Things of the last few months

My last few months in Lesotho have been busy and crazy and exhausting, and I haven't shared much of it yet. So here are some words and photos that give a lil taste of what my september and october were like:

I finished my last GRS (Grassroot Soccer) intervention with the other kids from grades 6 and 7. It always fascinates me how different personalities gel together and transform a space-whereas the first go with this class (different students) felt like pulling teeth, this group was a dream-The girls and boys really listened to each other and the energy was positive and affirming pretty much the whole time. Felt good to finish the work that's really gotten me through these two years on a high note.

my amazing counterpart explaining the HIV limbo activity: To demonstrate how having an older partner increases your chance of contracting HIV, the rope gets lower and lower, the limbo harder and harder to do. 

The GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) camp that I've been co-organizing with a top notch squad

for a hella long time. For Peace Corps super incompetence reasons that I don't need to delve into, it turned out to be an INCREDIBLY stressful week for those of us on the inside. The good news is the other staff and the girls had no idea, and I think it went well-the girls left happy.

Holy Rock

would've been nothin' without these humans

Queen Ototo killing it with a drug and alcohol demo

every school took one home

Walk on fire: face your fears&reach your goals. This real. 

Lithebae <3

The amazing women of our career panel

Then, like a crazy person, I went directly to Thabo's BRO camp for a day and a night, just to see my host bro participate in something he was so excited to attend. 

Goal races

My counterpart, 'M'e Thakane, also had a party for her son that just graduated from University (big deal ya'll, especially here). It was one of my last Basotho parties: a long as fuck church service that mostly consisted of listening to 'M'e and her beautiful choir sing joyfully, growling stomachs that are finally filled with as much food as you can squeeze in, and a whole lot of drinking and dancing as a dust storm blew and rain began to fall. It satiated the part of me that will miss Basotho festivities, and gave me an opportunity to finally meet her extended family. Apparently after I left, people were saying that I needed to come back so they could have a ritual to welcome me to the family (here, the lines between co-workers, family, friends and lovers are forever blurred and cross-hatched). Too late fam, I'm out!

My class seven's wrote their exams, and per usual we went to T'sehlenyane, the national park down the road from me, for a celebration picnic. There are a few that will only pass and therefore go on to high school with a damn miracle, but it's out of my control. I did what I could, and life will go on. This day was just about being together and celebrating their accomplishment just in taking the exam. They gave me a headache and sometimes they were downright shitty (because what middle schooler isn't?) but I love em, and I'll miss them when I go. 

And later that week, I went with my teachers to Katse dam, the biggest dam in southern Africa (or maybe the whole of the continent) that was built solely to send water to South Africa (if you want an example of a shortsighted vision, look up the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Electricity and jobs are cool, but water is life. South Africa is chillin' with Basotho have died because of the drought). But it was a great day, great to spend quality time with the people who have really been my family in the village.

Much love ya'll.