HIV Education

These last two days (October 15 & !^)have been spent studying HIV education. We all think we know quite a lot about HIV/AIDS but in reality, since we are not as exposed to it in the United States, we really know very little. It appears that Lesotho has moved to the Number 1 spot with HIV/AIDS cases. It really is so very sad as these people are so very lovely. But when you hear about some of the cultural practices of having sex (i.e. dry sex, not taking off clothes, sex in a very dark room and most importantly the stigma associated with the disease, you come to the realization of why things are as they are here in Lesotho. We as Peace Corps volunteers have as part of our mission to try to change this a bit, if we are able. The shop/bar across the street has continued its barrage of loud music and the owner simply has no interest in lowering the music. From what I have heard, the community has been complaining about the situation for some time with little being done. Since the MORIE are on a separate property, there is nothing that they can do. The owner blasts his music in an effort to bring potential customers to the store to buy beer, so he contends that it is a effort.