Random Observations and Reflections

1. I married Prince Charming. Two weeks ago the rains were so heavy for back-to-back days that the river overflowed its banks and washed over the bridge along our running route. On the way out, I got a piggy-back across the bridge so that I didn't have to run in sopping wet shoes (8K up a mountain P.S.) and on the way back, not only did I get a piggy-back, but Doug made multiple trips to ferry a couple of young children across who were walking to school (and in jeopardy of being washed off of the bridge).
2. It would be much safer if the traffic lights (or 'robots' as they are called here) could be fixed at the main, 5-way intersection in town. They have been broken for at least two weeks and it makes for very interesting driving in the center of town (where the majority of people walk in the road, as it is).
3. I secretly love the fact that our water heater is not regulated. I can take the hottest shower tolerable. Although, I outwardly don't like it when I am doing the dishes and burn myself (probably because doing the dishes is not nearly as enjoyable as a hot shower).
4. Sometimes it is sad living in a transient community. Other times it is exciting. Right now it is mostly sad. Our good friends Dan (PAC doctor) and Meridith and their family are moving home to the States on the 14th. And, our good friend Mallory (Fulbright'er) is moving home on the 22nd. And Jordan (TechnoServe) and Alison I (TechnoServe) are moving home on the 17th and 22nd respectively. Sigh.
5. I am turning 32 on the 20th. What the hell kind of age is that? 32? Barf.
6. Instead of exchanging Christmas gifts with family and friends this year, we are contributing to a number of different causes in the community; one of which is called a 'Chicken Day.' The third weekend in January, Doug and I will purchase 30 live chickens which will feed 200+ children at a rural Neighborhood Care Point (NCP). I can't wait for the feathered mayhem.
7. Last week our siSwati teacher taught us a number of new verbs. One of which was 'setsula' or 'to release.' I confidently constructed a number of sentences in which things were 'let go' or 'released' (mostly back into the wild) when I noticed the perplexed look on her face. Next, she waved her hand behind her bum and plugged her nose and said, 'to release.' Oh...now I get it. 'Setsula' actually means 'to fart.' Nice. Well, in that case, I'd like to scratch my previously constructed sentences from the record (even though in light of this new learning, they are all hysterical).
8. We went scuba diving in Sodwana Bay, South Africa this past weekend and on the way out of town we stopped at 'Alex's Pizza Takeaway' (which was neatly scrawled on a surfboard on the side of the road). Turns out, he is an Italian trying to make ends meet in Sodwana so he built a woodfire stove, rolls his own dough, and even wired together a piece of metal and a stick to make a pizza spatula of sorts for putting/retrieving pizzas in/from his homemade oven. Best pizza ever. Thin crust slice of heaven.
9. It doesn't really matter if you are caught speeding in Swaziland. A speeding ticket is 60 Emalangeni or roughly $8. There's no points on your license or any court date blah, blah, blah. Just $8 paid on the side of the road and you are on your way. I've gotten two.
10. Our first visitors arrive on the 19th! Elizabeth (Biss) and Josh Thiel are coming to spend Christmas with us! Hooray!
11. Whenever I take our recycling to one of the local primary schools that appears to run a recycling program, the kids look at me like I have three heads. I have pretty much filled the recycling bins outside of the school since we've arrived; which leads me to believe the program is currently struggling or on hiatus. Which may be why the kids look at me like I have three heads.
12. 'Salad cream' and mayonnaise are really not the same things.
13. Avocados are transitioning out of season and mangoes are coming into season.
14. Buying minutes for my 'pay as you go' cell phone has never been easier. Basically, on every street corner there is a person in a yellow bib that says, 'MTN.' You just pull over and tell them how much money you'd like to put on your phone...they send a text, you hand over the money, you receive a text confirming the transaction has been completed, and you are on your way! Voila. Minutes.
15. There is a bug flying kamikaze style into the kitchen window (over and over and over again) as I'm typing. The bugs in Swaziland are particularly crunchy and the noise is kind of gross and I'm starting to feel bad for the bug! I'll end this random collection of observations and reflections to relieve the bug from its insanity (insanity = flying into the window over and over again but somehow expecting a different outcome).