Day two in Swaziland was, of course, super awesome (I've got to start adding variety to my adjectives...) Despite being very jetlagged, we thought it best to get out of the room and move around to combat sluggishness. We had a great complimentary breakfast at the hotel and decided to drive up to the school to have a little look-see. I don't move in till next week but we thought, heck, why not check it out?
And oh em gee, was is gorgeous. Basically from Mbabane (capital of Swaziland, pronounced "buh-bahn-eh") you drive up a treacherously steep hill until you see signs for the school. So it's really quiet and isolated from the city, I mean I'm sure its more noisy when school was in session, but the location is fantastic.
Everything at the school is extremely lush and green, in a lot of places around the school it was even kind of tropical. I know most don't imagine Africa is being that type of place, but most of the school is very green. Plus the campus is surrounded by huge rocky hills that remind me a lot of the mountains at home. They're not quite as big.. but trust me, these aren't your grandmother's hills either. Here are some pictures:
So.. I guess "tropical Tucson" is kind of a summation? I know it's kind of an oxymoron, but that was my first impression. Many areas around the school look far more tropical than this, but I couldn't get very good pictures. It also very humid... but in any case, it's very nice.
There were a few folks at the school that we're more than happy to drop what they were doing and show us around. I met the head of my hostel, and learned that I had been assigned to the girl's side of the dorm. I didn't say anything but she thought it best that I switched to the boy's corridor. Also met a guy in the admin building who said something to the effect of, "You're Eli? Weren't you supposed to come last year?".
So you know. Celeb status.
Oh! One most important thing. How could i forget - I got a phone today. It took us a while to figure out phones in Swaziland, but basically it's not like home. You have to get a SIM card that only works in the country you're in, so my number will change if I go to South Africa or Mozambique or anywhere else. And then you have to buy minutes like one of those GO Phones or whatever. 50E (~$7.30) gets you about... 20 or 25 minutes (within the nation). But then it changes if you're calling out of the nation? I'm still putzing around with the phone, but in any case, here's the number:
+011 268 7 649 9753
And as I look at this number, I realize that I have NO way to determine whether it's correct or not. It looks really wonky. So if you're in a dire situation or on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, please do not put all your eggs in this basket. I recommend Cha Cha. =)
Worth a shot, though, if you just wanna chat for a couple minutes!
Missing everyone, wish I could bring you all to Swaziland! Visitors are always welcome ;)
Love,
Eli
Wow! So not what I would've expected. The school (what I can see of it in your pics), the greenery (!), and those clouds! So beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLol @ your celebrity status, first in Tucson then in Swaziland. Where, oh where will it end?
This looks like a promising beginning to your Swaziland adventure, Eli. Glad you all made it there, safe and sane(?), even if you did practically have to spend a relative eternity in the dark...losing time...and sporting spectacular frowns in the airport.
Thanks for going in and enabling comments. I look forward to reading your posts.
Take care,
Amy (yeah, yeah, from MDA, and et cetera, and such....)