From the Words of God to Revelation

February 23, 2014

 

Alyssa Waiting for her bus in her Assigned T-shirt, also known as "Civies Day"

(non uniform days)

 

The siSwati language is starting to ring well with me.  I now know that Ph is prounced "pee" and that nc is the "click" sound.  Ezulwini rhymes with another city called Sidwashini.  I'm starting to sing like them!  Most importantly, Alyssa knows how to sing the school's anthem song in SiSwati.  Showed daddy the video and he's like, "nooo. " Don't assimilate her, he's saying.  ;))

Love, love, love the last DVD session on our weekly cell bible studies.  The preacher is John Bevere and the topic is the bait of satan.  He talked about revelation and not everyone can get it.  Though they can read the same books over and over, go to the same bible classes over and over..They just might not get it.  Then suddenly the Lord reveals (or provides) a revelation. What I liked most of what he says was that, "there are about 1,300 listeners that are getting his messages at any given time, and are interpreted in 1,300 different ways."  That couldn't be more true.  And while most times we think our message is being communicated the way we intended, it may not be.  No two persons think alike.

I remember this guy (excellent talker and seller) who said that it's crucial people attend these "sale seminars" over and over.  Because while people may be listening, they are thinking of something and go into a tangent.  Meanwhile, the sales person is *still* talking.  This is why we might not get 100% of anything or may miss something, especially when we go to a seminar, attend church or any other that requires our full attention. C'est la vie as they say or "nature of the beast."

One thing I know for sure that I will miss here in Mbabane is the .30 cents parking downstairs, $ USD 3 hems and what have you.  Clothing here is not expensive by any means and the sizes run for smaller and taller people.  A size 8 or 10 is the equivalent of Medium  whereas in the States that is a Large.  I still love shopping and always finding neat things.  I heard from a Swazi that going to the gym here means more about fashion statement than working out.  I guess that's why it's not popular like the way we have back home.

 

Not much longer until I get to assimilate back into the US culture again.  I can't wait for my crabs, Thai food and yes, meet up with my friends that I miss.  This is the dragger to FS life no one can ever in their 20-year career get used to.  

 

These last two weeks I'm getting more involved with my sports -- to the point of getting injuries.  Tennis elbow from playing tennis and now bruises from riding horse and (yes) falling off.  Rozi, the horse I rode two weeks in a row now, has decided to go on a tangent and started running (apparently cantering) before I was ready.  I got thrown off him, landed on my left side, bumped my head on the floor and got sand in my mouth.  Thankfully I'm OK but for a moment I thought I broke my hips.  I was walking OK and the doctor examined me and so no broken bones.  Whew..Dodged one.  I must carry on, as they say.  That's it for this week's adventure.  I just think my revelation is.. "You need a stronger hold on those reigns."

Weekly Thoughts

Another long weekend is upon me, and I forgot about the day off on Monday.  Darn it!  I guess that means I have a day off to do things, while Alyssa is in school!  Yay, love those break days as well when locals don' t celebrate the same US holidays. 

We have been keeping busy as usual, with our weekday and weekend routines.  Love the structure, but hate the lack of time to freely do things. The only day to take lessons is on the weekend when I am not overly tired from a 9.5 hour day.  We close at 2 PM on Fridays so that means we add 30 minutes extra to our work day Monday through Thursday.  The fact that my schedule is not set and I may work longer hours, depending on needs of the front office, makes it all that much more difficult. 

Friday went to valentine party at the consul's house.  She had a small pool but fortunately the water wasn't too cold so the kids had a bit of fun.  Some of the kids could not come because of the cold that's going around.  I can't wait to get all better as now I too, have the sore throat. 

Swimming time for kids. Paddle!

One of the pleasures about living in a developing country is that things that you do can be an innovation to the community.  I have been a fan of Zumba since it became very popular in the States and it's fairly new here.  I'm starting my own group since there are not too many instructors and am now motivated to perhaps learn to be an instructor or leader.  You get to do things that aren't so "new" back home and helping out the community as well.  I got all kinds of ideas going now, such as doing a cake-ball class or even suggesting to our hair stylist that maybe she should do a class on styling hair.  A skill that the ladies can benefit from.  You can try a new business out as a pilot..maybe you can do as well back home.

Looking forward to a short work week..continuing the challenges we have met while discovering new things all the time.  Things that I never did back home, are now becoming routine.

Great ideas to packaging cake balls

Great way to give is to put them in a clear box and sell.

 



Just Another Day in Paradise

A cheese pizza really isn't a cheese pizza  

 

 Feb 9, 2014

It is hard to believe that Valentine’s day is almost here.  Where has the beginning of the year gone??  We have been keeping busy as usual..Me for example, with volunteer work, proctoring foreign service exams on a Saturday for the peace corps volunteer.  Had too much fun the other night when the systems failed and one of the gals had lost all the two hour worth of exams she did.  Oddly enough the systems was this time, not the Swazi side but back home where the web site was hosted.  Then I had to help her get home since she missed the bus.  Yes, this is what I signed up for but one of the perks is knowing that someone has benefited from your work.  And I got to know better, a young peace corps volunteer.

As I drove home today, I thought of two things about Swaziland.  One is the potholes..Man are there many..You see all these beautiful gated houses and then you see the terrible roads.  My used 1995 RAV 4 is sure taking a lickin’ but keeps on tickin’.  As I popped my Elvis CD into the car, I am enjoying the music when..BOOM!  I inadvertently drove into a pothole, which I’ve gotten good at dodging.  Funny enough the right side car stereo comes back on..I am thinking to myself, this is too funny when did I lose the sound in the first place? Probably from going into one of these darn potholes to begin with.  Just have to bang it a few times to get it back. 

I’m getting good at saying some SiSwati phrases now.  But suddenly I’m shy of using it.  It’s funny, in the beginning it was cute but now when I practice it with the local guards, they are always laughing.  Why are they always laughing? Because they think it’s too funny that I’m trying to learn their language when I don’t need to..Or are they being friendly.  This is what I want to call, “catch-22.”  You want to represent yourself well and be diplomatic with the locals but at the same time, you can’t win because they are laughing at your accent and responses to their language.  But as they say, “keep trying.”  Yes, Hello is much easier than Sawubona (which takes me more effort and breath) as well as saying niyabonga or “thank you” (two syllables long).  BTW, why is it so much longer in siSwati to say simple things.  Don’t even get me started with the clicks. 

Here is a picture of Alyssa from her first few lessons with our tennis coach.  My elbow’s been bad so me and her have been splitting the lessons.  It’s fun and I’m learning a better way of playing tennis.  Wish my high school tennis coach could learn a few things about teaching simple tennis..Make it easy, fun..THEN technique follows.  I like my new coach.  He makes sense with the tennis teaching approach because it works with me..Yes, I need to learn from the very beginning. 

I am getting into my groove now with a regular schedule each week.  Last Friday had the house full of kids for an afternoon of fun.  I entertained the kids, which I didn’t have to, then fed them spicey pizza from Debonairs.  Ahhh yeah, that’s when I found out a “cheese pizza” really isn’t a cheese pizza.  Now I remember what Audrey my fellow co-worker said, what you do in the U.S.. Do opposite here.  Which means don’t custom order your pizza and expect it to arrive like what you think it would be.  Poor kids..They did eat a few slices.  Here’s a picture of Alyssa having fun at Benji’s house.

 

 

Well that’s all I’m going to say for now.  I’ll continue my fun adventures and record the silly stuff.  Good bye or “hambagasi.”  Happy Valentine’s Day  

Here's a picture of Alyssa playing with the dogs at Nyanza farm.  She keeps asking, "Mommy I want a dog."  I tell her, not yet.  You're too young and these dogs require a lot of work. 

Home, Sweet Home

Back in the Kingdom of Swaziland

 

 Jan 21, 2014

Well, it’s about time I put a new blog post since it seems like eons.  We had Christmas holidays, then I was busy planning Alyssa’s birthday party, then we had the party and then we were off again, to Johannesburg for my training class.  I did collect a few thoughts in my drafts folder that I thought was worth sharing.  As I reflect on my last four months here in Swaziland, I start picking up some interesting tidbits.  Maybe it’s not limited to Swaziland but the South African region. 

Did you know that Swaziland is one of the smallest African countries?
I see that hitchhiking is a common practice here as people cannot afford to pay for bus rides.
I see that walking along highways and roads are common, as there are no side walks.
I see many women, from the very young to the very old, carrying perfectly on their heads,  
   something that looks like a large box, or a basket or what I consider, quite heavy.
I see many names in Swaziland that ends in “ile.” For example, Fakile, Winile, Phindile,..etc etc.
I also see that 20% of the populations last name ends in Dlamini and that 50% are employed by the embassy (just kidding but a large portion).  There are plenty of other common last names as well and the name reflects the background they are from – Dlamini I believe is from royal family. 
I see many of the drivers as well as local security employees have names that must have been pulled from the bible – from Abraham to Gideon.  Gotta love it.

Last but not least, only here in the grocery store, can you amuse at the packaging of food – Why buy low fat when you can buy high fat cheese?  Picture to be posted shortly on Facebook.

Aside from the many interesting things I’ve come to learn about being here, I’m adjusting OK.  I’ve begun taking horseback lessons and it’s becoming a real enjoyable hobby for me.  Maybe when I get back to Florida, I can blend right in back at Southwest Ranches.  However as I can recall, to stop a horse meant pulling on one reign but here it is with both reigns.  I think it’s the British way.  I start back up this weekend and look forward to doing it again.  I hope Alyssa can keep busy while mommy rides. 

I am taking SiSwati lessons and enjoying it.  The greetings and some words are easy to learn and the locals love it when you use it with them.  They are already friendly so learning their culture is a bit easier when they are so happy to teach. 

Christmas holidays in Cape Town was great.  About the most shocking thing was that the city was actually dangerous, more so than one would think.  I totally let my guard down when I trusted Google Maps to find me a Catholic Church for Midnight mass – BIG mistake.  It took us through the slum areas and almost did not come out alive – kids crossing the street, groups of people in bad areas..Not a part of town you want to be in at half passed 10.  The rest of the city was beautiful, breath taking scenery.  Just don’t come during Christmas when you got tourists and locals vacationing at the same time.

Everyone is probably accustomed to my posting on Facebook about the internet unreliability here in Swaziland.  It can get frustrating when availability is an issue, especially when I was looking forward to Skyping with my loved ones.  Even in Bamako, their internet is decent and their hardship pay is more than Swaziland due to political unrest.  I learned something last week, as I networked with people posted at other African countries during my training. 

Swaziland has its delight such as friendly people, inexpensive household help and close to South Africa (hours to various borders) and the amazing travel opportunity it offers.  The only thing I never saw anywhere else in the world is people on the grass (side of the road) and one can only wonder if that person is alive.  Being in a small town, you’re bound to run into someone you know. 

My car arrived but we had to get it deep cleaned as water got in somehow during its waiting period to be registered.  Then the battery broke and then mommy backed into it and dented it.  Shipping cars always bring issues one way or the other, from my experience anyway.

Well, hope you enjoyed reading and maybe from this post, you may decide I would not want to join the Foreign Service at all.  Some love the change, some hate the instability.  One thing is certain, it’s not for everyone or shall I say the faint hearted!!

Three Months in Swaziland

Three Months Review

November 27, 2013

Today is Thanksgiving in the U.S.  The Swazi people don't celebrate it, but U.S.A. regards it as one of the most important family holidays.  It's also the start of the Christmas season.  With no fall leaves or signs of the weather getting cold, it barely feels like Thanksgiving today.  We were planning to go over friends' house for some deep fried turkey.  I haven't tried deep fried turkey but Jason wasn't up to it, so we will have a quiet thanksgiving this year.  South African weather is now heading into it's summer weather since it's opposite weather of what the Northern Hemisphere is having.

Today also marks the first that both Alyssa and I caught the cold bug.  I'm surprised that been here this long, we've been overall healthy.  With a diet that could be improved, I guess I can't complain much.  Alyssa has been at her international school for 2.5 months and has just got her first sick day as well.  She loves it here and I couldn't be happier for her.  She continues to do the fun stuff..Catch bugs, play with dogs and do art projects.  She is enthusiastic with her school as well so I must not miss the first school event I'm attending on Tuesday.

Started SiSwati lessons and it looks like I'll catch the phrases pretty easy but I have to practice it. The people here are friendly and willing to teach so I'm not afraid to practice!!  Another terminology that locals use for celebrating.. Braii.. Which essentially means barbecue.  So just went to one last night and it was fun.  My friend makes the yummiest cupcakes.  Alyssa had a ball playing with the dogs.  If only we can convince daddy to have a dog.. Hmmm we do have a big enough yard.  Who will bath it and pick up after it?  If it's not much work, maybe he'll say yes.  He said no to a cat because of the smelly liter.  We will see!

Busy "Babe," Busy "Mage"

So much to do, so little time

November 16, 2013

All week long, my work days starts at 7:30 and ends at 5 PM – This to look forward to our half-day Fridays when work ends at 1:30 PM.  I also learnt the hard way a couple of Friday’s ago, trying to do “errands” like shopping on a Friday when it was mayhem trying to get out of the grocery store parking lot.  Everyone here goes shopping apparently so now I will reserve my Friday’s with less stress things like finding an exercise class and relaxing before the weekend comes.  Now I just need to get some “followers” for my cause but coordinating the schedule is a bit tricky.  Right now the commute to work is only 15 min each way so can’t complain.  Wait until our office moves out into the valley in 1.5 years..the fun starts.

So I got my car wash done for the first time.  However, the culture of car wash here is entirely different than in the U.S.A.  I was looking for one and a friend at work recommended this one by the Engen gas station.  Well, when I got there, I told them just a wash and a vacuum.  And so he proceeded.. I knew I had a doctor's appointment in 30 minutes so no problem.  The time kept ticking away and he’s still working on my car, cleaning the tires, the doors, the inside, the outside.  I was getting antsy and I knew it was no point to rush the man, he was working so hard.  The car wash did not have automated machines…An empty garage with one power washer and a vacuum cleaner like your average one in the home.  I knew that my gardener also washes the outside of the car, but because we only have the one car, I’ve been taking it to work every day.  Also, my cleaner has been on sick leave as she had a family emergency.  After the Kruger Park mud on my car, I knew it was in dire need of a cleaning.  Task done.

Next, I have three distance education courses I’m taking for work…I also am studying for two career enhancers.  Maybe God will open the door and help me realize the important ones as prioritization as always been my area of lacking.  I won’t blame my parents anymore, I will look forward as “it is what it is.”  I also have to finish unpacking, reorganizing each room to make our goods accessible, then entertaining and spending some time with Alyssa, make her lunch, attend bible class, exercise/dance, dishes and the list goes on..     







Making Cake Pops with Alyssa

At least last night, there was a bit of fun with baking with Alyssa.  She’s into making cake pops.  It’s our thing – it not only tastes good, it’s just a bite or two of yummy.  I’m still trying to perfect my ways.  Check it out.

Finished Product

Packaged and Ready to Go!



Alyssa’s been calling me “Bobby” for over a month now.  Apparently she learned at school that father in SiSwati (the local language here) is “babe” pronounced bah-bay and mother is “mage” pronounced mah-gay.  So whenever Alyssa starts calling me Bobby, I immediately correct her – “Maggy!”  Next week I start SiSwati lessons at the embassy.  I’m looking forward to  learning a few basic words.  The locals appreciate it.  The people here are really friendly.  Sometimes they cross your personal space, but overall can’t complain.  I also am amazed at the amount of religious people here.  Every Sunday the churches are filled with cars.  Definitely a big change from Paris as in Paris, the amount of practicing Catholics are little although the nation as a whole is 95% roman catholic.  Here in Swaziland you can find a church just about every corner and more are being built. 

Well, time to get to my many other wavering priorities calling at me.  I’ve had dizzy problems lately and we think this is due to low iron, so it’s doctor’s orders that I don’t over exert myself!! This means “no exercise’ as well for two weeks.  So my diet better be a little better.  Time to plan  my meals this week – another on my To Do list.

Two Months as a Swaziland Resident and our First Visit to Kruger Park

Living Like a Swazi

November 8, 2013

 It’s been over two months already and finally we leave the country.  We have arrived at the beautiful lodge near Kruger Park’s Crocodile River, called Buckler’s Africa.  The backyard is Kruger Park.  Hoping to see some elephants chewing the leaves tomorrow morning at breakfast.  We are going to do our first real safari..One where we see real animals not inside cages.  Hoping to spot all the animals..They say the "Big Five" include rhinos, elephants, lions, leopards and water buffalos.  Jason packed our food and cooked an awesome dinner.  Alyssa was excited running around the lodge, and being daddy’s helper.  Mom was the co-pilot and got us there safely.  Despite not having a GPS we made it with simple paper and maps. 

Alyssa is sure becoming accustomed to the lifestyle of Southern Africa.  She spends her spare time collecting millipedes in the garden, puts it in a container and calls it her pet.  She is playing with our guard saying, “my guard is helping me get the avocados.”  I’m getting more accustomed to driving in Swaziland.  It is a bit disturbing to see a school kids walking alone on the highway.  It just doesn’t seem safe to me.  Walking on the highways seems common here.  Yesterday I got to volunteer and read to a bunch of African school kids (3^rd or 4^th grade) at the library.  They seemed interested although no one had questions..the little ones were more drawn in. 

Two great things happen this past week.  We got our housekeeper finally and she is a great addition.  Coming home to a made-up bed, dishes completed and laundry done..Not only is it peaceful sanctuary but it means I’ll have more free time on weekends.  I will try to enjoy the additional help these three years in Africa.  We also got our household effects and both Jason and our maid has done a great job unpacking and organizing.  Nice to be able to have our stuff and settle in.  We will do some shopping in Nelspruit and get the remaining 220 appliances that we got from our welcome kit.  Jason’s waiting on when to start working and been busy Christmas shopping.  Doing online shopping can be frustrating with the slow speeds but we are making it work. 

My task the next few weeks are to work harder on my diet planning and seriously getting back into exercise.  I can see my belly bulging already..The food, desserts is good but I must remember the hard work I did to lose the weight.  Working on sleep, self care and study will have to be my priorities..of course along with balancing family life.  I found a church, I found a bible class group and now the remaining is finding an exercise class and a buddy for accountability and to start scrapbooking again.  I am continuing to find my niche. 

November 9, 11:03 PM- Nelspruit

Well, we sure had one hell of an adventure at Kruger Park.  It really amazing to see so many large animals up close.  We saw two of the “Big Five” of the park, which isn’t bad for our first visit.  Most of the best interactive experience was off the beaten path..Yes, the dirt roads.  We saw zebra, giraffe and antelopes crossing the road.  The two of the big five we saw were elephant and rhino.  We didn’t see any predators this visit but we bought a wild card so we will be sure to come back!  We entered through the Crocodile Gate bridge and right away, we spotted wart hogs, zebras and a variety of deer, antelopes and llamas.  We even saw turtles, monkeys, and lizards.  The most amazing experience was seeing a giraffe peer through the woods as we drove through a dirt road of “nothing.”  Then we spotted two, then three giraffes!  This was all on the S130 road.    I caught a nice picture of the crossing on the street.  My colleague at work who went just a week before got to see a lion eat the giraffes which was a sad story – but it’s part of life, the food chain!  We had a great time at Buckler’s Lodge and the hosts were friendly and gave us tips on liking the Kruger Sightings Facebook page so we can find out which way to go!!  It’s good that we did take the dirt road..After the giraffes we saw two huge elephants right off the road.  It came out of nowhere and imagine…. We heard stories of how an elephant got territorial and sat on a car, killing people in it.  We got a warning not to get too close to the elephants, both from the Regional Security Officer and our hosts from Buckler’s Africa.  We were literally less than 100 feet away from these beautiful creatures.  They were eating so they were peaceful as we drove by them without even seeing them at first!  Definitely, the elephants and giraffes were the highlights of our trip.  I’m happy with what we saw.

The rest of the evening did not progress so well.  I had reserved a hotel at Easy Stay in Nelspruit only to find out it was reserved for the wrong night.  It’s Murphy’s Law..What could go wrong, can.  Just glad it didn’t happen at the park.  99.9% I always have my hotel confirmation # and this ONE time I didn’t have it, screwed me up.  We now are resting in a smoking-room at the hotel across from the one we had planned to stay at…I lost my Blackberry in the car and could have called ahead to confirm.  Of course, as I said..it was Murphy’s Law. 

Tomorrow is shopping day.  I just realize how real important it is to prioritize for a peace of mind.  We just got our household effects two days before which was not the ideal thing..I would have thought of a lot more, blah blah blah.  Anyways, I’m grateful for my experience.    

November 14, 2013

We ended up buying 3,744 RAND worth of appliances -- that is $374 US dollars.  This is easy to convert.  Just move one decimal point over.  SWEET!  While I'm on the topic of local currency I thought I'd share that Swaziland accepts both South African RAND and Emalangeni while South Africa only accepts RAND.  Like the local say "shame!"  Shame is a word I hear a lot among the locals which really means too bad.  Well, that's the news from Bo's front this week.  Stay tuned and bookmark this blog!!   Til next time...