This week there are people from Peace Corps Washington here going around and interviewing volunteers about Peace Corps operations in Lesotho. This woman came to my house this morning and asked me some questions, very casual. Besides the interview we were talking about Washington D.C. and about her service in the Gambia. She was very nice. Seeing this woman who has just come from America and is going back in a week or so made me feel like America is so far away. A Masotho once told me that sometimes he feels like America doesn’t exist because he has only ever seen or heard about it through movies. I know exactly what he means. I feel like I have this Feivel syndrome, dancing around thinking that there are no cats in America and the streets are made of cheese. She did bring some M&Ms to share… so I guess America must exist.

 I’ve gotten used to being alone all the time. I mean, I see Basotho everyday, but I still spend most of my time alone. I used to feel lonely, but I don’t anymore. It is my own fault that I spend so much time alone, but if the alternative is walking around town trying to avoid people who ask me for money or food, no thanks. There is a horse track near my compound (which I think is hilarious) so I have started going on walks, just to get out of my house. And by that I mean today was the first day. You should all be very nervous to see what two years of too much alone time will do to a person.

 Every morning we have assembly from 7:55 to 8:00 where the students sing a song then say a prayer. Yesterday my counterpart was singing along, really loudly. I haven’t heard her sing ever, probably because she is one of the few Basotho who can’t actually sing. Then afterward she said a prayer. She was so loud and passionate that it frightened me. She was speaking Sesotho so I didn’t understand a word. Afterwards, one of my coworkers was crackin up because I couldn’t hide the scared and confused look on my face.