Midweek from Maseru

A short report from Maseru, things are going ok thus far. Work is ticking over and I have been getting stuck into the strategic documents.
 

Apart from that weekdays tend to be fairly quiet on the social front with not very much happening, currently reading a fantastic book that I would recommend to anyone who’s interested in the African continent – ‘AFRICA; Altered States, Ordinary Miracles’ by Richard Dowden, also trying to pick up a few Sesotho words – the most important being ‘Dumela’ which is the greeting that you address most people with. The African Cup of Nations is also pretty big, can’t believe it will be Nigeria vs Burkina Faso in the final!

Found out something quite random yesterday, traditionally in Basotho culture it was only polite to pass something on to someone else using your right hand – this has changed in modern times, and is only rarely brought up – just thought I’d throw that in as it’s something I wouldn’t have ever thought of, need to try and find out why?

Starting to hear more and more local music when walking the streets which is great, need to source some tunes to see what they’re all about. It’s very hard to describe the style of the beat, but it’s quite slow with a constant steady drum and some vocals – maybe I can access youtube and send you a link at some point, though internet here is fairly slow.

Plans for tonight, I have been invited to a birthday party at one of Maseru’s posh hotels, so might go there, or otherwise might go to the French movie night at the Alliance Francaise in Maseru Central…..choices, choices. Though staying out later means I have to organise a private taxi, best not to wonder around in the dark.

Also some random news when picking up the newspaper here – apparently Prince Harry is coming to visit at the end of the month: (see the bottom half of this article- not sure how they though of combining these articles) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21325756so who knows, I might even see him (not overly bothered either way if I'm honest).