Ready for the Games!

Firstly, I just realized it's been more than a month since I've last written so sorrrryy! Exactly one month to go until I pack up and try to imagine life back at home...The transistion of reverse-culture shock is something I'm starting to fear..

The month of June and July have been as busy as ever and as rewarding as you can imagine. Let me give you a few updates:

• Our athletes are already in the UK -in Devon, at a pre-Games training camp enjoying themselves aside from the rainy and cool weather (I don't think it's rained here since middle of May). They'll be joining the rest of the delegation later this week at the Olympic village. Phumlile will be running on August 3rd in the 400m, though she is managing a bit of an injury. Sibusiso (Swazibolt) will be running on August 7th in the 200m, while we have a swimmer Luke competing on August 2nd in the 50m Freestyle heat.
• In June over 2 days we celebrated the annual Olympic Day Run in 6 different communities. We tallied a total of 2150 participants of which 2011 were under the age of 12 years!! My community of Lobamba at the Olympicafrica Sports Development Centre reached somewhere around 700! It was my first time co-ordinating such an event, particularly organising the volunteers, sponsors, activities and providing (making) food for hundreds of children! I was also able to run the 10km race which was a bit of a shock to the system - - only because I was trying to keep up with the African runners ;)
• At Olympafrica I'm continuing to provide some training and management support, working on scheduling and organisation of the activities. I held the second coaching course, Sport 4 All, as we are aiming to turn the centre into a sports club, working closely with a group of highly enthusiastic volunteers and coaches. We've been working closely on a program known as Asidlale (Let's Play) which emphasizes fundamental movement patterns and teaching games for understanding for 5 -12 year olds.
• A few weeks ago I was part of a group of very talented rope skippers going to their first ever competition across the border in Durban, SA. The excitement of getting their passports for the first time, travelling for over 6 hours and spending quality time with the boys is something I'll never forget. After their successful competition, sweeping up 8 medals between the 4 boys we drove to the coast where they saw and swam in the ocean for the first time! Speaking to one of the boys' mom's the other day was heartwarming, as they are still speaking about their trip on a daily basis..
• Otherwise, life in Swaziland is calm and beautiful. Though I'm still hoping winter will come to an end any day now so that I can come back with at least a bit of tan! I'm dreading the day I have to leave this place and all the friends I've come to love...but for now, we have the Olympics right around the corner and as we've installed the TV at the centre (wohoooo) we'll be glued to watch the best athletes in the world competing for Olympic glory!

Some pics...

Ngwensini Olympic Day Run

Learning to play netball..

(goal scorer)

En route to Durban

Proud boys! (Bobo, Thabo, Mlungisi, Colani)

Durban coast

Olympic Day in Lobamba

Dalton making pap

Wawa and the kids

Lobamba Volunteers

Teaching how to cook..

..and learning to bake!

Leadership workshop

Olympic athletes arriving in UK

All the good people

One very important item to have in Africa…

·         Flashlight

After almost 5 months, I think I’m starting to get used to the power outages - kind of.. The last 2 days were spent without electricity, yet alone water not only at my house, but also in most of the village. Makes you think twice. Kids get sent home from school, should we encourage them to exercise when the sun is blasting and there is no running water. What about cooking or watering the vegetables growing in the gardens? It’s moments like these when life becomes very simple and can enjoy some candle lit darkness…
 
What I’m missing at home…

·         Friends getting married and having babies!

 So, while its now officially summer at home, so it is officially winter in Swaziland. I know I’ve mentioned it a few times, but now it’s really as cold as it gets! Toques and gloves in the mornings and evenings, while sunglasses are still just as important during the day J

Guaranteed daily encounter…

·         What’s your name and are you married?

  

Last Friday (as part of organizing the volunteers) we spent the day at Swaziland University celebrating what is known as Day of the African Child. It’s a celebration of all children, particularly this year - those who are physically challenged. While the typical speeches and cultural dances filled the morning, the afternoon was spent playing with hundreds of kids. This coming weekend we’re looking forward to the annual worldwide Olympic Day Run event – celebrating the Olympic movement (if you’re in Ottawa this Saturday June 23 – check it out!) Our aim here is 4,000 people so we are dividing up the ‘runs’ in 6 communities and one of those will be hosted where I’m working at the sports development center. Keeping busy organizing sponsors, volunteers, and activities and promoting the event, we’re aiming for up to 1500 people – wish me luck!

Quick slang translation…

·         Hey, what’s up = Eta (8Taa)?

·         Not much, I’m good = Sharp sharp

Otherwise, the daily routines go something like this… I’m usually up at 6, and either standing on the side of the road anticipating a bus (van) to get to work on time, or walking for over an hour to get to the center. Mornings are usually busy enough catching up on paper work, until lunch rolls around when I’m tempted to just eat a massive avocado picked from the tree down the road. The afternoons go quite quickly as the kids come and play until it’s dark – around 5.30 or so. I’m home by 6.30 (as any later, there is no more transport).

New favorite way to keep fit…

·         Rope skipping

The experience in the office is nothing short of an adventure. I’ve been trying to keep track of all the things I’ve been involved with– project proposals, taking notes, strategic planning, presentations, accounting, program development, evaluations, reports, marketing projects, bookings, editing etc. I feel like I’m just starting to understand the complexity of working at an Olympic Committee when there are less than a handful of staff (3) organizing and implementing over a dozen projects and programs.

Favorite part of the day…

·         Sunsets

 
The weekends have come to be part of my work, as usually on Saturday’s there are events going on and I’m busy organizing the volunteers or otherwise just helping out. Not too long ago we had a motivational group come speak to the volunteers, inspiring us with their stories of success and hard work (including a famous Swazi musician ‘Bholoja’), while last weekend we hosted the annual Daimler football tournament with over 500 kids. There is also a local orphanage quite close where I like to spend some time, mostly because the kids don’t get any cuter! Sundays I’m relaxing or hiking, washing, cleaning, and baking– all the usual things that keep us people busy…
 
Something I can’t get used to…

·         Monkeys in my garden!

So, as the end of the month nears, the athletes are off to the Senior African Championships for their last chance to qualify themselves. Otherwise, they are looking fit and ready for their journey to begin in London early next month.

Also, in the past few weeks I’ve been meeting with this lovely lady whom I’m helping start a community project with at the center - our goal is to empower those unemployed women who are keen to learn or improve their sewing or computer skills. Aiming to promote self-dependence and help eradicate poverty, it’s an exciting proposition and would love to see it take off before I think about leaving. More and more I’m falling in love with the people, their kindness and of course the kids – We often talk about values and respect at the center, but I truly believe that these children have the warmest hearts in the world.

 
What I’m going to miss the most…

·         All the good people

Bushfire!

Yebo!

Time flies when you're having fun! I can't believe I have 2 months to go, when it feels like I'm just starting to settle more and more. The winters are just as incredible as the summer time, the cool mornings and nights are crisp after a hot and sunny day - no reason to complain...when the sun shines every day. I love Swaziland! No rain in the winter calls for really dry days so you see many fires in the fields and rolling lush hills. I've moved into a beautiful house overlooking the valley I live in - and if I hadn't lost my phone with some pics on it, I'd love to share the views ;)

Last weekend was Bushfire..a very cool music festival with a great vibe, good tunes and lots of entertainment. A lot of artists come from South Africa or the rest of Africa and a ton of tourists so there was a real mix of people...Mango Groove and Mi Casa were the highlights..Lots of good food and tasty beverages.. I had my doubts camping out with the cold nights but it was a real treat (mostly waiting for the sun to blast at 7am) and truly an unforgettable experience..already on the calendar for next year ;)
Also went on a bit of a local tour (including the swazi museum) learning more about the history of the country and general culture of the way people live. Usually the set up of 'housing' is such that you live with almost all your relatives (until you marry) and each have a little hut, or sometimes siblings share. The staple food is of course a braai - they love their meat - and bap (maize meal). When you marry the groom is expected to pay cows - as many as are requested by the family of the bride..Would really love to see a traditional wedding, though not sure I'd dare the nudity of the attire!

As for work, Im keeping busy as ever. Was part of our strategic planning workshop with the Olympic Committee, which was a good experience - particularly speaking in front of a lot of very important people...and preparing the presidents speech. The athletes I'm working with are gearing up for the Senior African Championships in a few weeks time, and while we officially announced our Olympic team today, they still have the chance to qualify themselves at "B" level for athletics, (at the moment they've qualified through what is known as universality). So, the countdown continues...60 days to go! The mentoring of volunteers and coaches is going great, and we are still cleaning and organizing the centre...so Olympafrica will be in full force for our Olympic Day Run at the end of June...stay tuned!

Hopefully you're all enjoying the start of summer back home!
XOXO ~ Nomsa

In action @ workshop..

A crocodile..or two!

Love Milwane Park!

Yep..horseback riding in Africa!

Avocados in full bloom..

Playing tourist!

Warm-up dance 

Olympafrica by night..

Bushfire 2012

Lots of markets..lots of good music..

Sandi & Senzo!

Yay! Ellen's in town!!

Mozambique Puppet Drummers

Taste of history..

Bap & Braai!

Ha!

Too cute..

Totally Swazi!

snapshots!

"Why would someone plant the seeds of a tree the shade of which they never see?"

Mobile pics..(not sure which ones are actually loading..but mostly from my favourite vendors (ie. corn stand, delicious grapefruits...and some hiking!)