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August 30, 2005
I am alive, BUT be warned!!!!!
Sonnaibonnai, ALL......things are so darn crazy here, i don't know where to really start. I have my own place now, i live alone in a two-three bedroom place, it's actually nice compared to some other volunteers places. PEOPLE WHO WANT TO VISIT ABSOLUTELY CAN AND ARE STRONGLY URGED TO COME AND VISIT. I now live in mambane on the mozambique border on a plateau. the weather is nice and so are the people.
Here's a list of problems that have happened to me so far though:
-Black eye from getting powdered milk thrown at me
-barbed wire in my foot, received extra shots for that one
-mild insomnia
-explosive diahrea. nothing like it in public bathrooms in AFRICA.
-severe insomnia 4 hours sleep in 8 days.
-food poisoning (projectile vomiting)
-bee sting
-was attacked by a battery that spit battery acid on my hands and face, very close to my eye. It burned holes in my pants. The medical doctor told me it was just water.
-i lost 16 lbs by august 4, and have lost even more, my face is really thin and it's creepy to look in the mirror see your thin face and wonder who that is. weird!
-lonliness, isolation, mild depression
I attribute some near the end to moving away from everyone, americans, and traveling and walking all over the place.
But so I live in Mambane with one other man (babe which means father)
he's always busy and only talks about business with me, so we don't talk much and i am really lonely. I will be getting electricity soon but it will be used to cook and for charging electronics (laptop and ipod). I really like living by candlelight. It is so fun and rather romantic. Mambane is about two hours from the closest town where i buy most my things. Siteki is two hours by public transport and you have to drive on a dirt path to get to me. Remember the country is the size of New Jersey so it is real easy to run into other volunteers and meet them for a day, lunch, or something.
Hitch hiking is easy and mostly safe, and it really cuts down on paying for transport big time. I have gotten really good at hitching now. Peace Corps Swaziland understands this and does not take a positive or negative stance on it. They told us that it sometimes is the only way to get around, but to be careful and not do if you have a choice. Another thing that happens is you meet interesting people that are excited for you being there and they live in mansions compared to what i live in now, i.e. they have running water, and invite us to come and stay. I along with another volunteer who travel lots together have collected a list of people who have offered us beds. A wonderful South African coulpe. A crazy British Rasta man and his New Yorkan wife. They have two studios, one for music and they have a photography studio!!!
PLEASE BE ADVISED!!!!
When i get a chance to upload pictures I will be putting some extremely graphic things on the internet. There will be female nudity from the reed dance and HUGE major cultural experience here, that is supposed to promote female chastity and virginity, but what happens are girls from 8-30 come and walk around topless on the prowl for a man, rather the opposite. Plus there will be pics of me actually killing a goat with a dull knife. If it is possible i will be putting a video of it online, if not you will have to wait.
I have been busy visiting other volunteers and putting together my place. But i know i will be working more as a comminity developer bring better water to the area. Being up on the plateau, it is extremely difficult for the Swazis to get water. Currently I get water from a muddle hole in the ground that is frog infested and each scoop of water has so many frog eggs in it. I boil my water and put it through a water filter system that PC gave all of us. I will be working at a orphan school and teaching life skills to them.
OK, well i have to get going, but I have the website problems all figured out now and can post and so now i will be posting more regularly and so you should check back as often as you want to.
Ok take care for now
I miss you all
-Colin
Posted by colin at August 30, 2005 08:10 AM