Update: June 13, 2010
The last two days have been quite at a contrast with one another. On Friday, we stayed in and organized our course, preparing lessons plans for the next week and making necessary edits. It was nice to have a day in to relax a bit without traveling around, but it did not last for long.
On Saturday, we took a private taxi (a considerably safer option than the Kombies, which are vans that pack everyone in as they go and are notorious for having drunk drivers) to the Baylor Clinic to see if they wanted any volunteers. It turns out that the clinic is actually closed over the weekend, but luckily for us, the SOS Children’s Center right across the street was open. We met with one of the administrators there, and she was very helpful. She gave us a full tour of facilities, which consist of a school, family houses, youth houses, a clinic, and administrative buildings. The buildings are all impressive and well maintained.
Basically, the center takes in orphans or abused children ages 0-8 through a process that is similar to adoption. Once a child is taken in, he/she is placed in a family home until he/she is about 14. There are 10 children in each house with a “mother” and “aunt”, who teach them basic house responsibilities and care for them. There are several of these houses on the campus, and they each have a computer, a fireplace, and a large kitchen. Once the kids turn 14, the move in with 7 other children of the same gender into a new youth house. In these homes, they do not have an adult living with them (though one is always close by), and thus are responsible of taking care of all chores and cooking themselves. Once the children turn 18, they are assisted in finding a job and usually sent back to any relatives they might have.
This process seems like a wonderful system of gradual independence. It is obvious from the environment that the children are loved and supported. As a whole, the SOS Center does a fantastic job fostering the children’s pursuit of scholarly interests and other hobbies. Our guide invited us to give a talk on HIV/AIDS and dating on Wednesday, which Brittany and I will be doing, as well as a talk on microfinance, which Susan and Beverly will be taking on. I am excited to meet the children and hear their questions!
After our visit, we went into Maseru to get some additional supplies. Maseru is a lively city filled with vendors and workers. I love places that are bustling, so I have a blast every time we go. There is a wonderful traditional open market with fruits, clothes, jewelry and blankets, contrasted with businessmen and women in professional clothes walking quickly from meeting to meeting. The entire scene is indicative of a country in transition.
Once we returned, we decided to take a walk in search of the Red Cross Clinic in town. Along the way, we met several very friendly people, one of which was one of our students. None of us could really pronounce his name, so he told us just to call him “Dog”. I accidentally laughed out-loud when he said “yeah, because I’m a Dog”. I wonder if he knows the connotation behind women calling men “dogs” in English. I’m guessing not. Anyway, Dog gave us each Sesotho names. Mine is T’sepiso, which means “promise”; I have to say I am rather fond of it.
I will update you soon on how our first class goes! Did I mention that I’m excited to meet the students and get started?