Category Archives: Life

A moment in my life: Mama cow steals my water

Posted on December 6, 2016 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 →

Posted in A moment in my life, Africa, Life, Peace Corps, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Love and hardship with my training family

Posted on November 27, 2016 by elliewick

I have wanted to write about my PST host family for a really long time. I started a post about a month into service but I could not finish it. Writing about them was too emotional. It still is now. … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Life, Peace Corps, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My permanent home in Swaziland

Posted on October 25, 2016 by elliewick

My permanent home in Swaziland is located in the Manzini Region, with easy access to transportation, food, and Swaziland’s capitol and biggest cities. I live near the main tourist areas of Swaziland, as well, which just happens to be an … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Life, Peace Corps, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A moment in my life: Trash bags and rainstorms

Posted on October 20, 2016 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 →

Posted in A moment in my life, Africa, Life, Peace Corps, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Africa, Life, Peace Corps, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Wednesday photo: Permagardening

Posted on August 10, 2016 by elliewick

I have been so excited about gardening since I arrived in Swaziland. I asked for a garden at my permanent site, and boy, did Peace Corps deliver! I have about 30 fruit trees (mango, peach, banana, lemon, grape, papaya, and litchee), corn fields, … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Life, Peace Corps, Swaziland, Wednesday photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

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 →

Posted in Africa, Life, Peace Corps, Swaziland, Wednesday photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

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 →

Posted in Africa, Life, Peace Corps, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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 →

Posted in Africa, Life, Peace Corps, Wednesday photo | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Africa, Life, Peace Corps, Swaziland | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments