Swazi style during PCT (Peace Corps Training)

         It has been awhile since my last post and lots has been going on here in Swaziland.  Training is almost over, only 2 short weeks left until swearing in where we will officially be a PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer).  Only at PCT stage now (Peace Corps Trainee) but so many amazing things have already been happening here as our group bonds, learns, fails, cries, gets upset, laughs, rejoices and all those other feelings that go along with the journey to being a Peace Corps Volunteer.  Through our training we have learned how to tie the lihiya and the other traditional wear here in Swaziland to building a Tippy Tap hand wash station in our communities.  There have been sessions on HIV in Swaziland all the way to how to design a library here and everything in between.  It has been a whirlwind of emotions with many ups and downs.  All I can say is that there is never really a normal day here in Swaziland and that is what makes the life of a Peace Corps Trainee exciting, I can only imagine what the next 2 years will bring as we step out of this training bubble and begin to help our communities one step at a time.  I imagine there will be many steps backwards before we go forwards, more downs before we go up, but I do know that we are all here for a purpose and we may never see that while we are here or even learn about it after leaving.

         I believe it is a great thing for every person to be exposed to another culture aside from theirs, a new language, and even just seeing how other people worship and their religions.  Stepping outside of our comfort zone and understanding new ways to think about things and communicate opens us up to many things.  The world begins to shrink as we travel more and with the internet today the options are limitless on our abilities to see and help.  Swaziland is a beautiful place with amazing people who have generous hearts.  They showed me how to get avocados out of the very tops of trees, cook bread without an oven, cook a full chicken that once was running around the homestead and play Swazi style soccer.  Not only from Swaziland but from my other times abroad in Germany and Austria, the people are welcoming, warm and friendly to everyone no matter where you come from and whatever background you have.  God created us all unique from the United States to Swaziland and has a purpose for each and every one of us.  I have already been touched here by the people of Swaziland and as I hope to leave just a little something behind from America to bring us all together even more.