Hello Out There: April 2, 2009

Before you read my entry, please realize that this should be a two way street here, if you are reading what I have to share, I in turn would like to hear from you. Afterall, sharing is caring. Also, I might be motivated to write more frequently if I had some sort of responses coming in.

Wow, time is really begining to fly here. I can't believe I have been here for nearly a year and a half, yikes. I am begining to become aware of the fact that I will have to begin to prepare myself for leaving the home I've grown to love and appreciate. I know that back home it may seem like a long time away still until I am back, but here I think it is right around the corner. I do believe what I hear about the transition back to the U.S. being more difficult than arrival to Lesotho. Afterall, I have grown to love the way of life here. It is laid back and peaceful, kind and friendly, open and welcoming, and a place where an emphasis is placed on people. It is such a loving society, how will I ever keep my new self in the states?? for I don't want to loose it. I will do my best, for I have left pieces of myself here but have gained new and excited pieces as well. My day to day life continues to be ever changing in atmosphere as well as emotion. For the loss of friends and young ones will always wake you up to the saddness that is around you. But all in all I feel I am making the most out of my moments. I have opened my arms out to this place and I feel the love. I will be going to my first wedding next month. The host family I had upon arrival for 5 weeks, the place where my heart will forever feel warmth from, is having a wedding in the family. My sister will be getting married and all family members wear the same material in the form of traditional dress. So, I just had my measurements taken and design picked out. It should be a fun time. I have been spending more time with them, for I know that I will miss them sooo much. Afterall, when I left their home back in January of last year, I was crying. So, I am making the 7 hour trip down to see them more often. I also will get to have my 13 year old sister come up and visit me during winter break. The other weekend while I was there, aside from getting eaten up by bed bugs, while in bed with my sister and the room next door holding my mom and 4 year old sister, talking back and forth in the wee hours of the morning. Inexplainable but the moment was priceless nonetheless.

My life up at my site in the mountains continues to go well. I have had several workshops lately that have been a huge success. I continue to talk about uncomfortable topics. I have given condom use demonstrations, with both male condoms and female condoms. I have never talked about sex so much in my life. I hope that I am appropriate when I return, for issues surrounding sex including partners and masturbation, etc. are such common topics for me here. Ikes!! let alone other common behaviors such as picking my nose in public, using my bra as a purse, interrupting people and answering my cell phone in the middle of conversations, just to name a few behaviors that might not go over to well in the States.

Anyways, I think that I am begining to ramble on a bit, so I will cut myself off before I tell you more than you can bare. Hope you don't think that I've done this already, but this is my life that I am sharing with you! Remember, the once in a lifetime opportunity that many of you envy. How do you like my experience now???

I love it more and more everyday.
Check out the new pics I finally uploaded!!!!