travelin' the globe

When thinking about writing about a normal day as a community health PCV in Swaziland, I just laughed. There are no normal days.

I picked a week to report on where I had very little on my calendar to start with, and by the end of the week, I was exhausted from the number of activities that came up. Sometimes, though, the week does not get filled with activities and sometimes I know the week will be extremely busy before it starts.

I will be posting each day this week with the activities I did on the corresponding day a few weeks ago.

Remember that this is only representative of my life. Other PCVs in Swaziland have very different schedules and are working on different projects and activities in their communities. We are supposed to be meeting the needs of our communities, and of course, each of our 70-some communities have different needs, which means we work on different projects across the country.

Thursday

745: Awake and I take a marked egg outside to Thandi’s laying spot. I will collect this egg in the afternoon after she lays a new egg. Then I eat, boil water, read about planting potatoes and decide that although the temperatures are good now for potatoes, I have not seen any seed potatoes and therefore will not be growing potatoes. I review my garden plan, and complete my lesson for Friday’s English club.

945: I head to the garden to double dig a bed and am slowed by copious amounts of trash. I eventually take a break to review the MST schedule again as more discussion has occurred. I also have a creepy visit from the police (don’t worry, I have already reported it).

1330: I finally finish the bed and go inside to cool off on my cool, concrete floor and eat lunch.

1430: I work on my siSwati homework and then work on some articles for the SOJO.

1630: I bring in the eggs, and I wash dishes.

1715: SiSwati lesson.

1815: I finish rinsing dishes and clean the carbon filters in my water filter.

1830: I make dinner, read the latest issue of the SOJO, make a new calendar (I use a big sheet of paper, fold it so that there are eight rows and eight columns, and number the boxes with the dates, and then there is plenty of space to write in plans, what I do each day, and birthdays).

2030: Get ready for bed and read until 2130.

Check out Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

When thinking about writing about a normal day as a community health PCV in Swaziland, I just laughed. There are no normal days.

I picked a week to report on where I had very little on my calendar to start with, and by the end of the week, I was exhausted from the number of activities that came up. Sometimes, though, the week does not get filled with activities and sometimes I know the week will be extremely busy before it starts.

I will be posting each day this week with the activities I did on the corresponding day a few weeks ago.

Remember that this is only representative of my life. Other PCVs in Swaziland have very different schedules and are working on different projects and activities in their communities. We are supposed to be meeting the needs of our communities, and of course, each of our 70-some communities have different needs, which means we work on different projects across the country.

Wednesday

745: Awake and reading emails and WhatsApp.

800: Make breakfast, sweep, dress, pack a bag for my trip to the umphakatsi.

915: Take a khumbi to the sigayo (mill) and walk up the hill to the umphakatsi for a meeting with my chiefdom’s development committee.

945: We talk about Peace Corps, my role, and the water project they are working on and how they would like funding from a Peace Corps grant.

1030: Walk to the stesh for the khumbi to head to Malkerns to visit the post office, where there was a snake inside. Next I walk to Swazi Can to find out about tours (they are on Thursdays and need to be scheduled in advance).

1330: I arrive home, eat lunch, and watch an Avengers movie with my bhuti who was home from school because he did not feel well.

1600: SiSwati lesson.

1700: I work in my garden. There’s always weeds to pull or something to stake. Then I tell Make that I found where Thandi was hiding her eggs, and she tells me that I should take them all inside, and each morning to put one back in the spot so that the neighbors’ dogs do not eat the eggs.

1815: Play crazy eights with my bhuti.

1845: Reheat leftovers for dinner and watch two episodes of TV.

2130: Bedtime.

Check out Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

When thinking about writing about a normal day as a community health PCV in Swaziland, I just laughed. There are no normal days.

I picked a week to report on where I had very little on my calendar to start with, and by the end of the week, I was exhausted from the number of activities that came up. Sometimes, though, the week does not get filled with activities and sometimes I know the week will be extremely busy before it starts.

I will be posting each day this week with the activities I did on the corresponding day a few weeks ago.

Remember that this is only representative of my life. Other PCVs in Swaziland have very different schedules and are working on different projects and activities in their communities. We are supposed to be meeting the needs of our communities, and of course, each of our 70-some communities have different needs, which means we work on different projects across the country.

Tuesday

730: Awake and check email and WhatsApp from bed.

800: Out of bed, check for insects, boil water for tea, and I make breakfast with cereal and a slice of toast with peanut butter. I get dressed and soak 30 beans to plant that day.

900: I peruse the grass near my house looking for manure for my garden. I also collect dried leaves and green grass to use in my beds. I mark each spot for a seed with a small stick and then I plant the bean seeds to the left of each stick.

1030: Fetch water and bathe.

1110: Leave for savings group at the school.

1130: The meeting is short, with everyone contributing E20 and some of the members borrowing money.

1230: At home, I prepare lunch and pack my bag for English club.

1330: I head to the stesh to catch a khumbi to the high school. I never know how long I will have to wait, so I have to be early. The ride itself takes only 10 minutes, with about five minutes of walking on both ends. Sometimes I get to school at 1400 and other times it is closer to 1430.

1440: Classes end at school, but it takes until nearly 1500 to get the students to the club. We cover idioms until the school day is over at 1540.

1550: I get a ride from the school to my community from one of the English teachers who drives home through my community. I get home around 1610.

1615: I have lots of ideas about a TB event that I discuss with a community member on WhatsApp.

1640: siSwati lesson.

1750: Play with the kids on my homestead.

1830: Cook chicken curry for dinner.

1930: Learn the ummiso dance with two of my sisters. This is the most traditional of all the dances for unmarried females.

2000: I read, make plans for the next issue of the SOJO, and discuss plans for a TB and HIV event.

2200: Bedtime.

Check out Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday, too.