Lumelang! (Pronounced "Dumela," means Hello!)
Just thought I'd update those of you who are not on Grant's email list in case you're wondering what he's been up to recently. So far we've received a couple emails and a nice long letter (in surprisingly legible handwriting!) so I'll just sum them up for ya.
Currently he is training in a town called Makhetoaeng (moh-ket-wah-neh-eng), where he is living with a host family consisting of his mother (M'e Mahlabathe), father (Ntate Bofihe), brother (Abute Sempe, 16), sister (Ausi Mamella, 5) and sister (Ausi Botle, 3). Peace Corps is definitely keeping him busy with 8 hours of training each day, starting out with Sesotho and then technical training in the afternoon (mostly HIV/AIDS education). From his correspondence, it sounds like he's doing well! He really likes the other trainees and seems to have a good relationship with his host family. His host family doesn't speak English, aside from his host father, who speaks very little but tries to teach him Sesotho words. It sounds like his host brother is a little shy and didn't want to talk to him at first, but hopefully that has gotten better (I found that my best interpreters at first were often times kids in school who wanted to practice their English). Although there were a few hiccups at first (the TV for his seat on the flight over didn't work, and his luggage got there 2 days after he did), he sounds like he's settling into it. He'll be finished with training in mid-August, swearing in on August 13! Then he'll be a real PCV, and moving to the town where he'll be working for the rest of his service.
His letters and emails are very upbeat, and mom and I really hope he isn't dwelling too much on Dad. But keeping him up to date on Dad's condition seems to help and he's been so busy lately, he says he's been pretty successful at not thinking about it too much.
It seems like he has access to email once in a while, so I'll leave his address if anyone wants to drop him a note. He's also still able to receive letters (although I don't know how fast they get there). Right now he says letters and pictures are the way to go; if you want to send a package you might want to wait until he's settled into his permanent site.
*Side note: Lesotho is the country, Basotho are the people, Sesotho is the language (I know, it's a little confusing).
Grant's Info:
PCT Grant Comstock
U.S. Peace Corps
P.O. Box 554
Maseru 100
Lesotho
grantcomstock@gmail.com
If you'd like to be added to his mass email list, just send him an email. (He asked me to mention that, he thinks he may have left some people off his first.)
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