wsi1.jpgWell where to begin?
A military curfew from 6pm to 6am? Gunfire across the lake? The first snow in Maseru for 12 years and the Gates of Paradise blocked and inaccessible? The Dean teaching us all about the little known delights of his friend Mumbly?……
May be the beginning would be best….
The Brits decided that we would keep the spirt of WSI alive, albeit in a different form. We (nigel and 10 of this years finest final year Sunderland students) have just come back from two weeks in and around Maseru where we have been running drama workshops for teachers, a high school drama club and for one of the homes for VC and O (vulnerable children and orphans). We were much helped in the orphanage work by Litseo, Matsepo, Mosele, Relebohile and Selloane. We also met up with next years WSI group and had a party to end all parties, which more than sustained the tradition of last year and in which the Brits almost met our match on the consumption of alcohol. (by the way we also shared some of work, learnt some songs and dances – guess which? – and explored intercultural working with a hangover.)
It was an amazing experience again for us. Very different from Dance Me of course. There were only 2 countries involved and for most of the time the Faculty (sic) was just me…. I kept calling breakfast meetings with myself to discuss the plan of action and the relative balance between shaping and generation – but mostly i found that i did not turn up…. and things still seemed to get done….

On a serious note, I hope that the rather unsettled political climate will be resolved soon and that calm will return to Maseru. It was quite an experience joining the headlong stampede from the city centre in time to meet the curfew – all traffic driving on both sides of a dual carriageway in the same direction. It was not good hearing gunfire in the night and hearing the stories that circulated in the morning….. I really hope that calm returns…

As always it has been a pleasure and a privilege to have again experienced the warmth and generosity of our Basotho friends and to marvel at the skills we have seen and the games and experiences which we have shared together. I cannot wait for next year…..

In the meantime when see the Dean, dont forget to ask him if he has seen Mumbly……. If you dont see hi – send him an email!
Nigel