In Swaziland, I saw fields and fields of pineapples (a little hard to see in the photo)...
In general, it was a beautiful place.
Here's the main bus terminal in Mbabane:

I like this photo because the smoke on the hills is beautiful. It looks like early morning fog or even clouds, but actually it is smoke. Someone was probably clearing the land or burning trash.

I like this photo (below) not only becuase the light at dusk was so beautiful, but because it shows the amazing infrastructure in Swaziland!

In summary, Swaziland could be a great fit (as could any of the four places we're visiting). In a nutshell, the upsides are: it's beautiful, safe, and quiet. Downsides are: the HIV/AIDS problem is staggering (one estimate I read put the prevalence at 32%), it's small, and the most remote of the four places we're considering. Of course, the most important factor (where I find the best job) is still up in the air, too.
I found the middle class-ness of Botswana both attractive and boring. One morning, we tagged along with one of Peter's prospective colleagues to the Gaborone stables, where he was taking his daughter for her riding lessons. Riding lessons!??!?! Where am I?
On one hand, it's very safe, quiet, and prosperous - i.e., lots of great supermarkets where we can buy whatever we need. On the other hand, it might not be quite as interesting / challenging as the other three. In the US, I can't imagine living in a sprawling house with a yard in a quiet suburb...but we're older now, and suddenly that big yard doesn't look so bad.
On one hand, it's very safe, quiet, and prosperous - i.e., lots of great supermarkets where we can buy whatever we need. On the other hand, it might not be quite as interesting / challenging as the other three. In the US, I can't imagine living in a sprawling house with a yard in a quiet suburb...but we're older now, and suddenly that big yard doesn't look so bad.







