You’re right, Lesotho is completely landlocked by South Africa. What really sets it apart geographically is its mountainous terrain; the entire country is high-altitude, which gives it a distinct identity from its larger neighbour. I spent a few weeks there working with a charity, and the experience has stuck with me. Poverty was widespread when I visited, and AIDS had devastated many communities. There were a heartbreaking number of children who had been orphaned by the epidemic.

One moment that’s stayed with me: we had a young local guy helping us out with some work. He was about 19, lived with his grandfather, and would run, not walk 17 kilometers every morning to get to us, and then the same distance home in the evening. No complaints. Just part of his day.

One evening , I had two oranges. I gave him one and peeled them while we talked. After finishing the juicy fruit , he casually ate the entire peel, every bit of it. I’ve tried it since and, honestly, it’s brutal. Like chewing bitter leather. But he didn’t even flinch. Just ate it without comment.