Author Archives: elliewick

Updates on my monthly spending

Posted on April 29, 2019 by elliewick

I’ve been falling behind on all kinds of things here, including my monthly spending posts. I came in under budget twice since July, which is 10 months. Not so good. Living in town has meant I can more easily find … Continue reading →

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So much food and so little time

Posted on April 26, 2019 by elliewick

When I went on home leave in December and January, sure there were people to see and things to do, but my longest list was of food to eat. I started working on this list months in advance—I didn’t want … Continue reading →

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Surprise in the bathroom

Posted on April 15, 2019 by elliewick

After nearly three years in country, there’s little that happens here that catches me off guard. There’s one problem, though, that always catches me off guard: Swazi women who don’t close the bathroom stall door. You would think that if … Continue reading →

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There’s another Alison out there, and I get her emails all the time

Posted on March 28, 2019 by elliewick

For years I have received the emails of an Alison from the UK with the same last name as me. Her email address is slightly different from mine, and some email systems do not recognize the difference, which means her … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Mbabane bus rank

Posted on March 27, 2019 by elliewick

I walk past or through the bus rank here frequently as I go shopping. It can get busy, and transport drivers do many unpredictable things while driving. I stopped to take this aerial photo from the stairs outside the second … Continue reading →

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Tips to plan a trip for your parents to visit eSwatini and Southern Africa

Posted on March 24, 2019 by elliewick

Have your parents started asking about visiting you in eSwatini? Or maybe you have started asking them? Have no fear! I judiciously planned the use of all my vacation days, including for when my parents visited me in eSwatini. I … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Mail

Posted on March 6, 2019 by elliewick

I was surprised to see three envelopes from my mom in my mailbox today. It had been only two weeks since last checking. Then I checked the postmarks: June 2018, August 2018, and February 2019. I’m not even surprised any … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Work

Posted on February 6, 2019 by elliewick

When I returned to work in January, I was hoping for more tasks to keep me busier at work. I have more or less been slammed and have plenty of responsibilities for the time being, of which I am thankful. … Continue reading →

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Gratitude for nature, work, and food: What I’ve been doing the last four months

Posted on December 2, 2018 by elliewick

How time has flown! I have lived in town working my new job for more than four months now. My blog reading and writing routine has been severely disrupted and I haven’t found a way to work either into my … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Jacaranda

Posted on November 14, 2018 by elliewick

I was worried about not having a jacaranda tree nearby in Mbabane. I love the purple flowers that signify that summer is on its way.     Fortunately, there’s a jacaranda tree at the end of my driveway and I get … Continue reading →

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