Addendum to staging: Somehow, I became a Group Leader with (exceedingly minor) Responsibility. How did I do this? By losing a game of rock-paper-scissors. Nobody wanted to do it, and it came down to me and Danielle, so I am now acceptor of tip money, distributor of luggage-marking string, and counter of heads extraordinare. Apparently the Johannesburg airport is likely to lose approximately half our luggage, which is delightful. We are all in the process of distributing our clothes evenly to minimize the risk of losing anything crucial. Everyone is still nice, and I am using as much of the internet as I can before we lose it for a couple months. That's about it. Hope you all are well!

Staging!

Everyone is really nice and there are so many (36) of us!! (I only hope they're approximately as nice after the ZOMG WE'RE GOING TO AFRICA! glow fades)
And sooo many married couples (a total of 8 people out of 36, almost a fourth of the group), totally bizarre, though they seem nice and non-insular, so that's good too.
We leave tomorrow; it seems somehow impossible that we will be across the Atlantic in 24 hours, striving under uncertain odds and unfamiliar situations to assist the people of Swaziland. I am sick of being told what sterling folks we all are for undertaking this venture; mere willingness to accept the conditions doesn't imply that we're even decent people, or that we understand said conditions.
Staging was pretty good, but it seems like it was mostly a "get to know your group" thing more than a "learn lots about Swaziland" thing. There were a fairly considerable number of the usual weird-seminar activites. We are all excited to go (even if dreading the 17 hour plane ride and subsequent non-communication). I love you all (whether you read this or not) and I wish you all the best over the next couple of months!