Lesotho

Growing up as a geography nerd, I was always fascinated that Lesotho is a country completely surrounded by another country. During my time in South Africa, I made the journey overland from Johannesburg to Maseru. As the scenery shifted from busy highways to rugged mountains and sleepy villages, I began to appreciate just how isolated the country I was entering felt. After arriving, I hiked one of the surrounding mountains with a local guide, who gave me a much deeper appreciation for Lesotho’s remarkable history. Under King Moshoeshoe I, the Basotho people used the country’s mountainous terrain as a natural fortress, defending their homeland and preserving their independence through extraordinarily difficult times.

After the hike, I spent some time exploring Maseru, a quiet capital with a much more relaxed pace of life than Johannesburg. Before leaving, I stopped by a local tennis court, where the coach invited me to play with some of the kids. The cracked surface and worn facilities were a world away from what I’d grown up with in the United States, but the excitement on the court was exactly the same. It reminded me how fortunate I’d been to have access to quality courts growing up, while also reinforcing how tennis has connected me with people in every corner of the world.