Corn in Africa!

One of my favourite vegetables. Corn. As soon as I landed (now 2 weeks ago) in Swaziland, I saw a lady roasting corn on the cob on the side of the road...YUMMM- it's everyhwere! I love corn. Maize, it turns out, is one of their main ingredients not only for porridge (maize based) but also for many other specialties..And while I’m on food, I’ve tasted the most delicious juiciest mangoes I’ve ever had!!

I’ve now been in Botswana for 5 days and had the pleasure of tasting their lightly flavoured corn on the cob. It was at Nando’s. Yep, Nando’s flame-grilled chicken restaurant. This country – compared to Swaziland, is more developed. There are sidewalks next to roads, massive shopping malls and grocery stores (including gluten free products!), the sports grounds are more established and the hotel we stayed at even had water sprinklers for the grass! While at the same time, while I was checking out the surroundings on my morning run, I came across a herd of cows just hanging out in the middle of the street! Moo. What decides more developed from less developed? You see smart phones and Coke products, Mercedes’ and fancy hotels, while at the same time, have gaps in education and many in poverty and orphanages. (Though, maybe my 5 day stint is limited to a main city and not quite as rural as I have been exposed to in Swaziland). However, after meeting some Botswana delegates it seems as though, their sporting world (administratively, organisationally, and activity development) is more advanced.

How does one nation, develop faster than its neighbour? What is development? While this is my first experience working in the developing world, I’m finding vast differences between what this word actually means. For me, development should act as a platform or a foundation on which to build from. Thus, my role as a capacity support officer reflects many jobs that I hope will be sustained after I leave; facilitate coaching workshops (you need coaches to teach- not only rules but also life skills), develop strategic plans and policies for future endeavours, high performance planning, create marketing tools (facebook pages), introduce Zeus – a management database for Games preparation and other needs, as well as build relationships within the African nations. Having completed this last 4 day workshop, I already feel as though I’ve empowered other delegates and their needs -meeting people from Zambia, Botswana, Uganda, and Seychelles- how exciting!

Botswana is a truly beautiful country, and I do hope to come back to help with hockey development, and explore more of its game reserves and the Victoria Falls.

Hakuna Matata

Last night I had one of the most spectacular nights yet. As a group we ventured to a game reserve just outside of Gaborone where we saw anything from Zebras, Ostriches, Cheetah’s, Hyenas, Warthogs, Giraffes, Impalas, Turtles etc etc (felt like we were in the Lion King)...WOWZA, and the sounds of hippos in the lake- such a stunning place. While during the day it was around 38 C (15 more than in Swazi) the night was majestic! So this afternoon, after our final day of “work” we’re going back to pet some cheetah’s.. stay tuned!

Pre game-drive champagne + OJ

Zeus training

 

Sawubona!

And this week’s adventures..

Ø  Polygamy is for real! For the men...remember to call your wives by the right name; eat sparingly, you might have to eat multiple dinners (the last King had over 60 wives and more than 200 children..)

Ø  One highway + accident = 2.5 hour instead of 10 minute commute..best part is the delay mainly due to spillage of beer cans which locals were after on the motorway..

Ø  Lizards are my friends; ants, mosquitoes and other creatures, not so much..

Ø  Sitting at office all day = sore back...must join yoga studio next week..

Ø  By local transportation expect a van in middle of street, not a bus at the bus station..

Ø  Cinnamon hearts are still my favourite Valentines (thanks sneaky Mom)..

Ø  Hot showers are a real treat!

Mucho busy at work, but loving the sun..culture shock settling in... Next week off to Botswana for hotel luxuries and 4 day workshop!

Ps. Did I mention there is a pool where I'm staying...


My House!

Morning View

Office

Swazi Post Office

Transport Home from Mbabane

Close to the Office

What is culture?

In the last 28 years I've been to 10 different schools, lived in 13 different cities, 8 countries, and played for at least 2 dozen sports teams. Whichever city or place I've experienced for either school or sport, I've always been embedded in a new culture; making new friends, getting used to new surroundings, new foods to taste, different attitudes and new ways of life are all part of the adventure.

Swaziland is like no where I've ever been.

More than 40% of the population live in huts with no electricity. What do you mean kids don't have physical education- or a free primary education? Fact: the average life expectancy is 37 years of age and HIV is worse since when the epidemic started. Grade 1 education is now free, so you have 16 year olds and 5 year olds learning in the same classroom. Children in schools have little opportunity to be creative, draw, play instruments, or learn basic fundamental movements like skipping rope or doing somersaults.

You’re a high performance athlete preparing for the Olympics. How? Who are your coaches. What funding or facilities or accommodation do you have that allows you to cook, clean or have running water. What competition before a competition. What nutrition or training program. What mental preparation or life skills education, what about confidence, self esteem building or concepts of teamwork.

Swaziland is beautiful.

The friendly people, the never ending rolling hills and mountains, the warmth minus the thunderstorms, the markets (fresh mangos) and language (I've heard a few clicks) and the soft spoken kindness are what makes this place magical...

I'm living in a cute little cottage in a gated neighbourhood (visitors welcome) and though I feel quite safe, often without electricity (flashlights needed) or hot water, with unknown insects glaring at me, know that every morning just after 5am the birds will be chirping, and the warmth of the sun will get me out of bed.

Most importantly though, I'm going to enjoy my work - coaching coaches, high performance planning (preparing/organizing aspiring Olympians), sport development projects, etc, finding new hobbies and making new friends...while at the same time, appreciate being online, even when it takes 2-3 minutes to load each page ;-) 

What is culture shock?

Ps. Thanks for all the messages, it's good to hear from home! Highlight of the week: buying crunchy skippy peanut butter wooo! Sorry, no photos yet, it's taken close to an hour to try so far...

Pre-departure

Top pre-departure moments

• 6 months work in Swaziland? Sure..Where is that?   

• Only if they speak with a click.

• Malaria and Dr advice: picture a straight line down the middle of the country..east no, west yes- "do the Mosquitos know that?"

• Imagining living in a hut.    

• Ricky and Paula sponsoring an African child.

• Head lamp, mosquito net, sleeping bag, swiss army knife, water purifier. Check. Wait, working in a office? Professional clothing. Check. Wait, working?

• Drop cloud? Somebody please explain the internet to me.  

• Convincing Mom and Dad I could use a smart phone for Skype, and of course, only if it plays scrabble.

For those that don't know and are keen to know, for the next 6 months I'll be working for the Swaziland Olympic and Commonwealth Games Assocation as a Capacity Support Officer. This work is sponsored by Commonwealth Games Canada, the Commonwealth Games Federation and Olympic Solidarity. Primarily my role is to empower their organization with the tools necessary for preparing for the upcoming Olympics, high performance planning and sport development projects.

While it hasn't quite sunk in that I'm leaving tomorrow, and haven't begun packing yet (typical), I'm incredibly excited and feel very proud to be a part of this program. My team (in Sri Lanka, St Lucia and Barbados) and I, have an incredible opportunity ahead of us. The support and contacts already made by previous CSO's, are making this "move" easier by the minute..

While the last two weeks have been non-stop organized chaos, mostly including the never-ending lists of things to do (vaccinations, things to buy and prepare for, playing in the snow, spending time with family and close friends).. I'm constantly imagining the most beautiful sunsets in the world. Flashes of Safaris and markets, and a lot of sun, are my pre-departure moments of excitement that over-shadow my angst for taking on this once in a lifetime adventure...Plus, going from -16 C to + 31 C can't be that bad!!

So, here I go, this time to Swazi..let the 40 hour journey begin!! 

Ps. Skype me :)

Pps. Like this page for other updates and posts: 
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeux-du-Commonwealth-Games-Canada/265526150138420, CGC