Lumela! [Du-may'-la]
(Hello in Sesotho)!
Outside of Leratong Community Center in Roma,
Lesotho. Fulbrighters and Roma community members join together to perform,
sing, and share an enjoyable afternoon grateful for each other's presence and
concern for one another.
Welcome! I have been selected as a Fulbright-Hays scholar to experience South Africa and Lesotho this coming summer! We will have such opportunities of solely immersing in various cultures, interacting with all types of individuals, ranging from villagers to political figures, and exploring the climate/animal species exclusive to Africa! What an experience! I have created this blog to inform and perhaps inspire its audience to venture forward with a helping hand as we work to become genuinely better citizens within our global community. I truly enjoy Helen Keller's quote: "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." I look forward to sharing many wonderful pictures and perhaps articulating an unknown African voice that speaks volumes!
En route to Africa!
June 26th, 2008
I'm on the plane, heading to Dakar, Senegal and I'm almost finished with one of the two books I brought with me. Reading "From Me to We" has already humbled me, realizing how spoiled we are in comparison to the rest of the world. I felt nautious upon accepting the entree and have rejected many offers for snacks and drinks poured for me thinking, "I'm not even hungry; it's obvious I live quite comfortably and at this point, I don't feel too good about myself. I ate everything on my tray so as not to waste it- a mentality I've acquired growing up in a family of eight and parents who worked very hard while money was still tight.
This trip has been surreal thus far and I wish I could see the Atlantic and all of its beauty, but we continue to push onward through the clouds while I'm still trying to fathom what this experience will be like, let alone realizing that I am going to South Africa!
I continue to think of my family--seeing my dad smile and my mom trying to contain her tears as I said goodbye to them at the airport after sitting down and conversing in a nearby lounge. I think of this past weekend going to ballroom dancing with my sister, trying to remember the new steps to the hustle and the waltz, hoping not to forget them. I think about my other sisters and brother with gratitude for coming over and helping me pack and calming any pre-departure anxiety.
I'm ready for whatever comes my way. The idea of this trip has me extremely focused on family, those I love and care immensely for while trying to grasp how the next few months will shape my destiny, career, how I will return to a new crew of students and how it will impact who I am as a person, the actions I take, and decisions I'll make.
Africa-- I just can't believe it- it has such a harmonious sound when I say it aloud or quietly in my head! My goodness! How grateful and humbled I am!
It's getting dark over the Atlantic-- it's about time to try to get some sleep!
One tragic issue I've learned a lot about, and still have much to inquire, is the unfortunate stigmas that HIV/AIDS has had on a southern African regional basis, specifically witnessed in Lesotho and South Africa. Hearing an AIDS victim speak was emotionally heart-breaking to find that once she had been tested, she was ostracized from her village community. Many women did not want her children playing with theirs and they told her she could no longer cook for her children because she would transfer HIV to her family. An upsetting reality was that many villagers laughed at her for contracting the deadly virus when, in fact, many of the villagers themselves had AIDS, but were too afraid to be tested.Jannifer* mentioned that many who had laughed at her were not tested or treated at a local clinic with their very effective ARVs and died soon after while Jannifer continued treatment. Because her ARVs were so effective in keeping her alive and somewhat functional within a community that continues to reject her, she has been called a liar and many onlookers believe that the government has paid her to lie to the community to try to convince them to be tested.*Name changed for privacy
Many may read this excerpt and think it's ludicrous and claim it's typical of a 'backward' African continent, but what one needs to recognize is how many different cultures within a region are not ready to embrace the imminent dangers, causes, effects, and methods of transfer of HIV/AIDS. It is considered an automatic death sentence and many believe it is simply a countdown to their death. Many are falsely accused of being sexually promiscuous and sleeping around if they contract the virus. More women are blamed and abused for being unfaithful to their husbands if they are tested for the virus, even if their husbands are the individuals who are carriers of HIV.
What many are not ready to embrace is that HIV/AIDS can be passed from the mother to her unborn child without effective and proactive therapy and treatments. Many men, depending on the culture, have multiple wives/partners, which is a very quick way to spread HIV/AIDS if one of those partners was infected.
The tragic result of high %s of rape that engulf both Lesotho and South Africa needs serious attention because it is not just grown women who are raped, but young girls by the age of 8 and even young toddlers by the age of 2 with the belief that if a man infected with AIDS has sex with a virgin, he will automatically be cured.
There is a lot of work that needs to be done on a regional, even continental scale, such as empowering women to say 'no' and protecting them from continuous rape. There must be a change in mentality, educationally promoting open communication and awareness within the family structure, political sphere as well as the school systems.
Not last, but very importantly, the leadership within the nation will determine the direction of their country. It is predicted that if there is very little progress or any proactive decisions and actions taken, the society of Lesotho, specifically speaking, will cease to exist by 2045.
Know Your Status!
"Know Your Status" is a proactive encouragement for all civilians to be tested for HIV, which began in 2006 by Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, funded by the Clinton Foundation. Although many are in desperate need of treatments and thousands still need to be tested, this active program encourages and funds Lesotho to improve high, alarming infection rates amongst its people.
Journal Entry #2: Our First Morning Run in Roma
July 03, 2008
This morning I woke up around 6 a.m. to run in the mountains of Lesotho with Jason and Mike. Boy it was chilly! I'd say it was around 20 degrees F this morning, but warmed up really quickly as soon as the sun had risen. I've never felt so desperate for air as I had at 7,000 ft. There were only hilly, dirt pathways- the only paved road around here is the one we came on from Maseru. It's pretty rustic, but I love it! Everyone we passed, they were either staring, smiling, or waving. Us crazy Americans running the mountainous hills! Our only familiar word thus far was 'Lumela,' which was enough for a friendly response! We passed some cattle hauling a plow up the hill, a 3-yr. old playing with a Coca-Cola can, older women tending their garden, and many heading to Maseru to sell their goods (subsistence). The views were absolutely astounding and the lifestyles were extremely humbling. We ran for about 45 minutes before cramping up, dragging back to our armed guard, and still sucking for air! A man tried to sell us marijuana on our jog, but by the time we figured out what he said to say 'no thanks,' we continued up another hill!
P.S. Last night, I could easily see the Milky Way and the Southern Cross- Paul Simon was right about the beauty underneath African skies.
Journal Entry #3: Road Trouble Turns Peaceful
July 06, 2008
Sooo, we have been driving on the rockiest, dirt road and we stopped for about 20 minutes, so Jason and I hiked a pretty high incline on the mountain, took pictures as Dwayne lodged a huge rock from between the two rear tires. We started again and no sooner do I hear a "phhssshhh" and I said, "um, Dwayne? You might want to check your rear tire." He nonchalantly replied, "Nope, it's the front one" and we rode on rim as long as we could.
I'm sitting on a rock, writing in my diary and there are about 4-5 herds and herd boys in the distance; one is singing in Sesotho and I just hear cowbells carried by the wind. It is brisk up here in the mountains, but the serenity is unspeakable. Stuck in the middle of Lesotho's mountains on this rock make me feels at peace. Khotso!
Two days ago, we hiked the mountains of Morija to see the dinosaur footprints of the Lesothosaur. It was a beauty I've never seen or experienced. When I looked out, it easily took my breath away. It first reminded me of my first football game at Beaver Stadium in 2001. It absolutely blew me away- so vast, so huge, but now I realize that Beaver Stadium's got nothing on Morija, Africa! I took a ton of pictures- probably of the same to the naked eye, but each time I gasped for air- not because of the altitude- I snapped my shot. I realize now that although I'm not sure how I am affected, I know I will never be the same.
A Basotho group just stopped to help us along the road and were so friendly, but spoke no English. The group kept speaking English, so I said 'hello' and 'thank you' in Sesotho, which drew a big smile. I love to speak Sesotho- call me a nerd, but it sounds really cool! I'm obsessed with the genuine, peaceful reactions! I've lost the time of day and the day itself!
