Three kinds of people in this world...

7/26/09


My lizard friends were not out this morning, but perhaps like the rest of the country, they are at church. The country is very religious, by all accounts, but I have not yet learned to what degree they are superstitious. As you would expect, many of the shops in town were closed today, except for a couple of the grocery stores and random other stores. The security guard was perplexed that I would want to walk into town and then back, instead of using the bus. He conceded that it was good exercise, but still thought I was being rather silly.

The vendors selling fruit were set up with their merchandise propped up on cardboard boxes under the awnings of the shops along the streets. There is an outdoor mall or NYC sort of set up for most of the stores; you are almost constantly under an awning, which is probably required due to the sort of summers they are said to have here; hot and rainy. I've been told they have some rather spectacular thunderstorms during the rainy season, which I look forward to (though the humidity I could do without).

I might not have to worry about the humidity, come summer. I'm considering getting my hair cut rather short, because either due to stress or genetics, my hair is thinning again. Anyone have an opinion on to whether chopping it short will actually help and/or whether it would look decent?

Re-read the article my father supplied to me on culture shock today. If boredom is really a defining symptom, then I had more culture shock going on in Delaware. Of course, in Delaware I had John there with me, which is far preferable. I'm sure I must be in one of the four stages, but I won't be certain which one until I start working in the community. As he mentioned, no one is immune to it. There is so much of the familiar here, but increasingly more that is unfamiliar (some of which is dressed in familiar’s clothing. Sneaky).

One of the more difficult things for me to get accustomed to is the lack of instantaneous communication. I’ve gotten so used to going on the computer whenever I like, or whipping out my cell phone to text or call someone. Instead, I can only go on once a day or so (because it costs Sarah $$, and I don't want to be a drain), and the only way to call anyone is to use outrageously expensive phone cards, or Skype (hint hint). I've always known that I was using conveniences, but I didn’t realize the extent to which I had grown accustomed to them.

But on the bright (ish) side, now I have to do much more planning and thinking. And for the time being, I have time to just sit and think, instead of just doing something. But this is a mixed blessing, believe me. My mind is a scary place to be stuck alone in. I’ve been avoiding it for what seems like years (lots of cobwebs and unpacked boxes). You never realize how much you are using busy work—schedule this, schedule that, visit friends, go run this errand, do some writing, watch television, clean, research, go on facebook—to escape yourself until you find yourself out of things to do, and are left standing alone with your mind and all your problems staring you straight in the face. (Well, my mind has these towering blue doors, but believe me, they can still stare at you.) It’s not a wonderful place to be, but it is necessary, I suppose, if you ever want to truly understand yourself. (The true curb-stomp of reality.)

I can't remember the last time I just sat outside and enjoyed the sound of the wind—at least for more than five minutes at the time. It smells like burning wood here, sometimes stronger than others when the wind blows it over from the neighboring houses or mountains. And there is a bird here that makes a deep sound, like a dog bark, only more melodic. Every time I try to find it, it goes frustratingly silent.

In Swazi news today: Nompilo Mncina was crowned Miss Swaziland! (Miss Swaziland sponsered by KFC and a hair dye company from South Africa, among others). And Emmanuel Adjenku has given another prophecy saying that Swaziland will be Africa's economic hub! (Hey, maybe I can get a part time job at the newspaper!)

In other news, I have learned to count! Well, only to five, but Mathikami, one of the security guards, was nice enough to write the pronunciations down for me.
1: Kunye, 2: Kubili, 3: Kutsatfu, 4: Kune, 5: Kusihlanu

There will be a quiz.

Sala Kahle!

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