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May, 2004
Megan KellMeg in Lesotho
Megan Kell is a student from Halesworth. Before pursuing a career as a doctor she has decided to take a year out and work in Lesotho in Africa as a volunteer for the Project Trust charity. This is her story...
Basotho life: Meg immerses herself in Basotho life and discovers she doesn't want to leave!
Megan Kell and some of the children from the village
Meg's friend and his grandmother outside their Rondavel.
Well, I seem to have been having quite a few proper Basotho cultural experiences recently...
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Meg in Lesotho: Index

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A couple of weeks ago we went with a friend of ours to his village, about one and a half hours outside of Maseru. He lives with his grandmother and two brothers in three tiny little rondavels joined together... two for bedrooms and the other for cooking. They're really pretty and were made by the grandmother, who is now 84 - so sweet and speaks no English. They have no electricity or running water there, but are perfectly happy.

Then, one of the house-mothers ('Mamoeketsi') we work with invited us to her house to see her village, and while we were there she spent the whole time laughing, cos she was so excited that we were there! She hardly speaks any English., so there wasn't much conversation, but still, it was fun.

The village where Meg's friend and his grandmother live
The village where Meg's friend and his grandmother live

('Maneo') is determined to teach us all about Basotho culture, so she made us try one of their favourite traditional dishes - papa (maize-meal) with the whole of the inside of a cow - lungs, liver, kidney, stomach, oesophagus, fat etc.

It wasn't actually as bad as I'd expected, just was quite chewy and very salty. The thought of it was worse than anything else and finishing a whole plate was definitely a challenge.

Finally, last weekend we went to 'Maneo's' house for her end of mourning celebration. Her husband died last October and she has been wearing black clothes since.

quote One of the other housemothers made us try one of their favourite traditional dishes - papa (maize-meal) with the whole of the inside of a cow - lungs, liver, kidney, stomach, oesophagus, fat etc. It wasn't actually as bad as I'd expected, just was quite chewy and very salty... quote

This weekend she went back to her home village of Malealea to take of her black clothes, shave her hair off and celebrate. Then on Sunday she had a welcome back celebration at her house. It was so nice and she was so happy.

We spent the day socialising with her family and friends, and eating really good food, (luckily the cow's head that they had cooking in a big cauldron-like pot outside was only for the men the next day after they'd finished preparing the skin of the cow to use as a mat!)

That's about all for now, things at the village are still great and I've decided I definitely don't want to leave.

Love Meg xxx

Meg in Lesotho: Index »

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Mathesele.Lesotho
i would like to know how i can get voluteers to help my center of disabled chidren

Nonkie from Cape town
i also grew up en born in Lesotho en im proud to be a mosotho but now i live in cape town but i alway visit my family every December even now im gonna on the 22 of Dec.have a good day.

mampitla from england
i grew up in ty, though now lives in uk, still proud of been a sotho .unfortunately people here do not know lesotho at all, so am trying to tell and advertise my beloved lesotho hopefully with time they will visit and see you guys one day. god bless lesotho and basotho

B.I. Sefako Mapoteng
Hi Meg,i am doing national diploma in V.U.T. and i am happy to see that lesotho is still visible to many people. keep it up guys, that country needs you.Help Basotho children to see their future.

Meg, Leeds
Hi, I'm very happy to se all of the comments left here. I will be returning to Lesotho for 2 months from May to July this year. Kate - I will definitely try to look out for Bill Herbert if I go to Mohale's Hoek. Hannah - if you want to email me on my email address above, I will very happily answer any questions. Meg

Verney Halse
Hi, Jonathan and Armelle are still at the Semonkong Lodge, the Longest abeil in the World is now going done the face of the falls.

hannah
hiya im doing a piece of coursework on life in lesotho for children and i was just wondering if anyone could give me a few facts?

Sal, Devon
I was born and grew up in Lesotho, but now live in UK. Great to see people care about Lesotho as many people don't even seem to know such a place exists. Thank for all the help and support you provide over there, they can raelly do with some. Clad that you find the experience enjoyable too - it's a great country don't you think?

Ron Dalgliesh
I lived in Mohale's Hoek for a few years in the late 1970s and have been trying to reconnect with Bill Herbert whom I believe still lives in the area. If you know him, I would appreciate if you could pass on my email address and ask him to contact me. Thanks a lot.Ron Dalgliesh

Lynda Ireland
I am a past volunteer of Lesotho, Save the Children & o my goodness Josefa has gotten so big since that pic was taken!!

avril pascoe co.durham
my grandaughter is going to lesotho on sunday to work with the children in the orphanage she is with Durham high school for girls there will be 23of them can you give me any advice to pass on please .any thanks

David, Albany NY USA
Physician, I spent 2 months in Mokhotlong this spring getting the HIV clinic up and running at the district hospital. They face a huge uphill struggle, but the nurses are very dedicated.

Kate - Miami
Hello Meg. So glad you are enjoying Lesotho despite the cold winter. I went there for three months in 1969 and stayed for thirty years so beware - it has a way of creeping up on you! I hope you get to visit Mohales Hoek sometime. Find Bill Herbert and tell him I sent you. Khotso, Pula, Nala - Kate Fagalde

Nic, Newcastle
Hi guys, there is a website actually about the Link which we're trying to get out there. The address is http://www.durham-lesotholink.org.uk/ if you want to check it out for yourselves!

T.Mak,Mokhotlong
Thank u for going to tat mountain kingdom of Lesotho. I am doing my FormE at seeiso high school.Help me to further up my studies.

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