I'm in Africa

I love Swaziland. I finally feel like I’m in Africa. Despite that statement being filled with stereotypes, it’s true. Before arriving on this continent I had the following images of what I thought Africa would look like: dry, streets lined with vendors selling fabric, fruit and other products, women wearing bright clothing balancing items on their heads, hot hot weather and smiling faces. Manzini is very much like this. I’ve seen Western and traditional clothing, heard the delicious ‘clicking’ sounds of the local dialect and today will visit a market of which I’m told I can purchase beaded jewellery and fabric! I’m so excited. If I can learn to say a few words properly I’ll be thrilled..

Despite my pleasure of being here, I am still feeling really frustrated with the whole situation. In the past 7 days I’ve been in Zimbabwe, South Africa and now here. It’s a waiting game from this point on – will I get a temporary work permit and return to Zim or begin a new internship here? Marisse and Megan are feeling the same way too. It makes it more difficult staying positive now that we are all feeling discouraged, displaced and disorganized. We just want to begin work – somewhere, anywhere that we can we focus on gender issues and the various issues that encompass it.