After 27 hours, we finally landed in Dayton. The flight from US from Jo'burg was particularly long (17+ hours in the air), lengthened by about an hour and a half by a fuel stop on the west coast of the continent in Dakar, The Senegal. Customs and security was surprisingly easy, the only hiccup being comments and questions from TSA about our matching shirts (the finest threads downtown Manzini has to offer).

As we touched down, bags miraculously not getting lost, my trip drew to a close. The last month has been an unbelievable journey that, though I've tried, I really cannot truly capture with words or even pictures. Since first visiting Nairobi, Kenya, more than ten years ago, I've had an itch to get back to that continent; those who have visited Africa know the pull that I'm describing. Initially, I had planned on returning to Kenya, until a US State Department ban blocked my efforts; I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity that then arose with the trip to Swaziland. Looking back, I cannot imagine not having this experience. From start to finish, including the first days in Manzini, learning and observing at RFM, working with TLC, and our adventures in Swaziland and South Africa, it was the trip of a lifetime. I am grateful for each of the new friendships I've made and especially the opportunity to work with the Swazi people, most notably the TLC staff. The trip, as should be expected with any trek to Africa, was nothing like I'd expected or anticipated, but met and far exceeded all the expectations I had built up (which, as anyone around me between January and June could tell you, were exceedingly high). The African pull is only stronger now, and I can't wait to someday return! In the coming days, weeks, months, and years, I look forward to sharing these stories with you in person, and cracking into the many pictures/videos that the sluggish RFM internet connection wouldn't allow me to post.

Ngiyabonga!

Sam