Swaziland--Part 1

Sister Pead says that her husband is a humorist...I think he's just funny.  She ignores most of his quips unless it is a particularly witty one,  then he gets a "good job" from her and all the other missionaries congratulate him for getting a response from his wife.  I, on the other hand, laugh at everything.  But I told him not to get too puffed up, I'm easily entertained.  It's like his brain is zinging every which way...I think I'd be so tired if I had his brain.  He'll say something and a beat later I'll get it...but his brain has already processed and spoken the words.  He and Sis. Pead are over the flats (apartments), so if we have problems with our flat we go through them.  I was asking him about the hot water from our geyser (pronounced as in "you old geyser".  Each flat has their own hot water tank and they call it a geyser.)  Anyway, I was telling him that when we take a bath the water is an orange color.  I think the geyser or the pipes are rusty.  He said, "Well if Rinty isn't close by, you might be having problems with the pipes.  (For those of you younger than 65...Rin Tin Tin (aka "Rinty") was the dog and Rusty was his boy back in the old TV series.)  I'm thinking....how does someone think of something so obscure, so quickly?

We were out to lunch and Sis. Barnett ordered pap (pronounced pop) which is a staple side dish here made from corn (we think).   It's a very regional dish that not many foreigners order so the waitress asked Sis B if she liked the "pop".  She said she did.  Elder Pead said...she liked it so much that next time we're going to order Snap and Crackle too.  Of course I laughed and when she came around to my side of the table she whispered to me: Why did you laugh?  So I explained to her about Rice Krispies and Snap, Crackle and Pop...and then she laughed..(kind of).  One of the highlights of our road trip to Swaziland was at the Swazi/SA border.  One of the border guys not only "got", but laughed heartily at every joke Elder Pead made.  And as you would expect, if someone is laughing at your jokes you tell more!  It was a very fulfilling moment for Elder P to find a native who could stay with him and laugh at his jokes.
While traveling with the Barnetts and Peads we heard a slow, low (from Elder Barnett) "Out in the west Texas town of El Paso..." and then Elder Pead joined in with gusto.  And then Sister Capron made it a trio!  (The first time I joined in Elder Barnett said to me....Sister Capron....how old are you?  I replied: I have older sisters).  When they got to  the part...."out where the horses are tie-ie--ied" they split into harmony and give it a real cowboy twang!  They know...and sing every word.
When we were on our trip to Swaziland we spent many hours in the car....so we went through a fair bit of music:
Of course....Marty Robbins
Jimmy Horton (here I get a look of impatience, head down, looking out under eyebrows with lips pursed...."That's Johnny Horton") with full performances of The Battle of New Orleans (In 1813 we took a little trip...) AND "The Sinking of the Bismarck"!
We sang through every Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.
We sang every TV show intro that we could remember:  Zorro, Johnny Yuma, Palladin, Cheyenne, Have Gun Will Travel, Davy Crockett, Rawhide, Maverick.  (even David could join in on these).  Then we segued into the 60's and 70's with The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island, The Beverly Hillbillies, etc.  These folks are way fun to travel with.

Some pictures from our trip to Swaziland:



We left dark and early in the morning and got to see this beautiful sunrise as we traveled.

The following are some of the things that are commonly seen along the road.

We love to see the moms with baby swaddled on the back with a blanket.  I'm amazed that the knots don't come undone.  According to Bro. Nyasulu the baby cries for the back saying, ba-bu. 

laundry day

Our first stop was to the Ngwenya Glass Co.  They use only recycled glass for their products.  They have a showroom with beautiful glassware displayed and we could also go upstairs and view from a cat walk the men and women working with the molten glass and forming works of art.

Some finished products:

Elder Barnett took this picture in the men's bathroom.  We thought it was funny.  The footprints are made of glass.  (recycled, of course)

We went to House on Fire hoping to find lunch.

Sis. Barnett

 I gave the whole place the name: Artists Run Amok



The restaurant was closed so we traveled a bit further...













...and came to a craft market.  (Yay!)

And some lunch!

I wanted this handsome fellow for my garden....but talked myself out of it with the question: How will I get it home?  I have now talked myself out of a rooster, a big, beautiful wooden bowl, a peaceful, at rest giraffe and some great pottery pieces.  If I see this fellow...or any of his friends or relations they will be coming home with me.  I'll figure it out!