The Blog of Jules

Welcome to the blog of Jules!!! :D

So I arrived in Swaziland just over a week ago! Its been a tough one- but the first bit always is. Haha, I'm not going to lie--I made my parents call me EVERYDAY! :)

Now that a week has gone by I'm starting to feel a bit more adjusted and comfortable!

For those of you who don't know, Swaziland is a teeny weeny country nearly encompassed by South Africa, with a small section bordering Mozambique (that is, the Northish East corner of South Africa)

I will be here for 3.5 months (until Dec. 21), and I'm working for a local HIV/Aids organization.
The Aids epidemic is very pervasive here. (I've heard numbers infected ranging from 30-40%) and is hugely interrelated with issues of poverty, gender equality, stigma, discrimination, and human rights.

I'm living with a Swazi family here. They are wonderful!! and I'm slowly learning to speak SiSwati (slowly being the key work ;) and cook local dishes. Most people speak English too though. (thank goodness!) My family is relatively well-off. (haha, I've watched Oprah reruns on their T.V.)

There are internet cafes, but I only really have time to visit once or twice a week. It is unsafe for me to be out alone after dark...and it gets dark at around 6pm which means I pretty much have to head home right after work!

More updates to come!!!x

I'm living near and work in the capital city: Mbabane. Everything is pretty developed in the city, and has pretty much all the conveniences that Vancouver has. (grocery stores, clothing shops, pharmacies, hospitals etc)