News from Addison

Hello Everyone,
Some of you may have thought my adventures in Africa were over. However they continue, I hope to keep everyone up to date through e-mail till I find myself back in the states again! I was home for the holidays and it was truly great seeing home again and especially my family. My wonderful mother drove me to the airport on the 15 January and that is where it starts. The plain ride was long as some of you may know, luckily for me the airlines provided me with the most delicious food ever. The flight was over 18 hours from Atlanta to Johannesburg South Africa! I was hoping for an aisle chair or the best….emergency exit row but I happened to sit between two old ladies. When I finally got off the airplane I was so happy but I found it very hard to walk in a straight line!!! Anyway Johannesburg was not my final destination. I was heading to Lesotho a country of its own. I quickly went to the ticket counter to buy a ticket to Lesotho. It was now about 5 in the evening and the ticket counter told me that the next available plane will leave in the morning at 9. WOW!!! I’m not sure how many of you reading this email have had to sleep over in an airport, but I really wouldn’t recommend it at all! Just in case in the future you plan a trip which requires such an activity let me give you a few helpful tips:
1-Don’t sleep but if you do, never let go of your luggage.
2-You should really bring a pillow for such a night, but just in case you forgot yours….your carry-on makes for a great pillow.
3-Last but not least, when you do wake up from such a sleep do not be surprised who might be right next to you!!!
Anyway the morning finally came and a bus took us to our airplane. I was getting really nervous when the bus was driving further and further away from the airport. It finally stopped and there it was….the airplane. It looked like something Indiana Jones would use or something. It was so small but with the faith I had I boarded the plane. It took off and it was really going. In fact it felt like some ride you would experience at Six Flags. It was a short flight to my relief and landed safely in Lesotho, a small one strip airport. We were greeted by the customs and official.
Just in case you were wondering why I’m back in Lesotho (Africa) I will fill you in just a little. I strongly believe that I found the girl I want to spend the rest of my life with. Her name is Mabulane, and as time goes on as you read my emails I’m sure you will get to know her!
I do not have time to go through every single day (sorry mom) but I will for sure fill you all in with the main events. It was great to see Mabulane again after some time, and to our surprise we where both a little speechless. As time went on we continued to have a great time and to even learn much more about each other. As Sunday came around we both went to church together and wow I wished I had a camera to capture some people’s faces. No one really knew I was coming back except Mabulane and her family. Everyone was so shocked to see me and it was even nice for me to see some old friends again. Mabulane has 3 sisters and you can say 4 brothers. I know most of them to some degree and it is a great family. A few of them stay in Lesotho itself while others live further away. Majubere (her older sister), Macheli (her other older sister), and Moshe (her little brother) I know really well. They are all great however and so very nice to everyone including me.
Mabulane and I for so many different reasons have decided to get married to each other. I can compare our relationship to a puzzle, everything just fit together so nicely. In the Lesotho culture it is a little different to get married than anything back home in America. Just to say a little, I have to go speak with her father about the marriage and something called labola. Labola is where you pay her family for her good up bringing. Usually you pay in cows, but the cows can be exchanged for money. Anyway to make it simple to all of you just watch Johnny Lingo the movie and it should make a little more sense. Well just this weekend Mabulane, Majubere and I made the long travel to the father’s home. The public transport drops us off on the end of this long road and the rest of the travel has to be done by foot. It took about an hour walk to his house. He lives in a real African village I can say. No electricity or running water in the house. The village is located right below the beautiful mountains and a wonderful river running along side the village. Many donkeys, cows, and sheep can be found roaming the village. The time came for me to speak to the father whose name is Cheli (Chedie). The father included the older son in the discussion and everything went well. They were happy for Mabulane and I but told me a few things I must do, including things about the wedding and of course how much to “pay”. It was a great trip even to see where Mabulane grew up for some time. Many pictures were taken and it was a trip well worth it.
Well perhaps that’s all for now! Mabulane says hi and the same goes with me.
You’re Friend,
Addison