Category Archives: Africa

Learning about my community and the art of saying no

Posted on September 5, 2016 by elliewick

It took just three months — and moving to my permanent site — for the Peace Corps life to get real, and difficult. I have spent the last week living an easy life while meeting people at church and the … Continue reading →

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What’s cooking: Tacos

Posted on September 2, 2016 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: Bomangoza! 

Posted on August 31, 2016 by elliewick

Spring sprung earlier at my permanent site in the bread basket of Swaziland than in my training village. I left peach blossoms to find peaches already growing and what’s even more exciting, the first mangoes are already growing!   My … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: My bosisi

Posted on August 24, 2016 by elliewick

This last weekend I moved out of my training family’s home to prepare for Swearing In. I will write about my family soon, but as a preview, I wanted to share a photo with two of my older bosisi before … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Care packages, coffee, and cheese

Posted on August 17, 2016 by elliewick

Two packages arrived from home last week filled with kitchen gadgets and clothing that I hadn’t had room for and a few things I realized I could use and had not yet found here in Swaziland.  I may have been … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Eating sugarcane

Posted on August 3, 2016 by elliewick

  Sugarcane grows across Swaziland in large company fields and in home gardens. Some of it stays in Swaziland as processed sugar (only local brands available at the store!) and much is exported. But what most homegrowers use sugarcane for … Continue reading →

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My favorite items during PST

Posted on July 28, 2016 by elliewick

Everyone who knows me knows that I like to be prepared. I scoured PCV blogs for months looking for items other Volunteers found useful. Sometimes Volunteers would update packing lists for the next-arriving cohort, and sometimes I could find lists … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Language class

Posted on July 19, 2016 by elliewick

   My language group. These are the people I spend the most time with and share most of my problems with (usually because I need them decoded by our teacher). Robert lives next door, so we walk together to language … Continue reading →

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Lessons learned in the first month as a Peace Corps Trainee

Posted on July 19, 2016 by elliewick

One month down! There has been so much to learn this month that I knew I needed to record my thoughts on the first month with the Peace Corps here. It has been challenging and frustrating at times, but I … Continue reading →

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Wednesday photo: Sangoma

Posted on July 13, 2016 by elliewick

Yesterday we visited the sangoma, a traditional health practitioner who works with herbs and consultations with the ancestors to provide advice and treatment to visitors. The sangoma danced for us to the tune of a single drum. His dance expressed … Continue reading →

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