Monthly Archives: September 2016

Packing for Peace Corps Swaziland: Home supplies

Posted on September 30, 2016 by

Packing my non-clothes items was easier than choosing my clothes. There were many fewer questions about what I would use or could buy in Swaziland. I assumed I could buy nothing in Swaziland, which is definitely not the truth. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Peace Corps, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Wednesday photo: Avocado earrings

Posted on September 28, 2016 by

Near the end of PST I casually mentioned to one of my bosisi that I had avocado earrings or emacici emakotapeni. She did not believe me, so I put them on and was paraded around the homestead so she could … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Peace Corps, Swaziland, Wednesday photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Packing for Peace Corps Swaziland: Clothing

Posted on September 24, 2016 by

Choosing what clothing I would bring to Swaziland was difficult. There are so many unknowns about the weather, clothing styles, and attitudes toward females wearing pants that depend on your family and/or your community. Of course, I had consulted many … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Peace Corps, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Packing for Peace Corps Swaziland

Posted on September 20, 2016 by

I love planning and organizing for trips. A 27-month adventure with the Peace Corps requires something very different than the usual trip, though. I was offered a position in Swaziland as a community health volunteer many, many months before departure. … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Peace Corps | 2 Comments

What’s cooking: Oatmeal muffins

Posted on September 17, 2016 by

As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Swaziland, I have a limited food budget. But I also love food–both eating and making it. During PST, I cooked without an oven, refrigeration, and a non-stick skillet. Now at my permanent site, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Asia, Central America, Peace Corps | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wednesday photo: Rhinos

Posted on September 14, 2016 by

Rhinos. Bobejane. One of the animals I saw in Kenya from very far away, but today that changed.     I’m at Hlane Royal National Park. As a volunteer, I am allowed just one night away from my site per month … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Peace Corps, Swaziland, Wednesday photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wednesday photo: Umhlanga

Posted on September 7, 2016 by

The Reed Dance, Swaziland’s most famous cultural event, is a week-long celebration of young females, called flowers. This year there were 98,000 participants, about 1/12 of the country’s population. Any female up to the age of about 22 can participate … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Peace Corps, Swaziland, Tradition, Wednesday photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Learning about my community and the art of saying no

Posted on September 5, 2016 by

It took just three months — and moving to my permanent site — for the Peace Corps life to get real, and difficult. I have spent the last week living an easy life while meeting people at church and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Life, Peace Corps, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What’s cooking: Tacos

Posted on September 2, 2016 by

As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Swaziland, I have a limited food budget. But I also love food–both eating and making it. During PST, I cooked without an oven, refrigeration, and a non-stick skillet. Now at my permanent site, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Peace Corps, Swaziland, What's cooking | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments