Life in Swaziland
has continued as normal this week.  I've
been teaching in high schools, buying fruit at the market, climbing mountains,
presenting children's programs, taking public transport, selling muffins with
my Swazi friends, talking on the phone, visiting sick people, watching birds,
eating mangos even though I'm allergic to them, laughing, crying, sleeping in
my bunk bed, holding orphans, wearing my roommates' clothes, cooking and
cleaning, going to church, catching lizards, reading books, loving people,
recognizing injustice, praying, singing, yelling at mosquitoes, speaking SiSwati,
wearing long skirts and flip flops, buying food for the poor, telling stories,
reading my Bible, eating toast before bed, and doing everything else that comes
along with normal life.

I've realized recently, in the midst of all of this, that life
in Swaziland
has, in fact, become very normal.  Things
that seemed out of the ordinary at first (and in some cases, even ridiculous)
have become common.  My teammates and I
laugh about "things that would never happen in America."  Here are just a few examples, for your enjoyment:

The post office runs out of stamps.  Often.

There is a carbon dioxide shortage.  No Coke for Swaziland.

Police officers pull you over to ask for candy.  Or they attempt to arrest you and propose to
you simultaneously.  

School children have to bring fire wood to school if they
want to eat lunch.

School Lunch menu: 
Monday through Friday = Beans.

Why did the cow cross the road?  Because he isn't inside a fence and he can do
whatever he wants.  So can the goats.

The water stops working. 
So does the electricity. 

No shoes, No shirt, No problem!

#1 Swazi pick-up line: 
"Will you marry me?"  (creative).

40 children pack into one van to ride to school.  Parents don't mind.

5-year-olds take care of 2-year-olds.

It is acceptable to put corn in the offering plate at
church.

Cashiers will tell you that you are a bad customer if you
don't buy what they recommend.

People get extremely excited about KFC.

It's all to be expected.  :)

I wish you could all be here with me to enjoy these fabulous
people and this incredible culture!  During
the ups and downs of life in Swaziland,
I am learning so much and gaining perspectives that I am not even sure yet how
to explain… Thank you for helping to make all of this possible. 

God Bless Swaziland!

(And America)!

With love, as always,

Katie Movic