By the end of my internship, business had definitely picked up around the office. Though I worked for the plant nursery, it was on the same estate as the All Out Africa office. So, I got to watch as the tourism industry hit its peak with July trips, causing many long meetings and less chances to meet with my boss. This meant that I spent a lot of time on my own, working on the projects I had come up with. Being a very independent person, I was completely unbothered and happy with the freedom and flexibility I had.
As I had stated in my previous blog, the division of labor in eSwatini definitely appeared to be an area that needed improvement. While some were overwhelmed with work, others sat there waiting for more instruction. My boss, in charge of the nursery and All Out Africa, didn?t ever have a second to breathe; or, as he told me, ?I hardly even have time to sleep right now.? Talking to him, it was clear that he had too many things on his mind and plate. In fact, I didn?t get to say goodbye to him before heading back to Texas.
From what I could gather, both companies made large use of freelancers. The marketing coordinator for the nursery (with whom I worked closely) was a freelance worker with Malandela?s being just one of her projects. Additionally, All Out Africa brought in a group of men to serve as drivers for the upcoming trips of this busy season; during the driver meeting, my boss consistently referenced use of the workers for past events.
Another noticeable difference in eSwatini business was the customer relations and communication. In the United States, many businesses focus on ensuring the best customer experience possible; some operate under the philosophy that the ?customer is always right.? Where I was, these concepts did not seem to be major priorities. While I may be more used to southern hospitality, I was often surprised by interactions that took place between my coworkers and their customers; there was no effort in ensuring that they spoke to guests in a warm, welcoming tone. Rude customers were sometimes met with matching attitude and expressions of frustration at the disrespect received. In terms of communication, I was overcharged by one office for a purchase due to misconceptions about their business? methods; proving my need for a refund was and has been a major hassle that is still not solved to this day. Ensuring that bigger companies stick to their word is not a worry I am used to; in eSwatini, it has been a struggle for me as a consumer.
The Kingdom of eSwatini is a special country with beautiful people and culture. Having gained its independence in 1968, it still has many areas of improvement in terms of business and efficiency. The country struggles with high unemployment rates, but many people are eager to work; I truly hope I get to watch the country and its economic practices improve in the years to come.
