Just thinking

When thinking on the recent Connecticut school shooting, I think how we can not grasp what happened because we lost the innocent, and in the same process lost some of our innocence. Actions slapping justice in the face will never be understood.  Where do you even begin to prevent a similar act?

To the contrary, I am thankful that  although I am here in Lesotho working for the innocent, there is a clear path that will create change.  There are steps to take (and being taken) to both provide better situations to the children here and also prevent similar situations for those yet born.  Being able to take concrete steps provides real hope, and for today, when some things seem out of everyone's hands, I'll focus on making a difference one child at a time.

+BLBW

That's What She Said

To balance my previous post, I thought I'd share some fun thoughts and experiences.

1) The herd boys (modern shepherds) roam around the mountains in traditional grey blankets and gum boots and tend to their family's flock of sheep or cattle.  While hiking on Sani Pass, another volunteer Julie, mentioned that "it is funny because some of the herd boys don't wear clothes under the blanket." With timing only matched by a blockbuster movie, I swing my head around just as the wind picks up and blows open a nearby herd boy's blanket to reveal him wearing only his birthday suit.  In America, we have a different name for guys in blankets without clothes on.

2) While spending the night in a village last weekend, I was given the name Buyane.  I was told this means "to return."  Several villagers joined us in the dimly lit circular rondoval and began asking us questions and telling us about their village.  Fortunately, Lyle, one of the volunteers at TTL speaks fluent Sesotho.  The other volunteers have been here longer than I, and they recognize at least some words.  One of the village women looked at me, looked back at Lyle, and said something to the effect, "Buyane doesn't have a clue what we're saying does he?  His face is blank."  Lyle provided the excuse that I had been in Lesotho for only two weeks.  That being said, I figured a better option would be to just smile the rest of the time.  Later that night, I was given yet another name which I can only pronounce as the movie Ratatouille, and it means "to be happy."  I suppose that's better than being named "the boy with the blank face."

3) During the visit to the village mentioned above, I learned that some things are funny regardless of culture.  And apparently, a white kid making donkey noises in a rondoval is one of those cross cutting cultural phenomenons.

More to come.
BLBW