My Family

There are many things that influence a volunteer's Peace Corps service and experiences. In my opinion, one's host family is the center piece. My host family during training was wonderful, and I wondered how my "new" host family would measure up to the "old". It's not good to compare two families because....well.....apples and oranges. But I'm only human.

My family here in my village is AMAZING. They have opened up their arms and welcomed me into their home and lives. I've become extremely close and comfortable with all the members of my family. My mother only speaks Sotho, and she is very pleased with my progress in learning the language. We can sit and talk about our day, what we plan to do tomorrow, or (as usual) the weather of the day.

My host brothers and sisters keep my life here lively and full of laughter. There English is getting better as a result of our interactions, and my Sotho is improving at a rapid pace. Alot of times, young children are the best teachers. If you hang around them long enough, you'll pick up on their dialect and vocabulary.

When I laid out under one of our big trees this past Sunday (it was blue-blazing hot) to eat a mango and do some reading, my little host brothers and sister (9,7, and 6) came to sit with me and hear me read. Of course they had NO IDEA what I was reading, but I think they just enjoyed listening. They huddled around me yesterday again when they saw me come outside with my book.

They have also heard me playing my guitar in "the condo", and have consistently asked me to play for them. I broke out a few tunes for them yesterday as they excitedly danced and clapped their hands. I then let each one of them hold the guitar and strum it. Ummm...I'm not sure how often I'll them play with the guitar. I had a LOVELY time removing all the sticky fingerprints :)

Life here with my family is great, and I'm absolutely positive there love and warmth will make my service-time here memorable.

I'm so grateful...