Letters from Lesotho

Welcome to Letters from Lesotho, a site where you can download Madeline Uraneck's letters written during her Peace Corps experiences in Lesotho, Southern Africa. You can read individual letters or download them all as a zipped archive. Also please click on the links button to see a collection of resources regarding Lesotho. All photos are © Madeline Uraneck.

Madeline's article in The Isthmus, the Madison Wisconsin news weekly can be found here


1.First Impressions

Welcome to Lesotho sign November 12, 2006

first impressions .doc






2.A Mountain Village

First grade childrenNovember 21, 2006

 A Mountain Village .doc  

First impressions continued. A Peace Corps site visit and an amazing trek.




3.HIV AIDS in Lesotho

FuneralDecember 4, 2006

 HIV AIDS in Lesotho .doc  

Funerals. Campaigns. Talking about sex. Attitudes and orphans.




4.A Basotho Village

stirring papa (cornmeal mush)December 31, 2006

  Basotho Village .doc  

Four weeks in a Basotho Village. Language challenges. Culture and cows. Where are the men?




5.  1 day down,724 to go

Chief's officeJanuary 3, 2007

  One day down .doc  

Assigned to Mt. Moorosi. Corn, orphans, chiefs. Textless teachers. Heavy beans and heavy expectations. Disappointment reconsidered.




6.Collecting Best Days

Church go'ers line up to contribute Feb 07 Qomoqomong LESOTHOFebruary 26, 2007

 Best Days.doc  

School visits. Mountain trails. A convocation.





7.What my Village Needs

Woman selling snacks outside HS Mar 07March 24, 2007

  What my Village Needs .doc  

What the children need. What the parents need.





8. Orphans

UN World Food Prgm for orphansApril 18, 2007

 Orphans.doc  

Dintle. Aussi Neo. How Lesotho feeds orphans. Grandparents inherit treasures.





9. Swaziland

Fabric market Mbabane SWAZILANDMay 20, 2007

 Swaziland.doc  

Hello neighbors. Swaziland's notorious distiction. Crafts. South Africa.



10.Books, Baths & Bribes

carrying waterJune 7, 2007

 Vignettes.doc  

Vignettes. A balanced diet. The price of a political opinion. Corruption. Bribes. Water.





11.5 Funerals 1 Mountain

Madeline's Rondavel and Mt. Mokotjomela September 1, 2007

 5_Funerals.doc  

Why Lesotho doesn't work. Wouldn't you live in Maseru? No one dies of AIDS here.