Welcome to our new home, Swaziland

First Week in Swaziland

 August 31, 2013

So far so good.  Beautiful house, there is even a horse swing for Alyssa in the back yard.  The drive from JoBurg was long but I managed to get at least one hour sleep.  Went through the border and it was crazy busy.  The funny thing you had to go to both sides of the border in order to come into Swaziland.   We found that the King's Reed dance is Monday and our driver said he’s never seen the customs that busy.  Had a great dinner at Rambles last night where the mushroom soup and mushroom pasta was delish!!  Alyssa loved the playground at the resto.  Everything is so homemade from the tire swings and wood assembled playground.  Life seems simple yet happy here.  Got five hours of sleep, woke up at 1 AM and tried to go back to sleep in an attempt to get used to local time.  Ended up unpacking which is good while I have the quiet time.  Girly is catching up on her sleep.  I think the hubby likes the house too.  Finish making our grocery list and hope to do some shopping today and get the internet set up.  I love my new Surface tablet.   Maybe I can finally get rid of my pen!!!  Well, while  hubby is figuring out all the new things about the house, I may as well get finish unpacking before girly gets up.

Pic of Alyssa in her new backyard horse swing

September 2, 2013

It’s been my third day in Swaziland.  Still buys unpacking, grocery shopping and getting to know my neighborhoods.  Both my office sponsor, Randall, and Mary, social sponsor has been a help to taking me around town and backing me up when I was out of cash at the store.  I still have trouble converting Rand/Swazi money and totally underestimated how much needed. Weather has been beautiful, fresh out here in the mountains.  So far Alyssa seems to be enjoying her new surroundings without missing any friends.  Yesterday, September 1, Randall took us to Coral Gables shopping which was a neat strip mall.  Lots of young kids.  When they say Alyssa they all wanted to touch her – she was apparently a commodity.  I’m not so keen on them getting that close and touching without permission.  What can you do, you are in a foreign land and don’t know what the tradition is or what the culture accepts.  In many ways, Swaziland is like Thailand in sense of respect to elders, sensitivity/reserved and acceptable of society and the extended family to raising a child.

September 3, 2013

Today is my first day of work.  I hope it goes well.  I decided to wear a skirt as it’s supposedly look down upon for woman to wear slacks.  Interesting.  I am taking the first step to being culturally sensitive.  Although I prefer a blouse shirt and slacks.  Yesterday was fun visiting the Nwegeny Glass Factory.  I smuggled (actually bought) one for our house warming that Jason did not know about.  Might as well collect pieces of Africa while we are here.  Also got a wine stopper made of glass in the shape of a hippo.

September 5, 2013

Nearly a week now since we arrived in Swaziland.  Good news, the nausea and headache has gone away from the jet lag and today is my 3^rd day at work.  Co-workers seem nice, most importantly ambassador is very personable and open.  Seems like she’s all for the community and keeping it tight knit with not only the worker’s health and well-being but the family members as well.  She’s offered some venues for Jason to look at.  I hope and pray Jason will take heed on the advices I had passed on to him to find work.  We will enjoy this place for sure once.  We all visited Alyssa’s new school and it seems clean, rooms are set up nice.  She will be in the Montessori and the methods they teach allow children to learn at their own pace.  They don’t group by age and she’ll be starting in the third term next week.  Bought the uniforms, so excited.  Skyped with Nana and Papa last night – internet data quality not so bad but internet is expensive and slow.  I wanted to let my friends know that I’m alive even though we’ve been disconnected for nearly four days.  A lot more to learn the next few days.  I need to ensure that some of my seven-week training at the Foreign Service institute will be put into place!  Tomorrow is newcomer’s brunch so I’ll be sure to post pictures!

This is the living room with the fire place. 

Jason moved the TV so he can fit his new big TV screen when it comes in the air shipment next week

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 6, 2013

 

Today was the newcomer brunch at the ambassador's residence. It was great to meet the rest of the employees and family members alike.  There are a lot of young children. It is going to be great from playdates to game nights and exercise classes.  What a great community this will be.



 

 

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Pictures of Alyssa playing with new friend in the bounce house

 

 

 

September 11

Well nearly two weeks since we have arrived in Swaziland.  Finally, jet lags are over but getting used to new customs.  I like my new office, the people that I work with seem wonderful and friendly.  That's one of the pros to being at a small post -- a tight knit community that cares for each other and sticks together.  Alyssa started her first day of school at the Montessori Primary which is close to home.  Uniform colors are lime and orange and either black shorts for summer or jogging suit for winter.  Their teaching method is called Montessori where kids may be at various ages but is a self-paced program designed to allow children freedom to individually grow and increase in self-confidence. Alyssa tells me, "mommy it's such a long day!"  At her old school she's there ALL day but I think she's not used to the Montessori learning approach.  I had no idea they had those schools in Florida too.  As part of State Department education is a paid allowance which is another perk!  She'll grow up as a "third culture kid" and all that she'll know is living in different cultures.  Could be a good or bad thing.  Here's the pic I posed on FB, a cute one that I made sure Jason took.