Tag Archives: Africa

Day one: Registration at Umhlanga

Posted on August 29, 2017 by elliewick

Today started early at 4:45 a.m. because we were told to meet the bus taking us to Ludzidzini at 6 a.m. I asked my sisi for us to leave at 5:50 a.m. to walk to school so that we could … Continue reading →

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Let the dancing begin! It is time for Umhlanga

Posted on August 29, 2017 by elliewick

The integration activity of the year for young females is here. One year ago my babe said I should dance at Umhlanga with my sisi this year. Today it officially starts. There was a community meeting with the caregivers of … Continue reading →

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How I spent July’s PCV stipend

Posted on August 28, 2017 by elliewick

July was a much more expensive month. I took a vacation to Lesotho and Durban, and I had saved enough money that I was able to spend only $50 from my American account. Yay me! There was lots of good … Continue reading →

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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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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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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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