Category Archives: Africa

A moment in my life: Running from mama cow

Posted on August 26, 2017 by elliewick

So many entertaining things happen in my life in Swaziland. These are the moments I will want to remember because they make me laugh, and they show insight into my daily routine. These moments are often hard to photograph and … Continue reading →

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How I spent June’s PCV stipend

Posted on August 24, 2017 by elliewick

June ended with two busy weekends of food preparation. I came in under budget in every category, which was great because I was going on a vacation the next month.

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Wednesday photo: How to iron a lihiya

Posted on August 23, 2017 by elliewick

As my family was preparing for a wedding of a relative, my eldest bhuti showed me the traditional way to “iron” a lihiya. A lihiya is a piece of fabric worn like a wrap-around skirt in traditional dress.  It turns … Continue reading →

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A moral dilemma about aid: Thulane’s story

Posted on August 20, 2017 by elliewick

I see needs everywhere I look in Swaziland. I see undernourished children. I see 18-year-olds in grade seven. I see gogo caring for seven children because their parents died. I see teenaged mothers. I see a room full of high … Continue reading →

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Learning siSwati is hard

Posted on August 18, 2017 by elliewick

Yesterday, G15 took their language examination, and their stress surrounding the test has made me think quite a bit about my own struggle with learning siSwati. I have many complaints about the language-learning process and materials here, and even with … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Viva vagina

Posted on August 16, 2017 by elliewick

“Viva vagina” was the pumped-up cheer our condom demonstrator gave in the middle of a female condom demonstration. The session was part of a day-long training about HIV and activities that can be used in our communities for G15 during … Continue reading →

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A moment in my life: Nausea on public transport

Posted on August 15, 2017 by elliewick

Fortunately, I avoided vomiting altogether, but there were a few moments, well more like at least 50 moments – one for each speed bump on my khumbi ride home today – where I was concerned.  I was stuck in the … Continue reading →

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What’s cooking: Peach cobbler

Posted on August 14, 2017 by elliewick

As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Swaziland, I have a limited food budget. But I also love food–both eating and making it. During PST, I cooked without an oven, refrigeration, and a non-stick skillet. Now at my permanent site, I … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Potjie

Posted on August 2, 2017 by elliewick

What is a potjie, you might be asking. Or maybe you want to know how to pronounce this strange combination of letters.  A potjie (pronounced poi-key), more or less, is a stew cooked on the fire in a cast iron … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Spring has sprung 

Posted on July 26, 2017 by elliewick

Not only is my garden revived by the ever-increasing moments of sunshine, but flowers are blooming on many of the trees.  The coral trees were my unexpected favorite when I saw them in bloom last year. Their striking, red flowers … Continue reading →

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