Category Archives: Peace Corps

Surprise in the bathroom

Posted on April 15, 2019 by

After nearly three years in country, there’s little that happens here that catches me off guard. There’s one problem, though, that always catches me off guard: Swazi women who don’t close the bathroom stall door. You would think that if … Continue reading →

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There’s another Alison out there, and I get her emails all the time

Posted on March 28, 2019 by

For years I have received the emails of an Alison from the UK with the same last name as me. Her email address is slightly different from mine, and some email systems do not recognize the difference, which means her … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Mbabane bus rank

Posted on March 27, 2019 by

I walk past or through the bus rank here frequently as I go shopping. It can get busy, and transport drivers do many unpredictable things while driving. I stopped to take this aerial photo from the stairs outside the second … Continue reading →

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Tips to plan a trip for your parents to visit eSwatini and Southern Africa

Posted on March 24, 2019 by

Have your parents started asking about visiting you in eSwatini? Or maybe you have started asking them? Have no fear! I judiciously planned the use of all my vacation days, including for when my parents visited me in eSwatini. I … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Mail

Posted on March 6, 2019 by

I was surprised to see three envelopes from my mom in my mailbox today. It had been only two weeks since last checking. Then I checked the postmarks: June 2018, August 2018, and February 2019. I’m not even surprised any … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Work

Posted on February 6, 2019 by

When I returned to work in January, I was hoping for more tasks to keep me busier at work. I have more or less been slammed and have plenty of responsibilities for the time being, of which I am thankful. … Continue reading →

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Gratitude for nature, work, and food: What I’ve been doing the last four months

Posted on December 2, 2018 by

How time has flown! I have lived in town working my new job for more than four months now. My blog reading and writing routine has been severely disrupted and I haven’t found a way to work either into my … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Jacaranda

Posted on November 14, 2018 by

I was worried about not having a jacaranda tree nearby in Mbabane. I love the purple flowers that signify that summer is on its way.     Fortunately, there’s a jacaranda tree at the end of my driveway and I get … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Grilled cheese

Posted on November 7, 2018 by

A grilled cheese sandwich is the go-to meal of eSwatini PCVs. Moving to town hasn’t meant my consumption of them reduced. Instead, their consumption has increased in class.    I am now using freshly baked bread from good’s, a new … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Learning to bead

Posted on October 24, 2018 by

One of the PCVs from my cohort learned to bead from one of her community members. I was oblivious to this for way too long considering this now RPCV was my closest neighbor.  By the time I learned about her … Continue reading →

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