Holidays!

Sanibonani, Team America!

I never know how to answer the phone here. People keep cell phone conversations extremely brief because we're charged by the minute. I don't want to say "sawubona" because it means "I see you," and that certainly isn't accurate. I'll let you know if/when I solve the mystery. Usually I just say hello. That seems to work fine.

Jack and I enjoyed the Christmas holiday on the homestead. We had a long adventure with a gravel road when we decided to hit up the Simunye Country Club. The town is parallel to mine in the country, but the paved road would have led us either up and around or down and around. My host dad gave us directions on the gravel road. It ended up being almost disastrous (we had to turn around because of high water over a bridge; it took 2.5 hours to get there), but we made it. That meant a Christmas spent swimming and eating grilled meat. A barbecue is called a braai here. It was lovely. On the way there, we saw a baboon cross the road with some sugar cane in its mouth. On the way back, we saw a giraffe chilling and eating leaves along the road. Productive day!

My homestead is bustling with family. Now (just after 6 a.m.), two of my host brothers are starting the process of building a new hut for one of them. I'm excited to see it go up, and I hope I get to help. Also this weekend, one of my sisters has part of her wedding. It's a long process, getting married in the SWZ, and this part will involve dancing and her moving to her new homestead. The women go to live on the man's family's property when they marry. That's part of the reason for paying lobola, or bride price: The bride's family loses her to the husband's. Busy weekend.

Jack should have his car soon. He has a loaner now, and it makes our lives pretty different. I'm sure I'll still spend plenty of time on public transport, but it's so much easier when you can decide to drive to breakfast.

OOOH, breakfast. That reminds me: I recently had my best breakfast (possibly my best meal) since being here. It was at Swazi Candle, and it was called the Hangover. Eggs, chorizo, bacon, tomatoes, peppers, beans and cheese all in a bowl and served with salad and an amazing soft, warm pita. It was phenomenal once I added some spice to it. AMAZING. Y'all will have to check it out when you visit.

That's it for now. Nothing earth-shattering to report. Things get pretty slow around the holidays when the schools are closed. I hope to have some more photos very soon.

Happy New Year!

Salani kahle.