I was riding the very crowded bus back to my school after a weekend in Mbabane, working on the Peace Corps Swaziland newsletter, and collecting my mail, and eating a cheeseburger at Swazi Burger. There was one seat available that 3 people had just gotten up out of to get off the bus, so I copped it. As I was settling in, a man came by and asked if he could sit there.

“of course, Father, please sit down.’

“what is your name, my friend? I am Mr Ndwandwe.”

“Good to meet you, Mr Ndwandwe. My name is Maseko.”

He looked at me in alarm. “Maseko?” he said, “How can you be Maseko? You are a white man!”

What!?” I cried, “I am a white man???” And I leaped to my feet, and held out my arms and hands, looking at them as if I had never seen them before. “Oh my God!” I said loudly, “When did this happen???” I looked at my hands again, then looked down at my legs, and they were white too. “Oh my God, Oh my God! I was a swazi yesterday! How could this have happened?”

The lady sitting behind me, who was a teacher at my school, and knew me and my ironic sense of humor, started laughing. I did too. Finally the man sat down, and grinned at me. “that was not what I meant.” he said.

“I know. But you startled me.” I replied.