The Long Weekend

Found out my Siswati name!! It is Fikile which translates to 'you have arrived'. So cool. We had our first parents meeting at Injabulo the other day which was interesting. We introduced ourselves while one of the teachers translated and we told them about fees and things then the rest seemed to be in Siswati which made it quite difficult to understand what was happening haha. We're still getting used to being the bosses at Injabulo but we're getting there.

This weekend Rachael and I decided to have a little adventure in Swaziland so we booked a canopy tour at Malolotja National Park which was about two and a half hours away from Big Bend. We decided to travel on the Friday and have the tour on the Saturday morning. We were going to take kombis all the way but just as we were walking up to the kombi rank the deputy head of the school and his wife pulled up in the car. They told us they were going to Mbabane which is the capital city of Swaziland and really close to the place we were staying!! We were dropped off by a kombi at the top of the road where Hawane Resort was (where we were staying over). We started walking. And kept on walking until we eventually reached our destination. It seemed really peaceful when we arrived and the receptionist told us where our room was. There were stables all around the area and so when we first opened up the door to our room I thought we had made a mistake and it was more stables. But I was wrong. It was a converted barn with about 20 stables in it and in each stable there were beds. I'm sure it wouldn't have been spooky if it was full but it was just me and Rachael so it was really creepy! The rest of the resort was really nice though and we just chilled by the pool for ages and ate quite a lot.

Learned how to walk on water

Next morning we walked to the main road to catch a kombi. We waited for about 20 minutes and we were beginning to think we weren't going to make the tour which started at half 8 but thankfully one arrived! One thing we didn't do when we were booking this was look at the weather forecast... It was very misty, drizzly and cold. I felt like I was in Scotland not Africa! Not good weather for a canopy tour where it is mainly all about the views. We got to the National Park and we got a safety brief and our sexy gear on. Then we got into a jeep to take us to the first platform. We were still absolutely freezing even with blankets over us!! As we were driving the mist was clearing luckily and when we reached our first platform it wasn't nearly as cold yeeey. We were attached to zip wires and it felt like we were flying over trees it was amazing! At one point we had to cross a suspension bridge which went across 2 cliffs and was so high up. It was pretty terrifying but so much fun. We also had to walk down steps which were over thin air! Overall I loved it!

Me and Rachael

Every day except for the weekends we have to get up at about 5 in the morning so I always fall asleep around 9 sometimes even just after 8! My sleeping pattern has completely changed from when I lived in Scotland. The weather is also a lot different. From it being about 40 degrees Celsius the other day it has dropped to about 20 degrees because the summer rain is coming. Can't wait for the first thunderstorms!

The past week...

Where to begin haha... So arrived in Johannesburg on saturday morning and was amazed by the level of security people have for their houses. Their were electric gates and barbed wire everywhere and you had to keep your windows closed in the car sometimes in case people tried to reach in and steal something visible like your phone. It 's quite scary but for some reason I still loved this vibrant city! There were some people sat on the side of the road with sign posts advertising their skill like plumber or gardener which was quite weird as well.

At Heathrow Airport!

Set off for Swaziland that evening. We boarded onto a plane which literally could only fit around 35 people, it was tiny! Rachael and I realised at Heathrow Airport that we had no idea how we were getting from the airport in Manzini (Swaziland) to our project and if anybody would be there to pick us up. So when we arrived at Manzini we were relieved when we found Richard, our Rep. He took us to Big Bend where we were going to be staying for the next year the following day.

Tiniest Plane!! 

Everyone is really friendly here which makes it really easy to settle in! We are staying at this boarding school called Sisekelo High School which is quite nice and is a short walk to places. All the security guards here are so funny! Especially this old guy who just smiles and laughs all the time and sometimes brings his little guitar and sits and sings all day. So cute! We used our first day settling into our rooms by unpacking our bags and putting up our photographs on our wall so we now feel more at home!

Last Tuesday we went to visit two of our projects, Injabulo Pre-school and the Moriah centre. When we arrived at Injabulo the kids were so excitable and happy. They were shouting and screaming and jumping about in the classroom. The two teachers came out and it was heartbreaking because they looked so relieved and overjoyed to see us. They hugged us and had their hands over their mouths and laughing. They thought we weren't going to come and that they'd have to teach the children by themselves. They kept on hugging us while the children were trying to knock down the door, or though it sounded like haha. We then had to leave because we were meeting someone at the Moriah Centre.

Fell asleep before nine o'clock tuesday night because I was that tired and had to get up at five the next morning to get ready for Injabulo. Had to catch our first Kombi on Wednesday which is like a bus from Big Bend to the preschool. At Matata which is where we had to catch a different kombi we didn't really know what we were doing but because everyone is so nice, a man who worked there tried to help us and then gave us his name and number and said he wanted to be our friend haha. We managed to get on the one to the school eventually!

It was pretty hectic when we got to the preschool since it was our first time so we didn't really know what to do and the teachers were late arriving. Can't get over how cute the kids are! Something else which I haven't mentioned is Rachael's foot! Her foot just all of a sudden started to get bigger and bigger and sorer and sorer. It got to a point when she couldn't put any weight on it! She went to the clinic 5 minutes away twice. The first time the doctor said it was arthritis and gave her some pills. The second time a different doctor said she had an infection and that she should get hospitalised for 4 days there! She really did not want to do that and I didn't blame her so she called Richard, our rep to get his advice. He told her to come to Manzini on the thursday to go to that hospital. This meant I had to go to Moriah Centre for the first time properly by myself!!

Rachael's foot aahhhh

  Wasn't sure when Rachael would get back because I didn't know if she would have to get put in hospital there instead. But thankfully she got back that afternoon and it turned out it was an allergic reaction! Not arthritis or and infection haha! I had to travel to Injabulo on the friday on my own as well which meant getting the kombi! First time I've had to use the 'married excuse'. The thing I love about Swaziland, is that even though we are pretty much the only white people living in Big Bend, because everyone is so nice you don't feel in any way uncomfortable! Friday was the first time we went to Soup Kitchen. It was devastating seeing all the people who depend on the food that you bring. For some people our twice weekly visits is the only food they get! It makes you think how much you take for granted and how unfair the world can be. So far I like the Soup Kitchen the best one reason being I get to drive this truck which is pretty fun! And also the women who helps out with the Soup Kitchen and tries her best to support the children is amazing! She has adopted some of them into her home even when she already struggles to support her own family. Her personality is the best, I feel like she's my best friend already! Her name is Aunty Vinah.

Driving the mighty truck

Our first weekend was pretty good! On Sunday we went to this dam quite close by with some people and had our first braai! Which is sort of like a barbecue. We then went out on a speedboat because around the dam there is a National Park. We saw a Giraffe!!!! And a Crocodile!!! And some other Wildebeest type things which were so cute! Makes me love living in Africa with this kind of wildlife right on your doorstep.

THE GIRAFFE!

On Monday we got some good pictures at Injabulo of the kids! They are the cutest things! This week has been really good because we are more or less used to the projects now...ish. On the way to Soup Kitchen yesterday it was like we were on a safari. We saw a monkey crossing the road, two warthogs and a ginormous lizard/ crocodile. Now planning something to do for the long weekend this week because it is the elections on friday.

Me and the kids waiting for the school bus at Injabulo!

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Today is the day

This is my first entry entry so no making fun. Today I am going to be leaving Scotland to live in Swaziland for a whole year! I don't feel like it's actually today that I'm going! It feels like it was just yesterday when I was hearing about all the different countries I could go to with Project Trust at the Selection Course on the Isle of Coll. So happy that I was selected for Swaziland and can't wait to start this adventure! So strange how time flies!