Greetings from Swaziland

Hi everyone,
Gail & Mike are alive and well in Swaziland. It's hard to believe it's been 3 weeks since we arrived. Lots has happened, so I'll try to give you a brief recap. The Peace Corps has done a great job integrating this group of 36 volunteers into the culture and lifestyle of Swaziland. We're in the far NW segment of the country - we can see the Drakensburg mts. and are very close to the S.A. border. We're in a somewhat developed quadrant of the country, but only have a small city located about 25 km. from our training center. Here's how most of our days go: up at 6:15, wash, cook breakfast, clean up & out the door at 7:15 to catch the khumbi (vans used to transport people - usually can hold 12-15 people) to the training center for 2 hrs. of language, and the rest of the day divided up between classes in personal care: health, safety, first aid, etc. HIV/AIDS info. & cultural classes. We're usually done by 4 pm & have to get home in time to start dinner before it gets dark, which is about 5:30 or 6.
Our homestay is with a Swazi family on their plot of land, which has several dwellings. We have our own "hut" which is 12'x 12' and does have a traditional thatched roof, even though it was built in 2007. We do have electricity - which is 1 electric lightbulb. We also have a peace corps issued propane stove w/3 burners. No, we do not have indoor plumbing - no one in the area does. We have a renewed appreciation for water - where it comes from, how to process it for drinking, etc. Our family has to carry it quite a ways.
I'm grateful for this 3 mos. integration time - as we'll be much more effective volunteers with this knowledge and experience behind us. It's nice to have the other volunteers in a somewhat close proximity to us living wise & we meet for classes - thus when we disperse throughout the country, we'll have this "bonding" time to help connect us. We have our first exams next week, so we're off to study. We miss you all, but are still having a hard time believing we're half way around the world. Love and blessings, Gail & Mike