Hello Dear Reader,
As promised, and then un-promised, and then promised again, I'm back to give you one expat's perspective on living abroad...
Come November 2011, I'll be able to say that I've lived in Lesotho for 3 years. THREE YEARS?!!! Yes, three, whole years! Aside from the foreigners who moved to Lesotho, fell in love with the place and people, and have committed to building a life here, I'm one of the few expats who've been here for so long. You see, the every-day-expat tends to take assignments (job contracts) either with the same organization or a different one for six months up to two years. Three years?...well that's just crazy talk! At least in the Lesotho context, I'm damn near a dinosaur!
At every expat party, you're always either meeting someone new, saying goodbye to a friend, but usually both at the same time. Let me quickly take you to an expat party (in Lesotho). And since I love the highly acclaimed cult classic, The Golden Girls, I'll do it Sophia Patrillo (RIP) style:
Picture it- Maseru, winter 2011. That year was one of the rainiest winters on record. There was so much rain that we had to canoe to work and the village idiot (so not politically correct) tried to build an ark with his blanket as the sail...but I digress.
The young, extraordinarily beautiful Expat Dani (hey, I'm telling this story here) went to yet another expat party to bid farewell to Leena, who was leaving Lesotho after a year of living in the hut on top of Thaba Bisiou (the final resting place of the first king of Lesotho- Moshoeshoe). Dani had been to parties like this- ones where she barely recognized all who were there. Walking through the crowd of new people/same conversation was like dodging a Starbucks in Seattle...you can't! But she was prepared, she brought her handy dictaphone with a pre-recorded responses:
Newbie: Hello, my name is Newbie!
Me: [Turns on pre-recorded message] Nice to meet you Newbie.
Newbie: I work for HIV Kick It. Where do you work?
Me: Oh, you work with Mark and Anna.
Newbie: Oh, no. I'm the new Anna and my friend over there is the new Mark. So how long is your contract?
Me: I don't really have a contract. It's really based on the availability of funding. And you?
Newbie: I have a six month contract. I'm from San Fransisco. I'm trying to plan a road trip to Zambia, Mozambique, Cape Town, Namibia, and Swaziland. I want to go pony trekking and mountain climbing and learn Sesotho and learn how to drive a manual car...and and and...
Me: Oh, that's nice...I see my friend over there. Nice to meet you and if I don't see you again, goodbye.
Me: [Turns off tape player]
The moral of the story: keep extra batteries for your recorder.
Yes, I know that was a very weak attempt at a Sophia Patrillo a la Golden Girls story, but you get the point.
So as I fast approach my 3rd year in Lesotho, I have earnestly started the process of asking the question, "What next?" Should I stay and become a permanent fixture in Lesotho? Should I strike out and start the next, new adventure in another country, or should I go back to the US and finally stop putting off furthering my studies in a Ph.D. program (and move back abroad after wards)? Hmm... I mean the whole point of accepting this expat life was to explore myself and the world (hopefully at the same time). Even now, I'm not ready to settle down in one place for too long...and most lifetime expats will say the same...they don't want to go home for long and don't want to settle in one place long enough for it to start looking/feeling like home.
Again: Hmmm.....lots to think about!
And on a completely different note, but will perhaps be followed up with another post about Love & Life Abroad (a series even), next Thursday, I'm headed back to Ethiopia to spend some much needed time with my awesome boyfriend. Think eleven days of the bright lights of Addis Ababa...hot springs...tibs and injera...Ethio-jazz...schistosomiasis-free lakes...Oh My!
So until next time, Dear Reader, if you have any specific topics you'd like for me to address, feel free to post as many questions as you'd like. I'll do my best to address them.
Oh, and yet another note, my friend who watched me go through the final, frustrating stages of my Peace Corps application process just contacted me after some time. And guess what: She just completed her Pre-Service Training (PST) in Peace Corps Belize. Furthermore, her cousin will soon be entering PC- Cape Verde. ...And Peace Corps still lives on in my heart!
Can't wait to hear from you! Yes, I mean YOU!
Dani
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4 comments:
Hi Dani,
I enjoyed your blog. You have quite the knack for expression :) I'm considering (actually already started application process) for Peace Corps. My greatest fear is (one of all women's biggest fear) the chance of sexual assault/rape while on this mission. I've always wanted to do a mission such as what you would do in Peace Corps. I just read an article on Kate Puzey (who was murdered during her volunteer time) :-O . That was quite a shocker! It has not scared me away from going through with it but it has put a few things into perspective. Seems as though you've had a much better experience. Can you give me any words of advice? Suggestions? Comments?
Hello Stacy, Thanks for the complement! Congrats on starting the process to join the thousands... or millions?...thousands of fellow Americans who have successfully completed their Peace Corps service! Yes, there are stories out there about PCVs being harmed while in the midst of serving...in fact...there was a PCV in Lesotho who was tragically killed about a year ago. This was not said to scare you, but rather to let you know that things do happen out there in the world...but tragic things also happen on Sunny Lane in the US. The stats would say that you have more of a chance to be harmed on Sunny Lane by someone you know than in Every-Day-Village, Peace Corps. When you are in the Pre-Service Training stage of Peace Corps, you will be given a thorough safety and security training by not only PC security experts, but by local law enforcement authorities, and currently serving PCVs. In fact, I facilitated several safety and security trainings for newly arrived trainees. In addition to all of that security goodness, learning the language, using common sense you've developed over the years, and listening to the advice of your friends and family within your local community (once you get placed in your site) will protect you and help keep you safe! Let me fill you in on a little insider intel...the vast majority of crimes (certainly not all, however) involving PCVs during their service are as a result a lapse in judgment by said PCVs. If you play it smart, you'll be fine! Don't let the fear of the unknown stop you from exploring your world! I hope this helps!
Hello there Nick,
Hmm...the best time to come to South Africa...hmm...I don't know if I can give you a good answer on that one as I love the 'Rainbow Nation' and all of her glory, year round!
Winter: Concerts, traveling around, the opportunity to tell your friends and family you went skiing in Africa (Lesotho), frolicking at the beach in Durban or Cape Town...
Spring: Concerts, garden route, beaches, pony trekking in Lesotho, hiking, camping, plays, safaris, film festivals...
Summer: Everything you can think of...
Fall: bush/game drives, camping, hiking, Comrades Marathon, Two Oceans Marathon, Table Mountain, Johanneburg, Afro Jazz at Sofia Town restaurant in Newtown (Joburg)...
So you see, to me, any time is a great time and a great time will be had in South Africa...any time!
...and the best place to find cheap flights? Well, I'm still trying to figure this one out. I use orbitz and expedia. Usually the cheapest times to come over are on what I'd call the 'off seasons'...basically American Spring and Fall. You see, Americans tend to come over during their summer vacations (May-Sept) and South Africans like to go over during their summer vacations (November-February). If I were you, I'd go on one of those websites and check the prices for different times of the year and see what you get. Hope this is helpful and enjoy your RSA trips, you'll have an awesome time, I'm sure!!!
Hey Dani! I loved your blog, really well written and I like your sense of humor! I will be moving to maseru from Melbourne Australia in November for a two year assignment with the Australian equivalent of the peace corps. I'd love to catch up with you if you are sticking around. I could use a dinosaur to show me the ropes!
Lexi :)
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