This morning (woah, was it really this
morning? This has been a loooong day.), I got my worldly possessions together,
which consist of my big backpack and a tote bag with my camping stuff, and went
to the Qacha’s Nek taxi rank. A short ride later, we were at the border. I made
sure to mentally prepare to argue with the border agent to give me 90 days in
South Africa, and I checked to see if I still had a copy of an official letter
stating that Americans get 90 days. At other border gates, especially the one
at Maseru and those on the west side of the country, people have had a lot of
trouble getting more than 7 days in South Africa even though we are legally
allowed 90. But none of this preparation was necessary, because after I told
the border guy I’d be in South Africa for about a month and a half, he gave me
90 days no problem. Sweet. Everyone got back on the taxi and enjoyed the view
on our way to the closest town in South Africa, Matatiele. Once you leave
Lesotho, one difference becomes very apparent: properties are protected by
fences. It’s weird, since almost no one has a fence in Lesotho.
In
Matatiele, I got on another taxi to Durban for another 4 hour drive. As we got
closer to the coast, the landscape got greener and more tropical-looking, with
more plants and palm trees. Then there it was: the ocean! The beauty of the
ocean never gets old to me. Driving into Durban was kind of a shock- tall
buildings everywhere! Giant factories! So many cars and people! I definitely
felt like the country mouse coming into the big city. We arrived at the Durban
taxi rank and I started walking toward my hostel. I could have gotten a taxi I
guess, but it was only 3km and I wanted the exercise for my stiff legs. I
arrived at the hostel, sticky and sweaty from the humidity (Oh humidity, how I
haven’t missed you…), and immediately took advantage of the showers. To add to
my “country mouse” feeling, I shortly went to a Super Spar, which is like a
mega grocery store, and had to catch my breath from all the choices. And the
bakery! Omg. Maybe soon enough I’ll get used to being out of the
undevelopedness of Lesotho.
Right
now, I’m sitting at a picnic table at the hostel, and the neon lights reflect,
blurred by the rain drops, in the pool. It’s hitting me now that I’m on
vacation, and on vacation alone. I don’t really like the “alone” part of that,
but I’ve been getting better at making vacation friends, so hopefully I’ll meet
some cool people to hang out with.
I
have officially left Lesotho. That `part hasn’t quite hit me yet, but I think soon
enough it will. I might leave with a slightly bitter impression of my school
administration and how they handled tough situations, but almost every single
other experience I had in Lesotho was fantastic, I tend not to dwell on the
negative, but instead take it as a reality and try to react to it in the best
possible way, making the best of a situation I can’t change. That being said, overall I know
I’ll have vastly positive memories of Lesotho. So sala ka Khotso, Lesotho (stay
in peace, a kind of formal farewell phrase). All I can say is that it’s been real.
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