April 2025

It’s been a while since I posted an update. Since the recent U.S. administration change, my outlook on my service, responsibilities, and capabilities has shifted. Following the foreign aid freeze in January, Peace Corps has had to pause much of what Health volunteers are able to do in our day-to-day work. In addition, all new Peace Corps grants have been frozen for the moment, which means no new grant proposals are being accepted, and many current programs funded by grants have been put on hold.

This has obviously been frustrating, and I’ve been procrastinating writing blog posts because it’s been hard to articulate my feelings without casting a solely negative light on my experience. I want this blog to be a way to share my journey with my friends, family, and anyone curious about Peace Corps life. I believe it's important to share not only the incredible adventures, new friendships, and transformative challenges, but also the difficulties and hardships that inevitably come with living and working in Lesotho.

That being said, over the last four months I’ve become more integrated into my community. My work in the pharmacy has become smoother, and I’m feeling much more at home in my village. After we swore in, volunteers traveled to their respective sites and were instructed to focus on integrating as much as possible. This three-month period of isolation was impressively challenging for me, especially because my village and clinic are so small. Navigating my new workspace was tricky: my supervisor had never worked with Peace Corps before and had no real foundation for what the collaboration should look like. I explained that I’m here to help fill gaps, that I’m trained in supply chain management, and that I’m not permitted to do any clinical work — so he put me in the pharmacy.

My coworkers were also unsure of where I fit in at first. I had expected to step into a clearly defined role, but I’ve realized that it’s more about creating my own position — identifying gaps alongside my coworkers and finding ways to fill them.

My clinic is very low-volume; on average, we see about 10–15 patients a day. On my slowest day, I prepared medication for just one patient; on the busiest, maybe 20. It’s been tough at times hearing from other volunteers about their bustling clinics, but clinics here vary so widely. Some volunteers are overwhelmed by the number of patients; others, like me, are in quieter placements.

Friends and family often ask me for updates about how the current administration is impacting Peace Corps, and I wish I had more answers. What we hear trickles down from HQ, and it's mostly a waiting game. Rumors about evacuations swirl from time to time — though I believe that's highly unlikely — and while it makes the atmosphere a little wobbly, it’s also a reminder of the impermanence of it all. It could end tomorrow — so I might as well enjoy the ups and downs while I'm here.

On a brighter note: I've had a lot of free time to reflect on what’s truly important to me. I’ve read more books in the last four months than I did in all of high school (shoutout to Katie and Sez for the Kindle!). I’ve been consistent with daily yoga and meditation, getting at least 8.5 hours of quality sleep each night, training for a half-marathon (never thought I’d say that!), journaling regularly, and drinking so much tea.

I’m finding joy in the little things: the sound of rain against my thatched roof, the sun rising over the mountains and flooding the valley with light, the neighborhood horses wandering outside my house, the soft birdsong every morning (thankfully, no roosters waking me up), and the pink and white flowers that blanket the rolling green hills of Qacha’s — I’ve completely fallen in love (if you know, you know).

Overall, there are ups and downs, challenges and successes. I’m so grateful to be here, in a position where I can grow through the failures, missteps, and lessons. I know this experience will make me a more resilient, empathetic person.

I have more to say about my attitude toward my role here and Peace Corps as a whole, but that’ll come another time.

Thanks for your patience.

Love,

Momo

P.S. I shaved my head in March — best decision I’ve ever made.P.P.S. My brother Owen is getting married at the end of April, and I’m so, so happy for him and Jaz. <3