Cooking

We had a cooking competition over the weekend — a la "Top Chef." My team didn't win, but we made an amazing lemon meringue pie using a Dutch oven and creativity. We toasted the peaks in the meringue with matches.

My family is still lovely, and I'm getting into a routine that makes me comfortable. We have our language test in a week, and we'll get to visit a game park and then get our cell phones. I hope to have more regular Internet access then.

Thanks to all who have written or sent things!

Update!

July 6, 2012

Sanibonani!

We have officially entered our second week in Swaziland, and I think it’s safe to say we’re all far from being experts on our new home. Every day involves learning experiences, however. We went shopping for the first time on Friday. It was a bit of a relief to be able to buy the things we forgot and those we didn’t know we needed. Washcloths were key on my list (to improve the bucket-bathing experience), as were a pitcher (for washing hair), a broom and a small mirror with a stand. I realized early on that I was leaving the house without glancing at myself in the mirror. That’s OK, of course, but I was still curious. I also haven’t been wearing contacts because they’re a pain to put in and keep clean. I want to have the option of wearing them, however, so a mirror is a bit of a necessity. I probably could have gotten by with my compact mirror, but you know how it goes. Women.

Our Fourth of July celebration was great. The U.S. ambassador gave a brief presentation, and we got to spend several hours learning from the current volunteers. Group 9 is entering its second year, and Group 8 is (mostly) on the way out. Several volunteers are extending their service, so we’ll have the benefit of their expertise as we go forward.

The language remains a challenge, but everyone on my homestead is very helpful as I muddle through. I’m beginning to see the structure of siSwati, which makes a big difference as I try to learn prefixes, suffixes, etc. We’re also doing a lot of training on our Peace Corps projects, focusing mostly on PC’s strategy. So far, so good.

The food is still treating me well. I had goat for the first time the other night, and we’ve had chicken and beans on other occasions. I’m on the schedule to cook on Sunday night. I think some neighbors are coming over, so here’s hoping I don’t embarrass myself. Or America.

A neighbor taught me the proper way to eat a grapefruit today, and I’ve got to say it’s a vast improvement on my experience with that fruit in the U.S. She removed all the membrane from each slice and ate out the fruit pulp inside. Much less bitter that way. It’s messy, but I might be a convert.

I don’t need anything right now, but if you’d like to send a letter, I’d love to read it and respond. I even bought envelopes today! The first 20 of you are covered. So far, I’ve received a confirmation of my out-of-country voting address from St. Louis County. They’re on the ball, man.

My mailing address:

My name, PCV

US Peace Corps

P.O. Box 2797

Mbabane, H100

Swaziland

AFRICA

Salani kahle, my American friends!

Update!

July 6, 2012

Sanibonani!

We have officially entered our second week in Swaziland, and I think it’s safe to say we’re all far from being experts on our new home. Every day involves learning experiences, however. We went shopping for the first time on Friday. It was a bit of a relief to be able to buy the things we forgot and those we didn’t know we needed. Washcloths were key on my list (to improve the bucket-bathing experience), as were a pitcher (for washing hair), a broom and a small mirror with a stand. I realized early on that I was leaving the house without glancing at myself in the mirror. That’s OK, of course, but I was still curious. I also haven’t been wearing contacts because they’re a pain to put in and keep clean. I want to have the option of wearing them, however, so a mirror is a bit of a necessity. I probably could have gotten by with my compact mirror, but you know how it goes. Women.

Our Fourth of July celebration was great. The U.S. ambassador gave a brief presentation, and we got to spend several hours learning from the current volunteers. Group 9 is entering its second year, and Group 8 is (mostly) on the way out. Several volunteers are extending their service, so we’ll have the benefit of their expertise as we go forward.

The language remains a challenge, but everyone on my homestead is very helpful as I muddle through. I’m beginning to see the structure of siSwati, which makes a big difference as I try to learn prefixes, suffixes, etc. We’re also doing a lot of training on our Peace Corps projects, focusing mostly on PC’s strategy. So far, so good.

The food is still treating me well. I had goat for the first time the other night, and we’ve had chicken and beans on other occasions. I’m on the schedule to cook on Sunday night. I think some neighbors are coming over, so here’s hoping I don’t embarrass myself. Or America.

A neighbor taught me the proper way to eat a grapefruit today, and I’ve got to say it’s a vast improvement on my experience with that fruit in the U.S. She removed all the membrane from each slice and ate out the fruit pulp inside. Much less bitter that way. It’s messy, but I might be a convert.

I don’t need anything right now, but if you’d like to send a letter, I’d love to read it and respond. I even bought envelopes today! The first 20 of you are covered. So far, I’ve received a confirmation of my out-of-country voting address from St. Louis County. They’re on the ball, man.

My mailing address:

My name, PCV

US Peace Corps

P.O. Box 2797

Mbabane, H100

Swaziland

AFRICA

Salani kahle, my American friends!

Update!

July 6, 2012

Sanibonani!

We have officially entered our second week in Swaziland, and I think it’s safe to say we’re all far from being experts on our new home. Every day involves learning experiences, however. We went shopping for the first time on Friday. It was a bit of a relief to be able to buy the things we forgot and those we didn’t know we needed. Washcloths were key on my list (to improve the bucket-bathing experience), as were a pitcher (for washing hair), a broom and a small mirror with a stand. I realized early on that I was leaving the house without glancing at myself in the mirror. That’s OK, of course, but I was still curious. I also haven’t been wearing contacts because they’re a pain to put in and keep clean. I want to have the option of wearing them, however, so a mirror is a bit of a necessity. I probably could have gotten by with my compact mirror, but you know how it goes. Women.

Our Fourth of July celebration was great. The U.S. ambassador gave a brief presentation, and we got to spend several hours learning from the current volunteers. Group 9 is entering its second year, and Group 8 is (mostly) on the way out. Several volunteers are extending their service, so we’ll have the benefit of their expertise as we go forward.

The language remains a challenge, but everyone on my homestead is very helpful as I muddle through. I’m beginning to see the structure of siSwati, which makes a big difference as I try to learn prefixes, suffixes, etc. We’re also doing a lot of training on our Peace Corps projects, focusing mostly on PC’s strategy. So far, so good.

The food is still treating me well. I had goat for the first time the other night, and we’ve had chicken and beans on other occasions. I’m on the schedule to cook on Sunday night. I think some neighbors are coming over, so here’s hoping I don’t embarrass myself. Or America.

A neighbor taught me the proper way to eat a grapefruit today, and I’ve got to say it’s a vast improvement on my experience with that fruit in the U.S. She removed all the membrane from each slice and ate out the fruit pulp inside. Much less bitter that way. It’s messy, but I might be a convert.

I don’t need anything right now, but if you’d like to send a letter, I’d love to read it and respond. I even bought envelopes today! The first 20 of you are covered. So far, I’ve received a confirmation of my out-of-country voting address from St. Louis County. They’re on the ball, man.

My mailing address:

My name, PCV

US Peace Corps

P.O. Box 2797

Mbabane, H100

Swaziland

AFRICA

Salani kahle, my American friends!

Update!

July 6, 2012

Sanibonani!

We have officially entered our second week in Swaziland, and I think it’s safe to say we’re all far from being experts on our new home. Every day involves learning experiences, however. We went shopping for the first time on Friday. It was a bit of a relief to be able to buy the things we forgot and those we didn’t know we needed. Washcloths were key on my list (to improve the bucket-bathing experience), as were a pitcher (for washing hair), a broom and a small mirror with a stand. I realized early on that I was leaving the house without glancing at myself in the mirror. That’s OK, of course, but I was still curious. I also haven’t been wearing contacts because they’re a pain to put in and keep clean. I want to have the option of wearing them, however, so a mirror is a bit of a necessity. I probably could have gotten by with my compact mirror, but you know how it goes. Women.

Our Fourth of July celebration was great. The U.S. ambassador gave a brief presentation, and we got to spend several hours learning from the current volunteers. Group 9 is entering its second year, and Group 8 is (mostly) on the way out. Several volunteers are extending their service, so we’ll have the benefit of their expertise as we go forward.

The language remains a challenge, but everyone on my homestead is very helpful as I muddle through. I’m beginning to see the structure of siSwati, which makes a big difference as I try to learn prefixes, suffixes, etc. We’re also doing a lot of training on our Peace Corps projects, focusing mostly on PC’s strategy. So far, so good.

The food is still treating me well. I had goat for the first time the other night, and we’ve had chicken and beans on other occasions. I’m on the schedule to cook on Sunday night. I think some neighbors are coming over, so here’s hoping I don’t embarrass myself. Or America.

A neighbor taught me the proper way to eat a grapefruit today, and I’ve got to say it’s a vast improvement on my experience with that fruit in the U.S. She removed all the membrane from each slice and ate out the fruit pulp inside. Much less bitter that way. It’s messy, but I might be a convert.

I don’t need anything right now, but if you’d like to send a letter, I’d love to read it and respond. I even bought envelopes today! The first 20 of you are covered. So far, I’ve received a confirmation of my out-of-country voting address from St. Louis County. They’re on the ball, man.

My mailing address:

My name, PCV

US Peace Corps

P.O. Box 2797

Mbabane, H100

Swaziland

AFRICA

Salani kahle, my American friends!

Update!

July 6, 2012

Sanibonani!

We have officially entered our second week in Swaziland, and I think it’s safe to say we’re all far from being experts on our new home. Every day involves learning experiences, however. We went shopping for the first time on Friday. It was a bit of a relief to be able to buy the things we forgot and those we didn’t know we needed. Washcloths were key on my list (to improve the bucket-bathing experience), as were a pitcher (for washing hair), a broom and a small mirror with a stand. I realized early on that I was leaving the house without glancing at myself in the mirror. That’s OK, of course, but I was still curious. I also haven’t been wearing contacts because they’re a pain to put in and keep clean. I want to have the option of wearing them, however, so a mirror is a bit of a necessity. I probably could have gotten by with my compact mirror, but you know how it goes. Women.

Our Fourth of July celebration was great. The U.S. ambassador gave a brief presentation, and we got to spend several hours learning from the current volunteers. Group 9 is entering its second year, and Group 8 is (mostly) on the way out. Several volunteers are extending their service, so we’ll have the benefit of their expertise as we go forward.

The language remains a challenge, but everyone on my homestead is very helpful as I muddle through. I’m beginning to see the structure of siSwati, which makes a big difference as I try to learn prefixes, suffixes, etc. We’re also doing a lot of training on our Peace Corps projects, focusing mostly on PC’s strategy. So far, so good.

The food is still treating me well. I had goat for the first time the other night, and we’ve had chicken and beans on other occasions. I’m on the schedule to cook on Sunday night. I think some neighbors are coming over, so here’s hoping I don’t embarrass myself. Or America.

A neighbor taught me the proper way to eat a grapefruit today, and I’ve got to say it’s a vast improvement on my experience with that fruit in the U.S. She removed all the membrane from each slice and ate out the fruit pulp inside. Much less bitter that way. It’s messy, but I might be a convert.

I don’t need anything right now, but if you’d like to send a letter, I’d love to read it and respond. I even bought envelopes today! The first 20 of you are covered. So far, I’ve received a confirmation of my out-of-country voting address from St. Louis County. They’re on the ball, man.

My mailing address:

My name, PCV

US Peace Corps

P.O. Box 2797

Mbabane, H100

Swaziland

AFRICA

Salani kahle, my American friends!

Changes!

 We moved in with our temporary host families Monday, in a village called Nkamandzi. I live in a room next door to a woman about my age and 12-year-old twin girls. I have met the mother of the woman my age (make — the “k” is a “g” sound) but not the father or the brothers. The village is in a town surrounded by mountains.

The family’s house is the highest up in elevation, so I have an amazing view of the valley. I have my own room with a double bed, a chair, and a small table and chair. We have electricity, and there’s a TV. The family has an electric stove but mostly cooks with a wood stove inside or over a wood fire outside. There’s a latrine on top of a small hill behind the house, and it’s very clean.

The twin girls cooked dinner, which consisted of white rice, cabbage fried in oil and salt, cooked tinned fish and baked beans. It was delicious.

The Peace Corps provides us with a gas stove, utensils, basins for bathing/dishes/washing and buckets. They also provided a huge bag of food for the family and for me. It’s meant to supplement their food because the family will cook dinner with me for the next two weeks. I’ll have to cook for myself after that. The twin girls, Lindela and Sindela, fetched bread from the store for me so I could make myself a peanut butter sandwich to bring to school for lunch.

The family farms, and there are cows, dogs, goats, chickens and cats on the property. I haven’t met any of the men yet. My siSwati name is Nonhlanhlha, which means “we are lucky to have you.” I won’t even try to write out the pronunciation.

I’ve had my first bucket baths, though I haven’t quite mastered them yet. I’ve also started the three-step water process.

We travel back to the school campus for class on some days. This morning, 21 of us crammed into a van, called and ikhumbi, to come to school. On other days, we’ll stay in our village and have lessons from our language teachers, who are staying in the village with us. My teacher is Metzi. Tomorrow, we’ll go to the country director’s house for a Fourth of July picnic. I’m excited to do that because we’ll be able to meet with the Peace Corps volunteers who are here now.