Swearing-In Speech

So, I couldn't figure out how to put this up as an attachment, but here is the speech from Swearing-In, for all of those interested :) Zulu translation NOT by me. Someday!

On behalf of the Peace Corps Volunteers of SA21, thank you and welcome.
Egameni lamavolontiya ePeace Corps SA21, siyabonga futhi siyanamukela.

When we arrived in South Africa on the evening of 29 January, it was raining. We were later told about a common South African belief that rain is a good sign on a wedding day. It washes away the footprints of the bride from her old home and symbolizes her commitment to a new life and new home. So for us, the rain on that day was a sign of commitment to our new lives and homes here in South Africa.
Ngesikhathi sifika lapha eNingizimu Afrika, ngomhlaka 29 January, imvula yayina. Satshelwa ngenkolelo ejwayelekile yaseNingizimu Afrika, ukuthi imvula iyisibonelo esihle, uma ina ngosuku lomshado. Iwasha izinyathelo zamakoti ekade ehamba kuzo kusukela ekhaya lakhe elidala, futhi ikhombisa ukuzinikela kwakhe ekhaya elisha. Ngalokho kithi imvula ngalelolanga, bekuwuphawu lokuzinikela kwethu empilweni entsha nasemakhaya amasha aseNingizimu Afrika.

In these past 2 months, we have begun to understand the beauty and complexity that make up this incredible nation, which will be our home for the next 2 years. We have started to study the languages and have begun to gain insight into the different cultures and history of this Rainbow Nation. We have visited schools and CBOs, studied the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and learned and shared technical skills.
Kulezinyanga ezimbili ezedlule, siqale ukuqonda ubuhle obuningi obakha lesizwe esihle, esizoba ekhaya lethu kuleminyaka emibili ezayo. Sesiqalile ukufunda izilimi zesintu, namasiko ahlukene, kanye nomlando walelizwe labantu abahlukahlukene. Sivakashele izikole, izinhlangano zomphakathi, safunda ngesifo sengculazi, futhi sabelana ngamakhono.

For these experiences, we thank the Peace Corps staff, our fantastic Language and Cultural Facilitators, and the South Africans and Peace Corps Volunteers who helped with our training. We also thank our host families in Bundu and Machipe, who helped us adjust to South African life, from pap and pit toilets to the beautiful culture of music, dance, and community fellowship. We have learned so much, and you all have given us a great foundation of knowledge on which to build during our time here.
Ngalolwazi, sibong abasebenzi bePeace Corps, othisha bethu, abantu baseNingizimu Afrika, kanye namavolontiya asePeace Corps abasize ngokuqeqeshwa kwethu. Siphinde sibonge imindeni yethu yase Bundu nase Machipe, abasisize ukuba sijwayele impilo yaseNingizimu Afrika, kufana nokupheka, nokudla iphalishi, ukusebenzisa izindlu zangasese zomgodi, nobuhle bamasiko omculo, ukusina, kanye nokuphila njengesizwe esisodwa. Sifunde okuningi, nisinekeze isisekelo esihle solwazi, esizokwakha phezu kwaso esikhathini esizosihlala lapha.

Today, we begin our service as official volunteers, to continue to live and work with, and learn from, our South African brothers and sisters. We come with a diversity of backgrounds, personalities, and experiences, but we are united in our purpose to work in solidarity with South Africans and all those who strive to reduce the suffering and stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, and prevent its further spread.
Namhlanje, siqala umsebenzi wethu njengamavolontiya asemthethweni. Sizoqhubeka nokuhlala futhi sisebenze , nobhuti kanye nosisi bethu baseNingizimu Afrika, sibuye sifunde kubo. Size nomlando, nolwazi oluhlukahlukene, kodwa sihlangene ngenhloso yokusebenza ngokuhlanganyela, nabantu baseNingizimu Afrika, nabobonke labo abaphokophele ukuciphisa inhlupeko, kanye nezinto ezimbi ezingelona iqiniso, ngesifo sengculazi negciwane laso, kanye nokuvikela ukusabalala kwaso.


Thank you to our supervisors, colleagues, and all others here who are leaders in this effort and whom, with humility and hope, we now join. We look forward to spending the next two years building relationships and working together with the people of your communities. We know that we will be forever changed, and we hope that you will be, too.
Siyabonga kubaphathi bethu, nesisebenza nabo, nabobonke abakhona lapha, abangabaholi kulomsebenzi, ngobuntu nethemba sithi manje sihlanganyela nabo. Kuleminyaka emibili ezayo, sibheke phambili sinethemba lokwakha ubudlelwane, nokusebenzisana nabantu emphakathini yenu. Siyazi ukuthi sizoshintsha empilweni, sithemba ukuthi nani nizoshintsha.

Thank you, and let us go and live well for all of our days under South African skies.
Ngalokho ke, sithi siyabonga. Masambeni sonke siyophila kahle, esikhathini esizosiphila lapha eNingizimu Afrika. Siyabonga.