tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655051053234080482024-02-19T03:57:26.985-08:00Sawubona! Hello!Peace Corps adventures from SwazilandBethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-45777133093763582582013-07-18T04:02:00.001-07:002013-07-18T04:02:10.418-07:00Close of Service<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">July 18<sup>th</sup>, 2013</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">So I official close my service today… as of
midnight I will no longer a PCV, but a RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer)
minus the R for a bit.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Closing your service is numbing, stressful,
exciting, and sad all at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I spent the last week cleaning every inch of my small house, touching
everything I own and deciding where it goes and what comes with me (which is
not much), and packing it all up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>July
16<sup>th</sup>, was my pick up day from site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was such a weird day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It feels
like normal and everyone goes about there normal business and then Peace Corps
shows up, puts your small amount of belongings in a car and officially takes
you out of site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My pick-up day was a
Tuesday morning, which is dip-tank day (where the cows and goats go to get
dipped in solution for tick control and such).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My host parents were at the dip tank so I had to do my goodbyes with
them before hand, so it was just my sister Nosipho and her two year old son
Mukelo to see me off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was totally numb
up until the car came, not sure how I was feeling about all the change, but as
soon as it came time to hug my sister and get in the car I couldn’t stop the
tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cried all the way out of my
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so excited for the next
chapter in my life, but it’s really hard to leave the last.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">For the past three days I have been running
around Mbabane and the Peace Corps Office completing a huge checklist of things
that need to get done before I am allowed to leave the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully there are nine of us COSing this
week so we were all in the chaotic mess together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finished my checklist yesterday and said
all my goodbyes to PC staff and then to make it feel really official that all
this was over, we had a farewell PC dinner at our DMO’s house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the America staff came and the nine of us
COSing this week (everyone there just so happened to be RPCVs) had a really
nice home-cooked dinner together to celebrate the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so great, we shared funny stories of
the last two years, shared our travel plans, and just relaxed a bit from the
stress of COSing and what is to come once we get back stateside.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Thankfully I have a nice month long COS
trip to look forward to starting tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am starting in Cape Town with three other RPCVs (that’s weird to say)
and we are driving the Garden Route in South Africa to Durban, then up to
Kruger National Park making a few stops on the way, then a few days back in
Swaziland, and then finally a brief 5 day visit to Rome, Italy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s going to be great to get to know South
Africa more, and a nice reward for us in Italy for surviving the last 26
months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s going to be awesome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will fill you all in when I see you back in
America!</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">So this is it, my last blog post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been such an adventure these past two
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks for letting me share a bit
of it with all of you who are reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They say Peace Corps is “the hardest job you will ever love.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hear it so often we usually shrug it off
as a joke, but its true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This job is so
hard at times, but also the best experience of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to miss the craziness of it all at
times, but thankful to be leaving with the happy memory of it.</span></span><br />
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the next big adventure… Sala Kahle (stay well)!!</span></div>
Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-68881643895273273082013-07-18T04:00:00.000-07:002013-07-18T04:00:02.416-07:00Goodbyes, Goodbyes, Goodbyes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">July 6<sup>th</sup>-7<sup>th</sup>, 2013</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">I had a whirlwind of goodbyes to attend to
this weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">It all started Saturday morning when Addy,
Ryan, and I went to Umphakatsi (local community government) to say our official
goodbye to our community chief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
waited around until called and then sat with the chief under the official tree
in the Royal kraal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the men sat on
tree stumps and us women arranged ourselves on lihiyas (fabric) on the
ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We each greeted the chief and
his inner council and explained what projects we had completed over the two
years and expressed our thanks for being allowed to work within the
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chief replied with his
own thanks, and we were dismissed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
we all relocated into the Umphakatsi building for the community meeting where
we officially said goodbye to the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Again we all took turns saying our thanks, I am always last of the three
to speak, so I tried to make mine funny by thanking the community for teaching
me to wash my clothes, cook my food, and weed my garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a crowd pleaser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the official goodbyes were done by noon,
so after Addy and Ryan made a quick appearance at my homestead, which is near
Umphakatsi, to say goodbye to my host family.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">We all then headed over to Mpaka and the
Refugee Camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our counterparts and
friends at the camp put on a goodbye lunch for us that was such a great
surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Moogie, one of our oldest
counterparts who is like a father to us, cooked us a Somalian meal that we all
shared and was amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After eating we
had some entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the High
School kids at the camp wrote us a few farewell songs that he performed on his
guitar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were so nice and talked
about keeping the hope, and staying in touch, and being strong to continue the
work we have all done at the camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
so touched. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s pretty rare to get real
appreciation for the work we do here and these songs and this meal were the
best form of thank you we could ask for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had another round of speeches, which caused some tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a special relationship with the
refugee camp that is very different from our relationship with our Swazi
counterparts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its is sad to leave our
friends here, but the changed that has happened at the camp over the two years
is amazing to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We came, we suggested
ideas, we worked together, and now we go leaving behind the tools that they
need to keep going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the best part is
that they are using these tools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
have plans and goals and committees and better communication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am excited to keep tabs on the happenings
at the camp, to see the progress that I know will continue to happen there.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Afterwards, I made a quick stop at Addy and
Ryan’s homestead to say farewell to their family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it was back to my homestead where my
host sisters greeted me who all came home to through me a farewell party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cooked a great meal and took tons of fun
family photos and celebrated being together one last time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The party lasted into Sunday with another
meal, gift exchanges, more photos, and a very chaotic raiding of the things I
am getting rid of before I leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
felt like Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then sadly we
had to eventually say our goodbyes to each other too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully all my host sisters have whatsapp
so we will be able to keep in touch easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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was a very busy, emotional 24 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s weird to say goodbye after two years and not know if you will ever
be able to say hello again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so
thankful to have these people in my life, and they will stay with me forever.</span></div>
Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-32215373036956778192013-07-16T04:43:00.000-07:002013-07-16T04:43:23.158-07:00Mighty Fine Group 9 Ring Out<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">July 5<sup>th</sup>, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">For the first time in PC Swaziland history we did a group ring out for closing our service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Group nine has had it fare share of ups and downs and through the waves we lost 16 members who decided to end their service early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That left only 23 of us and all but 6 are all closing our service in a two week time span.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all wanted to celebrate each other’s ring out, which are traditional done one by one as people COS, but since we all leave so close together it would be impossible, and the last six who leave later would have no one to celebrate with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we decided to all ring out together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">On July 5<sup>th</sup>, the day after our annual Fourth of July celebration at our Country Director’s house, we all met at the Peace Corps office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PC staff and G10 PCVs all came and we took some time to say a few things about the last two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Staff congratulated us and thanked us on our service, and we thanked the staff for all their support and each other for being the family that we needed to survive this experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Once all was said, we moved outside the office to the “bell” which is actually a weight lifting dumbbell of sorts that hangs next to the front door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We each took a turn to “ring” the bell with a metal rod and sign our names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a nice way to feel the end of our service as a group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be the last time I would see many of the PCVs in G9 and G10, and the goodbyes were unreal but heartfelt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Now it’s back to site for two weeks until PC comes to pick me up for my official close of Service (COS).</span></div>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-59418251224234738092013-07-16T04:22:00.002-07:002013-07-16T04:22:22.119-07:00The Magic of Green Bar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Green Bar is the all purpose soap here in Swaziland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It literally is a green bar of soap (about 18 in long) made of who knows what, but it works magic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I use it most regularly to wash my clothes and it gets any stain out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also use it to make my steel pots and pan shine like new and most people also use it for general washing of hands and bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Literally it can be used for anything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Recently I experienced a new use for this powerful little product.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was cooking and got a steam burn trying to get a handle less lid off of a boiling pot of water with nothing but a spoon and hand towel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I immediately put my hand in a bucket of water but my thumb was still stinging minutes later and I had to resume cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My host sister said put some green bar on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I immediately had a movie moment thinking of the Windex in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was like what? She took some green bar and rubbed it all over my thumb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It burned like crazy and I was sure that I was just trapping the heat in and that I would be sorry later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister promised that the pain was because green bar was actually healing my burn and that there would be no blister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">It stopped stinging after a while and I forgot about it until the next morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I awoke I looked at my thumb and it was red where the burn was but no blister, just as my host sister promised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s now been 4 days and my thumb is completely healed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Green bar is some good muti (magic) I can get behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t judge me if I arrive home with a suitcase full of it.</span></div>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-21458646610538505882013-07-16T04:21:00.000-07:002013-07-16T04:21:45.444-07:00COS Med and Xmas in June<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">June 19<sup>th</sup>-22<sup>nd</sup>, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I am officially medically cleared to return to America, unless something happens in the next month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had my Close of Service medical exam and I am all healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No HIV, no TB, eyesight is good, BP is good, no cavities, no worms, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even got a bonus thyroid test done as per protocol for loosing more then 10 lbs during service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the record its officially 22 lbs and my thyroid is just fine!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">After the three day fun of medical, we had our annual all PCV Christmas in June celebration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was awesome!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is one other girl who is g-free (and dairy-free) here and between her and me constantly reminding people of what we can and cannot eat, it has finally made a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone pulled together and purposely made g-free dishes so we could have a full meal too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made g-free sweet potato cornbread, there was chickpea stuffing, g-free brownies, g-free chicken (aka made without stuffing inside), mashed potatoes made with goats milk, and lots of veggies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so great, and I can’t believe my PC family is so good to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">We ate our hearts out and then did a white elephant gift exchange.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all brought random stuff from our huts we don’t want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>G9ers (those of us who are leaving) gave some stellar gifts as we are getting rid of everything, and then there were some really funny, but not so stellar gifts also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ended up with goody bag of instant coffee, condiments, a condom, and a moist towelette from South African airlines haha. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Santa showed up, we drank lots of eggnog, and celebrated Christmas six months late, American style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I donated all my xmas decorations that friends and family have sent me from home to make the scene for the party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dressed up a tree for all the gifts to go under and the most popular ornament by far was one I received via package that is a snowman holding a star that says “God Bless America.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may commercialize everything in America, but its all meant to bring people together, and to me that is what all the holidays are about, celebrating life with friends and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t have much as PCVs, but we sure know how to take a little and turn it into a big celebration!</span></div>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-15994800270893607752013-07-16T04:19:00.000-07:002013-07-16T04:19:06.144-07:00Ngwempisi Gorge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">June 15-17<sup>th</sup>, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I had what is probably my last stay-cation here in the Kingdom and it was beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went with eight other PCVs to Ngwempisi Gorge, which is in the middle of nowhere and it’s stunningly gorgeous (get it hahaha).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stayed at a community run lodge called Khopho Hut that is literally a rock tree fort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is built into the rock cliff face and overlooks the gorge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kitchen, and toilet, and shower are completely open so you can enjoy the views while you do everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can even climb up onto the rock rooftop and overlook all that the light touches (which, in fact, is our Kingdom…sorry it was the perfect opportunity for a Lion King reference).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did some stargazing (those fireflies that got stuck in that big bluish black thing… HA did it again) from up there one night that was unbelievable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Night one we braaied (BBQ) and spent time chasing rats out of the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to keep shooing them away from our food before we figured out a way to hang our food up in bags from the ceiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turns out rats really like cake, as it was the only thing they actually ate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our one full day at the gorge we had a local guy show us the way to the natural hot springs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We first climbed across the mountains (I love horizontal hiking), then we got to the top of one mountain and took a rest to look out on the entire gorge, which was just an amazing view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From then on it was a 1.5 hour vertical climb downhill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not so bad, but we knew we would have to go back up it eventually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We progressed down the mountain landscape from large rock faces and no trees, to fern forest and grass, down into thick forests with large trees, and eventually found the river at the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once at the river our guide said we must cross it to get to the hot springs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we all undressed as much as we felt comfortable (for our guide it was down to his tighty whities, which were actually blue) and forged the stomach deep river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We thought well fine, the river is freezing, but we will have the hot springs to warm us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah the hot springs were a pool deep enough to submerge our feet, but still a nice natural wonder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t bask long in the warm pools before having lunch by the river and then making our way back up before it got dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate vertical hiking, but to be honest I am getting so much better at it here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made it up the mountain in two hours and I didn’t feel like I was going to die, but we took lots of breaks.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sunset view from the rock rooftop</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gorge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FmVlivnHyc3jMVM49TknY8Fdcf0AGRPu5ZqOMkiIbwgMeLkhyISZMKLPcyQaWbK8qv8cP4KPME_tWoLkxlt6WFhE8dWk4M3UWmGNOthM_AdOLrGMDnfOleQRxFFr3YNKYwWpmpN8gHg/s1600/DSCN9184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" iya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FmVlivnHyc3jMVM49TknY8Fdcf0AGRPu5ZqOMkiIbwgMeLkhyISZMKLPcyQaWbK8qv8cP4KPME_tWoLkxlt6WFhE8dWk4M3UWmGNOthM_AdOLrGMDnfOleQRxFFr3YNKYwWpmpN8gHg/s320/DSCN9184.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the gang</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUvhogY8xyzniWy0vYhEFdow3qFgzY7esJ-iMhxPqYX42mU8EecVtWw0SXyE_itLnAV8gDIy_Bdlw_gMxZ4oGQ3LTs77QF39ybfNCTSA88ERVvE9jdIWqfeTM0ZzHrWXiX33hh0eiycA/s1600/DSCN9226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" iya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUvhogY8xyzniWy0vYhEFdow3qFgzY7esJ-iMhxPqYX42mU8EecVtWw0SXyE_itLnAV8gDIy_Bdlw_gMxZ4oGQ3LTs77QF39ybfNCTSA88ERVvE9jdIWqfeTM0ZzHrWXiX33hh0eiycA/s320/DSCN9226.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the outdoor toilet/shower</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">We walked home at dusk, enjoyed outdoor showers at sunset, and made dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There really wasn’t much kitchenware at the lodge but we made due, thankful for our Swiss army knives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made soup for dinner that we ended up drinking out of mugs as there was no silverware.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This stay-cation was to celebrate my friend Emma’s birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had received some birthday decoration in a packaged that I recently found under my bed so we decorated the tree house and celebrated with drinks by candlelight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">After two nights at the gorge we emerged from the middle of nowhere and went into town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the first time here I was able to feel like I had gone someplace completely away and didn’t have to leave the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a small country so the fact that I found a place like this is nice!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In town the celebration continued with pizza, drinks, a blurry movie at the one and only movie theater and ice cream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perfect end to a perfect weekend!</span></div>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-78251979452192100092013-07-16T03:48:00.002-07:002013-07-16T03:48:29.137-07:00Refugee Camp Library<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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June 13-14<sup>th</sup>, 2013</div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">The refugee Camp participated in the Books for Africa project this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A resident of the camp was trained in January and the books were delivered in May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The past few days I hopped over to the camp and helped Addy and Ryan (who headed the project) and three of the refugees in cataloguing all of the 1000 donated books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">The books were split into adult and children’s fiction, non-fiction by topic, and compilation books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each book was given a colored sticker to classify its section and then was labeled with its author and its library number so it can be recorded when checked out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">The library was built in a run down building that was not being used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Materials to paint and build shelves were donated by a grocery store in town and Ryan has been working with the camp over the past several months to get the room refurbished with new windows and secure doors that lock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More shelves are scheduled to be built and then the library is ready to be opened on World Refugee Day next week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Since all my projects are wrapped up, it was nice to get out and do some work for a few days and see my friends at the camp.</span></div>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-78675691499012129532013-06-11T03:45:00.003-07:002013-06-11T03:45:43.134-07:00Bushfire: Bring Your Fire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">May 31<sup>st</sup> – June 2<sup>nd</sup>, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">The fire was for sure brought this weekend at Bushfire!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Bushfire Music Festival is one of the greatest things about serving in Swaziland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those who don’t remember by blog from last year, it is a three-day call to action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through celebrating the arts: music, written word, dance, drama, the festival is meant to inspire, encourage, and celebrate efforts in development, education, and outreach to make communities a better place to live.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I decided to camp on the festival grounds this year with the majority of the other PCVs from Swaziland and a group of PCVs from Mozambique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so much fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three days of awesome music and artists representing Africa, South America, and Europe, great food from all over the world, and of course access to buying goods from all the craft stands representing the fair trade handicraft market here in Swaziland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The refugee camp I have worked with in the past was represented in the food court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had a booth that my fellow PCVs Ryan and Addy helped them organize and they sold native food from Rwanda, Burundi, and Somalia. It was awesome and their stand was very popular.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUWq9vqwe4cMRs7eFL49y-P_CNc0fOkhdCan0qkpNE-we5InYYnZ5OwJOcqIvuS8canoUebMf5WX4WHffHFamMRYFviXu4uF5GEDf1pgMDOBdjj_2MtrU9z6sH4EWLN8NMmpplE4iP8Y/s1600/camp+at+bf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUWq9vqwe4cMRs7eFL49y-P_CNc0fOkhdCan0qkpNE-we5InYYnZ5OwJOcqIvuS8canoUebMf5WX4WHffHFamMRYFviXu4uF5GEDf1pgMDOBdjj_2MtrU9z6sH4EWLN8NMmpplE4iP8Y/s320/camp+at+bf.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">My favorite acts over the three days were Toya DeLazy (popular SA pop artist), Jeremy Loops, The Muffins (an urban indie jazz band), The soil (acapella group), and Guy Buttery (acoustic guitarist).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was also a really impressive string quartet from Austria that accompanied a Mozambique band mixing Classical and African rhythms.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bushfire Stage by Day<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA09KfG3rlbMDSwje61B0rgKdJxVxYeRci-aUTfxhmdmrr_JAB-KVPYoQwO7biMa_hdIO2FIywM7_tSEMN4uutpYGfUM0s-QU3QAYY5K9lDTvxxyXsSjujuuWh3efJZ1jB5gUhDuhDv-Y/s1600/bf+by+night.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA09KfG3rlbMDSwje61B0rgKdJxVxYeRci-aUTfxhmdmrr_JAB-KVPYoQwO7biMa_hdIO2FIywM7_tSEMN4uutpYGfUM0s-QU3QAYY5K9lDTvxxyXsSjujuuWh3efJZ1jB5gUhDuhDv-Y/s320/bf+by+night.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">If anyone is in Southern Africa in late May/early June, Bushfire is a must.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my favorite weekends!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Late nights dancing, lazy days sitting listening to music, good food, good friends, can’t get better than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">For more info check out their website at <a href="http://www.bushfire.co.za/">www.bushfire.co.za</a></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bring your fire!</td></tr>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-52966512683351880982013-06-11T03:09:00.000-07:002013-06-11T03:09:15.013-07:00Free Sterilization for Disadvantaged Animals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">May 12<sup>th</sup>, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">After months and months of trying to find a cheap place to get the family cat neutered, Addy and I responded to a newspaper clipping advertising a free sterilization day that was being sponsored by Swaziland Animal Welfare Society (SAWS), Swaziland Government Veterinary services and local private vets, and all being funded by an insurance company from South Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can’t get much cheaper than free, so we made an appointment to see what it was all about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Addy and Ryan’s Host Dad owns a car so he loaded them and their female dog (who has had 16 puppies in the last year) and my cat and I up, and we set off at dawn to the center of the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ended up at an elementary school where makeshift surgery and recovery rooms had been prepared in the classrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With about 40 other dogs and their owners, we waited in a field from 7:30am until 3:30pm before they called our numbers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">They could operate on several animals at a time and since it was in a classroom, we could stand outside and watch from the windows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both my cat and Addy’s dog did great, and recovered just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got to sit in the recovery room as the animals woke up and helped out with the rest of the volunteers who were there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were the only white people not volunteering at the event so we kept getting asked to do things by mistake, but we helped anyways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">The day was long, but a really sweet deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All for free we got our animals fixed, de-wormed, treated with tick and flea medication, and got their annual vaccinations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in true Swazi fashion the event included lunch and a tea break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing is really free here unless food comes with it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Overall, this event was awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the first of its kind here and much needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Animal welfare isn’t a priority here, stray animals are abundant, and malnourished animals are the norm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By providing this service, the vets were also allowed to talk with owners and educate them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were really prepared with information for all ages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was nice to see so many people show up to have their animals taken care of, it shows that if available people really do want proper care for their animals, its just not accessible in these rural areas.</span></div>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-71455926433524648772013-06-11T03:06:00.001-07:002013-06-11T03:06:14.077-07:00COS Conference<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">May 6<sup>th</sup> – 9<sup>th</sup>, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Close of Service (COS) Conference… can’t believe it’s that time in my service already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Just one day after Camp GLOW ended, all of the Mighty Fine Group 9 met at our Peace Corps Office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were then bused to the nice Forester Arms Hotel, tucked away in the forests of the Hhohho region.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">We spent 3 glorious days sleeping in really comfortable beds, loving indoor plumbing (that we only had to share with one other person), eating buffets for breakfast and lunch, and four course dinners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we weren’t enjoying these fine things, we were being prepared for what comes next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we rap up two years in Swaziland? How do we go back to America and re-assimilate? How do we get a job?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And how do we talk about Swaziland in five minutes to people who simply don’t care?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">To help fuel the excitement about what comes after Peace Corps we were all given our official Close of Service dates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So here it is…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>I am officially COSing on July 18<sup>th</sup></u></b>!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will do a bit of traveling before coming stateside again, but plan to be back in MN mid-August.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">For the three days we also reflected on our last two years, hardly believing that we made it through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted we are much smaller then when we came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started with 39 in our group and are down to 23 for various reasons, but despite our dwindling numbers we are still mighty fine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have become so close over the last two years; it’s hard to think that when I go back to MN I won’t have my G9 PCVs there with me when I get off the plane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good thing airtime (cell phone minutes) is much more cheap (see I can’t even speak proper English anymore) in America.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">As we left the conference, we celebrated our 23<sup>rd</sup> month anniversary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it was back to site, after two weeks away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how integrated you feel, it’s always a transition back to hut life, but I was also returning with the heavy task of having to start packing, getting rid of things, and saying goodbye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two months is going to go by very fast.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mighty Fine G9!!!</td></tr>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-66422658133881671162013-05-17T02:12:00.004-07:002013-05-20T01:40:19.476-07:00GLOWing brightly at Camp GLOW<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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April 29<sup>th</sup> – May 4<sup>th</sup>, 2013</div>
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GLOW camp finally came and went with huge success!!!</div>
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The week started when, Nosipho (my counterpart and sisi) and I drug our bags and bedding to the bus stop where we met with the two girls we had selected to attend the camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there we got on a bus and picked up Addy, her counterpart Zandie, and four other campers from our community in Mpaka then we were all off to Siteki where Camp GLOW was being held at the primary school for the deaf.</div>
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Once in Siteki we met up with many other PCVs, counselors and campers at the bus rank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon after a bus with balloons and posters advertising itself as the GLOW bus pulled up and loaded us all up to take us to the campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A whirlwind of checking in, saying hellos to old and new friends, getting beds assigned and Camp GLOW finally began.</div>
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We had a weekend filled with knowledge, fun, empowerment, and food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girls were taught mostly by our trained counterparts who were serving as counselors and by us PCVs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Day one was all welcomes and ground rules, and getting to know each other activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Day two was all about health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Girls attended sessions on HIV and STI knowledge, contraceptives, personal hygiene, male and female bodies, emotional health, having a child by choice not chance, alternatives to sex, and abstinence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Day three was art day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A local art gallery called Yebo Art came as part of their art outreach program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The campers each were taught how to screen print and designed something personal to be printed on their GLOW t-shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also got a chance to paint portraits and learned about expressing themselves through poetry, lead by a local poet named Black Note. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my GLOW girls Landiwe making her <br />
screenprint on her t-shirt.</td></tr>
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<o:p> </o:p>Day Four was all about getting out and about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took a walk to a beautiful private farm nearby and held sessions on volunteerism, leadership, and team building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I taught about leadership in an orange grove, and then we ate lunch by a lily-pad pond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beautiful day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Day Five was all about learning more about the resources around Swaziland that can help empower women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a career fair, a male and female panel made up of successful men and women from Swaziland, and national organizations supporting women’s right were there to talk with girls about how they are there to help empower young women.</div>
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The week ended with an epic talent show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had 20 acts that covered all topics of women’s empowerment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Songs, dances, poems, dramas (skits) and even a thrown together dance number performed by us PCVs to Beyonce’s “Girls run the World.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lost my voice cheering on the girl power that was happening in that room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We expended all the energy we had left in a dance party where my campers taught me how to move like a true Swazi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get ready America; I have some awesome new dance moves to show you.</div>
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A week after we arrived we sadly had to say goodbye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shy greetings that started the camp was replaced with cheering goodbyes and promises to stay in touch on facebook and whats app.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hurray for GLOW!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Malindza/Mpaka crew!</td></tr>
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<o:p> </o:p>Us PCVs needed to do a debrief after camp so we stayed an extra night after sending the girls and counselors on their way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stayed at the private farm we walked to earlier that week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After reviewing the week and making suggestions for next year, we celebrated our huge success with Mexican food, cocktails, and another dance party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly it was all over by 8:30pm and we were in bed by 9pm all super exhausted from the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was nice to sleep in a normal bed again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We PCV took the brunt of the sleeping accommodations at the school and stayed in the preschool dorms, with preschool sized beds, preschool sized toilets, and low level sinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The PCV GLOW executive council!</td></tr>
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Can’t wait to see how GLOW will continue to grow in my community and excited to hear how camp will be even bigger and better next year!</div>
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A huge <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>THANK YOU</u></b> to everyone at home who contributed to GLOW, with donations, monetary or in-kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would not have been at all possible if we didn’t have your support and donations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were able to give each girl a goody bag with personal toiletries and fun stuff that are novelties to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also got a week away from the confines of the role of girls in a traditional Swazi homestead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They got a taste of what life could hold for them and received some tools and knowledge to get to wherever they dream of going!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giver yourself a pat on the back for making all of that a possibility, your donation may have been just the thing to change a girls life forever!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-41462447583487978502013-05-17T02:02:00.001-07:002013-05-20T01:49:58.795-07:00Lusuku Lwenkutalwa lwenkhosi: The King’s Birthday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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April 19th, 2013</div>
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I have officially been to a royal birthday party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cross that one off the bucket list, although I have to admit it was not the glamorous event my imagination dreamed up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My participation resembled more of a 16<sup>th</sup> century royal outing from the perspective of a peasant.</div>
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Every year the King hosts a birthday party in a different region of the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year, for his 45<sup>th</sup> birthday, he held it in Siteki, the closest town to my community, so I decided to put on my party clothes and go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a rainy day so I didn’t go full out in Swazi attire, which leaves a women fairly exposed to the elements, rather I donned modern clothes plus a lihiya as a skirt and a traditional necklace to show I had some Swazi spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Catching a very crowed, standing room only bus to Siteki I practiced how to say “King’s Birthday” in siSwati, which provided a lot of entertainment to those around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A stadium had been erected in a muddy field, much like a jousting tournament, and we (the public) were admitted and squished into stadium benches to view the events of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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So we were there, we were excited to see what a King’s Birthday Party looked like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We arrived just in time for the scheduled events to start and in true Swazi style they didn’t start for 2 more hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Siteki sits on a plateau and its significantly colder then down in the area where I live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was cold and rainy, sitting and waiting was miserable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was sitting in the student section with my PCV friend Ryan’s primary school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recruited the students to sit around my in a circle, we created a huddle of warmth to pass the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We waited and waited and then we saw just about nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Before the King arrived a very heavy fog descended on the Siteki plateau making it impossible to see past 25 feet in front of you, let alone across a stadium field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite being very late for his own party, the King made an exciting entrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The army provided guard and he inspected them to kick-start the events, which got him within 30 feet of me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few singings of the national anthem later it seems things were getting started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The army guard did some really cool silent marching that got the crowd cheering, despite the fact we could all barely see through the fog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then someone talked for an hour announcing new titles people were getting and then the King left and it was over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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There was supposed to be hours of entertainment that was prepared by various school groups and performance arts groups from the area, including Ryan’s students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It all got canceled because time was up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One good thing to come out of the day was that the students, after sitting in the cold all day, got their free gift for “participating,” which ironically was a jacket that they received upon leaving the event.</div>
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Frozen, we made our way back to the bus rank to try and get home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This proved to be the most exciting part of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since everyone was trying to head west, as were we, the demand for getting on transport was insane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally a bus willing to stop at all our little places along the main road came and it was a mad dash to get on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All etiquette was thrown out the window, pushing and shoving were the tools needed to get on the bus and I did and I got a seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d say that means I’m fully integrated.</div>
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All in all, an interesting way to spend the day and its one more cultural event under my belt.</div>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-33929810455256858672013-05-17T01:54:00.003-07:002013-05-17T01:54:57.041-07:00The End of an Era<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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April 16<sup>th</sup>, 2013</div>
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My Peace Corps service is rapidly coming closer and closer
to the end, and today marked the end of a project that has truly defined my
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We held out very last ESL (English as a Second Language)
class at the Refugee Camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Technically it wasn’t even class, it was a certificate ceremony that we
have after every completed 12-week term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was our fourth and final term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wont be able to start and complete another before our
service is over.</div>
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It didn’t feel like the end, but I am sure it will soon
enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more trips to Mpaka
every week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more meeting to
plan our lessons with our co-teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No more assessing new students and re-assessing current students to mark
their progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as I will
get sentimental about this project ending it feels like the right time for it
to end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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It was a great project, but all of our students are moving
on in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Working with refugees
we got used to our class roster changing every term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Students would leave for new places or home countries and as
of last term students were getting jobs in Manzini.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to think we helped with that, giving them more
confidence with speaking English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My co-teacher Amnesty even got his official refugee status and got a
job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone is starting to move
on to better things so it feels right that classes are over and I’m moving on
to.</div>
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All in all I think this is the project I am most proud of
here in Swaziland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We listened to
what a community needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We found
ambitious, hard-working, motivated counterparts, we reached out to get them
trained and together created, developed, and implemented a English language
class that taught people of various proficiency levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had no idea what we were getting
into that first day we gathered everyone, but we figured it out, and it was a
success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Students that would not
even say hello to us on the first day are now having a conversation with us
every time we see them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Down caste
eyes and embarrassed mumbles have turned into proud handshakes and greetings
with a smile.</div>
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It makes being here that much easier when you can see the
difference you have made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to
top it all off, we know that this learning can continue after we leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are trained people who can write
a lesson plan and implement it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Refugee Camp will be getting a library full of books within the next
few months to help with continued language learning, and we have shown the
refugees that they can use each other as teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yay for sustainability!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yay for English language learning!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yay for successfully completed projects!</div>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-10182654033748285702013-04-27T04:19:00.001-07:002013-04-27T04:19:16.952-07:00On The Sani Pass!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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April 8-11th<sup>th</sup>, 2013</div>
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To try and use up some of my well-earned vacation days
(seriously I have enough to take vacation for month), I planned a trip into
South Africa with a few of my PCV friends.</div>
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It was so Amazing!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I spent the first 3.5 days on the Sani Pass, in the Drakensburg area of
the Kwazulu-Natal region, which is the southeastern part of South Africa; from
the bottom of Swaziland to the bottom of Lesotho.</div>
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At this point there were three of us and like the public
transportation rock stars that we are, we made it from the center of Swaziland
to the Sani Pass in one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
took a total of 5 different transportation changeovers, and we were in transit
from 6am to 7:30pm, but we made it, cutting our costs by several hundred rand
because we took public rather then a backpacker’s bus.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYZfipkHawhhwq2BrSyNT7si2TWg8tBUL0hVe1gdu8jm9cPMbRD2wq1x2GVMxUEljCKvsz78IfKqyR7u3Ogpja4JznmFoHmiRhSCwEu6E3s5eWpFFGEglxsQdI4MLvOvKQ_-55hYCNJA/s1600/DSCN8601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYZfipkHawhhwq2BrSyNT7si2TWg8tBUL0hVe1gdu8jm9cPMbRD2wq1x2GVMxUEljCKvsz78IfKqyR7u3Ogpja4JznmFoHmiRhSCwEu6E3s5eWpFFGEglxsQdI4MLvOvKQ_-55hYCNJA/s320/DSCN8601.JPG" width="320" /></a>We stayed at the Sani Pass Backpacker’s Lodge, which I give
a 5 star rating, because it is the best backpackers I have ever stayed at!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best staff, best view, and best shower
and all for the same price as most of the questionable backpackers out
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have free milk from
the diary cow that is milked daily, guided tours into Lesotho, unguided day
hikes, a warm fireplace, 2 fully stocked kitchens, drinkable tap water that is
the freshest I’ve ever tasted, and they make your bed everyday, adding extra
blankets when the nights get colder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It doesn’t sound like much, but when I am used to paying the same price
at most backpackers and getting very basic accomadations, musty bedding, a cold
shower, and a kitchen you’d rather not cook in, it felt like the Sani Pass
Lodge was a high class hotel.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAMjZvVl_gPAkqlKrx4ONVF4E30J6cCHSDlChcbb2n1UE_lAixLhpgO1kKZ4tSzLYTWEuLyJe8AENwUV4rx3DYQIgTVs0dgs99thq1aQEqgKdD3nn6v8PPwmXiA3SM5vW3yxtXCWR-QQ/s1600/DSCN8461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAMjZvVl_gPAkqlKrx4ONVF4E30J6cCHSDlChcbb2n1UE_lAixLhpgO1kKZ4tSzLYTWEuLyJe8AENwUV4rx3DYQIgTVs0dgs99thq1aQEqgKdD3nn6v8PPwmXiA3SM5vW3yxtXCWR-QQ/s320/DSCN8461.JPG" width="320" /></a>Day one on the Pass, we took ourselves on a 4-5 hour day
hike, which took us 8 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
weren’t slow, we just got caught up in the views, and a very fun cave we had to
walk through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so beautiful
in this region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mountains in every
direction you look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On our hike
they just engulfed us from all sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We ate lunch by a blue lagoon, but I didn’t swim as it was very cold
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we found the
waterfall, which required us to stand on the very edge of a cliff to look down
on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very scary, very
awesome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hike became more
adventurous and less fun after the waterfall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two wrong trail turns (let led us on some very narrow paths
along a steep mountain before we realized we needed to turn back to get to the
real trail) and three awful walks through the cold river later we finished the
hike.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0sSXChyMeYzisEnVVngu0QIUXwMJhNsPk1trpbNZkv3g314On70_ebO6HfWN2rBs-muFZjRch6F-Vl0TJuzLXKs0wq4Fi5kZkHWslzPMcJTHVrrYSBcCdCYWeI6LYh2GGrNF3Z3VQpA/s1600/DSCN8669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmSv00IJ7OMdt04m-7ehyphenhyphendVfmIxcWbw9utQitbshkbTBDB-EJVvm6vRW08YDqVwKILLn4PzjoaA6zS-E2IwgP7cV0__xgOLQIHvxgBpqQxIVKmCJsNbhdJjG1o71Gb3XyDgCH1to12Zs/s1600/DSCN8569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmSv00IJ7OMdt04m-7ehyphenhyphendVfmIxcWbw9utQitbshkbTBDB-EJVvm6vRW08YDqVwKILLn4PzjoaA6zS-E2IwgP7cV0__xgOLQIHvxgBpqQxIVKmCJsNbhdJjG1o71Gb3XyDgCH1to12Zs/s320/DSCN8569.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pool along the hike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9nLLTwJ0C2vAKk8lr5SxNzZZBX46vICKfAdvZ9634B9M_QgU7-ChyR0JlUg7SLbg4ZwKhlXedi1sHisQBnhv0I3kpoofwSTN3v3cA67zoceGzSwC_0dWEM2nu1Zq-BMK-XUBwwBK7z0/s1600/DSCN8579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9nLLTwJ0C2vAKk8lr5SxNzZZBX46vICKfAdvZ9634B9M_QgU7-ChyR0JlUg7SLbg4ZwKhlXedi1sHisQBnhv0I3kpoofwSTN3v3cA67zoceGzSwC_0dWEM2nu1Zq-BMK-XUBwwBK7z0/s320/DSCN8579.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The very clear spring water</td></tr>
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Day Two we took a guided day trip into Lesotho.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Sani Pass into Lesotho is crazy
scary and can only be done by a 4x4 vehicle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A heavy fog descended on the Pass during the night so I
couldn’t really get the whole effect of the dirt roat, but it included 14
switchbacks to get up into Lesotho.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some requiring a three-point turn they are so narrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once up, we decided that it was too
foggy and cold to do the scheduled hike up the Hodgeson’s peak (the highest
point in SA), so we went further into Lesotho and did a hike just up one of the
mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so cool, but so
cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was unprepared for winter
like temperatures and was freezing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were hiking over 3,000 meters so altitude made it hard to function,
but we finally made it to the top just as it started to snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well it wasn’t really snow yet, more
like ice chunks and it was super windy so were actually just getting pelted in
the face with pea size hail (not fun).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But the view was great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
could see the tallest point in Lesotho, and the mountains that stretch forever
with the sun peaking through and highlighting further away ridges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had lunch briefly as to not let our
body temps drop and then headed back down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We met some shepherds along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This area of Lesotho is very
unpopulated; only the Shepherds that bring their flocks of sheep and goats up
during the summer to graze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
build little stone huts and carry everything on horseback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aside from them there is a tiny village
of a few women we brew beer and make bread to sell to the shepherds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are no schools, no stores, no
clinics, nothing but views and a sheep-shearing shack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0sSXChyMeYzisEnVVngu0QIUXwMJhNsPk1trpbNZkv3g314On70_ebO6HfWN2rBs-muFZjRch6F-Vl0TJuzLXKs0wq4Fi5kZkHWslzPMcJTHVrrYSBcCdCYWeI6LYh2GGrNF3Z3VQpA/s1600/DSCN8669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0sSXChyMeYzisEnVVngu0QIUXwMJhNsPk1trpbNZkv3g314On70_ebO6HfWN2rBs-muFZjRch6F-Vl0TJuzLXKs0wq4Fi5kZkHWslzPMcJTHVrrYSBcCdCYWeI6LYh2GGrNF3Z3VQpA/s320/DSCN8669.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">up in the mountains<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rovR0sBOpBVovexckM9bN6hC1rabMRuKBWc9aZflvjElWly2QJ0OnsnQeeqvKFj8bYHygJNjE6KgHChSMx0a-nrNtDr1saRvav43xX62t2IM3NEeF8KngVppPrlhBeqdwCA9EiBoRZA/s1600/DSCN8712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rovR0sBOpBVovexckM9bN6hC1rabMRuKBWc9aZflvjElWly2QJ0OnsnQeeqvKFj8bYHygJNjE6KgHChSMx0a-nrNtDr1saRvav43xX62t2IM3NEeF8KngVppPrlhBeqdwCA9EiBoRZA/s320/DSCN8712.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shepherd</td></tr>
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<o:p> </o:p>We headed to the village after the hike and watched them
sheer the angora goats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This wool
gets exported out everywhere and ironically gets sold back to the shepherds in
the form of blankets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we
visited with one of the women in the village and she made us some bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They use cow dung as a fire source and
cook inside their stone and cow dung huts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The huts have no windows to try and preserve the heat during
the winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lady we visited
runs the village pub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sells
homebrewed maize/sorghum beer and bread and plays a radio that is powered by a
solar panel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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We soon left her because it started to actually snow and we
needed to make time for one last stop before heading down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last stop being the one and only
real pub up here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact it is
the highest pub in Africa, and they make a deliciously warm mulled wine that
was wonderful to drink after a day in the snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ground was completely white now and I was so happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt like home, breathing in the
cold air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We descended the pass
back into South Africa slowly, now we had the extra challenge of doing the pass
in winter conditions, but we made it no problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent the evening eating our poor PCV meal of beans and
rice by the fire, defrosting before heating up hot water bottles to snuggle
with in bed.</div>
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We slept-in our last morning there, it was too cold to leave
the comforts of our warm beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
fog had lifted and the sun was out again, but it was still frosty out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had the lodge to ourselves, which
was nice compared to the night before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The lodge was packed when we got back from our trip into Lesotho with a
new wave of backpackers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
overwhelming, so many people wanting to chat, I’m no longer used to that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We enjoyed a makeshift rice porridge
breakfast by the fire and then set out for transport back to Durban.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the 2 hours we had to wait in a
khumbi for it to fill up, we made it to Durban by dusk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-58932804132366085982013-04-27T03:20:00.000-07:002013-04-27T03:20:11.206-07:00Durban!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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April 11-13<sup>th</sup>, 2013</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3pDwu78XX3fib6ma65l-lUHtILl8qyIZWYFATf01HIu2-iZPp9Qs9_75Dx53LmnMI5mYGvebFzS1aOURLG2vuhL9AKmZ55iJmYXiFv57uMWXikTZTOIrxMBGIP45pGgzSbRsC5iZIPI/s1600/DSCN8836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3pDwu78XX3fib6ma65l-lUHtILl8qyIZWYFATf01HIu2-iZPp9Qs9_75Dx53LmnMI5mYGvebFzS1aOURLG2vuhL9AKmZ55iJmYXiFv57uMWXikTZTOIrxMBGIP45pGgzSbRsC5iZIPI/s320/DSCN8836.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our last two night of vacation were spent in Durban.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An actual city!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a short two days, but the best
two days!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here in Durban we met up
with 4 more PCVs from Swaziland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was great to expand our group a bit, and even though there were only
7 of us, this is now 1/3 of our group that’s left in country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was fun to be on a Group 9 only vacation.</div>
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Night one, after reuniting, we all went out for a nice
meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A real meal, it was
amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to an Italian
restaurant in walking distance of our backpackers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had gluten free options so I had real pizza for the first
time in 22 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully
g-free pizza only came in one size – large, and I ate the whole thing not
feeing one bit of guilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
great being with my Peace Crops friends in a modern environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had so much fun at dinner!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt we were that table that people wanted
to be with, our happiness for being surrounded by good friends, food, wine, and
having gotten a shower that day was radiating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We felt alive!</div>
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For our only full day in Durban we spent the whole day at
the waterfront.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We leisurely
walked along the entire beachfront, toes in the sand, sun on my back, and the
smell of water in the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
so relaxing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The afternoon we
spent eating of course (my one an only plan for Durban…eat, eat, and eat some
more) looking over the water, and shopping!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We headed back to the backpackers and got all glam-ed up for
a Friday night out on the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
started with a sushi dinner, which spanned 3 hours and several bottles of wine,
simply perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we hit a
rough spot trying to find a place to go dancing, but after walking off the
sushi for a while we found a place called Tiger Tiger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best night out of my Peace Corps
Service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent the entire night
dancing and singing our hearts out to the best music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We closed down the dance floor around 4am, and then in pure
American style had our cab drive-through McDonalds (we don’t have them in
Swaziland).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After one hour of sleep, I roused everyone and we packed up
the best we could and half functioning got ourselves to the bus rank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seven uncomfortable hours later we were
back in Swaziland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all
grudgingly crossed the border with the fuzzy memories and the faded entry stamp
from the night before to remind us of our fabulous weekend in Durban!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmt2WazArjVB-sKYzushn2_omgqcmi982GoTSoNOKPMrqD2lKoDCxoz3Vh2AyuccXOx8as5OKcRyWGRlsVV60f7h7rqtIRmO1QG90oS32ZRFenW4YDqgx19SUi8f6TEY27p09cnMZMRI/s1600/DSCN8854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmt2WazArjVB-sKYzushn2_omgqcmi982GoTSoNOKPMrqD2lKoDCxoz3Vh2AyuccXOx8as5OKcRyWGRlsVV60f7h7rqtIRmO1QG90oS32ZRFenW4YDqgx19SUi8f6TEY27p09cnMZMRI/s320/DSCN8854.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PCV girls: Emma, Me, Mia, Kelly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-9567886968070217752013-04-27T03:06:00.001-07:002013-04-27T03:06:09.184-07:00Library Complete!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
April 5<sup>th</sup>, 2013</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Malindza High School Library is officially complete…well
as complete as far as my participation goes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All 1000 donated books are out of their boxes and labeled
and shelved with the existing books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If I had to guess I would say we labeled around 5000 books total.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each book got categorized with a color
by topic and have been placed in numerical order according to their subject
number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The library looks so
beautiful now and useable!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The system isn’t quite sticking with the students yet, I
find pinks in the blues, and greens in the reds, but the point is there is a
system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The students are already
really enjoying the new selection of fiction books that came in the donation
boxes, and there are desks now for the students to work on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its just amazing to look back at what
it was before, a disorganized mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Granted there are still about 2000 books that need to be labeled, and
some shelves still need fixing, and the teachers resource room needs to be
finished, but there are plans for these and that’s all I can ask for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The technology and design class is
helping every Friday to fix up the teachers resource room, which will also
serve as the check-in/out desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a slow process, and for a while I wasn’t sure we would see the end,
but I am glad I was able to witness the progress to the point we are at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look forward to the day when I can
return and see the library even more functional!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJC4ikqkfQzTzuHlGACVZ81k90zeD9m6lodNGtIwP8W6S8PZUrj4S4ESpCh3sxOj7RTFyBq2uUWxRTYR-ITdC7yjRVy9oFoU0AaRVy2qI9wdIfXN9NgsvL0pqtGylTP_ElJpCIxJdBFY/s1600/lib+before.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJC4ikqkfQzTzuHlGACVZ81k90zeD9m6lodNGtIwP8W6S8PZUrj4S4ESpCh3sxOj7RTFyBq2uUWxRTYR-ITdC7yjRVy9oFoU0AaRVy2qI9wdIfXN9NgsvL0pqtGylTP_ElJpCIxJdBFY/s320/lib+before.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Library Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOmrFe5z-zDjqmzGkY105p6JT5z32X_MSkf8SrxfigGQD1hQtfW_TLyA2PoiLf5lVUTg4K5chUAHn5SMajb4dlzAzitBHcdWuf3P1Nijz_hDNcm_md_HjYsFDjNjvmRIFZQ4egHnoqao/s1600/Lib+after.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOmrFe5z-zDjqmzGkY105p6JT5z32X_MSkf8SrxfigGQD1hQtfW_TLyA2PoiLf5lVUTg4K5chUAHn5SMajb4dlzAzitBHcdWuf3P1Nijz_hDNcm_md_HjYsFDjNjvmRIFZQ4egHnoqao/s320/Lib+after.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Library After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdc0wlFdsTosBJhsr-55G7IAPevPQdrccP_-woHARvNBt9DahS0iZLA1I2k_yApYs7k7cZafFdrQf-kUsw8EwV7f24JCzQ3Vg2hp2ZTmHra0iGlW_4gRwjDHcGXkdZJ3S5wDRpK7wsC0/s1600/lib+w%253Adavid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdc0wlFdsTosBJhsr-55G7IAPevPQdrccP_-woHARvNBt9DahS0iZLA1I2k_yApYs7k7cZafFdrQf-kUsw8EwV7f24JCzQ3Vg2hp2ZTmHra0iGlW_4gRwjDHcGXkdZJ3S5wDRpK7wsC0/s320/lib+w%253Adavid.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the Librarian David</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-31642599199548625682013-04-27T02:35:00.005-07:002013-04-27T02:35:20.038-07:00Easter Sunday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
March 31<sup>st</sup>, 2013</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I learned about and attended an interesting Swazi event
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t remember the name
of the event, but it is a celebration that a family has when the price of 5
cows has been paid in order to acknowledge a pregnancy out of wedlock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone in the Dube Family was in this
situation and her boyfriend’s family paid the 5 cows to honor her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually those cows will be included
in the Lobola price if she gets teka (traditional engagement) in the future.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Traditionally only married women and women with children are
suppose to attend, but I was invited along as a guest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only these women attend because one of
the cows is slaughtered and eaten to celebrate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is thought that by eating this cow you are welcoming
children into your life there fore only married women or women already with
children should eat it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They let
me eat the cow anyways and take annoying photos of the men eating the cow’s
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cow’s head is always
reserved for the men only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did
get offered some intestines however, which I gracefully declined.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s amazing that 21 months here and I am still learning the
intricate workings of this culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was happy to be invited along to participate in this event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took place on Easter Sunday, so in a
way it just felt like a nice family get-together for brunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ate not just the cow, but chicken,
and salads, and of course pap (maize meal porridge), and drank Coke-a-Cola.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my older host sisters and her
two sons came over for the event so it was really nice to see her.</div>
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</div>
Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-41091590065070769782013-04-17T04:19:00.001-07:002013-04-17T04:19:42.526-07:00If Books Could Talk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
March 15<sup>th</sup>, 2013</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am currently opening and shelving 16 boxes of donated
books to the High School library from the Books for Africa project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I examine each book for cataloguing
I am having a great time discovering the remains of many book exchanges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its just amazing how much information a
book can leave behind from its onetime owners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have found so many things within the pages of these books,
its like buried treasure: receipts, greeting cards, scratch paper with
scribbled notes, and even a dollar bill (I pocketed that one).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of course there are all the
messages scrolled on the first pages that caption a moment in a person’s life;
birthdays, Christmases, graduations, deaths, its seems anything can be said
with a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s sad, in a way to
think, about these one-time gifts no longer holding meaning to the receiver.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I was reading a message from Jon to Karen in a book
that was given by Jon to Karen for her birthday with many XOs after his
signature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read the message out
loud to Addy and we quickly developed an entire plot line of Karen and Jon’s
life; what significance the book meant and why it ended up in a donation box in
Southern Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically Jon did
Karen wrong and the book was too painful for her to keep, all those XOs were
just too powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It really makes you think twice before writing that nice,
private, message in a gifted book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Someday, somewhere, someone else is going to read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably a Peace Corps Volunteer, so
feel free to keep forgetting your buried away dollars, and know that out of
sheer boredom and craziness from high heat exposure, we will over analyze your
message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only have 6 more boxes
to go, and one is textbooks so that will be no fun, but I can’t wait for what
else I find within the pages to come!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->
</div>
Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-61731881451233340842013-04-17T04:15:00.005-07:002013-04-17T04:15:38.728-07:00Consolidation Drill<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
March 14<sup>th</sup>, 2013</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every Peace Corps Country has an emergency action plan to
keep volunteers safe during times of turmoil within a country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each stage increases the severity of
the security threat and gives us instructions to follow.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today at the first light of 5:45am I received a SMS (text
message) that said we were in a code orange and I needed to get to my
consolidation point as soon as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the time I didn’t know this was drill (had an inkling, but didn’t
know for sure) so I diligently packed my emergency bag – clothes, food, water,
medicine, Emergency Action Plan guide, both passports, id card, phone, and
South African Rand in case we needed to cross a border out of Swaziland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told my family I was going to the
town my consolidation point is in and didn’t know when I would be back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I walked away, I realized that if
this weren’t a drill this would be last time I saw them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was a sad moment, I almost ran
back to hug my Make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thankfully it was 6am so transport to Siteki, where I
consolidate, was easy to get.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
met all the other PCVs in my area and we all figured out that this was just a
drill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Members from our Peace
Corps office arrived a few hours later and checked to see how long it took us
all to get there, if there were problems, and if we all packed what we
needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I passed with flying
colors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nice to know if stuff is
going down I can get all packed and to my consolidation point within an hour,
even when I am half asleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was home by 10:30am and explained the whole thing to my
Make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought I was acting
really weird as I left in the morning so it was nice to clear the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t even tell my Babe (host dad)
I had left because I didn’t give her an explanation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall I am glad it was just a drill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an exciting hour until I found
out, but also a nervous hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Being forced home with no notice at this point in my service would be
hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being evacuated would be
hard period having to return to America with only the stuff in my emergency
bag, but even harder would not being able to say goodbye to my friends and
family here.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->
</div>
Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-16363926679993281402013-02-25T05:35:00.000-08:002013-02-25T05:35:08.805-08:00I am a Real Swazi Woman Now<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
February 13<sup>th</sup>, 2013</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I crossed one more thing off my Swazi bucket list today and
in doing so earned my place as a real makoti (bride, but what they call you
when you do something well befitting a wife).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I killed my first chicken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really did it and it wasn’t a bad experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember my first encounter with the
beheading of a chicken and it smelled bad, and was gross, and made me queasy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have put off being involved since
then, but decided I needed to kill one for myself at least once while I was
here.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My sisi Nosipho helped me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Babe picked out a young cock and Nosipho caught it and held
it for me as I wielded the knife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It went fast, but it is still a bit freaky that the body continues to
move after the head is separated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I then helped Nosipho pluck it, cut it apart, and cook it in a pot over
the open fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ekhaya Inkhukhu
(Home chicken) never tasted so good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am really going to miss fresh homegrown chicken. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsYAbZCoEwk4gjp0mNjiZBp5AjXp6Fvrg_bUZT7pslrRcWEPS5POWiwY304f7wybxi4lndKISv4uqurQx3JM2o7xdMOZ_83EDiMr7oAuumSiivOLqem-MDr07ISZIKPKkBCAf_FYYN6Q/s1600/chicken.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsYAbZCoEwk4gjp0mNjiZBp5AjXp6Fvrg_bUZT7pslrRcWEPS5POWiwY304f7wybxi4lndKISv4uqurQx3JM2o7xdMOZ_83EDiMr7oAuumSiivOLqem-MDr07ISZIKPKkBCAf_FYYN6Q/s1600/chicken.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-6193008883246332382013-02-25T05:31:00.003-08:002013-02-25T05:31:52.896-08:00Biff and Tiff Take Africa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
February 8<sup>th</sup> – 19<sup>th</sup>, 2013</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the past ten days I have had the awesome company of one
of my best friends Tiffany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
braved the 48 hours of travel and met me here in the Kingdom, where Swaziland
really pulled out all the stops to give her one unique experience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To commemorate the epic adventure we went on, I will give
you all a virtual scrapbook of photos to explain the shenanigans we got into.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSZcbIiDFZabx1BhaYQ40tUW4rQHedKe8DkwRuuFTmjb8DXbxrdHLvB8vfdOn3sxSHWydVlau1SBSjSD0enRQdhFE-l0dUQA0Q93dhHO-__MqDirEU4ZZEGiMWruiJ3APfbwYuV6MYDc/s1600/1+first+day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSZcbIiDFZabx1BhaYQ40tUW4rQHedKe8DkwRuuFTmjb8DXbxrdHLvB8vfdOn3sxSHWydVlau1SBSjSD0enRQdhFE-l0dUQA0Q93dhHO-__MqDirEU4ZZEGiMWruiJ3APfbwYuV6MYDc/s320/1+first+day.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reunion at the shuttle drop off in Swaziland!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p>We hiked Sibebe, which is the largest granite rock face in
the world and visited a glass factory in Mbabane that uses all recycled glass
bottles to make hand blown items.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGr7ZIO-dbOZey1z6lGGEp_sw8J1bvjfWg6dv-pJ7b0S8lHhZ00G5lBTS1mkWEQ9phqITOye5WB8REJMvOw8fuOtHPYk73YPc5dVoX6pMKdknQr1j4oqQW8qEmYMVMXAnKPm0sAJprIE/s1600/2+sibebe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGr7ZIO-dbOZey1z6lGGEp_sw8J1bvjfWg6dv-pJ7b0S8lHhZ00G5lBTS1mkWEQ9phqITOye5WB8REJMvOw8fuOtHPYk73YPc5dVoX6pMKdknQr1j4oqQW8qEmYMVMXAnKPm0sAJprIE/s320/2+sibebe.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting on what we thought might be the top of Sibebe with our friend Mia, <br />
its questionable if we made it all the way or not.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I made her try every weird thing Swaziland has to offer: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Iron Brew, Emahewu (maize drink), Amarula (marula liquor),
and Ginger Beer</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFkz695Yi_cu-nSgVl8hi7B1MmXl2GICbAh8fOqh0mk8fl8JdQsYqSYa_w-LAwouL0hCMbov__0Cn3rEPWz8Z4VWwsao2l1RugAy3E7capxfAeeZqj4xwCYufL0tpCKCSs0PFqUAbWec/s1600/3+drinks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFkz695Yi_cu-nSgVl8hi7B1MmXl2GICbAh8fOqh0mk8fl8JdQsYqSYa_w-LAwouL0hCMbov__0Cn3rEPWz8Z4VWwsao2l1RugAy3E7capxfAeeZqj4xwCYufL0tpCKCSs0PFqUAbWec/s320/3+drinks.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottoms up!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Maganu (marula brew), emafethi (fat cake), and chicken dust (chicken BBQ on the side of the road)</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxLlUZBlhoHQHBVxgclmwUP0n1lcorAap1qYeE5bnT-WsLRzcJwXkLH4EmnyYBI8upT_zvr1pM3jFhHUoHgvHiu3DSaXtLsfsffwneJFDv6VDpNygUKVk6xrwSkycP3Kty5SaLm53zy8/s1600/5+fat+cake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxLlUZBlhoHQHBVxgclmwUP0n1lcorAap1qYeE5bnT-WsLRzcJwXkLH4EmnyYBI8upT_zvr1pM3jFhHUoHgvHiu3DSaXtLsfsffwneJFDv6VDpNygUKVk6xrwSkycP3Kty5SaLm53zy8/s320/5+fat+cake.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How to eat a hot fat cake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
And all the local beers and ciders, and take away food (chicken
stew, liphalishi, and salad)</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgZj7VdACqtLHZ5PjSusvEm9rQqcJqrqp2xmBVy-xIxs4beQ56yKJ10U0lG5Q_ZHQ14D6x5MeMCyjOc-50Jtqy5GOsQQrgMm2AtfUM9D08xSna0Z1D2CUvWN7hIMfXWjST1grthHuZ5U/s1600/4+take+away.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgZj7VdACqtLHZ5PjSusvEm9rQqcJqrqp2xmBVy-xIxs4beQ56yKJ10U0lG5Q_ZHQ14D6x5MeMCyjOc-50Jtqy5GOsQQrgMm2AtfUM9D08xSna0Z1D2CUvWN7hIMfXWjST1grthHuZ5U/s320/4+take+away.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Sibebe beer to commemorate the hike and <br />
take away food to reward the calories burned!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p>She even had a hand in making some traditional food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She helped my Make make Sinkhwa Sembili
(mealie bread), while I helped my sisi make some emaganu (marula brew).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After we had a great traditional meal
with my host family of fresh home chicken and mealie bread.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdE_qTa00wvh38Ysif2lASwGL1GLDjifhnikVfpWe4YdKDWz4ZgKfxi-OgZvm5Rf8lQNbbM86pyhJqASWplMo_vJsulyvYIpl_LoOVDG5_hF_TBqaMWQI4-VNopC2Wh7-endlwjkxbA14/s1600/6+mealie+with+Make.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdE_qTa00wvh38Ysif2lASwGL1GLDjifhnikVfpWe4YdKDWz4ZgKfxi-OgZvm5Rf8lQNbbM86pyhJqASWplMo_vJsulyvYIpl_LoOVDG5_hF_TBqaMWQI4-VNopC2Wh7-endlwjkxbA14/s320/6+mealie+with+Make.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Make and Tiff making mealie bread</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEndedRlBCDr2SgLNBBfnmUyK8NFdN9hpi0NgBXNHYHDL2HysgsPcVkH1V147bwuvW3gVUcJ-exqfAVpxXKoiY0l2AnUv8cwgiRhmA1EDIxKGPtF9EZXHotfumF59GHYlYcrf1p_3zRfs/s1600/7+emaganu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEndedRlBCDr2SgLNBBfnmUyK8NFdN9hpi0NgBXNHYHDL2HysgsPcVkH1V147bwuvW3gVUcJ-exqfAVpxXKoiY0l2AnUv8cwgiRhmA1EDIxKGPtF9EZXHotfumF59GHYlYcrf1p_3zRfs/s320/7+emaganu.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me making marula beer<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjengz8uXieCUWBn8lRVFga2bbmX7ak-WWSCvn4qi35S8RfuYdofnCG9517xtSlnuwmauOgd7qGKyZq5dEOBnNJHWtEF11DeOz7_SvM911iDDTiB19zuLA77e-huXcAPTDArN5mcKyN-4w/s1600/8+tiff+meal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjengz8uXieCUWBn8lRVFga2bbmX7ak-WWSCvn4qi35S8RfuYdofnCG9517xtSlnuwmauOgd7qGKyZq5dEOBnNJHWtEF11DeOz7_SvM911iDDTiB19zuLA77e-huXcAPTDArN5mcKyN-4w/s320/8+tiff+meal.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swazi meal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We braced the public transportation system here and Tiff got
the full experience that is a Swaziland bus rank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rode in khumbis, buses, back of trucks, and hitched
several rides to save money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
survived our bus getting hit by a car and on two separate occasions the vehicle
we were in running out of gas and having to find alternative transport.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopBc0oj_qNWj2Bve1xxegeVxOmBBO-N7VY_geWzw2LhaWHrg8BScZ2z8unJ3jKrOUX6HksCpKsu6RRH1WvgwDtiKA26n2SpOwust4qHU6IM-sIlhVQ9H21QKvWZzMhICzHkV5xol1L5A/s1600/9+bus+rank.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopBc0oj_qNWj2Bve1xxegeVxOmBBO-N7VY_geWzw2LhaWHrg8BScZ2z8unJ3jKrOUX6HksCpKsu6RRH1WvgwDtiKA26n2SpOwust4qHU6IM-sIlhVQ9H21QKvWZzMhICzHkV5xol1L5A/s320/9+bus+rank.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Manzini Bus Rank<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiF5SFxVl8c5ANrPh5BolL2hNL8Qb2iRt0HZ9a5ZCMarwNqQE6SC1dpKJtNaCxkkyYS-5qnTG88yChFnznqcw72UL-alwSWufOXea3wFfPThIydSmcRxzZD0DIGzCdTdj9A2JHi6y57eg/s1600/11+break+down.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiF5SFxVl8c5ANrPh5BolL2hNL8Qb2iRt0HZ9a5ZCMarwNqQE6SC1dpKJtNaCxkkyYS-5qnTG88yChFnznqcw72UL-alwSWufOXea3wFfPThIydSmcRxzZD0DIGzCdTdj9A2JHi6y57eg/s1600/11+break+down.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of your buses that forgot to fill up before we left town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
We spent several days roughing it at my homestead, where
Tiff fetched water, washed her clothes in a basin, that she then later learned
to bucket bathe in, cooked over an open fire, watched Generations (local soap
opera), and she got a Swazi name from my host family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is now and forever called Nomsa, meaning it is God’s
grace that she was brought to us here in Africa.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2dasEgnvfT1fYN5bytIH0sgDiYEJQByKvmznLSgpwcUtxkJ9DUW3E4sIY_aYtxZSMVm8E1903yAgVzbVoLyqu24_VfW4m0JK9fLbJNhOBzW4wj0JgbT0T2poRmtdG5PL4OA-Du27wbE/s1600/12+washing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2dasEgnvfT1fYN5bytIH0sgDiYEJQByKvmznLSgpwcUtxkJ9DUW3E4sIY_aYtxZSMVm8E1903yAgVzbVoLyqu24_VfW4m0JK9fLbJNhOBzW4wj0JgbT0T2poRmtdG5PL4OA-Du27wbE/s1600/12+washing.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">washing clothes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tiff came to work with me two days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to the refugee camp to teach my
English class, where we got caught in a rainstorm and she experience what its
like to walk home on a very muddy path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My students and counterparts loved meeting here however, so it was all
worth it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l-EO3rhjHJOVGPbZNZayUSSB4ZGzRbES2SgGt7pgVGQxlGlcxk2PI49tOYXCTwKhizBRkG_uyQHnm-LJMxbuQQpIB1rv3GnEur2BhRNG4nW0lp6GNED_Mb_nJRFBnVBEGLtGocwFmSo/s1600/14+with+Mudu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l-EO3rhjHJOVGPbZNZayUSSB4ZGzRbES2SgGt7pgVGQxlGlcxk2PI49tOYXCTwKhizBRkG_uyQHnm-LJMxbuQQpIB1rv3GnEur2BhRNG4nW0lp6GNED_Mb_nJRFBnVBEGLtGocwFmSo/s1600/14+with+Mudu.JPG" height="240" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">with one of my counterparts Mudu at the camp<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She also came to the High School with me to help in the
library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She taped bookbindings
all morning like a pro, and then walked home in the opposite of a rain
shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hotter then a
pistol that day, and she finally understood what I meant by saying that my site
was way hotter then Mbabane, where we started our adventure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-FcMy_W6XzCjIbukcz5DZuh_oY3uKUgHiXlqqY-umJo1QQcMMvLX1Pm6tGKur5bNzGBfic6YlPyudFSAPOfaJekKmBQAbaWjP0WhGVIzbJ7U7SOtSSNa00GLcPJd1VyqoqTAa0Vi3Pg/s1600/15.1+MHS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-FcMy_W6XzCjIbukcz5DZuh_oY3uKUgHiXlqqY-umJo1QQcMMvLX1Pm6tGKur5bNzGBfic6YlPyudFSAPOfaJekKmBQAbaWjP0WhGVIzbJ7U7SOtSSNa00GLcPJd1VyqoqTAa0Vi3Pg/s1600/15.1+MHS.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiff at the school's gate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGGyBCl9zZXdExw-Qz8jYcOKXhutLBk57J6K1iDebrI5rXTjZKYXUCWE2VSkivPN6XdItq9tb-ZonqD44Iduqv_sEbCNUzSMT5DtaUUWwryB_l_LskE9FYGlgnFE0sLLFyy16gJuycy8/s1600/15+at+lib.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGGyBCl9zZXdExw-Qz8jYcOKXhutLBk57J6K1iDebrI5rXTjZKYXUCWE2VSkivPN6XdItq9tb-ZonqD44Iduqv_sEbCNUzSMT5DtaUUWwryB_l_LskE9FYGlgnFE0sLLFyy16gJuycy8/s1600/15+at+lib.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">working in the library</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For Valentines Day we visited Hlane Royal Game Park here in
Swaziland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went on a sunset
game drive and saw giraffes, rhinos, elephants, lions, impala, warthogs,
hippos, and tons of birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
camped at the game park and fell asleep to lions roaring.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Cb7DhYfbGdKwicDS2EbeJzstvbHFuNwjhCLh-eCYF3dmSnAp697V5Xa8rmFjGFV1KQrd7_MfosVKXfMPib3DWOtDQkutFiSamvQSQyPjbZxIS7Yn1ksrR5c17xI8sDAfErRR8vDkYNg/s1600/17+Hlane+car.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Cb7DhYfbGdKwicDS2EbeJzstvbHFuNwjhCLh-eCYF3dmSnAp697V5Xa8rmFjGFV1KQrd7_MfosVKXfMPib3DWOtDQkutFiSamvQSQyPjbZxIS7Yn1ksrR5c17xI8sDAfErRR8vDkYNg/s1600/17+Hlane+car.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiff viewing a giraffe from the game drive truck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuoCtUXqrOjW7SgxML2VMrpI9e23f7kwE0gojvzuCh-0uR2ySEnrQXKfE6xg24STMBPV898n-kZT0WKP_PGdFrJBj46M3r9hEGwGe5XYAr-Or3TFumhNlYtE2bKdPE0E9SlasTdvi4tI/s1600/18+Hlane+Elephant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuoCtUXqrOjW7SgxML2VMrpI9e23f7kwE0gojvzuCh-0uR2ySEnrQXKfE6xg24STMBPV898n-kZT0WKP_PGdFrJBj46M3r9hEGwGe5XYAr-Or3TFumhNlYtE2bKdPE0E9SlasTdvi4tI/s1600/18+Hlane+Elephant.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant!<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MS4sgFodnizIr02n_DvWnfU60rbosueHlb_AQ6EkP1KEMepjywAsQqoRQ6YZ8o8r5TUDU9RK-eHDU4prLt4OjGCM57rNbnly2AT2V8B1RV8_xpCFzLE9zW81cw6iFZNWNP7DEOPY58M/s1600/19+Hlane+Lion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MS4sgFodnizIr02n_DvWnfU60rbosueHlb_AQ6EkP1KEMepjywAsQqoRQ6YZ8o8r5TUDU9RK-eHDU4prLt4OjGCM57rNbnly2AT2V8B1RV8_xpCFzLE9zW81cw6iFZNWNP7DEOPY58M/s1600/19+Hlane+Lion.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lioness!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tiff came at just the right time and got to attend one of
Swaziland’s national festivals. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
went up north to the Marula Festival and we watched all of the boMake dance in
celebration of harvesting their marula and making emaganu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw the King and Queen Mother from a
distance and even got dressed in traditional wear for the occasion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made a stop at the Manzini market
before we went and picked Tiff up some traditional jewelry and a lihiya to
wear.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_vzSAUgJaKPFHnPeTKl_frHhDakGYKGRMs7l4rBCXW3r8FyyQY_GK3hsTyAITUv2oXDGrkITthU51drPld_xAjCp8sIf3xPjm58KJG01dNSX7znc41GOKIDfyLgM58KX1jJNGm7ij40/s1600/22+marual+trad+wear.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_vzSAUgJaKPFHnPeTKl_frHhDakGYKGRMs7l4rBCXW3r8FyyQY_GK3hsTyAITUv2oXDGrkITthU51drPld_xAjCp8sIf3xPjm58KJG01dNSX7znc41GOKIDfyLgM58KX1jJNGm7ij40/s1600/22+marual+trad+wear.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In our traditional wear</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WDZF3WBeXwLRSGq5Ogqj6vMhyBQZAJAmsUBQcjaN7VXXJPRvEFxTzTWLEsgLVUKiMhj0SvuDR-Og5TFO_zYpBu6SFpom7kank1Kt6-y5zVyXBkLf_kJu-YfNwqNxBDIulXbMev0Pzdc/s1600/21+emahiya+market.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WDZF3WBeXwLRSGq5Ogqj6vMhyBQZAJAmsUBQcjaN7VXXJPRvEFxTzTWLEsgLVUKiMhj0SvuDR-Og5TFO_zYpBu6SFpom7kank1Kt6-y5zVyXBkLf_kJu-YfNwqNxBDIulXbMev0Pzdc/s1600/21+emahiya+market.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buying fabric at the Manzini market</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fhvRZouCtCTjxCmRw-E4bDT4RsuiZt3icdgHi8nA9v_RPepfUBKIaR0kNyrMEr-wBQ9OzJ_0K5UDSQlsmPnjvseh1SppcPoKSHuMnzsBYIdJoYz9mjdSxVM7cYytfV53cg2mmxbvzNk/s1600/20+marula+ladies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fhvRZouCtCTjxCmRw-E4bDT4RsuiZt3icdgHi8nA9v_RPepfUBKIaR0kNyrMEr-wBQ9OzJ_0K5UDSQlsmPnjvseh1SppcPoKSHuMnzsBYIdJoYz9mjdSxVM7cYytfV53cg2mmxbvzNk/s1600/20+marula+ladies.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ladies from my community represented with their flashy outfits!<br /></td></tr>
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Our adventure ended with a day of shopping the large
traditional craft markets here, a pitcher of sangria, and a long hot shower
(well deserved for Tiff after a week at my site).</div>
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All in all it was an amazing ten days!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so glad Tiff was able to make this
trip of a lifetime and experience a new place by discovering its heart, not
just the tourist façade it puts on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For me it was so great to have a familiar face to share my world
with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her presence helped me see
Swaziland in a new light and made me realize just how fantastic this place can
be, just how adapted I am to living here, and what I will miss most.</div>
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I was sad to see Tiff leave, but am happy to know that in
just 5 short months we can meet again and reminisce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be nice to have another person who will “get” my
Swazi stories when I get back.</div>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-14942528879779090602013-02-08T00:11:00.002-08:002013-02-08T00:11:54.498-08:00Superbowl Blackout 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">February 3<sup>rd</sup>, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">In true American style, most of the Swaziland PCVs assembled to watch the Superbowl, conveniently streaming live at 1:30am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all met at a Sundowners Backpackers and escaped the heat lounging by their pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have befriended the owners of the place and basically rented it out again for the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The owners rigged up a big screen TV with DSTV so we could watch the game, helped us put on a BBQ dinner for everyone, and allowed us poor PCVs to pitch our tents in their yard, rather than pay for beds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">It was a great day until about 12:30am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was napping on the floor prepping for the 1:30am start time, when I huge thunderstorm broke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Intense lighting, which provided awesome storm watching, also blew out the power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being flexible and embracing times of hardship, are two key features of a PCV so we partied on anyways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At 1:30am we broke out the football snacks and all ate around one lit candle, as those who have iphones begged people from America to update us on the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had made a squares board and all bought squares hoping our numbers would be the score at the end of each quarter, so it was very important that we at least got updates on the score.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Around 2:30am, at the end of the 2<sup>nd</sup> quarter our power came back on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never have a heard a cheer so loud that erupted in that room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We happily finished the first half the game, thoroughly rocked out to Beyonce (so amazing), and witnessed that awesome 109-yard touchdown!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As all of you know, that’s when your power outage happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point it was 3:30am for us and we had seen approximately 5 minutes of play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By 4:00am, finally all the lights were back on (both here and in America) and we finished out the game, the final points being scored as we watched a beautiful post thunderstorm sunrise over Swaziland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just FYI I didn’t win any of the squares </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Extremely sleep deprived, we cleaned-up, packed-up and went and ate lunch at 9:00am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we tiredly got ourselves back to our sites, where I slept for 13 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I have to say, despite the electrical difficulties on both ends, the Superbowl was very fun to watch this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe its because I just really miss America, but I think I might start liking football when I get back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Skol Vikings?!? (is that what Vikings fans say?)</span></div>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-60977556746799678282013-02-08T00:10:00.003-08:002013-02-08T00:36:06.852-08:00Sisi wami uphisa emaganu (my sister brews marula beer)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">January 29<sup>th</sup>, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Its marula season again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marula is a small green fruit that grows on a fabulously big “African” looking tree here in Swaziland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fruit is traditionally used to brew marula beer, a staple at any Swazi function held during these summer months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swaziland even has two marula festivals in honor of this fruit, one up in the north and one in my area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone who wants to go and participate has to bring an offering of their marula beer to the King.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then a daylong dance celebration is held in honor of this plentiful fruit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">My host sister Nosipho is brewing some this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s actually a really great investment to make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have two marula trees on my homestead so the product is free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She collects the fruit when it falls and lets them get very ripe in the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she plucks out the nutty seed and squeezes all the juice from the fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She breaks up the bits of fruity flesh that has fallen in and then adds some sugar and lets it sit for 5 days in the warm cooking hut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once finished she can sell a 25 liter bucket for 100 Rand, not a bad profit when all you have to buy is a 20 Rand bag of sugar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Other uses of marula are in a delicious liqueur called Amarula, and at the local factory <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Swazi Secrets</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This factory collects the local marula seeds and uses them to make spa products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The seed is extracted, warmed, and then crushed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The oil from the seed is used to produce marula essential oil, as wells as lotions and soaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The left over seed extract is used to make a marula scrub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> They are</span> really great products and produced locally, by locals, and with local product.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family sold their marula fruit to the factory last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check it out here and look for it at specialty stores in America. <a href="http://www.swazisecrets.com/">http://www.swazisecrets.com/</a></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many uses for 25 liter buket here in Swaziland</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzamRgErx3BixNppGEA8cqN-lwnJfDtFlJxi_jwqVyXQtm1cQSZmuDNPidLpK0DgpsHIKWFtqbYXW1K4AdFbRcyEfHMU8LuhUBtbx9MbkmkbK5EOGfVctMmzS5kEAiwp4uhrdo6qsDfQ/s1600/Bogama+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzamRgErx3BixNppGEA8cqN-lwnJfDtFlJxi_jwqVyXQtm1cQSZmuDNPidLpK0DgpsHIKWFtqbYXW1K4AdFbRcyEfHMU8LuhUBtbx9MbkmkbK5EOGfVctMmzS5kEAiwp4uhrdo6qsDfQ/s320/Bogama+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where the magic happens. Five days later we got ourselves 100 liters emaganu.</td></tr>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-48069467844694013192013-02-08T00:05:00.004-08:002013-02-08T00:37:58.047-08:00GLOW TOT (Training of Trainers)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">January 15<sup>th</sup>-19<sup>th</sup>, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">GLOW Swaziland is in full swing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the past few months the GLOW team(made up of PCVs) has been planning, organizing, and coordinating a five day TOT (Training of Trainers) for Swazi woman who have shown interest in helping us get GLOW clubs started in the rural parts of Swaziland.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">It took a lot of work, but we managed to successfully gather 27 Swazi women between the ages of 18-30 and trained them in topics surrounding reproductive health, goal setting, volunteerism, body image, and leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We met for five days at a backpackers that we rented out the entire facility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyday the PCV GLOW team led these educational sessions that the Swazi women participated in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sessions that I taught were condom demonstrations and contraceptives, and leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For contraceptives I organized two HIV counselors who work at my local clinic to come and give a presentation to the ladies on the variety of contraceptives available in Swaziland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surprisingly there is a large range of contraceptive options (male and female condoms, birth control pills, patches, injections, and implants), however thanks to a high stigma and a culture that doesn’t favor talking about sex or safe sex to students leaves many women without knowledge about their options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We really tried to focus not only on educating our Swazi counterparts but training them to be open-minded, approachable, and non-judgmental so girls in their communities feel comfortable coming to them to ask about contraceptive options.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVLH0kb-yer_Ol7JvgIynaTSw7EaHNGK1SzqEENyIAWGxZqic-HREyMM2AyViKDafPXNwDKIzxZFItMSKUQI3irOgrjz45zq-yLlSNfb7qjDWBEAh6Eu_eAjGBU4UFqw3zicRqDM5b5Q/s1600/TOT+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVLH0kb-yer_Ol7JvgIynaTSw7EaHNGK1SzqEENyIAWGxZqic-HREyMM2AyViKDafPXNwDKIzxZFItMSKUQI3irOgrjz45zq-yLlSNfb7qjDWBEAh6Eu_eAjGBU4UFqw3zicRqDM5b5Q/s320/TOT+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost ever photo I have of TOT also has this big black penis in it</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-JrFWUn-1fJP2lBiaVlnjvF3zrcK0RG8lTbSkRZZbD0JhO7H9hAwXctiqjLvT7cKbZOGGxVDblVp4Rci4GXG2nE4ngoOc3tBmKHdMfW26MCBtQ8ObDr6dzcX3Xdov_BJ8GAXnVseRH8/s1600/TOT+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-JrFWUn-1fJP2lBiaVlnjvF3zrcK0RG8lTbSkRZZbD0JhO7H9hAwXctiqjLvT7cKbZOGGxVDblVp4Rci4GXG2nE4ngoOc3tBmKHdMfW26MCBtQ8ObDr6dzcX3Xdov_BJ8GAXnVseRH8/s320/TOT+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clinic Counselors as work!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Overall the week went off without a hitch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Swazi women are fabulous!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was awesome to spend so much time with women outside of a traditional setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They really open up and show their true colors, which is a spectrum of awesomeness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully by working together we can bring some of the color out in rural Swaziland, and help women break the cultural barrier they hide behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite part of the whole week was an impulsive late night pool party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most Swazis do not know how to swim and fear it, however on the last night of TOT a pool party spontaneously started when the counterparts decided to jump in with their clothes on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Us PCVS quickly followed and we spent on hour teaching these women how to swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They trusted us to the max, loved learning a new skill, and really overcame something that is typically thought of as something Swazi’s can’t do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point my counterpart came up to me with the biggest smile and said “Nomsa [a fellow PCV] took me to the deep end.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was so happy you would have thought she just won a gold medal. It was defiantly a moment when you remember just why you became a Peace Corps Volunteer.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I had two counterparts with me at TOT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One was my host sister Nosipho here in Malindza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has suffered from many stigmas and hardships many rural Swazi girls face and she wants to help others overcome the same reality and learn that girls can be in control over what happens to them, even after mistakes have been made. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My second counterpart was Linidwe, my host sister from my training host family in Khiza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I approached her to be involved because she has been asking me of ways she can volunteer in her community, and because in several conversations she has emphasized how important it is to her that she is almost 23 years old, has a high school degree, and does not have a baby – not the reality for most girls in her community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hopes she is a role model for other girls and through GLOW I think she can, as well as Nosipho can, make a big difference.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnVBmPSkypxQaftVvDYR2aElPEM5Co1AgHvEWgx6h0FBxFh6HekydUIPDHrJfu3oULytnddRheKRkv6P2IyM-RtajD1p07QZ7OznUsgnW1IkcJxfdDgb-R84EwmSFxP5CzsTdF03CzLM/s1600/TOT+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnVBmPSkypxQaftVvDYR2aElPEM5Co1AgHvEWgx6h0FBxFh6HekydUIPDHrJfu3oULytnddRheKRkv6P2IyM-RtajD1p07QZ7OznUsgnW1IkcJxfdDgb-R84EwmSFxP5CzsTdF03CzLM/s320/TOT+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nosipho, Me, and Lindiwe</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Next step is that all our Swazi counterparts and us PCVs will work together over the next 4 months to establish GLOW clubs in our communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From these clubs we will eventually select a few girls from each club to attend a week long GLOW CAMP in April.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the camp out counterparts will be co-teaching along side the PCVs, expanding the knowledge and girl power!</span><br />
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-465505105323408048.post-26601550133713503392013-02-07T23:53:00.001-08:002013-02-08T00:40:21.207-08:00NYE 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">December 31<sup>st</sup>, 2012 – January 1<sup>st</sup>, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">It’s 2013!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a bittersweet as I start my last 6 months in Swaziland, weird that it now its crunch time for getting things done and the realization that I am have to say goodbye, yet very excited that I will be seeing America this year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">The few days before NYE, brought a very special moment for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ALL of my host brothers and sisters were on my homestead!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the first time this has ever happened since I’ve been here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love my host family and it was so fun to have everyone together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire family consists of Make and Babe, 5 bosisi, and 1 bhuti, and 5 (soon to be six) grandchildren, one cousin (who lives with us) and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just hung out all day talking, painting nails, playing with the grandsons and eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simply perfect!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxmRauooW08nv5takiphy561NexxfbI5FaLYovGLh_HHgl-nv-QJ4e8fG9WrV5euZ09U34xzkuwApX9kE0rISxxCDN2WlhRjLuI8s4XfD1W-0jWBkay6AN9uf7aB79twDyfgt5r-ufAI/s1600/Dube+bantfana.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxmRauooW08nv5takiphy561NexxfbI5FaLYovGLh_HHgl-nv-QJ4e8fG9WrV5euZ09U34xzkuwApX9kE0rISxxCDN2WlhRjLuI8s4XfD1W-0jWBkay6AN9uf7aB79twDyfgt5r-ufAI/s320/Dube+bantfana.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dube Clan!<br />
back row LtoR: Me, Winnile holding Andzile, <br />
Nosipho holding Mukelo, Buyile, Lungile, <br />
Sifiso holding Vu<br />
Front: Zandile sitting with Piyo and Lunga.<br />
(Zandile is preganant in this photo <br />
with the first soon to be born granddaughter Nomvula)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">For New Years Eve this year I decided to ring it in, in a more “western” way, via a dance party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>House on Fire, Swaziland premier dance venue hosted a NYE party with the seaworthy theme of “Nautical or Nice.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to admit I missed the boat on the cruise-wear inspired outfit, but I’m a budget conscious volunteer so you can’t blame me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However we did have glow sticks, and those complete any outfit, no matter what the theme.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">NYE started at Sondzelas, a backpackers near House on Fire, where we spent the evening relaxing by the hippo hideaway, where sadly all the hippos were hiding away, and pre-gaming for the night (again a PCV’s budget doesn’t really cover to many drink purchases at an overpriced bar).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then donned our glow stick bracelets and joined the House on Fire party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We danced in the New Year, and apparently counted it in for every time zone (we had like 5 count downs).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally 2013 arrived with a 30 second count down, and then confetti and a lot of cheering and dancing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the middle of summer here, and we are going through a heat wave and it was incredibly hot on the dance floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stepped outside for some air just in time to see people send paper lanterns with their new year’s wishes on them into the sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A very magical scene until you realize those trying to get their lantern lit were far to drunk to be playing with fire… no longer magical, but amusing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Eventually, in true African style, the electricity went out as the night neared 2am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was off and on after that so we called it a night and hit our tents, happy to meet 2013.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing! I look a bit scary becasue <br />
I was falling backwards while trying to take the photo.</td></tr>
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Bethany Leechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590919413787296485noreply@blogger.com0