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Fellow Report: 3-month

This report focuses on the specifics of your fellowship experience thus far. The following questions are meant to help you evaluate your first three months in . Your comments will also be used to assess partner organizations, site placements, stipends, and overall logistics. The information you include may be shared with the Board of Directors and future Fellows. We may use your comments to give feedback to partner organizations as well. Please indicate when information is not to be shared outside of PiAf and rest assured that we will honor your request.

Feel free to attach relevant anecdotes, photos, or other documentation to supplement the required responses.

Deadlines for this report are as follows:

If you began your fellowship in Your report is due June September 30 July October 31 August November 30 September December 31 October January 31

Please complete this report in Microsoft Word and email it back to [email protected]. Confirmation will be sent to you upon receipt.

Your Personal Information

Organization: Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation – (Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative) City, Country: , Lesotho

Fellowship start date: August 1, 2011 Anticipated fellowship end date: June 28, 2012

Your Work

1. What is your job title? Outreach Coordinator

2. What are your primary responsibilities? Please list your job duties as you would on a résumé.

Implemented HIV/AIDS care training for health providers - Managed $70,000 of a UNICEF grant that targeted education for nurses who care for adolescents living with HIV - Liaised with DHMT ( Health Management Team) staff, local school staff and/or representatives from Ministries of Education and of Health - Organized and directed the trainings schedule - Documented and measured the effectiveness of the trainings within their respective Coordinating Teen Club (support/education group for adolescent patients), Caregiver Days, and Camp Mamohato - worked with both Baylor and Sentabale staff (a local organization) to develop curriculum for Baylor’s Teen Club - Planned curriculum and recruit campers (ages 10-18) for summer sleep away camp in Jan (and winter camp in June/July) - Engaged teens in activities during both Teen Club and Camp

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3 - Mentored and assisted local staff members who will sustain Teen Club

3. Describe a representative day at work.

Here is the sketch of a typical day at the office. 7:30 AM Leave house for work 7:50-8:00 AM Morning prayer and announcements 8:00-10:00 AM Emails, calls, faxes to district officials, businesses, NGOs for organizational purposes 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Internet research for curriculum development, Teen Club ideas, etc. 12:00-1:00 PM Lunch 1:30-2:00 PM Meeting with Teen Club staff, partner organizations, etc. 2:00-4:00 PM Around town for quotations from local businesses, meetings with local officials, etc. 4:00-4:30 PM Emails, contacts, etc.

To be sure, this schedule is a rough outline—there will be many days where you will be on outreach with an entirely different schedule. I am also starting to shadow in the Clinic, and I hope to shadow at the newly opened hospital (next to the Baylor COE).

4. Please describe in greater detail 1-2 specific projects you have undertaken or accomplishments you have made so far.

Funding determines most of the projects with which you will be involved. That being said, the needs of the clinic/outreach sites and your own passions, interests, and skills will influence these projects. Past fellows conducted several testing events throughout the country. Currently, another organization has funding to do these events, so I have not been as involved with HIV testing. There will be, however, more funds available to conduct testing in some of the districts, and I will be involved with these events. For this half of the year, UNICEF has given money to implement HIV Adolescent Care Trainings in five of Lesotho’s districts.

Adolescent HIV Training: Thaba-Tseka

Unfortunately many health facilities have limited capacity to care for adolescents, and health professionals have many questions regarding the care of such patients. Baylor Children’s Clinical Center of Excellence has developed this training with both the help of funding from UNICEF and contributions from its local and international partners. The purpose of the training is to provide participants with knowledge and skills to better address the comprehensive biological, psychological, and social needs of young people living with HIV in Lesotho.

Preparing for a workshop involves a great deal of logistics. The first point of contact in any district is the district public health nurse (DPHN). As Baylor’s point person for the Adolescent HIV trainings, I spoke weekly with the local public health nurse (DPHN). At times, it probably seemed as if I was pestering her, but it is important to confirm attendance with the public health nurse to secure dates and confirm attendance. I arranged for the meals, lodging, and materials for the workshop, which involves acquiring quotations from suppliers, requesting funds from Baylor, and confirming payments.

While the workshop was a success, it was not without disappointments. Ten participants were missing from the workshop due to poor communication between the public health nurse and local staff, more still were late on the first day of training for similar reasons. I am told, however, that travel problems, starting late on the first day due to people arriving late, some not showing up, etc. are typical problems for these sort of events.

The end of the training was rewarding for two reasons. First and foremost, participants showed an average of 28 percent improvement between their pre-tests and post-tests. Second, the hotel manager held a small impromptu party for our participants on the last night. It was really enjoyable because I was able to get a better idea of the nurses lives in rural health centers. In many ways, it sounded like working on an oilrig or something. Nurses get two weeks at the health center followed by one week of relaxation, and many nurses stated that often they are the only nurse at their health center. 2

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At the end of the workshop, I produced a report for the purpose of measuring impact. Though small, this is an important step as many trainings have neither mechanisms for measurement nor funding for follow-up. Still, doctors notice those participants who implement the strategies from trainings into their clinical practice.

5. On average, how many hours per week do you work?

Teen Club happens on Saturdays, and I have assisted at several Teen Clubs. The average work week is approximately 50 hours. On most office days, I start the day just before 8 AM and leave at around 5 PM. Teen Club usually lasts from 7:30 AM until 3 PM. Camp training and actual camp (for the younger and older teens) all last about a week, and start around 6:30am and finish around 9pm (for camp, you would sleep over for the week in the bunks with the medical team).

6. What is your office environment like? Please comment on the size and structure of the office(s) where you do most of your work.

The Baylor COE (Center of Excellence) is a two-story clinic in Botsabelo around the outskirts of the main city center. The clinic is on the ground floor—it has a reception area, exam rooms, pharmacy and triage/lab/storage rooms. The second floor is the administration office. Most of your meetings will occur in the boardroom. Hopefully, you will take the opportunity to listen to some of the lectures given on a Fridays by Baylor’s doctors. These occur on the second floor in the classroom. I share an office with PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer) Lee and mostly use my personal computer. Occasionally, you will need access to one of Baylor’s computers (talk to John about getting an ID) for viewing patients’ EMRs or files on the general or md drives. Lee is always willing to share the computer, and computers in the doctors’ offices are usually available. Doctors spend most of their time in the clinic, but there are days that they spend working in their office called “admin days.” The end of this year marks the conclusion of the PAC (Pediatric AIDS Corps) program, and most of the foreign doctors (majority American) will have departed. More African medical officers have started at Baylor; they will likely comprise a majority of physicians when you arrive. Currently, there are three former PAC doctors (all American), about seven medical officers, and about thirty other staff (nurses, social workers, administrators, receptionists, translators, drivers etc).

7. To whom do you report? (Please specify name & title of all applicable persons.)

I report to Dr. Lineo Thahane (P’97) for approval on project ideas and progress. I glean most practical guidance from the staff with whom I work more closely on specific projects. For example, for Teen Club related events, Lee, the current Peace Corps Volunteer, and Dr. Teresa Fritts are the focal persons; for the Adolescent HIV Trainings, I work closely with Dr. Knowledge Chipango, director of the SCS team; for testing events, I work with ‘M’e Esther and ‘M’e Kenoakae (nurses).

8. Do you receive adequate direction/support to perform your job?

While it may seem in your initial weeks that you do not have much to do at Baylor, you will quickly receive request from other staff members, which might include planning an event, writing a proposal, spearheading a project, etc. Additionally, you will likely inherit some duties from Lee (the PCV and Teen Club Coordinator)—she will likely be here when you arrive, and I will outline those responsibilities in the handover notes. When working on projects or planning events, Baylor staff are more than willing to help. You might, however, need to go through a few channels in order to obtain the right help. The nurses, social workers, and translators are a good place to begin because they are both generous with their time and advice and have practical experience implementing projects. Planning a training or a testing event might seem simple on the surface, but these events require a substantial amount of pre-planning and logistical support. Most of the Baylor staff will assist and cooperate in a timely and supportive fashion, but some staff members are not as reliable. There will be times that you will have to constantly follow-up with people—at times, I feel as if I am hounding them. This persistence, however, is necessary. It is important to remember when asking for things to ask politely and in an assertive but not authoritative tone. Asking the right questions can also be a challenge. You might have to ask the same question in two or three ways in order to obtain a helpful answer.

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3 9. What opportunities for travel has your work included so far? Do you anticipate work-related opportunities to travel in the future? How does your organization handle the arrangements/costs/plans for your work-related travel?

Work has afforded me several opportunities to travel. For the Adolescent HIV trainings, I will be visiting five of Lesotho’s ten districts. I have also taken trips to Qacha’s Nek to assist with teen club activities. Baylor provides transport, food, and accommodation for these trips. Since I have a car, I am able to do some in-country trips. I have traveled to Semonkong and Sehlabathebe National Park, both of which are stunning. These trips were not work related and, with food, activities, and gas, cost approximately R600 (~$80) each. I stayed with Peace Corps Volunteers for both of these visits, which saved money on accommodation. I visited some of the PiAf fellows in for a concert in October, and the cost (sans concert tickets) was approximately R600 (~$80) since I again had free accommodation with the PiAf fellows.

10. What goals do you have for your work in the next 6 months?

My immediate goals focus on the current training schedule—UNICEF needs to spend all of the training budget before the end of the year. I hope to complete five trainings between October and December. Looking forward, I would like to organize some testing events, large and small—these events will, of course, depend on funding available. I wrote a proposal to hold a one-day workshop and testing events for shepherds and herdboys, an oft neglected and inadequately monitored subpopulation in Lesotho’s fight against HIV/AIDS. Shepherds and herdboys miss out on many activities related to health due to the nature of their jobs. Finally, my girlfriend and I are working on a grant for Baylor that will assist their clinical work. To be sure, nothing is concrete, but we are considering building a detached building for testing patients for TB.

Your Arrival in Africa

11. How did you travel to your host country? Please be specific in terms of what airline(s) you flew, what cities you flew to/from, how much your plane tickets cost, and how you found/purchased your tickets. For example: “I purchased my ticket from the Cape to travel agency based in Washington, DC. I flew on British Airways from JFK to London, London to Johannesburg, and Johannesburg to . I have also booked a return flight for next May to return through the same cities. The round trip ticket cost $2,277.”

I took a circuitous route because I visited my girlfriend in Italy just before leaving for Africa. I purchased two tickets: I purchased the bulk of my itinerary on cheaptickets.com through Air for $2,559.69 and purchased the Johannesburg to Maseru flight on cheaptickets.com for $350.00 through South African Airways. All of my tickets were purchased round trip. I flew from my hometown, Fargo, to Minneapolis, Minneapolis to Paris, Paris to Rome, (6 day vacation) Rome to Paris, Paris to Johannesburg, Johannesburg to Maseru. Baylor arranged for a driver to pick me up at the Maseru airport— your point of contact with the clinic (Probably Lineo) will coordinate airport pickup. The Maseru to Johannesburg flight can be quite expensive. There are other options—you could take a taxi from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein and another taxi from Bloemfontein on to Maseru. I have also heard that it is often cheaper to fly into Bloemfontein, and take a taxi from Bloemfontein to Maseru should cost about R80 (~$11).

12. What kind of visa/work permit do you have? How did you obtain it? What costs were associated with obtaining it? Any suggestions to help future Fellows navigate this process?

As a US passport holder, I did not need a visa in advance. When I got to the airport in Maseru, I got a 1 month visa and have been renewing it since at the border. Without a residence permit, one has to stamp in and out of Lesotho in order to renew his one-month visa. I have a letter from Baylor that supports my application for a residence permit with the Home Affairs Office. Once my car customs and clearing have wrapped up, I will begin to apply for this permit.

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3 13. What vaccinations were you required to obtain prior to your departure? How much did your vaccinations cost?

I did not need any additional vaccinations because I had been in the Amazon the summer before I arrived in Lesotho. Lesotho and are malaria free zones (except for Kruger National Park); though, it is a good idea to bring some anti-malarials and receive the yellow fever vaccine for travel to other parts of Africa. Make sure you have your CDC Yellow Card up to date, carry it with your passport, and bring an extra copy of your immunization record just in case. For reference, here is a list of some of the shots that previous fellows have gotten: Hepatitis A: $24.00 at Princeton Yellow Fever: $80.00 at Princeton Typhoid: $46.00 at Princeton Injectable Polio Conjugate Meningoococcal

14. Comment on your arrival and first week in Africa. Any improvements that could streamline the assimilation process for future Fellows?

Initially, I was a little nervous since there was no one at the airport to fetch me, so I waited stranded at the airport hoping that I could get my computer to connect to the Internet. After a little waiting and worrying, one of the Baylor drivers arrived to pick me up. He drove me to the workplace to meet Dr. Mohapi (the Executive Director of Baylor Lesotho), Dr. Rajni Gunnala, and Lee. It helps to have a roommate or outgoing fellow to guide you through your first week. Things at work were relatively quiet when I arrived, and my transition was quite smooth because Lee, a Peace Corps Volunteer who has worked at Baylor for a year, oriented me with the staff, workplace, and home. I was indeed fortunate since the previous fellow, Chris Jung, had already left by the time I arrived in Maseru.

It is important to take the first week slowly—I remember that I was so excited an energized when I arrived that I wanted to start working on a project right at that time. Take the first week or weeks to learn the names of as many staff members as possible and some of the basic Sesotho greetings. You might arrive at an extraordinarily busy time or at a quiet time. Since it was relatively quiet when I arrived, the first week went by somewhat slowly. It did, however, give me a chance to attend some lectures on HIV in Lesotho given by Baylor doctors to visiting scholars. These are invaluable because, while you might think that you know a great deal about HIV, you likely do no know it in a Basotho context. You will definitely learn something through Baylor’s doctors, staff, and patients even in your first week here.

For reference, Sesotho is the local language; a Mosotho is someone from the country (singular); Basothos are people from the country (plural); and you can use Basotho and Masotho to describe objects, customs, etc. that are characteristic of Lesotho. The local staff appreciates you attempting to learn and use the language. I found names difficult to remember and pronounce—it helps to write them down (trust me).

Your Housing & Local Transportation

15. Is housing provided by your organization? Yes

16. Please describe your living arrangements. Include the following details: i. Are you living in a house, apartment, guest room, etc.? ii. Are you living alone or with roommates? iii. How did you find your housing? iv. How do you travel between your home and your work?

I live in a 3-bedroom house in Hillsview in a complex called Leseli (pronounced Le-Seh-Di) Flats, and I have two housemates [Jesse (guy) and Lee (girl)], both of whom are in the Peace Corps. Jesse works for the Millennium Challenge Account. Lee, whom you might work with at Baylor, should be staying with Baylor until at least August of 2012 and works mainly with ongoing adolescent programming like Teen Club. The flat is cozy with a washing machine (sorry, no dryer), bath/shower tub, grill, and nice backyard. Baylor equips the house with unlimited wireless Internet—a Godsend for all whom have experienced “pay by the kB” in the past. I was the last to move into this new flat, so my bedroom is the 5

3 smallest but still more than adequate (full-size bed). Since many other Baylor doctors live in the complex, I try to carpool some days, but many days I take my own car. Baylor has drivers who can take you to/from work if you cannot hitch a ride, or if you forget to arrange for a driver in advance, you can get a taxi and get reimbursed later. To get to Baylor from Leseli takes about 15 minutes by car.

17. Is your local transportation adequate? Please briefly describe your options and their related costs.

Public transport here is more expensive than you might expect, and you cannot safely walk after dark. The big white minivans are called kombies (kombis?), follow a specific route, and are the cheapest way to get around. For example, it costs R4 ($0.60) from downtown to the stop closest to Leseli (its about a four-minute walk from the stop to our house). The 4+1’s (called four plus ones because they hold four passengers and one driver) are smaller sedans with a yellow streak on their side. These generally follow a route, but are more private and can drop you off closer to where you want to go. The most expensive are private taxis [~R25 ($3.75)]. You hire them by phone and receive door-to-door service (Ratikane or Perfect Taxi– they are reliable; I will put their numbers on the acronym/number excel spreadsheet in the handover notes). There are also these vans called sprinters and quantums that are a bit bigger than the kombis that you can get on at the border on the SA side, that will take you to Bloemfontein, South Africa for like R70 ($10) one way. They also have some that go to Ladybrand. When the weather is warm and sunny, I often walk to places such as the grocery store and gym.

The two previous fellows were New Yorkers and, thus, could not drive. I purchased a car (Toyota Rav4) from a Japanese import lot in with savings that I had from summer jobs. The whole process—transporting the car from Durban to Maseru, clearing customs, and registration—took about a month and was a bureaucratic nightmare. If you drive and would like to have a car, let me know as soon as you can since I will be selling my car sometime in late May or June. I take transport if I am going out and plan to have more that one drink—drunk driving is a huge problem in Lesotho for both Basothos and expatriates. Having a car changes your life in Maseru because you have more freedom of movement. Taxi fares can be frustrating but necessary when it is dark. They add up when a round trip costs almost $8. For example, a round trip fare to the mall in a private taxi is $8, although the mall is only a five-minute walk.

The past fellows made do without a car, so do not worry if you cannot drive or do not feel like purchasing a vehicle.

Your Surroundings

18. Do you live and work in safe areas?

I feel relatively safe in most places throughout the country. Remaining alert will guard you against petty theft (i.e. do not leave valuables out in the open or visible when in a crowded public place). When you go to the ATM, be sure to be discreet as you do not want to attract unwanted attention. At home, the house has guards, burglar bars, and an emergency alarm system. We have not had any break-ins or attempts.

19. What has been your experience with crime so far?

Thankfully, my experience with crime extends to stories told by others and the evidence of crime in home architecture (i.e. high fences, burglar bars, small windows, etc.). It has been approximately a year since a PCV was shot and killed while walking with a friend at night and a girl was raped mid-afternoon in town. These incidents seem to be isolated, and violent crime against foreigners seems quite rare. You should feel safe going out around town at any time of day, but be sure to notify friends of your whereabouts and spend money on taxis at night rather than walking back home. If you have a car, it should be relatively easy to get around town day and night. When driving, remember to be wary of other drivers who are often drunk.

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3 20. Describe the crime and general security situation within your city/town. Could you recommend specific areas future Fellows might consider for safe housing? What about areas that should be avoided?

Many residential areas, including the one in which I live, are gated. It would be unwise to live somewhere without a security guard and gate. Although burglars may target residential areas, you can easily walk from a neighbor’s house to your own if it is evening. I would avoid walking long distances at night—it is unsafe even in a group. Call a taxi, arrange a ride with someone else, or take your car. I cannot specify certain areas that are unsafe, but use locals and expats who have lived here for some time as your guide. It is better to ask if you are unsure about the safety of a certain situation or area.

21. Comment on the local languages, your proficiency in them (if any), and your subsequent ability to get by.

Sesotho is the lingua franca, and though most people in Maseru (and everyone at work) speak English, many of the families in the villages where you perform outreach activities will only speak Sesotho. The local staff and Basothos in general love to hear you greet them and ask them how they are doing in Sesotho. Past fellows have taken weekly Sesotho lessons at the Alliance Francais (around R200/USD30 for a quarter, or three months worth). I definitely want to learn more Sesotho and try to practice with Baylor’s staff. It can be difficult, however, since Maseru has a plentitude of English speakers. I have also had the opportunities to use some of the Xhosa that I learned while in South Africa. Sesotho will become more and more familiar as you spend time here.

22. Comment on appropriate clothing for work and outside of work.

I usually dress business casual for work—a collared shirt, khakis or slacks, and closed toed shoes (not sneakers). While some of the ex-patriot physicians will come to work in casual clothing, the Basotho staff usually dress quite formal. The Basotho staff appreciated when I wear nice clothes. For example, I wore a shirt and tie for an event on a workday, and many of the staff complimented me and smiled at me. I occasionally wear shorts with my collared shirt tucked inside the shorts. On Fridays, it is acceptable to wear casual clothing, and all of the staff seems to abide by this custom. Outside of work, you are free to wear whatever you would like. As a man, I rarely attract attention due to my dress (except if I run without a shirt on). My two recent predecessors were women, so their reports should have recommendations for female dress codes.

23. How have you been spending your free time? What kinds of opportunities are available for socializing in your city/town?

During my free time, I go to Lehakoe Gym, a beautiful multi-million dollar complex. At night, I will go to friends’ homes for dinner parties or movie nights. On weekends, I will take short trips or go on hikes just outside of Maseru. Maseru’s nightlife leaves much to be desired, but Johannesburg and Bloemfontein have good nightlife. Day trips to Ladybrand, Bloemfontein, Clarens or weekend trips to Durban, Joburg, etc are nice getaways to South Africa. Longer trips to , Swaziland or national parks in southern Africa are on my future itineraries, but I have not managed a visit yet.

I am going home for Thanksgiving at the end of November for almost two weeks. I am excited to go back and anticipate that it will be a refreshing break from work and life in Lesotho. Past fellows have stressed that, if possible, fellows try to make at least one visit home. My parents also plan to visit at the beginning of June, for which I am really excited.

Your Reflections

24. Any frustration with living arrangements or with work?

I do not have any complaints regarding living arrangements. I enjoy having roommates so I was pleased to not live alone. Because I was the last to arrive, I have the smallest room, but it has plenty of space and a double bed. The house has power, wifi, and a washing machine. I have few frustrations at work. Despite the fact that it might take some time to figure out how to get certain things done, the staff are usually helpful and have welcomed me to Baylor. Accountability is an issue (mostly) when working with people outside of Baylor. Few officials and businesses use email, which makes it 7

3 difficult to determine that your message has been received and received clearly. Most Baylor employees are diligent and take immense pride in their work, but others, such as district officials, demonstrate flippancy about projects and the work at hand. These attitudes can make it difficult to accomplish large tasks in a timely and efficient manner. Bureaucracy has also frustrated me, but I suspect that this is a common frustration for all working people, especially those working closely with governments.

25. Has there been anything that you have needed but have not been able to locate or acquire?

No. I would suggest bringing a few spares of favorite personal items as you might not find the identical products here. I know that past fellows who wore contacts had trouble finding contact solution. Most things that one cannot find in Maseru can be found in neighboring South Africa. My parents have sent me boxes of American goods (Kraft macaroni and cheese, beef jerky, hot sauce, and candy), but I do not qualify these as needs.

26. How did you deal/are you dealing with “culture shock”?

Maseru is more of a town than a city, but it suits me because I grew up in a more rural area of the United States. In Maseru, many Basothos are shy about talking to you, but on outreach, everyone will want to talk to you. I am not sure why this is the case, but I think that I am more of a novelty outside Maseru. Culturally, I have struggled at times to understand Basothos’ humor but have found that, the more you try to understand, the closer you feel to the locals. They definitely enjoy polite teasing and play. There are certain frustrations when asking people for things or shopping, and Basothos have a different way of expressing these frustrations. For example, cashiers will lie to you and tell you that a credit card machine is not working, but it probably works. There is just some obstacle discouraging them from using it, which might be legitimate (i.e. they have not been taught how to use the machine) or illegitimate (i.e. the credit card machine is upstairs).

Making friends has been fairly easy, particularly because I have had roommates. It is likely that many of your initial friends will be expats. Many of them participate in a weekly Hash (a hike held on Sunday), which is a good way to meet many of these characters. Most of the expats are older and have high paying (a relative term, as you will learn) jobs for international organizations, so I have to be careful hanging out with them because they tend to spend money at a rate which I cannot afford. Maseru has a close-knit and active expat community. This can be both good and bad. The positive side is that it is an inclusive group that remains active throughout the week—you will not lack a social life. The negative is that you might miss out on meeting some locals because of your busy expat social scene. I definitely want to make more local friends and have been trying to reach out to locals at work.

Another great friend network is the Peace Corps. There are volunteers serving throughout Lesotho, and you will hopefully come in contact with many of them as you do outreach. After living with two PCVs, I can say that having Peace Corps friends will pay off. Many of them already have a year or two of experience living in Lesotho, and because they are on volunteer salaries, they encourage you to save money. Some of the PCVs are strange, but a lot of them are very active and adventurous. Visiting PCVs at their sites have been some of my favorite travel opportunities.

On a personal level, there are times when I feel uncomfortable—people tend to stare when you are the only white person in a bar or Kombi. On a few occasions, people have wondered if I am white South African (specifically Afrikaner) until they actually speak to me. This mistaken identity can make you a quick Boer friend, but it might also elicit suspicious looks from Basothos.

Overall, living in Lesotho is quite peaceful. I often find myself feeling quite at home in my backyard in Leseli 27. What about your experience thus far has been the most…

Surprising?: The marked cultural and social differences between Lesotho and South Africa despite South Africa’s encompassing geography. Pleasant?: Having conversations with Basotho about issues related to their own country and the continent as a whole. Frustrating?: The need to repeatedly remind public health employees about dates, details, etc. of events. 8

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28. So far, what would you consider to be your biggest success or proudest moment?

I have now scheduled and organized five Adolescent HIV workshops. Although only three have been completed, it feels like a substantial accomplishment given the number of people and resources involved in the project. At the conclusion of the fifth training, I will have managed a $70,000 grant that provided education to over one hundred nurses.

29. What would you consider to be your greatest challenge or biggest learning opportunity so far?

As my first experience working full-time (aside from summer internships/jobs), my work at Baylor has exposed me to a great deal of office politics and task management strategies. I suspect that the challenges of the work environment here are similar to those all over the world. Moreover, I am learning a great deal about my own productivity. In college, you get to make your own schedule, but the work day changes when and how you accomplish tasks.

30. What are the Top 3 things you miss the most from the US? (Can be food, amenities, movies, etc. Cannot be people—although we know you miss us in the PiAf office terribly, and we thank you! We miss you, too.)

- Pizza – There is apparently a good Italian place with Pizza in Maseru. I have not been there, but I definitely miss ordering in pizza. Or, maybe I just miss college…

- Thai food– There is decent Chinese restaurant, but it does not compare to going to a good Thai restaurant.

- Fishing (and all things nautical)— Because Lesotho is landlocked, most Basothos do not know how to swim and, rightly so, fear going near large bodies of water. I miss swimming, fishing, rowing, and tubing in rivers, lakes, and oceans. There are some great beaches in South Africa, which I plan to visit on long weekends.

31. What are the Top 3 things about life in Africa that beat out the US?

- The plentitude of outdoor activities and natural wonders.

- Working to live instead of living to work—I admire both approaches to life, but living is much more fun.

- The way Africa gets under your skin (and I am not just talking about the parasites)—There is something about Africa’s landscape and people, which draw you to it and make you forget the way back. I am home right now for two weeks, and in a way, I already miss it.

32. Please comment on your relationship with the Princeton in Africa office. Include the following details: i. Are you receiving sufficient support, materials, and information from us? ii. What could we improve?

The advice from past fellows has been particularly heartening—it is comforting to know that others have experienced some of the very same insecurities and frustrations. The past PiAf fellows have created a spreadsheet of important names, numbers, and contact information, and this document has been invaluable. I am not sure if PiAf requires this, but it seems like a helpful way to handover responsibilities. I cannot think of any particular way in which PiAf could improve its support for me. If I do, I will be sure to write.

Your Stipend & Budget

33. If you are receiving stipend monies directly from your partner organization, how are you being paid? i. Biweekly, monthly, etc? ii. In US dollars or in another currency? 9

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I receive 4-month stipends three times over the year from PiAf in US currency.

34. Have you undertaken additional work to meet expenses? No

35. Please provide a sample monthly budget of your average expenses (in US dollars).

Rent $0 Utilities $0 Phone $20 (I brought my own phone from home. Make sure that the phone is unlocked.) Internet $0 Transportation $50-70 (for gas for car or for taxi) Fitness $40 Entertainment $30 Food $220 (groceries and going out for dinner) Travel $175 (depends on the trip’s length and mode of transport) Medications $0 Laundry $10 (soap) Other (specify) $10 (car maintenance averaged over twelve months)

Good luck to future PiAf fellows. Please email me if anything is unclear or requires more explanation.

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