A post I wrote TODAY!

Sanibonani!

We’re going to see if I’ve resolved some of these dongle issues. One problem is that a lot of programs on my computer want to automatically check for updates when I am connected to Internet. Because in the SWZ you pay as you go for air time and online data transfers, you have to watch how much data you use. Checking for a million Microsoft Office updates, for example, eats up my money. It’s not good.

I do like how you pay as you go for electricity here. You buy it at the shop or wherever and then load it into your electric meter (for lack of a better term) at home. When it’s used up, it’s used up. They previously had a billing system like in the U.S., but I’ve been told that didn’t work well here because many people were unable to pay. This way, you only use what you pay for. It’s also nice because people use MUCH less electricity. All the outlets have switches, so you shut off the power source when you’re not using it. I think that’s great and wish more people had it in the West.

I hit up Pigg’s Peak Hotel & Casino last Thursday with some amigos who live in the Hhohho region to the north of the country. We were supposed to swim in the super fancy pool, but it was being repaired. That meant instead that we chatted by a lovely waterfall and then ate some delicious food at the bar. Mistake of the day: ordering cheesecake. I’m not used to eating rich foods these days, so any restaurant food is a risk. A piece of cheesecake before a 2.5-hour bus ride on a tortuous, hilly gravel road turned out to be a serious mistake. On top of that, I nearly didn’t make it home till after dark. I’m never out after dark here — most people aren’t — so it made me pretty nervous to be rushing home as the sun was setting.

But the hotel was nice, and it was great to see other PCVs. Now I know how to get there.

The SWZ is interesting in many ways; one is transportation. It’s really good here, especially compared with a lot of other countries in this part of the world. Still, there often aren’t direct routes to places. Pigg’s Peak isn’t all that far from Manzini region, as the crow flies — do they have crows here? Not sure. But there are at least two routes. One is this gravel road we took (not so bad in a khumbi, wretched on a giant bus) and the other is up to a town in the north called Ngonini and then back down. We took the shorter route on the gravel road. I’m curious as to whether the other way is faster. There is much to be said for the tar road, friends. The drive was beautiful, however. It wound through the green hills, and there’s some stunning scenery. In some spots, you see tiered farming with the flat farmed pieces cut into the hillside. It reminded me of Tuscany.

I went to Manzini on Friday and was lucky enough to catch a ride with some women from the clinic who were heading in to give a presentation. Saved me E23!

On Thursday, the U.N. marked the International Day of the Girl Child. The aim of the event is to highlight issues that affect girls worldwide, particularly child marriage. PCVs were assigned to arrange an activity related to girls for the day.

Walker and I hit up the local primary school to play some games with the kids. We didn’t have a developed plan going in, just a game in mind. It turned out that we were teaching the life skills lesson for the day. We divided up the boys and girls (more than 100 in each group). I took the girls, and he took the boys. We talked about female role models and told them about the day honoring girls. Then we lined ALL the kids up and played this dragon game. The kids hold on to each other’s shoulders in a huge line, and the last person had a plastic bag “tail” tucked into his or her pants. The goal was to get the other team’s tail without breaking out of your line.

I’m surprised no one was trampled.

It was kind of a hilarious mad dash, and the kids went pretty crazy. The girls won (!!!), which resulted in lots of high fives. We clapped for the boys, too. Sportsmanship, etc. I think everyone walked away feeling pretty empowered. Every female, anyway. It was a lot of fun.

Then we saw a peacock! It was just walking around behind a liquor store like nobody’s business. Life here, man. You never know. Exciting stuff.

Speaking of exciting stuff, Jack comes in about five weeks! Things are working out well for him as he gets organized. He even has all his shots! Women keep telling me that he’s going to get stolen from me by a Swazi. I tell them I’m not worried about that, but they tell me I should be. I’m taking my chances.

OK, off to church. Salani kahle!