Swazi Experience

Beautiful scenery exists only in photographer's eyes.

[swaziex]

The lady bought my bag!

Selling a bag isn't a big deal, but selling it for E40 and 5 oranges is quite interesting! The lady who sells fruit in Manzini traditional market asked me to sell my bag to her. 

[swaziex]

2013.07.24文化之夜＠Taiwan Embassy, Mbabane, Swaziland

今天是文化之夜，主要是歡送史瓦濟蘭大使即將離任，外交替代役男正好也即將返國，搭了個順風車，今晚便似乎成了我們的結業晚會lol。當優秀的同梯唱起「再見史瓦濟蘭」一曲時，即便我只是當拿mic的小弟，但在這裡九個月來的生活情景一點一點浮現在腦中，從新奇到習慣，進而想念故鄉，最後則對此感到依依不捨。這是我第一次長期居住在異國，很開心在這邊認識了一群非常好的同梯友人，以及許多照顧我們的長輩，當然能在最後一小段時間與青年大使及北醫醫療團結識，也是相當難得的機會。很慶幸自己選擇了外交替代役，雖然對於未來仍然有那麼點茫然與未知，但在史國的經歷、成長與所學，將伴隨我度過未來的每一次挑戰。

[swaziex]

So close to say goodbye to my lovely cats. The very last week in Swaziland, After 3 months, Rody has grown rapidly. He is the biggest among the 3 kittens. Hope they can live well after I leave.

[swaziex]

Never forget your friends, even though you are at the peak!

@Waterford, Mbabane, Swaziland

[swaziex]

No matter how hard life is, keep climbing!

[swaziex]

Under the toughness of Sibebe, we suffered, we laughed, we climbed.

@Sibebe, Swaziland

[swaziex]

Long way

We don't always know the destination in our life, but there is always an end in the long way. Just keep going and fighting!

[swaziex]

Rose in Dawn

With the sunrise, beauty of the roses was emphasized.

[swaziex]

2013.07.19 Medical Outreach in Big Bend

The second time I joined the medical outreach, it was totally different from the first time in ACC. The outreach was held in a school near Big Bend, where is the bend of Usutu River(the biggest river in Swaziland). 

We arrived at the school around nine o'clock, and started the mission after taking the group picture. Five doctors and one dentist was in charged for the outreach. Compared to the last one, there were roughly 380 patients, which were about two times than last time. I was in charged to direct the way for patients. Standing outside all day long wasn't an easy job since the wind was so strong that it blew lots of sand. But compared to the doctors, our duty seemed much easier! 

Kids around the school liked our cameras. They just asked us to take one picture and the other. Maybe that would be the only chance for them to take pictures in their whole life.  

Even though join an outreach is a really exhausting work, I enjoy it a lot. Only if we step into the rural area, we can see the real Swaziland, where E10 is enough for a five people family per day, where people walk 3 hours for treatment because they normally have no money to pay, where kids can be easily satisfied with a single photo. We already have so much that we should always be grateful!

[swaziex]

Although it's only a wall apart, my cats have to learn to be independent. Hope they can grow healthily after I leave Swaziland!

[swaziex]

No matter the religions, they all share 'LOVE'.

[swaziex]

[swaziex]

[swaziex]

[swaziex]

[swaziex]

2013.07.12 Medical Mission Outreach in ACC, Swaziland

This was the first time I joined the Taiwan Medical Mission outreach, and I really appreciated I had the chance to go. The outreach was held in Amitofo Caring Centre (ACC) in Swaziland, which started around 9a.m. and finished at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. There were about 200 patients came this time, which was not a really big amount. We had seven doctors, one nurse and many other helpers in the outreach. Several students from Taipei Medical University, who came to Swaziland as volunteers, also joined the outreach, thus sometimes you may see more staffs than the patients! For this kind of outreach, I don’t have some certain opinions to it, since I’m not so familiar with all the detail. I can only say that I think this kind of outreach is just showing caring to the rural people, which lets them feel there is still someone thinking of them. It’s just like one of my friends says: ‘If he/she is really sick, medicine for once cannot cure. And if his/her sickness can be cured for once, then most of them can get well without medicine.’ Actually, the fundamental problem for the bad health is resulted from poverty.

In this outreach, I was assigned to stay at the gate and guided the patients to the registration. Since there were actually not so many people, I had some free time to chat with some people and took pictures. I met a local guy who woks in ACC, and we chatted for a little while. He told me that he had gone to South Africa to work for two months and came back at last. He thinks South Africa will collapse in the future because South African is too lazy and likes fighting, and the growth of the country is devoted by foreigners, includes Asian people, Middle East people, white people and people from other African countries. Further, he believes Swaziland is growing even though the pace is slow. The reason he thinks Swaziland is growing is because of the donations from different organizations and hardworking Swazis. (This was the first time I heard someone says Swazis work hard!!! lol) Finally, we discussed some issues about the kingdom. He told me that he thinks Swaziland is more suitable has a king rather than a resident. It’s because Swazi is a peaceful country, which doesn’t like fight and blood. Thus he believes that without many parties competing with each other, it’s better for Swaziland. We also talked something about their language and religions; it was quite an enjoyable chat, even though I don’t share some of the same ideas with him, especially for the Swazis are hardworking part. lol

YEBO!

[swaziex]