Category Archives: Swaziland

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: 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: 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 →

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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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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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My first day as Ntombi

Posted on June 29, 2016 by elliewick

I was anxious and excited at the same time waiting to meet Babe. I can easily say the main parts to a siSwati greeting at this point, which is the extent of my confident siSwati. I think Babe was anxious … Continue reading →

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Impressions of Swaziland

Posted on June 25, 2016 by elliewick

We have just started our first full week in Swaziland as Peace Corps Trainees. This is the week where we move in with our training host families for about 65 days. Everyone is anxiously awaiting our first meeting tomorrow afternoon, … Continue reading →

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