Mochudi is big. My life is hugely different now... to be determined if it's positive or negative...

My family here is quite different from my family in Manyana. I live with my 12 year old cousin (a boy named Lebole. I think that's his name...), my 8 year old sister Phomolo, my one year old brother Antonio (we call him Anto), and our maid Agatha (a friendly woman around my age from Zimbabwe). My mother is pregnant and due just before we're set to leave Mochudi. The house is small, but has running water and electricity. Living with little kids is very different. They are constantly going through my things (including my laptop, iPod and camera) and I'm trying to set some ground rules about asking before they take my things, or using them only when I'm around. We'll see how that works...

I share a room with my sister, and every night thus far, we've both slept in the same twin bed. The first night was by choice (hers, not mine), but every night since we've had guests and have been forced to share the bed. Thursday (the day after we arrived) was independence day and it was filled with partying. At 11:00 am, my mother walks in with two beers, hands one to me and says "it's independence! Let's drink". Yeah, my PREGNANT mother. An uncomfortable situation, to say the least. I spent the day riding around with my mother, Agatha, and two of my mother's male friends, Slim and Edwin (Edwin has become like a friend to me too.We exchanged numbers and he frequently checks in to make sure I'm doing okay), going to different stores and bottle shops. We picked up my friend Cameron and he hung with us the whole day. We were later dropped at Cameron's house and we went to find Ian, who lives next to Cam. The three of us then went to my house and started to prepare lunch for ourselves. All of a sudden, Agatha comes in and says she doesn't want to cook and tells us to cook for everyone. All 13 of them. A later head count came to 6 who would be eating. So, we made enough food for 6, and then, of course, everyone else arrived and didn't have food. After we ate, we picked up Karen and the four of us went to a bar with my family. We stayed there for a while and then Ian and Karen went to a braii in the masimo, that my mother would not let me go to. She was convinced I was going to be killed in a sacrificial murder. Instead, Cameron and I got roped into judging another beauty contest. At least this one ended by 12:30 am, not 5:00 am like the one in Manyana.  It was a fun, but semi-overwhelming day, especially because I hadn't even been in Mochudi for 24 hours yet. Everyone who went to the braii was fine (I really wasn't that concerned, but just thought I would clear that up for all of you reading)

Today Cam and I figured out the combi system and had our first experience at the bus rank. It seems like it will be easy enough. Now we're at an internet cafe with Ian and Karen. We all have a paper due on Monday, which I should definitely be working on but, knowing me, I'll wait until tomorrow.

I am so far beyond excited to start my internship. I'll be working at Stepping Stones International for the next three weeks. It's an after-school program for kids that teaches leadership and things like HIV/AIDs awareness. I will likely be working/developing? a drama program for the kids. Apparently, there is also a German boy around my age that is working there and I hope I'm able to make a new friend, someone who is not in my program.

MOM- if you're reading this: my friend Cameron's mom reminds me SO MUCH of Aunt Helayne. She's a petite woman with glasses and hair exactly like Helayne's. There's just something about her energy that made me feel so at home. She's a lovely and welcoming woman and I have a feeling I'll be spending a lot of time there...

Anyway, that's a brief summary of my life right now. Mochudi and this new family will take some getting used to. I miss Manyana and the Mogomotsi's a lot. Mochudi is like life in the fast lane compared to Manyana.

More to come later.

Love from Mochudi