Life in the African bush

What is life like in the African bush? It is like:

Using mesh bag from packaging of oranges for scrubbing your skin in the shower,

Drinking sea water to make one vomit…the Zulu do that to purify the “body”,

Having all you seedlings eaten by the neighbour’s rabbits,

Being woken-up by the resident croaking frogs at night,

Having our septic tank overflowing every 3 weeks,

Looking at mangoes growing in the garden trees,

Looking at Zara talking to a shogololo (big millipede) and making it her “friend”,

Seeing Zara and Margot role-playing “Zulu ladies” with their dolls attached to their backs with a cloth,

Seeing the kids glued to their reading books,

Finding the loo paper unrolled in the toilet because Zara is designing a rocket with the inner tubes!

Hearing a little child’s voice while running saying “mlungu” (white person)!

Storing bottles of water at home in case of a power cut,

Never worrying about the weather when doing washing…clothes WILL dry outside,

Wondering when you will see the first (poisonous) snake in your path,

Never letting your petrol tank go below ¼ full,

Waiting to be in the big city to download documents above 1Mb from internet,

Having children racing with you on their single speed bike while MTBiking around Mseleni,

Being woken-up by the ward matron phoning you in the middle of the night and saying “Tell the doctor to run!”,

Driving 1hour to go to a restaurant,

Worrying about cows on the road at night and cars without lights,

Being excited to see city lights at night,

Noticing the city noise, hearing the sounds of the bush,

Worrying whether you have been bitten by a mosquito with Malaria,

Having a husband that comes back from work announcing “I’ve done my first leg amputation today!”

Seeing and hearing sick patients in the outpatient waiting room singing morning prayers,

Skipping with a bunch of pregnant ladies waiting to deliver,

Having domestic help 2 mornings a week,

Planning the next art session with the girls,

Eating an ice cream at the mall after doing the monthly shopping,

Being two hours from the nearest dealer’s garage,

Wondering when it will rain,

Having more books than toys for the girls…

Ilda

Spot the croc? Zara and Margot at Mlilwane Game Reserve, Swaziland

Kosi Mouth

Horse Riding at Mlilwane Game Reserve, Swaziland