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This is a country completely in the mountains and totally surrounded by South Africa. I will have 4 seasons! It snows in the higher elevations! So much for looking forward to humidity... none. As I will be below the equator it will be Winter when I arrive - will I ever be warm again? I thought Winter was already extending far too long in to our California world! No malaria issues though & possibly no water issues due to the mountain streams providing water.
Traditional food is corn meal, porridge, well cooked greens (spinach, swiss chard or cabbage) and a meat dish of mutton, beef or chicken. Fruit is available in season. Each town has a supermarket that carries basics. Maseru, large city, has most everything needed and I'm told we can arrive with nothing & buy what we need there. Good, in case I forget something. It's not like it will be close though once we leave the 3 mo training....possibly 5 hours away. I doubt also they have things like clips etc for the hair as the people of Lesotho, Men & Women keep their heads shaved it seems from the photos..... So, it's best to consider my essentials may not be their essentials - ha ha.
Maseru:
It's a beautiful country - I'm adding some photos I've found. Incredibly clean also and quite conservative due in part to colonial traditions and the Catholic & Protestant missionaries. Please read more about the country, if you are interested, in Peace Corps Wiki - you will also find this journal there under Lesotho.
Tons now to do to get ready.
1. I have NO winter clothes for example - all in storage except a casual waist length coat for San Francisco weather. Also in storage are the sleeping bags - 1 is recommended... The women also wear skirts which don't look like anything I've found in the stores so far. I found a great pair of fleece lined winter boots with a good thick sole for $4 at my friend Kip's school "garage sale" however! I'm using up my vacation points staying in San Francisco for a couple weeks this month. I lucked into a sale at Macy's at Union Square and bought 3 sweaters for $15 each - wow - 70% off. I've never been able to find a sale like that before. I will need scarves, flat dressy shoes with good soles for long walking (work is business casual), gloves, and the list goes on.
2. Tons of misc, such as register cameras & computers with US customs to avoid paying for their return to the US, getting immunization records and mammograms. Considering additional life insurance, personal property insurance, coordinating payments to storage, etc., etc. Can I use rolling suitcases or not? How did we ever live without the Internet? Sell the car sometime from the middle to end of May.... Anyone need a 2 1/2 yr old Honda CRV - fully loaded with GPS, heated seats, etc...
I'm going to need every moment of the next month to get ready. I"ll be back in Sacto sometime in May to complete everything.<input ... ><input ... >
Comments
Looks like a wonderful place. Nice pictures hope you send more. The city look quite modern, can you get makeup LOL!
Still waiting for my blue merle puppy from Jill, Teri's new red tri is great.
My mother in law joined the peacr corps when 60 years old, went to Boliva. Loved it and they loved her. Of course that was many full moons ago.
I'd buy your car if I had the dough.
Bev
I'll put in more pictures when I get there - these are from other blogs. You can always go to peacecorpswiki.com & read other journals also - lots of photos out there.