The first full day...

We have now been in Lesotho for over 24 hours and have achieved quite a bit; more about that later.  I first wanted to share my feelings about the city of Maseru and its people.  Yesterday was probably not very representative.  It was raining and blowing a gale, it was also Sunday.  The streets were, therefore, relatively quiet.  We got up today to a glorious blue sky.  After breakfast we headed out on foot along the capital’s main street, the Kingsway.  It was 8 o’clock and the street and pavements were alive with commuters.  Most of the noise came from taxi’s that appear to have some need to beep their horns at regular intervals with no obvious purpose.  Whilst sat at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (with 5 stories occupied by health and ½ to social welfare!) it seemed as though everyone that passed us wished us a good morning.  There was a lot of chatter and socialising with a very relaxed atmosphere about the place.  It was an experience very unlike any government building in the UK.  Walking back from the ministry I couldn’t help noticing that when people bumped into their friends, there was a marvellous outwards expression of warmth and friendship.  I couldn’t imagine the hugging and kissing on the streets of Bristol, never mind London!  Overall it appears to be a happy and welcoming place.

 

Now to the newsy bit... after an aborted attempt to meet the director of the ministry at 8, I eventually met up with her at midday.  Arrangements are slowly moving to get me employed: I have to collect a letter from her in the morning and take it to the LMC (Lesotho Medical Council) to get registered and allow me to practice.  I then have to meet with the administrative staff at the hospital.  Kit dropped in to the office of HARK (which provides audiological service in Lesotho) which was conveniently next door to the director’s office.  Between our visits to the ministry we went to the tourist information, the Lesotho Wales Link office and a mobile phone network provider’s shop... meeting smiling helpful people in all, especially Mpho in the LWL office who has been most welcoming indeed.  After the second ministerial visit, we had our first peek at the Queen Elisabeth II Hospital.  It was busy with buildings scattered about the site.  We tried to find the admin office, but the administrator found us looking rather lost outside x-ray!  She showed us to our accommodation, which... has a lot of potential, including a spare room for any potential visitors!  This afternoon we have been mainly shopping for household essentials.  After a long busy hot day, Kit and I retreated back to our hotel for one more night.  We were tempted by a cooling dip, but found a freezing dip instead.  It was very refreshing indeed!!  We are now heading off for a meal, before an early night and another day of Lesotho bureaucracy and delights!!