was safe and continued to be safe throughout all of the violence. And there were a lot of places that were safe in Kenya. More importantly, I want to point out how quickly the issues have been settled. I know, first hand, that many Kenyans believe in the importance of democracy, and they believe in a unified Kenya. I think this showed in reconciliation efforts made after the election violence. In my remaining days in Kenya, I listened to the radio quite a bit and it was filled with messages promoting peace and advertisements of donation efforts to ease the suffering of the victims of the violence.

Not that I want to make things sound too peachy... The pressure put on by the opposition (violence included as much as I hate to say it) forced Kibaki to relinquish power.

Anyway, things seem to be better now. A power sharing agreement has been reached that both parties are happy with. Hopefully, they will be able to work out the rest of the details and deal with constitutional and land reform issues soon.

By the way, if you are not content with international news coverage. I usually go to http://www.nationmedia.com/ to check out the progress in Kenya.

Well enough of Kenya.

Lesotho has it's own problems.

With an average HIV/AIDS rate of ~ 23 %(as high as 40% for some groups), this country could literally disappear. In the past 10 years the population has dropped from about ~2.4million to 1. 5 million.

Sometimes I try to bring this up to my students. I just want to motivate them, and let them how their country's future is resting on their shoulders. And then, I remember I am probably talking to a child who has lost either one or both of their parents to AIDS...

I usually stop at this point a little ashamed, never really sure what to say.

And of course, then there is the usual developing country nonsense. There are government officials buying beamers for $300. A new transportation policy is bumping up the monthly fees for bus drivers by something like 500%. Where is the money going? To buy new buses of course...which will put the old drivers out of business. And then there is the massive country wide pyramid scam. A huge number of Basotho have bought into this plan, and are expecting their pay day soon. Unfortunately, the guy who started it is pretty much bankrupt...oops.

So, what have I been up to? Training here in Maseru. As always there is a lot of wasted time, but honestly it has been one of the most effective sessions I have had with the peace corps. After talking to other volunteers about their teaching experience, I am feeling a little more confident about teaching. Also, our counterparts (my principal) came in for a workshop, and we had the chance to talk to them about possible projects for our community. I have not talked to him before about community projects, so I am feeling much more optimistic about that. And who knows...maybe...someday I will be able to blind the lizard (that's how we say "take a wiz" here) in a pit latrine with a door. woohoo!

Okay. I would like to leave on that note. Talk to you in a few months.
-Jeremy