Nkeletseng v1: Weather, Food and Missing Family
Episode 1
This is episode 1 of a new series we’re starting. What’s the weirdest way someone has spelled your name? What’s something you wish you knew before you left Lesotho? What’s one way you’ve made a new home since you left home?
Ho tsamaea ke ho bona. So we’re compiling some of your stories of travel, migration, and everything in between here. Want to share yours?
Q: What's something you wish you knew before you moved to your destination country?
The weather! Ke fihile Utah ka Fall. The weather was nice for two months. Then, ka October hoa na lehloa, ho bata hona hoo! Transportation: there was no public transportation ho ea mabekeleng. Lijo: no papa, no leafy greens at that time except salad as I had no access to transportation to main local grocery stores. Culture shock at various stages: I was the only black person in my church at that time, sometimes the only one in class, gatherings, etc. Later, 5 Batswana came, and we became close friends. I learned pidgin Setswana fast (lol)! They had transportation and that allowed us to have access to papa, moroho, and nama.
Loneliness/depression: I missed my family terribly, and it was more obvious on the weekends. My husband and my children were my cornerstones, and it was profoundly difficult without them (I'm in tears thinking about it right now)! Means of communication with our loved ones was very poor and extremely expensive at that time. I wished this was in a scholarship package at that time. Ka lebaka lena, anyone who lives the country should have effective means of communication with their loved one if that is important to her/him. Loss of loved ones while you are overseas: Regardless of how one came to the foreign country, please support each other. My story on this one is long 😪! But I am not ready to share more at this time.