MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL !!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL !!

Merry Christmas to everyone stateside – It’s been hotter than we’ve yet experienced in Swaziland, so that makes me happy. Of course, we’re thrilled to have Troy, Dana and Brian visiting with us so we can all celebrate Christmas with the Pasture Valley family. And, our family has grown by 4 – yesterday we welcomed 4 new girls to the home – ages 4, 8, 10, and 12.
It’s been so great to have access to the rental car Dana & Brian rented from Joburg. We’ve had a chance to show them more of Swaziland than can be accessed via local transport or via foot. On Monday we got everybody acclimated to the farm, the children and our life here. Then, on Tuesday we drove northeast and went to Mkhaya Game Reserve. We had a guide drive us around the park in an open land rover for 5 hrs. They don’t have the big cats (aka lion, cheetah), but we saw rhino, hippo, giraffe, elephant, buffalo and much more all up close and personal. It was a great experience.
On Wed. we packed up parcels of food and clothing to take to outlying homesteads in need. We took several of our children along to help. We relied on the local home based care providers that we know to direct us to which specific homesteads need the most help. It was humbling and educational for us all. We tend to get used to life here on the farm, and need to get out and see how many, many Swazis are living a subsistence, true poverty existence.
Thursday was Christmas play practice. I helped Michelle write and script and am madly preparing costumes for all 32 children. We’ve got sheep, shepherds, wise men, Mary, Joseph, angels, king and queen Herod and court and townspeople. This year we’ve even got some dance numbers. The performance is tonight. We’ve invited lots of local friends and family. Afterwards we’ll all sing Christmas carols and then have refreshments & socializing. In Swazi culture, children are taught to speak softly, and to lower their head and not make eye contact. It’s been quite a struggle to get them to speak loudly, enunciate, smile, etc. All a great learning experience for their future.
On Christmas Eve, we’ll have a cookout at lunchtime and open presents with the kids. For lots of reasons, there’s no Christmas Eve church services (no one goes out at night, etc.), and here people can’t understand why Americans generally don’t go to church on Christmas Day. To Swazis, that is what Christmas Day is all about – worshiping God and thanking him for sending his Son to us. My kind of place.
Next week Dana & Brian head for Capetown and we’ll have Troy here with us. He’s really getting into the rhythms of this place and has adjusted very well. We hope all of you will be able to be with your families. Of course, we’re missing Hatcher, Lavinia, Mary, John, Ellen and Kevin, but are so grateful to at least have ½ of our kids here with us.

Merry, Merry Christmas and Happy, healthy new year to you all.

MIKE AND Gail

UPDATE 4 DECEMBER 2011

Greetings from Swaziland – hope you are all surviving the holiday frenzy. I’ll have to admit, that’s one part of the US culture I do not miss. The slower, quieter pace is much better for my soul and spirit. That, however, doesn’t mean we haven’t been busy.
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving with whatever family was able to gather. Our Peace Corps family (all 70 volunteers and about 20 staff) were invited to a grand buffet at the Ambassador’s residence. Also included, of course, were embassy staff, and several other displaced Americans. I was a lovely affair – so nice to dress up, and have adult conversation with so many interesting people. Sadly, it was rainy & cool, so only 2 brave souls swam in his pool. They managed to serve turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes (they are grown locally in abundance), pumpkin pie, and much, much more. I was full for 2 days.
On the day before, the morning of, and the day after Thanksgiving, Peace Corps gathered us all at a conference centre to present some new programs, give us a chance to share our successes and challenges, and to review some peace corps policies. It was a very productive 2 days. In addition, in our “free time” I was able to sell quite a lot of our Bambanani jewellery. Another fellow volunteer has also started a similar program in another part of Swaziland. Her jewellery is lovely, distinctive, and compliments our products. It gave me new incentive to keep on improving and working on new designs. The good news is that from our successes with our sales in the US and through the many volunteers who have bought our products, we have had a very successful year. Not only have I been paying a fair wage to each of the craftspeople each month, but we will be able to invest in new development for the project, so as to keep it sustainable in the years to come. The group voted on a new sewing machine. I couldn’t be more pleased. We’ll work on training sessions beginning at the new year. They each will get a small year-end “bonus” as well, based on their sales. That is a very un-Swazi idea for them to embrace. The usual Swazi attitude, is all for one and one for all, in order to be “fair” to all. The group voted to do it this way, and even put it in writing – stating that they wanted to encourage the “lazy” ones to get working! On the way home, I took advantage of being in the “big” city and did some shopping – mostly for Bambanani supplies. I continually am surprised at what I am finding when I look carefully. Some items are actually cheaper here than in the states, esp. zippers and now even glass beads. All good for sustainability.
We had another treat that Thanksgiving weekend. On Friday evening after Thanksgiving we were invited to the farm of a friend of our host family. It was a much larger operation, more typical of what I would picture a South African farm would be – beautiful large farm house, “rustic”elegance. They served us a lovely meal – meat grilled on the braai, with salad, veggies, bread and dessert. Again, I had to pinch myself to be reminded that I am a Peace Corps Volunteer – as we could have been anywhere in large rural American farm. I could get used to this.
The kids are all home from school for about 6 weeks. Schools closed 2 weeks early, I suspect due to budget cuts. So, we have scheduled holiday programming each morning and afternoon. Michelle does not like idle time, and I agree. So, each morning they have farm chores for 1 hr.; then a break; then an activity for 1 hr. followed by either reading or math. Then the afternoon is looser – just 1 hr. of activities, one of which is swim lessons for 8 of them 3 days a week. Yes, I’m teaching swim lessons with another volunteer. We’re alternating with 2 groups of 8 kids, ages 10 – 18. We’re using the pool of a lovely guesthouse “nearby”. Michelle drives us there and we walk home – 1 hr. uphill. By the third day, I’m a bit beat. Half of the kids are water friendly, but can’t “swim” The other half are novices. The biggest surprise was that the 4 new children are the least fearful and most willing to accept instruction. I’m having fun. So far the other activities have been making Christmas cards, cooking and memory games.
One last comment. Just as I think things are going quite well, I learn of another difficult thing the Swazis must deal with. We’ve enjoyed relative efficient and reliable mail service overseas, so I just assumed the internal mail was the same – with the exception of no delivery, meaning everyone must go to a nearby town for collection of mail at their post office box, or at “general delivery”. Wrong. We’ve been watching Michelle try to collect a document from a colleague in Mbabane so that she can sign it and then return it. They’ve been at it for weeks. Both parties refuse to trust the internal mail, because they say it will never see it again! I wonder what they did before fax machines and email. No wonder things seem to move more slowly here. Thankfully, that’s not part of our world.
We’re enjoying the warm and mostly sunny weather, although the rains are coming more frequently now – which makes farmer Peter very happy. The cows produce much more milk when the grass is green. Gotta go get ready for church. Love and hugs to all of you. Gail and Mike