I found this sign staring at me as I closed the door in a ladies restroom at the shopping mall in Maseru. I could not resist taking out my camera. The other day, Sister Bernadette, my Principal told me, “The boys in grade 3 and up to grade 7, are walking to the clinic to get circumcised this morning.” “What, they just walk to Continue Reading
Archives for 2016
My Weekend Routine in Rural Africa
A friend asked me to explain what my life is like in my rural village in Lesotho, “The Mountain Kingdom” in southern Africa, so I figured I would start with my weekend routine first. It’s nothing like Orange County, California, that’s for sure, but here’s what I do to keep myself as “happy and healthy” as possible. Saturdays, are my “luxury” Continue Reading
The Orphans and Vulnerable Children Are Grateful
When I started teaching English at my rural school in Lesotho, southern Africa, I was shocked by the state of the children’s clothing and shoes. Many had holes in their sweaters, wore shoes with their toes poking out, and some children could not afford socks or underwear. 60% of the children in my school are either orphans or Continue Reading
Moshoeshoe Day Celebrations: A Big Event in Lesotho
March 11th, was Moshoeshoe Day, pronounced (Moshway-shway) in Lesotho. What is it? It’s the day the Basotho commemorate the death of the country’s founder. All schools, including my small, Catholic school start preparing for this day, when school opens on January 25th, after the summer holidays—yes, we’re in the southern hemisphere here in Continue Reading
The Challenges of Teaching English in a Rural School in Lesotho
I knew it would be challenging to teach English to the Basotho children in my rural school in Lesotho, but I never expected the level to be this low. In Lesotho, all subjects (except for Sesotho, of course) are supposed to be taught in English, but most of the teachers are afraid of speaking English (so I was told) and so they revert to their Continue Reading