Exposure 'Ngonini, Piggs Peak'

Here in Ngonini I have started my three-month stay in Swaziland and trying to see a different prospective of life, at least different than two years that I have spent in Europe so far. I am based in Ngonini, it’s a small town northern Swaziland which is located to the south of Hhohho district, close to the border with South Africa.

When I arrived in Mbabane, capital city of Swaziland, I stayed with other school mates in a Cathmar cottage which is a guest house owned by an American family and have all the facilities according to African standard or similar to European standard.

Living there for a couple of days I could not experience the touch of community or needs so I decided to leave for Ngoniini, Piggs Peak as early as possible.

Berine, a South African national who has immigrated to Piggs Peak in Swaziland years ago is in a co-founder of Hlanganani primary school here. She drove me to Piggs Peak and I got a chance to know little more about the country, people and the social issues here, specifically in Piggs Peak. The whole conversation made me realize I am at the right place to start my social work journey and I have to make most of it, but some realty beyond my expectation were yet to unfold.

Berine gave me a quick tour to her Pre/Primary school and introduced me to the staff members then she dropped me to the local bus stop where I had to catch a Kombi to Ngonini. I have been hopping from one place to another, one means of transport to another since September 27 despite having carsickness.

A Kombi or a micro van with capacity to accommodate 12 passengers maximum was loaded with more than 15. Approximately 45 minutes drive from the town to Ngonini where I had been asked over and over if I am married or engaged or I am interested to be make new friends. So far I have noticed that being a foreigner here you will be asked many strange questions by the people but at least they have decency not to be clingy. Every person you meet greets you and asks how you are.

Vusumnotfo area located amidst the citrus farm is definitely not a place you would have imagined that you are going to live for three months, but yes if you can have control over your materialistic thoughts you can definitely adapt it. And this is my home for another three months where I live with my supervisor Kathy with her four pets, a Peace Corps volunteer from States, Swazi volunteer and a German volunteer in Vusumnotfo project.

I am still trying to get familiar with name of places and the transport back and forth. Piggs Peak town is pretty crowded. If you are a female, men come asking for your phone number or wanna date him, women ask you if you wanna marry her daughter or son and are willing to give your parents 25 cattle according to Swazi marriage culture. At times, the attention overwhelms you but consistency make you annoyed. Put a ring in your ring finger and say them that you're MARRIED.

Middle of nowhere

Sunset through barb wire

Chicken farming

My wendy house

Banana Farm

Citrus farm

Three months in Africa...Goose Bumps!

Landed at Johannesburg airport on 28th September and missed my shuttle bus to Swaziland. After being stranded in J’burg airport for a couple of hours, I decided to stay overnight in the guest house near the airport and wait for my bus next day.

Cab drivers tried to rip me off, cops made inquiries suspecting me as an illegal immigrant, for few minutes I felt like I am in India, or where the heck I was. Thankfully, I didn’t lose my temper nor did I panic that helped

me make a right decision.

Next day, September 29, I got on the shuttle to Swaziland and I took a long breathe that everything’s gonna be alright now.

Nearly 3.5 hours drive from J’burg to Mbabane city in Swaziland was amazing. The magnificent landscape of South African boarder made me nostalgic. I could see hills, cattle grazing grass in the field and the clouds. I was surprised not to have got car sick, which I usually do suffer, I was just carried away by the scenery and I said to myself, Girl you are in AFRICA!


Spent few days in Mbabane for some paper works and headed off to my final destination in Swaziland, Piggs Peak.

Mbabane, Swaziland

                                       

A Research Assistant Intern, Qutomo Project, Finland

Current status:

Besides my studies, I am a research assitant  intern in Qutomo under Nice Hearts ry, Finland, funded by EU. 

visit www.qutomo.wordpress.com for my recent post. Thank you! Kiitos!

Getting life on track

I'm breathing spring, and waiting for summer. When the mild sun rays caress my face gently through my window glass I feel rejuvenated; It gives me new hope and energy to kick-start my day.  

To speak out my heart, I never liked summer 'coz where I come from, summer is more like sweating, humidity and lots of mosquitoes, but since I've come here I hear everyone talking about Finn summer. It's true, after all those freezing winter months, two months of summer is like a boon. Also, I'm tired of wearing these heavy jackets, jeans and all woolen clothes. I need few months to be with my whites, shorts and flip-flops...(sigh)


Besides, summer break will give me sometime to bring my life back on track. Right now my life has become like a bookshelf where all the reading materials are kept in unsystematic order. Hopefully, I will have enough time to bring it back into dictionary format.  


For student like me who has come a long way, miles away from family, who has started life from scratch, it's very difficult. In fact it's a way more than just a word 'difficult'. Sometime many things/issues come my way and even my mind does not work properly to decide which one of those needs more attention and which do not. Few days back a friend of mine asked me "Did you shed some extra kgs/lbs?" and my answer was.." Well, can't say about weight, but I definitely have lost some brains." 


Well, let me not write about what it is like 'coz it will sound more like complaining rather than sharing. Sometime people out here surprise me ('m not talking about Finns). When you see your own people far from home, the feeling of bonding comes naturally, but you forget then that they are all coated with layers of pretension, selfishness and attitude. It really makes me sad, so I always try to maintain the distance. In response, I get the title of being "Selfish" or "Proud". I least bother, not in anyway 'coz- Life is too short to stress yourself with people who don't deserve to be an issue in your life.

No offence to anyone, it's my blog and I have right to express my feeling. I'm not sorry for anything that I have written. Just exclude yourself from "own ppl" category. 


"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers"- Universal human rights declaration, Article 19

XOXO

Jo_tee

HELSINKI, Finland, April 09 2012

"a picture speaks a thousand words" 


As I'm not getting enough time to blog these days here are some pictures taken in Helsinki on April 09 2012. It was indeed a great and relaxing sunny day (obviously not warm) in Helsinki.


Enjoy!! :-)


XOXO
Jo_tee 

Spain via Germany 2011/12

Goodbye 2011..you´ve been the BEST!!

A year old in blogging and this is my 35th post, a last blog for year 2011.

Wow! I´ve traveled a way far in the journey of my blogging and every time I tried to put my feeling in words, I discovered a whole new person in me. And I am proud to be what I am.

Before looking back to the whole year let me take some moment to re-read my first post and remark the significant changes; the achievements I have made by the end of this year. Was I able to keep up my resolution and follow my dreams?

Well, I can say that "I'm not a novice", of course I haven´t come across the word Perfect yet. The remarkable turning point of my life was that opportunity to volunteer in Vietnam and ‘Be The Change’ Course in Italy. That has been the milestone which gave me a clear vision to what I really should go for in life. Thank you Global Volunteer Network, the entire family of #GVN, especially @Colin Salisbury and every person I met in Vietnam & Italy. There would come a day when the details of your face would begin to slip from my brain’s grip, but those beautiful memories will always remain inscribed in my heart.

My jet setting life in year 2011; from South East Asia to Europe; Thank you all the inspiring people I met; still feels great to remember my days with Wei Fen´s family in Singapore to a recent meet with a wonderful old lady in Munich. And a great time  with my BFF #Kriti and her beautiful family in Barcelona.
 
There are lots of beautiful moments which I would not be able to put in words; I wish I were a writer or a great poet and then my words would have flown like a river or like the morning breeze gently and refreshing.

Now, when I go back to those days, I just get stuck there and do not wish to come back, but time tightly holds my hands and drags me to the present. 

Year 2011 made me more optimistic towards life; it has been the best year with all the great experiences, beautiful memories and my dearest friends.

Trust me it is always worth taking the risk if something is in your mind. Always fight with your fear, ¨Never give up on something you can´t go a day without thinking about ¨
 
Happy New Year 2012! Let´s welcome this year with new hope and promise to make our lives significant.

XOXO
Jo_tee