The Final Chapter...

            With only 4 days left of being a Peace Corps Volunteer I wanted to take time to reflect back on this three-year journey that took me places I would have never imagined. I experienced some highs, some joy, some sadness, some frustration, some anger, some happiness, and all those feelings in-between. When joining the Peace Corps you never know what to expect and just have to go into the adventure with open arms and letting God lead you. It all comes full circle, “All my life I have seen where you’ve taken me. Beyond all I have hoped and there’s more left unseen. There’s not much I can do to repay all you’ve done so I give my hands to use.” I am going into this next chapter of my life the same way I started my Peace Corps journey. Letting God lead and giving him my hands to use because I know he has a purpose and a plan for me, it will not be easy, there will be challenges, struggle, but in the end I trust and enjoy the life God has given to me each and every new day.

Swaziland and Sibebe Rock

            I recently finished my close of service interview with my program manager and one of the questions asked was what am I most proud of from my service. I was thinking backing to my youth clubs, the preschool, libraries, relationships built and my new family here in Swaziland. It is hard to think of just one but one thing does stand out during my time here. I have realized it is not the number of people you reach but the quality and relationships built during your service. There are two people who particularly stand out and have been a blessing to me and seeing them succeed and grow. These are their stories:

            Lindokhule approached me one afternoon when I was home washing clothes on a hot Swazi afternoon. Those over 40 degree days when your fan isn’t working, there is not water and you want to wear as little clothes as possible. She was a friend of my make from the community; a young woman aged 24 who was living at home taking care of her brothers and sisters. At the time she was living with her uncle as her mother was passed and her father was away unable to contact much. She completed her Form5 (Grade 12) studies but was unable to continue on with her studies due to grades and financial struggle. For the last five years she has been trying to provide enough money to take care of her siblings. We started talking and she wanted to return to school to upgrade her marks so she could get a scholarship and go to university. The problem was exam and school fees to retake Form5. It always seems to be an issue with money here in Swaziland for education purposes. We are very lucky in the US to have free education and many opportunities for scholarships to attend University. School should not be taken for granted, as there are millions of girls and children around the world who do not have the opportunity to go to school. After talking more we came up with a plan.

            I was able to create an online fundraiser to help her with the exam fees. I thank everyone who supported that cause and how much you helped change a life. We were able to raise the fees required in just a few short weeks and then went to register her for the exams. She still was unable to attend school so we worked with a few other students after school and had tutor sessions on English, Biology and Math. The high school was very generous in allowing us to use a classroom after school and to work with some other students as well. Finally she was able to start attending classes there and complete her Form5. We also got some of the past exams for her so she was able to review those and practice taking the exams.

Lindo on the far right with her brothers and sisters and uncle's family

            She worked extremely hard and was motivated to improve her marks and get into university. She was always the first one to show up and last one to leave the classroom and focused on her studies. While all the others were out at the soccer pitch or hanging out at the shops, she was in the classroom focusing on her studies. We made flash cards for some of her subjects, which she would review on her walks home or the bus rides to town. I could tell how much she wanted to succeed. I moved from my community in July 2016 to Mbabane to start my new position with Young Heroes and working in the Peace Corps office. She would be taking her exams in November of 2016 and would not receive her results until February of 2017. It was a long wait and was praying for her success.

            I started work, went back to the US for the holidays and then returned to Swaziland and got even busier at Young Heroes. My life in my community seemed so long ago and the next short chapter of my Peace Corps journey was underway. It wasn’t until April that I receive a text message from Lindo saying that she got accepted to continue her studies and will be starting them in March of 2018. Lindo got accepted into Bradford school for a teaching diploma, which is a private college in one of the main towns in Swaziland. It was so great to hear from her and learn that she is pursuing her dreams.

            The other story is about one of my closest friends and most motivated counterparts from my community. Without her the preschool would not be where it is today, continuing to service the community and now having graduated almost 100 children from grade0. The project started at the beginning of my first year in my community with the idea of creating a library for the Primary School. We looked at an old teacher’s house to renovate and make a library to serve both the High School and Primary School. As a Peace Corps Volunteer you have to be flexible and willing and open to work on projects that may not be your desire or expertise but is desired from your community. The library idea was not going well with the schools as many of the community members expressed concern over education and the need for a preschool.

The teacher and my beard at our new latrine being constructed

            Early childhood education is new for Swaziland and curriculum is still being developed for schools. Most of the preschools in Swaziland are privately funded or operated through NGOs or other organizations. This was going to be a challenge but one I was excited for. We started meeting at the schools with the parent committee and introducing the idea to them. Our first step was to start cleaning the building and work on funds for renovation. I had no idea how to start a preschool or what is needed so I set up a meeting with an organization here in Swaziland who focused on establishing and supporting preschools in my region of Swaziland. They agreed to help in any way they could and provide some training for our teachers. This was great news and excited to go back to my community to tell them and begin the work.

            The process of renovations started with cleaning the building, getting all the dirt out of the rooms, repairing cracks and clearing all the bushes from around the building. During this process we began to ask for volunteers or those with experience in teaching to help out and be teachers at the school. Few came forward to help out and of the few; one young woman has been there from the beginning. She was the one who organized the community members, lead the renovations, called the kids to come and made the first preschool my community has had succeed. Through the struggle or organizing parents, trying to get renovations and improvements done, feed the children, educate them and be a teacher she always has a smile on her face and never gave up.

The start of the Preschool Building

            We were able to take an empty old building and give it life and make it a safe and friendly place for the community to gather and mold young minds. The school now has a garden to supplement the food for the children, water harvesting system and holding tanks, toilets and hygiene station to wash hands, school supplies, desks and chairs, books and fencing around to keep the children safe from the road and animals. It is hard to put into words how much Lungile, the preschool teacher, invested and how important she is to the success of the school. Spending evenings preparing lessons, working on the weekends to clean the school or improve it and cooking for the children early in the morning so they had food at lunch time. I was able to work with her the last 2 years and see the growth in not only the school but also her as an individual. I was happy to find out that she was recently accepted into Ngwane Teachers College to finish her education and obtain her degree in teaching. This will be huge in her future allowing her to support her children and provide better education services to the kids around her and her students at the preschool. I am so happy to hear these stories and proud to have worked with someone so dedicated to life and the growth of young children.

The Preschool Today!

          There are so many others stories I could tell about my time in Swaziland and the people I have worked and interacted with. Eventually I would like to write more of these stories down and share them with others to realize what an impact an individual can have. Even if you think you are one person and that you don’t have the power, that is a lie and affecting the life of just one individual is worth it. It is the small things that will create change in the world today and it needs to start with that one person. I want to thank all who have supported me these last 3 years with your prayers, thoughts, care packages, monetary support, letters, messages and encouragement. You have made a difference and I would not be where I am today without all of you.

Siyabonga Kakhulu (We all thank you very much!)

PS: 7 days left in Swaziland. I will continue to write about my experiences in Peace Corps even when I get home and the memories and friends that have touched my life from Swaziland.

Letting God Lead 2017

            I recently returned back to Swaziland from spending 5 weeks back in the US on what Peace Corps calls my “Home Leave.”  It is a time whereby Peace Corps gives us 30 days off and a plane ticket home to spend time with friends and family before starting our 3^rd year extension.  We are allowed to take it any time during our 3^rd year but all 4 of us choose to go home over the holidays.  Lucky for me I was able to fit Thanksgiving, my 28^th Birthday and Christmas in while I was home.  It was the perfect trip home especially since I have not been back in the USA since I left for Swaziland in June of 2014. 

Quick trip to St. Lucia SA before starting work again

            The trip started with 4-hour drive to Johannesburg on the morning of November 20^th where I would spend the night and prepare for my flights the next day.  It took an evening flight to Frankfurt, Germany the next day, followed by a flight across the pond to Chicago where it was a short trip to Portland, Oregon arriving the evening of November 23^rd.  After 4 full days I was finally on US soil and greeted by my parents and aunt in arrivals.  It was great to see them was looking forward to the next 5 weeks at home, but first needed to end the journey with a 4 hour drive over the hill to Bend, Oregon in the snow.  First time seeing snow for over 2 years also, my body was missing the warmth of Swaziland already.

            The next few weeks flew by with Thanksgiving at home and a visit from my cousin from Portland and her roommate followed by a day of skiing at Mt. Bachelor, then a presentation of my Peace Corps experience in Swaziland so far at Central Oregon Community College.  After that it was off for my week long adventure up to Seattle, Winter Park, Denver, back to Seattle then finally down to Portland and back home.  It was a quick trip to celebrate my birthday with my best friend from University up in Seattle then I was able to meet another Peace Corps volunteer I served with in Swaziland in Winter Park where we spent a few days enjoying the snow.  After that spent a day in Denver visiting another good friend from the college days before back to Seattle and home to Bend.  It was a blessing to have the opportunity to visit my friends and do the things I got to do while I was home.  Friends will come in and out of our lives I have realized and the true friends are the ones who after 2 years you can reunite like you just saw them yesterday.  This trip was full of blessings and God beginning to shape this next year for me and bring me back to the person he had intended.  The last few weeks at home was spent relaxing and enjoying the time with family, eating as much Mexican food as I could and drinking as much good beer as I could (I did return to Swaziland with a little extra weight then I left, but that will change real fast), downloading new movies and shows to keep me going for the next 9 months in Swaziland and appreciating the support of my family around me.  I was able to attend a gathering of RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers) in Portland and share with them Swaziland and what Peace Corps is doing there just before Christmas.  Christmas was then spent low key with my grandparents visiting from Arizona, some bowling and billiards, and church time.  It was the perfect Christmas and so lucky to have been able to spend it at home surrounded by family for the first time in a few years.  The trip went by way to fast and before I knew it I was preparing for the journey back to Swaziland again.  The packing this time was much easier as the majority of my newly acquired extra bag consisted of tortillas, hot sauce, shoes and sweets for back in Swaziland.  Goodbyes are always hard and yet another goodbye to my parents and brother but knowing I will see them much sooner this time still didn’t make it much easier.  My brother will be starting his 3 month long journey to Peru and over to South Africa and Swaziland so I will be expecting him for a month in March here in Swaziland.  My contract will be ending in September so wherever God leads me next I know I will be able to have a visit home again in November.  So be expecting me then everyone who I missed this last trip home.  The leg home started early in the morning on December 27^th with a shuttle to Portland in the snow yet again.  There was snow on the ground for the entirety of my time home except for the first few days I arrived in Oregon.  It even snowed in Seattle!  With that it was a flight from Portland to San Francisco followed by another overnight to London this time.  Arrived in London then a long flight down to Johannesburg arriving on the morning of December 29^th where I caught a shuttle back to Swaziland, which was stopped for 4 hours in South Africa because they did not have the proper papers, welcome back to South Africa.  Finally arriving in Swaziland in the evening I was greeted by my friends again and brought home where we proceeded to catch up for a bit before I was passed out in my bed again back in Swaziland.  It felt like I just left Swaziland yesterday.

Family at Christmas time with the new selfie stick

               The next few weeks were filled with adjustment, rest, a new beginning and my routine here in Swaziland.  I was able to refresh and refocus on the year ahead while I was home and come back to Swaziland looking forward to what 2017 will have in store.  The past year in Swaziland was filled with highs and lows from changing relationships, to transitioning into new work positions, leaving my family here in Swaziland and saying goodbye to volunteers.  It was certainly not the easiest year but without challenges we cannot grow and I know God has a purpose for every person and event in our lives.  This year ahead will be filled with new friendships forged, starting the next chapter of my life come November and completing this life-changing journey with Peace Corps Swaziland.  It is time to let God lead, touch, heal and love us as was spoken at church this last Sunday.

Morning sunrise back in Swaziland

  

The next 3 years!

            I know this is long and overdue and maybe a long read but please take the time to go over it all and see what all your support, prayers and thoughts have accomplished here in Swaziland.  This could not have been possible without my family and friends behind me…

So…Swazi Time: Where you believe that if something can get done today at a certain time then it most certainly can get done at the same time the next day, or even the next day.

            That is what I have been on when sending out updates and letting all my friends and family know how appreciated their support is.  Along with Swazi time, the limited access to Internet, transportation never coming, and the ever-busy life of a Peace Corps Volunteer does not help get this accomplished.  What does help is all the support that everyone has given me over the past almost 2 years here in Swaziland.  In just under a month I will have been here in Swaziland for 2 years, and August 28^th will be the end of my Peace Corps Swaziland service.  A lot has happened over the last 2 years here in Swaziland, in Southern Africa and in my small community in southern Swaziland.  I would like to try and express my gratitude and a brief update of all that has been accomplished here and where I will be going come August 2016.

GLOW Camp 2016 at the Flash Mob with my counterpart and the girls from the high school

            In March I was blessed with a visit from my family here in South Africa and Swaziland that I will never forget and will be one of the best family vacations we have been able to spend together.  When they arrived we got to spend 4 days in Cape Town, South Africa enjoying some real coffee, great food, flushing toilets and a washer and dryer.  Yep that was my favorite thing!  We went to the wine country, the penguins of South Africa, Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain.  After leaving Cape Town we got to spend the rest of the trip in Swaziland traveling around and enjoying a great meal with my host family.  I took them on game drives in Hlane Royal Game Reserve, went zip lining through Malolotja Park, watched traditional Swazi dances and a visit to the cultural village, lots of shopping and great food, and finally a visit to the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg before they left.  It was such a great trip and the highlight was my family getting to meet my host family here in Swaziland and them getting to see my community I have spent the last 2 years in.  We visited many of my projects, had an amazing home cooked meal from my “make”, met some of my students and teachers I work with and experienced “real” Swaziland.

My Swazi family meeting my family for the first time

            The preschool is moving forward with new projects being completed all the time and kids being able to attend school for the first time.  All of this could not be accomplished without all your support through prayers, letters and financial contributions.  We recently completed a garden at the school to provide nutritional food for the kids and their families.  There are tomatoes, butternut squash, spinach, cabbage, carrots, beetroot, and onions planted.  A new veranda was built to provide shade for the kids and provide a place for morning meetings.  New tables along with cubbies and bookshelves were built and the kids love being able to have a place to put their bags every morning when they arrive.  We also put in a tippy-tap which is a hand washing station near the toilets to promote good hygiene and sanitation practices.  In December we graduated the first class of 22 students and in our second year there is almost 40 kids in attendance.  I was blessed to hear from one of the parents how her child who graduated from the preschool was able to attend a good primary school because of his education he received.  The small success stories like those and people coming up to me expressing how they have changed and benefited are what keep me going in the hard times and why I love what I am doing currently.  The next stages for the school will be to build a kitchen and playground for the kids once we are able to collect enough funds and donations.  This will allow the school to eventually be recognized by the Ministry of Education here in Swaziland and have them support the school for sustainability.  It will provide a salary for our teacher and hopefully hire another teacher, provide food for the kids and allow them to attend the school for free.  Currently the parents pay E50 a month or E150 a term, which is about $10.00 or $30.00 for the entire year.  Many parents cannot afford this so they volunteer at the school with projects like gardening, cleaning up the yard, cooking or any other help needed around the school.  I am looking forward to seeing the development and future of the preschool and so proud of my teacher, the parents and community for all they have accomplished.

Preschool graduation in December 2015 with our teacher and Pasture Valley

            Another project nearing completion is the new library at the Primary School.  This month we will be receiving 1000 books from Books for Africa to put in the library and give the kids their first opportunity to explore the culture of reading.  Books for Africa could not have happened without your donations and now 30 new libraries in Swaziland will be opening at various primary schools, high schools, preschools and communities with 1000 new books each.  The primary school I work with is very excited for the new books and to see the children immerse themselves in a new world.  We have recently completed the painting in the new room all Dr. Seuss themed.  The new tables and chairs look amazing in the room allowing seating for 45 students.  We also purchased a new computer for the library as well as a television for movies and presentations in the library.  All of the material and renovations were done from a grant that myself and my counterpart at the school proposed with Peace Corps Swaziland.  The new library will serve over 350 students from ages 6 up to 15 at the primary school.  It will be the first time most of them have had access to books and been able to experience and see oceans, planes, Dr. Seuss, Harry Potter and all the World has to offer using the television and computer.  This will be the first library my community has had access to and will help the youth of my community gain a better education, progress their English and have a chance to see a brighter future.

Primary School Library painting before the shelves are installed

            The final projects I have been able to work on are developing BRO (Boys Reaching Out) and GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) clubs at the high school in my community.  Currently the boys club has around 20 members attending, while the girls have almost 30 girls in attendance.  We meet every few weeks and discuss topics such as HIV/AIDS, SRH (Sexual Reproductive Health), Self-Esteem, and other various life skills relevant to the youth of Swaziland.  One of the main goals of the clubs is to promote gender equality and educate the youth to make healthy life choices for their future.  Some of the things we do at clubs are grassroots soccer games, art and crafts, skits, drama, songs and other hands on activities to teach them.  Recently 3 girls from the GLOW club attended the annual GLOW camp in the capital city of Mbabane.  They spent a week over their school break along with 60 other girls from various clubs and communities in Swaziland learning more about how to be a leader in their communities and Swaziland and what it means to be an empowered women in today’s society.  A flash mob was organized promoting female empowerment and taking a stand by the girls, skits were done and guest speakers were brought to the camp as well as college and career support and advice for the girls.  It is an annual camp similar to the BRO camp each year that is organized and put on by Peace Corps Volunteers here in Swaziland.  My boys club has been able to send 6 boys so far to the BRO camps, which address similar issues and teach the boys how to be strong supportive men here in Swaziland.  The GLOW and BRO camps have been highly successful camps since they started here in Swaziland.  I have had the privilege to see the inauguration of the first ever BRO camp here in Swaziland in May of 2015 and helped put together a manual for all the BRO clubs around Swaziland to use as an aid for their clubs.  The boys and girls I work with in the clubs have become very important to me and seeing their future success is very rewarding.  I have been blessed with seeing a few of the older members in the clubs take leadership positions, improve in their schooling and be able to work towards a brighter future.

BRO Camp in December 2016, the 2nd annual camp in Swaziland

            Finally, the big announcement is that I am privileged to be extending my stay here in Swaziland for another year of service.  When I started the Peace Corps process I couldn’t imagine being away for 2 years in a developing country and if I could even accomplish it.  When I arrived in Swaziland and moved to my community I was ready to be done and was thinking 2 years is way to long, I will not make it.  Time passed slowly at first and before I knew it I was having my parents visit Africa, projects coming to a completion and thinking about our COS (Close of Service).  So, I will be working with a NGO here in Swaziland in the capital city of Mbabane called Young Heroes.  I will also be taking a PCVL (Peace Corps Volunteer Leader) position in Communications for Peace Corps Swaziland.  This opportunity came about from the relationships I have been able to form, my passion for working here and seeing all that is still yet undone.  I studied International Relations in college in the hopes of one day working with a NGO (Non-governmental organization) and international development including non-profit work.  This opportunity is huge in helping me see my goals and continue doing what I love.  A little about Young Heroes is that it is a small NGO started by a former Peace Corps volunteer here in Swaziland.  They focus on providing sponsors for OVCs and Child headed households including food, clothes and schools fees.  They also do leadership and life skills camps for youth and provide technical training for out of school youth and children who are between high school and college who cannot afford university but have skills in demand.  My position with them will be marketing, fundraising and social media presence as well as program development.  MTN Bushfire is one of the largest music festivals here in Africa and is put on by House on Fire here in Swaziland.  It is a major fundraiser each year for Young Heroes so I will be working with them as well on developing more of their presence at Bushfire.  I am looking forward to this new opportunity and seeing how we can improve and develop more of Young Heroes programs.  My position with Peace Corps will be to serve as a Communications liaison with volunteers, staff and improve our online presence.  I will work with Peace Corps Swaziland on managing the new website and other social media.  It will also allow me to help with updating trainings for volunteers and improve the working relationships with volunteers and staff.  All of these opportunities will allow me to continue to improve programs and success here in Swaziland on our goal to eliminate HIV/AIDS and give the children a brighter future.  I don’t know my next step and what will happen after this year but I do know that I am where I am supposed to be and doing what God has in store for me.  In the words of JFK, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”  I want to thank you again for all your support through prayers, letters, care packages, messages, monetary and most of all just showing your care.

“All my life I have seen where you’ve taken me.  Beyond all I have hoped and there’s more left unseen.  There’s not much I can do to repay all you’ve done so I give my hands to use.” –Jeremy Camp

Family together at Mantenga Falls in Swaziland

Here are some links and resources to help with donations and future projects here in Swaziland as well as learn more about my work and Swaziland.  We continue to need support with library projects, boys and girls camps, various education funds and just overall Peace Corps work here in Swaziland.

 http://swaziland.peacecorps.gov/

https://www.gofundme.com/cjkamhb8 (Help fund a friend in my community attend university)

https://www.gofundme.com/swazilandpreschool (Support the preschool project here in my community)

http://www.youngheroes.org.sz/index_home.php

Why We Do What We Do

           I get onto my computer everyday and I always see the Blog icon on my desktop and say to myself that today I will write a new blog.  Then I make my coffee and sit down to do my morning devotions and reading. After that it turns into making some breakfast, which includes one or two episodes of “Friends” (which I am currently binge watching).  By that time I realize I need to make my bed, clean up the hut and complete a workout.  Once that is all complete it is time to wash up, heat the water, set up the shower, and complete the whole process of PCV bucket baths.  So, 3 hours later I am finally done, but then I look at the time and have to be at the school for either a boys club meeting, girls club meeting, library meeting, preschool meeting or some other event that I always forget is going on.  So I prepare for those and then it’s out the door.  So you see why I have not got around to the new blog.

         When I return home you think evening time is a good time to write a blog.  Well, once I get home I usually lay in my hammock to relax and this includes another one or two episodes of some show, play a little Gameboy Super Mario, or continue my conquest of Game of Thrones book series (Finally on book 4 and only started a year ago). It slowly begins to get dark and the sun is setting so I start some dinner and another quick clean up of my hut cause it gets dirty here! Sitting down to eat a nice home cooked meal, which I have to say I am getting very creative and the fresh fruit and veggies here are amazing to get in the market each week.  Dinner is complete and time to wash dishes from the day and empty all the wastewater.  Whenever I go to throw the dirty water outside in the dark I walk behind my hut and toss the bucket and think one day someone is going to be standing there and will throw all my water all over my sisi, make or babe.  That will be the day. Time to filter some water, brush the teeth, get warm clothes on and crawl into my sleeping bag in the hammock to slowly fall asleep to one of the two-hundred movies I have on my hard drive.  So there you go again, you see why blogging always gets pushed back, the long version.

         These last few months I have been learning a lot more about the country of Swaziland the relationship between their culture and certain behaviors.  I also continue to learn more about myself pertaining to God, friends, my actions, and what has shaped me to be who I am today.  When you travel and experience various cultures you realize there is multiple layers to culture and foreigners tend to only experience and observe that outer layer.  The crust and what people want others to see.  It is the first impressions, the cover of a book, or the outside of a cake.  It all looks good on the outside, to some, but what is underneath is the genuine experience of something.  I have experienced this with Swaziland and myself.

         We just completed the first ever BRO (Boys Reaching Out) Camp in Swaziland and had 28 boys from all over Swaziland attend.  It was an amazing 5-day experience run by PCVs and local Swazi counterparts.  The boys learned about gender equality, relationships, communication, HIV/AIDS education, and how to be helpers and leaders in their communities and schools when they go back home.  It was a rewarding experience to see the boys grow throughout the week and come together as friends and a support system to one another.  There is an issue of gender inequality here in Swaziland and gender norms and stereotypes that create an unequal balance in many areas of Swaziland.  To be a man you own cattle, build things, the main provider of the family and protect your family.  You also have multiple wives or girlfriends, make the rules and have the final say in decisions, and can do whatever you like.  Some women are oppressed because of this and lack power and decision making in relationships, especially when it comes to sexual relationships.  Women are objectified and you can see this when you walk through the bus rank and some men are “cat calling” or grabbing hands or just giving that second glance as a girl walks by.  Peace Corps currently has GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) camps and clubs all over Swaziland that is teaching women to be empowered, an individual, leadership skills and self-esteem building.  It is an amazing club and I currently have a GLOW and BRO club at my high school and the students are all amazing with their own unique story.  Our goal with these clubs is to bridge this gap of inequality between genders and create an empowered nation to realize the full potential of both men and women working together.  There is nothing wrong with a man staying home to take care of the children while the wife goes to work.  A relationship is a partnership and good communication is necessary if you want anything to grow, especially a country.

         This is only scratching the surface of what I have experienced here in Swaziland under that top layer of vibrant colors, traditional dance, the food and spectacular scenery.  I have also learned more about that inner layer of myself while serving here in Swaziland with the Peace Corps.  This experience is coming up to the halfway mark of service and in 2 short weeks I will have been living in Swaziland Africa for a whole year.  A group of new volunteers arrives here at the end of June right before our awesome 4^th of July party.  Get ready for a ride of a lifetime.  There have been ups and downs, and more downs, with a small up, and down again but then that moment where you are back on top and it was all worth it.  Emotions of sadness, homesick, lost, happy, ecstatic, overwhelmed, in awe, scared, worried, ashamed, embarrassed, joyful, breathtaking, shall I go on?  I think every emotion in the world you can experience being a PCV in two short years wherever you go.  I sure have felt a lot of them already.  My crust has been leading me around Swaziland sometimes and it just shows people what they want to see, or what we want people to see.  It has worked sometimes but as an individual we need to not be worried about showing that broken, unpleasing crust to people.  We need to be letting them experience that goodness and joy that comes from inside us.  Not everyone likes the coconut filling and it is not for them, but others it is exactly what they are looking for or need.  That is how we need to be and make decisions based on what comes from inside us, not what people want to see.  We are all made up of layers and it is choosing the right layer to show to people and experience.  It is also not being worried of your own inner layer and what people think of it.  Being here in Swaziland I have failed at this, we all have at some point in our lives, but the important thing is to check your self and ask why am I really doing this.  I believe that it is something God does for us and puts events, people or situations in our lives to stop and look inside and question ourselves.

         You can look on the outside and see an amazing country and beautiful individual but sometimes we all need to stop and look inside and really study ourselves.  What matters is how we react and change to these things and show people who and what we are and believe in.  Not everyone will like it, not everyone will like change, change is hard, but in the end this is what matters.  Swaziland will always have a place inside me, all the good, the bad and the ugly and beautiful.  Bring on the 2^nd and final year of Peace Corps Swaziland.

Top of Sibebe Rock in Swaziland

New Year, New Goals and New Beginnings

          I just returned from my first official “vacation” as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Durban, South Africa.  It was an enjoyable trip with lots of good food, a decent beer (still no IPA or Black Butte Porter), beautiful beach and great friends.  Coming back to my community after spending New Years looking out across the Indian Ocean has given me lots of time to reflect on lessons learned and lived.  Everyone has his or her New Years resolutions, loose weight, eat healthier, and read the Bible every day.  I never have had a New Years resolution, I believe that every day I get up is a New Year, a new day and new minute to live your life better than before.  The last 6 months as a Peace Corps Volunteer have taught me more than I could learn in lifetime about myself and there is still much more to learn.

         To begin with, how can you build a library without a foundation, start a club without a common interest, or change a behavior with no motivation.  It all starts little by little (ncane kancane).  When you look at a New Years resolution, everyday, 365 days, 12 months, it can seem a little daunting and overwhelming.  How long do they really last?  I am sure there are lots of people though who have succeeded and made great changes in their life from New Years resolutions, I am not one of them.  Change takes time.  It is reversing something that has been engrained and taught to us from a young age, or something that has just formed out of habit.  With every change, whether it is behavioral or physical, there are obstacles.  We all have them, some larger than others.  Trust me, they do get in the way.  When working towards change, there are failures.  Some may be able to go an entire month without a failure, 6 months even, while others it may be only a day, or an hour.  We cannot get discouraged from those failures though and with every failure there is a strength that comes out of it.  Here in Swaziland I have been going through changes personally as well as working on changes in my community and school.  I have already come across many obstacles, personal failures, and moments of doubt in myself if I can actually make a difference here.  On a personal level, we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but God has given us a gift of grace and forgiveness when he sent His son to die on the cross for us.  The ultimate gift and sacrifice.  This alone helps me on a personal level to get back up, ask for forgiveness and pursue His path even stronger than before.  I also know that God goes before me in whatever I do, before I start a project, have a meeting, or speak with someone on the side of the road.  He prepares hearts and minds to receive his word and each one of us to make a difference.  That is my New Years resolution, let God be my strength, prepare my path and wake up each day giving it to Him, no matter what may happen.

         The Peace Corps changes you and I don’t think anyone will ever understand how it does until you have experienced it yourself.  Yet still, each volunteer has a unique experience that cannot be generalized into a cookie cutter answer to others.  There is no common theme, belief or outcome of serving for 27 months in a developing country.  I remember before setting out on my own adventure and asking current and returned volunteers what to expect, I never really got a straight answer.  Being an American it was frustrating.  It’s either 1 or 2, right?  I understand it now and I won’t be able to explain it when I return back to the States what I did, learned and how I changed.  I guess it’s all up for interpretation.  One volunteer said the Peace Corps is like a two-year black hole in our lives.  We leave behind friends, family, jobs, and our comfort to experience something that is unique to each one of us.  After two-years, we return home, see our family, start relationships and careers, yet there will always be those two-years in Swaziland that are unexplainable.  Granted, I have only been here for a little over 6 months, but this is how I feel currently.  Who knows, it can change tomorrow though, it’s the blissful ride of Peace Corps Swaziland.

         On a lighter note, here are some of the more recent happenings in Swaziland and what I have learned.  Currently, everything that is plugged into my wall socket and is metal shocks me when I touch it; I have to use a stick to turn on and off my light switch to avoid being shocked.  Not sure why that started happening all of the sudden but it does, it is like shock therapy, don’t touch the metal surfaces.  The bats are still living in my roof/wall and every so often they decide to take a little flight inside my hut at night.  The ongoing battle continues.  I can easily watch an entire season of any show in a day, enjoy doing laundry by hand now and will pick though an entire 5kg bag of sugar beans taking out the rotten ones.  There is also the constant killing of flies and seeing how long you can sit still before you start to sweat profusely in the 100 degree temperatures that is Africa.  I might buy a kiddies pool for my hut (it was done in the dorms with Phi Delt), bringing it to Africa.  School will be starting soon, thankfully, and I am looking forward to being back in the school and to start some of the projects we have in mind.  Until next time, Swazi time.

Mantenga Falls in Swaziland

The Real Kingdom

          It was the day after Christmas back home in Oregon and my Dad and I were getting ready to go play some golf at a nearby course.  I got in the truck and pulled up my email on my phone.  There was a message from the Peace Corps.  Was this what I was waiting for since I herd I was accepted into the Youth Development sector back in June? It was a moment of excitement and hesitation at the same time.  This would be telling me where I would be living for 27 months.  I opened the email and read.  So many emotions and questions begin to run through my head.  The next 6 months would be an eventful time for me, preparing my life for 27 months abroad.

As you probably already know, I am in Swaziland now.  The Kingdom of Swaziland.  It has been almost a year from now that I herd of Swaziland for the first time.  I am living here now and couldn’t imagine being in a better place.  I arrived in Swaziland in June and have been living here now for almost 6 months.  What better time to reflect on the culture, food, people, history and just share some of the beautiful things I have seen, learned and experienced here.

Swaziland is Africa’s last absolute monarchy, hence The Kingdom of Swaziland.  A country of about 1.4 million people living in the size of a country comparable to New Jersey and rich in culture with little influence from the outside.  The larger country of South Africa with the exception of Mozambique to the east surrounds Swaziland, yet you seem like you are the only place in the World when you are in Swaziland.  Traditional cultural events such as Umhlanga and incwala still flourish today and the entire country turns out to support their national heritage and celebrate their unique culture.  Culture is what makes us who we are, it includes our religion, beliefs, morals, food, lifestyle plus whatever else shows our uniqueness.  Swaziland is one of a kind.

I don’t like spouting off a lot of facts, numbers and dates on things cause after about two sentences I honestly stop reading.  I just want to share some culture experiences first hand so you can gain some perspective on the history and the Kingdom of Swaziland.  If you like that stuff though there are hundreds of websites you can look up to find the GDP, exact size, average age, dates, and whatever else you like.  For me though learning about Swaziland has come from a few things, Swazis are always happy and enjoy helping others out.  Also, the strong presence of dance, music and singing in whatever they do and lastly are Swazi’s love of God and the Creator.

No matter where I have gone here I have always been greeted with great enthusiasm and a willingness to help out.  The respectful cultural greeting wherever you go and before you speak with someone is always Sawubona.  Yebo.  Unjani?  Ngiyaphila.  It is saying hello, acknowledging them, saying hello back, and asking how they are.  It is a cultural value and taking a genuine interest in everyone you interact with.  Taking time to learn a language of another culture is probably one of the highest forms of respect and showing that you want to be part of something more.  Speaking the native language creates a more enriching experience in any country, especially Swaziland.  I have had people walk with me great distances just to show me where a store is because they care.  Others have carried groceries for me because they care.  An entire bus stopped right in front of my house so I could unload my bed and not have to carry it because they care.  Killed chickens and a pig to celebrate me being with them because they care.  Being here and seeing what little most people have, I experience a giving of more than they have.  I think that is a lesson from the Bible somewhere.

Singing, dance and music is all around in Swaziland.  During the morning assembly at the schools the children sing beautiful praises each day, singing from the surrounding churches fill the air on Sundays, the young girls dancing and singing as they carry the reeds down the road during Umhlanga, and maybe even some Lil Wayne in between the gospel music on the Khumbi and bus rides.  There have been a few presentations and celebrations at the schools in my community here and they all center around these three things.  You can find students singing songs, performing dances, traditional and unique, plus music blasting while everyone dances around the speakers.  I don’t think anyone has a bad voice here when they sing, except for me, so I avoid it.  It all revolves around celebrating life, enjoying friends and family, and praises to God.  Worship is all around us in whatever you do, from skiing down the mountains, the working and serving, to singing.  Swaziland worships with their voices and talents every day.

         It is hard to really sum up the history and culture of Swaziland without writing 30 or more pages.  I have learned though they are proud of their culture, a group of strong people willing to work and learn, and love God.  Don’t get me wrong though there are other religions and this is not everyone in Swaziland, to be politically correct, but it is hard to deny the presence of God and see their love for one another.  So why does a country like this have one of the highest HIV rates in the World then?  You see people happy, helping each other, loving God, working hard yet they struggle with this devastating disease each and every day.  Everyone in this small Kingdom has been affected in one form or another with HIV/AIDS; with 26% of adults between 15-49 is HIV positive.  It has the highest rate of tuberculosis (TB) in the world and 80% of patients are co-infected with HIV.  The Kingdom of Swaziland is a beautiful place with friendly and loving people who only want this to go away.  They want to return to a healthy and empowered kingdom free of disease, death and able to worship fully and finally celebrate their rich culture to its full potential.

An Adventure a Day

       Since our last meeting I have been busy in the Kingdom of Swaziland.  Well as busy as we can get living here as a PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer).  I was able to teach a few life skills classes with the students at the high school, conduct interviews and surveys to learn more about my community, completed our IST (In-Service Training), and started the planning stages of some projects to introduce in my community and the schools.  There has been a pig roast, farewell party at the high school with lots of dancing and singing, playing card games with my bhuti “brother” that I don’t understand, and the private screening of Frozen in my hut with my bobhuti “brother’s” and sisi “sister”.  Everyday is an adventure, everyday is something new and everyday is a learning experience.

         The relationships continue to grow in my community and I am feeling more comfortable with my work, my family and the community.  I think the more you accept that in-order to live and learn, we need to be uncomfortable, this creates more of a sense of comfort for us at the end of the day.  I never know what to expect when I wake up each day, but I know that God prepares the way for me and that whatever I set out to do he has prepared that path for me.  It can be from the days I just ask Him for smooth and safe travels to Manzini, that the bus arrives that day, to the days when I walk to the school and ask Him to bring me just one person today.  Sometimes He decides though that someone is going to teach me something that day, the young child running by me saying “Hello Celimbilo” as the bell rings at the school, or my Babe “father” yelling outside my door just to ask me how I am at 8pm at night.  I enjoy every moment of it and have to just thank God everyday that this is real life.

         It has been almost 5 months now that I have left home to start this adventure here in the Kingdom of Swaziland (maybe a little history lesson and culture lesson is in store for Swaziland in the next blog), time has been flying by and sometimes I don’t know if 2 years is enough time.  A little bit on some things we are working on with the schools and my community are boys and girls clubs, getting a library together, income generating projects with my family and the community, and good hygiene practices.  That could all change tomorrow though so I just continue to ride this ride.  You cannot force something and do things the way we Americans think things should be done, it also takes 100 times longer to get something done here, it’s just the Swazi way.  I kind of like it, “if it can be done today, it usually can be done tomorrow.”  It holds some truth to it. 

         On the PCV side of things we celebrated our 1^st successful Halloween here in Swaziland, the people here don’t understand this holiday, but neither do we really.  It was held at a local backpackers lodge near Mbabane (the country capital) with almost all 100 of us volunteers who are in country right now.  Our first and only hopefully IST (In-Service Training) was completed and was a good way to get re-motivated to go back to our communities “guns blazing” typical American style…that didn’t last long.  Nonetheless, it was all great information for us to help in our communities.  Thanksgiving planning has begun and will be hosted by our CD (Country Director) at his house with all the volunteers.  Christmas is in the works currently and spending the holidays together as a volunteer community and family.  New Years is going to be spent sitting on the beach looking out into the Indian Ocean in Durban, South Africa…doesn’t get much better than that.  January the schools will be starting up again and hopefully all the planning and learning about projects can be put into action.

         The process though is not over, there is no really set plan for a volunteer and it is a constant planning, evaluating and learning process for the next 2 years.  The most important thing is to learn how to listen, observe and just be available.  Some projects may be a great success, but others will fail and it is learning what happened, re-evaluating and trying again.  Relationships are essential in successful integration and success of projects, starting those is the difficult thing sometimes, but nurturing the relationship we make is what makes it rewarding.  Seeing others grow along with you, sharing cross culture experiences, ideas and lessons, ultimately improving both of us in one way or another.  The stories continue, friendships made, adventures had, and living each day as a blessing from God, just walking this path of life.

Students participating in traditional dance