tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59275223767952081332024-02-19T07:01:19.764-08:00OutInTheWorldMalawiAnduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-58576048457364427282015-05-08T05:38:00.000-07:002015-05-08T05:38:36.511-07:00Malawian Of The Moment: Bobby Joe Mlongoti<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ask
any Peace Corps volunteer who knows their stuff </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">to show you
around Mzuzu, and they will without fail end up showing you around The Greenshop Foundation, a Malawian ran storefront that provides unique fruits, vegetables, coffee, cakes, snacks as part of the store front and also offers training for disabled community
members. The Greenshop Foundation is set amongst a lush garden where its
founder Bobby Joe Mlongoti grows much of the produce on sale. Bobby is one of
my favorite members of the Mzuzu community and I always stop by to say hello.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">In
its new location, set on one of the busier and underdeveloped (but
growing) back streets and facing a slew of small businesses, the Greenshop is a
pillar of peace and quiet. As you walk onto the lot you are greeted by
beautiful border plantings and wonderful landscaping. A big open hallway on the
right of the building leads to the back garden. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Signs
along the way indicate you will find seedlings for sale and that chocolate cake
is the special desert of the day. Others have the sign language alphabet posted
and indicate that this is a vocational center for the disabled (more on that
later). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Inside
there are rows of local produce bordered by jam and baobab coffee that is made
right here in the store. The variety of colors in the room reflect a diversity
of fruits and vegetables that are rarely found elsewhere in the city markets.</span><br />
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table is covered by books with titles like ‘The Permaculture Garden’, ‘East
African Agriculture’, and ‘Back Garden Seed Saving’. Even the toilets are
unique - they face chalkboards where people are encouraged to scribe their
thoughts and praises. (Highlights include ‘The world needs more places like this’
and ‘No discrimination, let’s love each other’.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Opened late 2014, this new setup and location
is the result of years of hard work and recent collaboration with Jan and
Lonneke, a couple from the Netherlands. It is a Sunday when I come to visit
Bobby, and though the store is normally closed he has agreed to meet with me
while he does some extra work. He leaves the shop doors open as he teaches two
of his hearing impaired employees how to make Guava jam and juice for sale
later in the week. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Several
times during our conversation he steps aside to greet the wayward customer,
curious about this new store and its purpose. He always meets them with a calm
smile and happily answers all of their questions.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When
he finally gets a break he sits down with me to answer my questions before
showing me around the garden.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Born
in 1963, now married and with 3 children, Bobby got his start in produce in
1998. He had watched at a local grocery store as people came to buy fruits and
vegetables that were harder to find in the open air market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I
thought to myself that if I could make a business of this (selling unique
produce) that I could find my place in life”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">He
started selling fruits and veggies as a street vendor outside of that same
grocery store. Over three years he developed a reputation as having some of the
best produce around and was selling to tourists and many of the local lodges
and resorts. In this time he started thinking ahead – in 1999 he bought a
garden ~10k outside of Mzuzu where he began growing most of his goods. He also
bought the land where his store currently sits in 2009.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">From
2001 to 2014 he operated out of a small storefront a few hundred meters away,
having been helped in setting up shop there by a German volunteer working with
GTZ. In that time he was robbed twice, in 2009 and 2010. Both times were around
the Christmas season and in both cases they took everything in the store except
for his unique produce scale, which still sits on the sales desk at the new
location.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjFHjwQIXKOhpbCWpMr0X32frTj6cwOqvBxa4DXFsuDR44vlfmfbz4ikQ_4qHYjMXEFdLQ_-0MS9cQCbg3TkX-KubBjUPnjm8yMMA6tcnzMql7on6zh2xsP28IJKktEjeVFFFrYkdJVE/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjFHjwQIXKOhpbCWpMr0X32frTj6cwOqvBxa4DXFsuDR44vlfmfbz4ikQ_4qHYjMXEFdLQ_-0MS9cQCbg3TkX-KubBjUPnjm8yMMA6tcnzMql7on6zh2xsP28IJKktEjeVFFFrYkdJVE/s1600/17.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Bobby
is not shy of trying to grow new things, and since I have met him have seen him
begin cultivating a variety of plants that are virtually unheard of in the
region. (Currently he is excited to harvest his first asparagus, saying he has
never tried it before!) His ingenuity, eagerness to learn, and willingness to
try new things in his business model has paid off. In 2012 he won a prestigious
award for “Best Small Medium Micro Enterprise in Africa”. After this he
attracted the interest of Jan and Lonneke, who it sounds have been crucial in
helping him to expand his business model, and also to build and finally move to
the new location. With the help of these two he has also begun to learn about
permaculture and permagardening techniques which he is applying to the store garden.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When
I ask him how he views permaculture he describes it as “Better farming
techniques that help with (preventing) erosion and utilizing a small space for
more crops. You protect the soil so much!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfeLZv3miA7EN7BWdLmv4xQQg7Gv-SMvz7pd36WxG1Fso6Getoe9vpnff6fkbl0T0qHFURMqb9bPTO_Z8Uq7zElWEpxXCuRJBLIClbqGJArzO1CQnshBqW8vv8rEnr_hgq6JZWCrS3ps/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfeLZv3miA7EN7BWdLmv4xQQg7Gv-SMvz7pd36WxG1Fso6Getoe9vpnff6fkbl0T0qHFURMqb9bPTO_Z8Uq7zElWEpxXCuRJBLIClbqGJArzO1CQnshBqW8vv8rEnr_hgq6JZWCrS3ps/s1600/12.jpg" /></a></div>
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</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">He
also hopes to expand the use of this new skillset to his big garden (3
hectares!) outside of Mzuzu to establish an area of permaculture there as well.
In the meantime he has also been using his growing knowledge to do community
level development in a few different ways. He teaches community members near
his big garden about diet diversification and conducts training sessions on
improved agriculture techniques.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AHz2TDWvRf-gc18a1H7ymVbL9Vii3LLuGieX-sWkbB3AfQXTyIO2Lzs1BqoQMEV0q4IXFcRAfAvghWhaE-ozWTAAxl0711Z9hw3uXm3EFetSPwT4GwJCORoFdS29EkBTZhZNP3Xk-FU/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AHz2TDWvRf-gc18a1H7ymVbL9Vii3LLuGieX-sWkbB3AfQXTyIO2Lzs1BqoQMEV0q4IXFcRAfAvghWhaE-ozWTAAxl0711Z9hw3uXm3EFetSPwT4GwJCORoFdS29EkBTZhZNP3Xk-FU/s1600/18.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">He
really beams when he starts to talk to me about opening his new location to
community members living with disabilities. He has specifically started working
with hearing impaired students to help them become more productive members of
society. He goes on to talk to me about how Malawian culture tends to neglect
them and view the hearing impaired as useless. It is clear from our
conversation that he wants to push back against this stereotype.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBRUQ5qiFve6FKTYHW9kHDQmLbqn-FS-pvG8_h5lR1dPITjrtdwjmTCeRE_Y2vX4gqZmPD_R7xDMyXomm_v-1ze5IfNJhD6-euBL8rkI87HRKsJNJ_pl9rvhmF7kJpD2naVv0_sg-fqM/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBRUQ5qiFve6FKTYHW9kHDQmLbqn-FS-pvG8_h5lR1dPITjrtdwjmTCeRE_Y2vX4gqZmPD_R7xDMyXomm_v-1ze5IfNJhD6-euBL8rkI87HRKsJNJ_pl9rvhmF7kJpD2naVv0_sg-fqM/s1600/22.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">He
has 5 students who are employed in the store, and he has classes in a large
classroom at the back from 2-4 pm every day covering topics like agriculture,
business, and home economics. He met the students through the local branch of
the Malawi National Association for the Deaf. He chose to work with the hearing
impaired first because of how segregated from society they are here, but wants
to open up these services to other disabilities in the future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As
we start to wind down our conversation he takes me on a quick tour of his
garden and I snapped a few photos as he points out the new plants he has
growing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
ask him what his plans are for the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“For
now I want to just grow the business, but I hope to successful enough to expand
to another city and use the resources to reach more of the deaf community”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
love it. Bobby is without a doubt one of my biggest heroes in this country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6666660308838px;">Hope you enjoyed this installment!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">For more information on The Greenshop Foundation check out this link</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.chimwemwe-malawi.org/greenshop.html" target="_blank">http://www.chimwemwe-malawi.org/greenshop.html</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Use google translator on the webpage, as it is not in english.</div>
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<br /></div>
Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-33507462963382634632015-04-19T23:37:00.001-07:002015-04-19T23:37:32.641-07:00Visitors!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSYavN0RHeHXCEhMc1Y8AUI1rTRz2K7ulnNuayvHndcxKXvYY5wSGx24QnVil-gO7_9g6ZRyiW66s3pNNi_awYq7qLvAjA08OaFSLJPUrf5tSa9089OYCOCFpUL93vjdhdznqeIN0cC4/s1600/DSCN0520+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSYavN0RHeHXCEhMc1Y8AUI1rTRz2K7ulnNuayvHndcxKXvYY5wSGx24QnVil-gO7_9g6ZRyiW66s3pNNi_awYq7qLvAjA08OaFSLJPUrf5tSa9089OYCOCFpUL93vjdhdznqeIN0cC4/s1600/DSCN0520+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">March
started off with a bang and then just kept rolling with the goodness. I mean, I
didn’t really get much work done besides Week Zero with the new volunteers, but
I certainly kept busy. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Let
me gush for a sec about the newbies. They are awesome – I thoroughly enjoyed my
time with them and I really feel like they will do great here. The week was a
bit overwhelming at times with TONS of questions being asked, but Shelby and I
knew what we were signing up for. We will also get to go back for the final
week and the swearing in ceremony, which will give us a bit of a before and
after experience with them. It should be really cool to see how much the new
volunteers change after 2 months here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Right
after seeing them through the first week in country I took some vacation time
to rush down to Blantyre to meet my parents as they arrived for the start of a
6 week stay in country. I would be spending the first 2 weeks with them, giving
them the lowdown on the country and guiding them up north to get a glimpse at
my experience here. After that they would return to Blantyre to volunteer at an
orphanage there, and take short trips into the countryside on weekends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">We spent 2 days in Blantyre
and as we walked around I talked with them about the flow of life in Malawi, as
well as how to stay safe and culturally appropriate.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GZRuO8meY_fhhCdvtwGXoAx6XWYjHn6gN5hyKAHtFUeWlRBhFSkTff1acceO46StFjrzC_aJyUeAu85nhOS5Hn-N-N3-iuwdkZgMNfuk5I2qWvwkHej_1oN3YCUNH_Mznw2TfIViuJw/s1600/DSCN0041+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GZRuO8meY_fhhCdvtwGXoAx6XWYjHn6gN5hyKAHtFUeWlRBhFSkTff1acceO46StFjrzC_aJyUeAu85nhOS5Hn-N-N3-iuwdkZgMNfuk5I2qWvwkHej_1oN3YCUNH_Mznw2TfIViuJw/s1600/DSCN0041+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We caught up over our first breakfast together</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0v3Q06-RmTTb0myD2QdZfZbgES6TSP192lfpiMlVdXT94dGeo7HrZM0F8jmGAxyov_ZfZ1YYEWiRcLV4SXnJApVA5YQMzpSKCbqzPbpe820AW4EsoxACdcf76QnwfW7AF32m5uH1WmbI/s1600/DSCN0043+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0v3Q06-RmTTb0myD2QdZfZbgES6TSP192lfpiMlVdXT94dGeo7HrZM0F8jmGAxyov_ZfZ1YYEWiRcLV4SXnJApVA5YQMzpSKCbqzPbpe820AW4EsoxACdcf76QnwfW7AF32m5uH1WmbI/s1600/DSCN0043+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">We
also ate all the delicious food. I got spoiled rotten while they were here!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">One of the cooler spots in
Blantyre is the Mandala House. It is the oldest building in Blantyre (1879?) and
the ground floor hosts the countries best art gallery (my humble opinion). When we got there they
were just locking up the doors to close and the owner was generous enough to unlock
and let us scope the place out. If you get down there ever, check it out for
sure!</span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVy7FBTwpDTdm5TDZTPYhHN63IB8zjIEV77OC4FpfAZHPa2vPJzt7-qQ7Vg3NCoN_rqzRik889SuYvEKlx3R0m1vs8tI4R2aTJC5TzMwD9gKuGbKqid55fhmbwJ_HSTAhvuDAssNF7-kk/s1600/DSCN0051+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVy7FBTwpDTdm5TDZTPYhHN63IB8zjIEV77OC4FpfAZHPa2vPJzt7-qQ7Vg3NCoN_rqzRik889SuYvEKlx3R0m1vs8tI4R2aTJC5TzMwD9gKuGbKqid55fhmbwJ_HSTAhvuDAssNF7-kk/s1600/DSCN0051+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street side mural on the way to Mandala house - I have not seen anything like it in Malawi!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgTrzXJiMu00Ot-cNJl6orO7QRBy1ORaaGWBdj3OqRU89r07X_70iA9FjGlOIY7Ofg4k1V_PkQ4wpIBZSIShVSPyDHBszFBGqTCKaonNGJ1s46s2l6yHqECfiUe0cqkI-APaZn7pZvv4/s1600/DSCN0059+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgTrzXJiMu00Ot-cNJl6orO7QRBy1ORaaGWBdj3OqRU89r07X_70iA9FjGlOIY7Ofg4k1V_PkQ4wpIBZSIShVSPyDHBszFBGqTCKaonNGJ1s46s2l6yHqECfiUe0cqkI-APaZn7pZvv4/s1600/DSCN0059+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mandala House - Historical location, art gallery, and restaurant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">After storing their extra gear at the orphanage we hit the road on a major Malawian bus line
for Lilongwe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">My
parents enjoyed the views as we headed north (so did I honestly, it is the
furthest south in country I have been!) and got a kick out of me buying food
from street vendors out of the windows of the bus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJtdr_VopjwBQa408EQCwdzguPwjmiYkMbtwos_fDdVpBiFxmmt5mloL5GppAKwnExyI11Ry4x1JRItw9jCUc9C05Pn3rpunifGn11xS0n5GkkoJZbPcu6HdsAfTLBnE8TICgvZK-3zc/s1600/DSCN0077+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJtdr_VopjwBQa408EQCwdzguPwjmiYkMbtwos_fDdVpBiFxmmt5mloL5GppAKwnExyI11Ry4x1JRItw9jCUc9C05Pn3rpunifGn11xS0n5GkkoJZbPcu6HdsAfTLBnE8TICgvZK-3zc/s1600/DSCN0077+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best father ever?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Cl7Sp7MtE_6CK15XjwYJBs9h679Or3YmYqM_QWerIl6rq77uI_fJ-TgsPtSU_1Bn0OOJ71YXfbiiVnpDpcsaRNaD9vdRBvXkc2QC-5RdSCuV-l6ON3NP7x841yflS_tOriD2awfb8HA/s1600/DSCN0102+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Cl7Sp7MtE_6CK15XjwYJBs9h679Or3YmYqM_QWerIl6rq77uI_fJ-TgsPtSU_1Bn0OOJ71YXfbiiVnpDpcsaRNaD9vdRBvXkc2QC-5RdSCuV-l6ON3NP7x841yflS_tOriD2awfb8HA/s1600/DSCN0102+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buying some roasted maize.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjci2S4QMPCwRDRKNMgkU6xKeSba2aaqmxuJellz9dE8Ld20V16iJ01guexameewtRs0Hc5SmR8g_1HVQFwov9zZMYNxoIFmgcJPEa1F7vpSI0pywUgGZily1lu7wh_w7mSkdqpV8jL5Nw/s1600/DSCN0101+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjci2S4QMPCwRDRKNMgkU6xKeSba2aaqmxuJellz9dE8Ld20V16iJ01guexameewtRs0Hc5SmR8g_1HVQFwov9zZMYNxoIFmgcJPEa1F7vpSI0pywUgGZily1lu7wh_w7mSkdqpV8jL5Nw/s1600/DSCN0101+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street vendors always approach the busses trying to earn some coin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Arrival
in Lilongwe was stressful for them; they got stuck on the bus as a crowd of
people heading further north boarded before they were able to disembark. Both
of my very stressed parents squeezed and wiggled their way through the crowd to
make it out in time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">We
stayed one night in the capital before continuing north the following morning.
After their experience on the bus, my mom wanted to give hitchhiking a shot –
She has read a number of volunteer blogs about how ‘great’ hitching can be. It
can be some of the best experiences for both travel and people, or represent
the worst aspects of transport in the developing world. It is always an
adventure. Fellow volunteer Ame Burk wrote best about it <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://beeskneesburke.blogspot.com/2015/03/one-year.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">We
took a few hours working my father over, but eventually he broke down and agreed to trying hitchhiking. This would be my mothers first experience with hitchhiking, luckily it was a good one.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJnEenZHUHZN_Yk7egnyGqu3wfndNBsP2ENbta-xE-Tbyus3GXL33RJXnOrWmt9Xmn0-CVwfjADWAQVhG928vyQq4h_9FKXC-yR7Rkd2ONoO4R-vcGNw9mpysM9SLDm-waEcp_7C7j2g/s1600/DSCN0120+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJnEenZHUHZN_Yk7egnyGqu3wfndNBsP2ENbta-xE-Tbyus3GXL33RJXnOrWmt9Xmn0-CVwfjADWAQVhG928vyQq4h_9FKXC-yR7Rkd2ONoO4R-vcGNw9mpysM9SLDm-waEcp_7C7j2g/s1600/DSCN0120+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad practicing his hand wave, the Malawian signal for "Pick Me UP!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOI1hVNPoF1iZdaoeCIUVfwwwNeXaPVD7WbxemFKjqAd-hxGWzMr5_c-mwjLlD7YFAyNxjd3byjNF_LDanpqgna9Finv-BObuWpsX_K3BU0b2p8ys0QPdxGk2cE8ndX8iOiR3kbizrbk/s1600/DSCN0131+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOI1hVNPoF1iZdaoeCIUVfwwwNeXaPVD7WbxemFKjqAd-hxGWzMr5_c-mwjLlD7YFAyNxjd3byjNF_LDanpqgna9Finv-BObuWpsX_K3BU0b2p8ys0QPdxGk2cE8ndX8iOiR3kbizrbk/s1600/DSCN0131+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lookin' for that hitch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-nURJ-cdnhn7sGPMTp1fQ7_Gy7k4B62J5NTsdeDqQcm6kdC-qxOeqGrj121S3Mp6H6xG7e8sTTlg89nOUc7eLJKKnyIX-HVm0yBeB3IvnhKRc8VUTIuUbWZoimE_YQ5P5QdP9ExoZpY/s1600/DSCN0157+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-nURJ-cdnhn7sGPMTp1fQ7_Gy7k4B62J5NTsdeDqQcm6kdC-qxOeqGrj121S3Mp6H6xG7e8sTTlg89nOUc7eLJKKnyIX-HVm0yBeB3IvnhKRc8VUTIuUbWZoimE_YQ5P5QdP9ExoZpY/s1600/DSCN0157+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nap time is the best time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">It
took us about 2 hours to officially get on the road, but overall the experience
was awesome. Go team Ellis! (My mom did offer my hand in marriage to the first
woman who gave us a ride…. I did not follow through however)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">We spent 2 nights in Mzuzu
to decompress from all of the travel and I showed them my favorite sights:
Green Shop, the Chitenge market, Chipati Lady (mmm yummy!) etc. We stayed at
Joys Place (AKA the haven of the north) and again, I ate all of the foods.</span></div>
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbm1PNvxSv0RpG8IFRUHUxFHEw387z0BR0mLOBgwwm6o0J12MgejpHws0FE8DR-LIoy93v3KXz6vdX9ZBgIbTsLPe5TH4fVMZrJQwQBajvVFoAayozZ2mMgHn_FjYbwWXVLAUrku9aDj0/s1600/DSCN0259+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbm1PNvxSv0RpG8IFRUHUxFHEw387z0BR0mLOBgwwm6o0J12MgejpHws0FE8DR-LIoy93v3KXz6vdX9ZBgIbTsLPe5TH4fVMZrJQwQBajvVFoAayozZ2mMgHn_FjYbwWXVLAUrku9aDj0/s1600/DSCN0259+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom took this cool picture of a woman selling her wares in the Chitenge market.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Next
we went to the lake to stay at my favorite spot (so far) along the Malawian
shore – Nkhata Bay. We planned for 2 nights, but it quickly turned into 4.</span></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPkSm1U3fLXQStLUGEBkEYQvdvwguZP78kssMaFxYTmFXtJdi5LEvrltSlCNxD4rWWJkBOyvYJuRlupbgF3A5JcA4BBAgH1xJKtnpeybD1niV25ZGCDGy6aQKvJ6zmoFPLtCfyXVVF3k/s1600/DSCN0300+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPkSm1U3fLXQStLUGEBkEYQvdvwguZP78kssMaFxYTmFXtJdi5LEvrltSlCNxD4rWWJkBOyvYJuRlupbgF3A5JcA4BBAgH1xJKtnpeybD1niV25ZGCDGy6aQKvJ6zmoFPLtCfyXVVF3k/s1600/DSCN0300+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I relaxed by playing Bao. Bao is THE game in Malawi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUVX63I4mWEKp5ix06t61RqXM5IFDGdT9You7DYRUh2JuVUt8oSNy9LhmpM0HkbS3qC8WInNdCsCSk9TFuzK14cXj173MckX_X-WRQkuGiZ-5Ew2TSH_JmI7bpfiQM6Nq-mHn3MhYkJ4/s1600/DSCN0313+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUVX63I4mWEKp5ix06t61RqXM5IFDGdT9You7DYRUh2JuVUt8oSNy9LhmpM0HkbS3qC8WInNdCsCSk9TFuzK14cXj173MckX_X-WRQkuGiZ-5Ew2TSH_JmI7bpfiQM6Nq-mHn3MhYkJ4/s1600/DSCN0313+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The views, swimming, and weather were amazing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-s0dukw3DqRUybgs-wBYEm-36apZnbbulsBicKyefrrNL1CrrvsSloPRGBm7QSURBltiMSVR3LeVUINqrVP6pRZNfs_KE0tYA8UhMZtaFxS1z4yAUrZdMsuX7wpcw4_NZySgzu7ti-lg/s1600/DSCN0315+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-s0dukw3DqRUybgs-wBYEm-36apZnbbulsBicKyefrrNL1CrrvsSloPRGBm7QSURBltiMSVR3LeVUINqrVP6pRZNfs_KE0tYA8UhMZtaFxS1z4yAUrZdMsuX7wpcw4_NZySgzu7ti-lg/s1600/DSCN0315+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monitor Lizard!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZIavyG03pXwEe5cyTyf9EWe0oNtkLwACCJNXPxErVMHA2Z8nViOL1BGOCdU_JXGRuPPL-Pk-C-iYyFLe-Ts9vdFsE93sT6dkVKfDyiHaUsRVBRZnch_0VCqmwIhsjOFr1tOhJEsHe40/s1600/DSCN0369+(600x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZIavyG03pXwEe5cyTyf9EWe0oNtkLwACCJNXPxErVMHA2Z8nViOL1BGOCdU_JXGRuPPL-Pk-C-iYyFLe-Ts9vdFsE93sT6dkVKfDyiHaUsRVBRZnch_0VCqmwIhsjOFr1tOhJEsHe40/s1600/DSCN0369+(600x800).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Returning after a trip to do some Deep Water Free Solo climbing - it was flipping awesome.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Time
at the lake was fantastic, a much needed vacation and a great way to mark one
year. We got to meet a bunch of Peace Corps volunteers from my group and my parents
had a blast talking to everyone they came across. (mom was so boisterous that
she even lost her voice, refusing to give it a break as she caught a cough)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Next
we made our way up to my site and home, Thazima Village. We spent 4
nights and highlights for my parents were – learning to use a pit latrine, a game
drive into Nyika National Park, and a village dance party! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">The dance party was
particularly cool, it was put on by my village headman and good friend Mzikilla
Mhone. Mzikilla and his wife Onless are the equivalent of my in country
parents, and are also great friends. It was really a touching time to have mom
and dad here with me to meet them and to share some food and culture. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSYavN0RHeHXCEhMc1Y8AUI1rTRz2K7ulnNuayvHndcxKXvYY5wSGx24QnVil-gO7_9g6ZRyiW66s3pNNi_awYq7qLvAjA08OaFSLJPUrf5tSa9089OYCOCFpUL93vjdhdznqeIN0cC4/s1600/DSCN0520+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSYavN0RHeHXCEhMc1Y8AUI1rTRz2K7ulnNuayvHndcxKXvYY5wSGx24QnVil-gO7_9g6ZRyiW66s3pNNi_awYq7qLvAjA08OaFSLJPUrf5tSa9089OYCOCFpUL93vjdhdznqeIN0cC4/s1600/DSCN0520+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning in the village.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT96uhL7V2Cv7kq_xwD1OVdfDbhhDRjWe2-UvVhquk3xSYbvNwEKYCEvtWjRtm1qeuDD0IzdMd4EmOAZNIv9raxNLYLHvBYencdpZlgd2byPA7vTGKHHSOHW8I6yRCUYLNnKTPlZnsLPY/s1600/DSCN0422+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT96uhL7V2Cv7kq_xwD1OVdfDbhhDRjWe2-UvVhquk3xSYbvNwEKYCEvtWjRtm1qeuDD0IzdMd4EmOAZNIv9raxNLYLHvBYencdpZlgd2byPA7vTGKHHSOHW8I6yRCUYLNnKTPlZnsLPY/s1600/DSCN0422+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast! The most important meal of the day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUjr1hSv2Q3I6KKN-z75s9wF1zXXPA7_ZmoCDn9u78RlVqbrACYpXHWJPX91vi0oOcK29Uig6JJh-0Z-YgegSZtRJLE9dfKpS-qxD4RNDuE2wV8TfJ3bQv0fyLQLt1Qe8s2QZanRArcA/s1600/DSCN0444+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUjr1hSv2Q3I6KKN-z75s9wF1zXXPA7_ZmoCDn9u78RlVqbrACYpXHWJPX91vi0oOcK29Uig6JJh-0Z-YgegSZtRJLE9dfKpS-qxD4RNDuE2wV8TfJ3bQv0fyLQLt1Qe8s2QZanRArcA/s1600/DSCN0444+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We took some 'snaps' at the local market.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1ERpSav-dEVDfa-oqsfbWSM4xJ1tk__UqDwS1Jk1EZBbQQ2a9vBdhUU7kyhlcOAO7GQMUla3OvyJiLTQBb6HNm_Sb8PHIUDZB-CA2ZKmiZmmfBu6aDFUS0hMbWwl7qKjPRTl9nJ6W_M/s1600/DSCN0462+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1ERpSav-dEVDfa-oqsfbWSM4xJ1tk__UqDwS1Jk1EZBbQQ2a9vBdhUU7kyhlcOAO7GQMUla3OvyJiLTQBb6HNm_Sb8PHIUDZB-CA2ZKmiZmmfBu6aDFUS0hMbWwl7qKjPRTl9nJ6W_M/s1600/DSCN0462+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My counterpart, love this guy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgf8f7uPFXriXiExMYFxZpHIff_y4q7hnvTB38DIb0dJwqxEAyHehgbqrj-_U6Vbbus5dliWRdy17Dht5ecoGZfx899Bx7nadVhux2lDekXb-quExzXm25JdBDDKd4YbFg18VIZuQuRM/s1600/DSCN0465+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgf8f7uPFXriXiExMYFxZpHIff_y4q7hnvTB38DIb0dJwqxEAyHehgbqrj-_U6Vbbus5dliWRdy17Dht5ecoGZfx899Bx7nadVhux2lDekXb-quExzXm25JdBDDKd4YbFg18VIZuQuRM/s1600/DSCN0465+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is our serious face.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTCtXQUqrhPNJbjBqDFAPT6_R914amBPqmoTxOs-cSzyhsa3ot6Kg-Pd1N8OP6aIEOUzJDLVXFNYlPeS0FI1fbC_PoIwoUxpv41ODnOv688Oz3AGJz-v4O9ogKy8f7ulP1_cWYw9wpbs/s1600/DSCN0497+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTCtXQUqrhPNJbjBqDFAPT6_R914amBPqmoTxOs-cSzyhsa3ot6Kg-Pd1N8OP6aIEOUzJDLVXFNYlPeS0FI1fbC_PoIwoUxpv41ODnOv688Oz3AGJz-v4O9ogKy8f7ulP1_cWYw9wpbs/s1600/DSCN0497+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing with my village headman, Mzikilla Mhone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuP0LIK5jwA_Z63H271qQg6BopivO5WrmO7MA49VVWx4Xl0V7yqwFkW7IVu984o1kHLBUemBZsDx9K6B3rIaruUf_h4DBOA2c8XKzJd1-00ERQVoL7uMgvkY-sgZSBfnOPkxZHTChz_EE/s1600/DSCN0490+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuP0LIK5jwA_Z63H271qQg6BopivO5WrmO7MA49VVWx4Xl0V7yqwFkW7IVu984o1kHLBUemBZsDx9K6B3rIaruUf_h4DBOA2c8XKzJd1-00ERQVoL7uMgvkY-sgZSBfnOPkxZHTChz_EE/s1600/DSCN0490+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the celebration to start.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbU3tJxqnNL9IPlMnvh2fq-eLzg3sebNe0eMLK89sDgDNbLWpwVtvVdCrsoLUbcX4EhbgQYvMOfSwJKewseMf6O-KFi3HCC0krCi5_DDKDt8atAjDqVb2HLqGauc7E8qulYD8HBEN_ov8/s1600/DSCN0466+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbU3tJxqnNL9IPlMnvh2fq-eLzg3sebNe0eMLK89sDgDNbLWpwVtvVdCrsoLUbcX4EhbgQYvMOfSwJKewseMf6O-KFi3HCC0krCi5_DDKDt8atAjDqVb2HLqGauc7E8qulYD8HBEN_ov8/s1600/DSCN0466+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Khunga with the parents.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSKXIqAcavrfltkRBY0gNk4nhdTHk8joGL89TwbOfqAnkLq8rJpFwFTehpYPNchNjqcNOewFG1FBJcDMtxLkyX6ZNPyi56r5sKt3vSs9MnihMQ2BkrckBC06dhbwIINoMd7whR5XswhI/s1600/DSCN0501+(600x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSKXIqAcavrfltkRBY0gNk4nhdTHk8joGL89TwbOfqAnkLq8rJpFwFTehpYPNchNjqcNOewFG1FBJcDMtxLkyX6ZNPyi56r5sKt3vSs9MnihMQ2BkrckBC06dhbwIINoMd7whR5XswhI/s1600/DSCN0501+(600x800).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom dancing with Grandma Mhone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEgvLe8B60VnkEuJQWSeNzqaGHbq2HbdR62dqrEokmIcqLVwifhDhiNswNgjmp1TF4TylHYPwhLLUl7xWpMq8dS2YebUSgsyx3uC4P9-rRcePNRKvYSrG1h9ZRZVlc72oCSsdRncRW2M/s1600/DSCN0508+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEgvLe8B60VnkEuJQWSeNzqaGHbq2HbdR62dqrEokmIcqLVwifhDhiNswNgjmp1TF4TylHYPwhLLUl7xWpMq8dS2YebUSgsyx3uC4P9-rRcePNRKvYSrG1h9ZRZVlc72oCSsdRncRW2M/s1600/DSCN0508+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sekulu getting down with dad!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_HwPws_ZTvhtBrk-17dH-rEVGh5lYhNhHXPI-dwr_v01rAp9r-9dGE1qcKWlaP4l0_GPp2zvWzWX3Q3ab-4GK3IjH-Llr2VQE57bfmParQMS9zaNHKIAwuuDiNEfhlFjxieE2-zPFYc/s1600/DSCN0511+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_HwPws_ZTvhtBrk-17dH-rEVGh5lYhNhHXPI-dwr_v01rAp9r-9dGE1qcKWlaP4l0_GPp2zvWzWX3Q3ab-4GK3IjH-Llr2VQE57bfmParQMS9zaNHKIAwuuDiNEfhlFjxieE2-zPFYc/s1600/DSCN0511+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everybody loves a dance party!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaDClBHnDL1fabZ8DK6O0Zxvi4WwdE5YNXd6gOn5QMt0MzU_CxeD24pAoImVccQ70ucQLH6oR1O8aR6mQDs9bxs0Sfn6_KzZ0suI2ijnUDEOvI1xgpTjgjB2vfJF6_ufJiLWQPDuN63Y/s1600/DSCN0525+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaDClBHnDL1fabZ8DK6O0Zxvi4WwdE5YNXd6gOn5QMt0MzU_CxeD24pAoImVccQ70ucQLH6oR1O8aR6mQDs9bxs0Sfn6_KzZ0suI2ijnUDEOvI1xgpTjgjB2vfJF6_ufJiLWQPDuN63Y/s1600/DSCN0525+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nyika Grass on the safari.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIM9Lah7GgG2UDUw96uORnkzSMQ9xRqq6y8omUdoucLOO13PonF51fE3_bSegp5CoouhFE08eWiXwdKSIQt6p-I-Zoegm6pnYTyW1vZ83lA3Kv8nanG6wTQAjthfG53jWeA5JFTVT70U/s1600/DSCN0545+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIM9Lah7GgG2UDUw96uORnkzSMQ9xRqq6y8omUdoucLOO13PonF51fE3_bSegp5CoouhFE08eWiXwdKSIQt6p-I-Zoegm6pnYTyW1vZ83lA3Kv8nanG6wTQAjthfG53jWeA5JFTVT70U/s1600/DSCN0545+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orchids in bloom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxb4Oy-xMVKmttWrEvBAjZTDXkw5MhEQQjKlgXEZGltdTwTeISgIbpv-zhqeKHls-KoUDx8EWFb1NMY7rzphhzpLVEXZDAiN6QezjBUrn_f1DMCs3imQMvxHwDi5kqdrKSoomVXCSbH40/s1600/DSCN0617+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxb4Oy-xMVKmttWrEvBAjZTDXkw5MhEQQjKlgXEZGltdTwTeISgIbpv-zhqeKHls-KoUDx8EWFb1NMY7rzphhzpLVEXZDAiN6QezjBUrn_f1DMCs3imQMvxHwDi5kqdrKSoomVXCSbH40/s1600/DSCN0617+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bush Buck checking out someone's laundry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFHRZqfUjpd6GO6_f_EPB896JrnKod_BGIxjT90V432bGmkxj807Via0qYBGYJ8wlC5ev1aFBTzb515njND0C5YK7v-zCO0Nck5UhDyR6XfVeE8JfcoMTxBTjyk5GLDqHBssO-jhpGi0/s1600/DSCN0618+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlkDheYC_CCkaujKWhPG6d2zsTAO0yGPuH6oZR4Dy0Ut-zG2iVgnu_rtcPSHTYsAtZto11VMmoheJe0xATnB_Iri4ceM56udk3i8DsgEN2ZGA1B1SqGppvnBihnbzgcODmYb2HIbUsZk/s1600/DSCN0626+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlkDheYC_CCkaujKWhPG6d2zsTAO0yGPuH6oZR4Dy0Ut-zG2iVgnu_rtcPSHTYsAtZto11VMmoheJe0xATnB_Iri4ceM56udk3i8DsgEN2ZGA1B1SqGppvnBihnbzgcODmYb2HIbUsZk/s1600/DSCN0626+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZX4umXshe-9e2mWnA08mvXZLdBVJFpW3iqq-qOokA3vplJD6u5aHwTJzYviYoKOpAIRwtiPPiFEMygHztbFf6fkK693L2kSdq-FyZWZsebvNXaEg_M3rxyxl9qq2gHA6EFX7lwVTmiU/s1600/DSCN1480+(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZX4umXshe-9e2mWnA08mvXZLdBVJFpW3iqq-qOokA3vplJD6u5aHwTJzYviYoKOpAIRwtiPPiFEMygHztbFf6fkK693L2kSdq-FyZWZsebvNXaEg_M3rxyxl9qq2gHA6EFX7lwVTmiU/s1600/DSCN1480+(800x600).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">After
almost 2 weeks it was sad to see them go. They made their way back south from
Mzuzu to Blantyre in one very long day of bus travel. We have been chatting a
few times a week as they relay their experiences in the south and it sounds
like the time here has left a profound imprint on them. I had a blast and was
super excited that they got a firsthand glimpse of what my life is like here in
The Warm Heart of Africa! Now who wants to visit me next?!</span></div>
</o:p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"></span></o:p></span> </div>
Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-47028250088149678032015-03-05T00:31:00.000-08:002015-03-05T00:31:01.839-08:00Malawian of the Moment – Rhabson Mhone<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">So on the day I went to visit Prince in his
munda, I ran into the old man of the Mhone village while he was working his
plot of land.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsxlF2xz_HmFLaIAgk_MN3ekSjiD_UOfDozIztz_4kG_SeM_W5qZqY2nCnjB-GmLXCpUalkBE7YGhczcSx2XlyIIJo7o1Z-VVR1ISeecRN7qI5X-3kR5Vf4QfcWLBJD1J1_s1yK0tQiM/s1600/DSCN1397+(768x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsxlF2xz_HmFLaIAgk_MN3ekSjiD_UOfDozIztz_4kG_SeM_W5qZqY2nCnjB-GmLXCpUalkBE7YGhczcSx2XlyIIJo7o1Z-VVR1ISeecRN7qI5X-3kR5Vf4QfcWLBJD1J1_s1yK0tQiM/s1600/DSCN1397+(768x1024).jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhabson Mhone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">As
I was walking down the back side of the mountain I live under, I came upon him
sitting under a simple thatch roof that he takes shelter at during days he
works the fields.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieJX83mfWRrWxXiJClswG53NPCvL7xu7m8s6p2zZpEuLx8hEAkS3F9sxy1YT0m-ZDr3s9iehEu5Wh-OgrF-vny-EqOM-dcEwsym53XLWokVQRcASYgMojH_qfNegNN8UikbuqpSpXCTA/s1600/DSCN1404+(768x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieJX83mfWRrWxXiJClswG53NPCvL7xu7m8s6p2zZpEuLx8hEAkS3F9sxy1YT0m-ZDr3s9iehEu5Wh-OgrF-vny-EqOM-dcEwsym53XLWokVQRcASYgMojH_qfNegNN8UikbuqpSpXCTA/s1600/DSCN1404+(768x1024).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking care of his paprika.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I kid you not, he
was rubbing two sticks together to make a fire</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">. This guy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4K40RyxiXRyZqjEqVEEin1tJNtjNmcMilsGuI8hPcuJlN8Xfwey5TUtavX7gyaTG2jsFvxtPl2iH3p0L-Ubs-zuZtCO3AT5Up-dFycbx31WTnvXpKn6cNAbXjffC8cLtJSwvbg3o8i4/s1600/DSCN1427+(768x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4K40RyxiXRyZqjEqVEEin1tJNtjNmcMilsGuI8hPcuJlN8Xfwey5TUtavX7gyaTG2jsFvxtPl2iH3p0L-Ubs-zuZtCO3AT5Up-dFycbx31WTnvXpKn6cNAbXjffC8cLtJSwvbg3o8i4/s1600/DSCN1427+(768x1024).jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyClFOyrgBDj4gHqUd2_jfAWXleDE-UKlMvQRj069Gp3d4QikucBdl-Uxwlovx1PpA9vdjC-pid0C1sSGu6evbGc5NJA8Kns3MgA1px8yc_vzP4uUm5qndpbuvBGeobO36r2jH2n2tR4/s1600/DSCN1422+(768x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyClFOyrgBDj4gHqUd2_jfAWXleDE-UKlMvQRj069Gp3d4QikucBdl-Uxwlovx1PpA9vdjC-pid0C1sSGu6evbGc5NJA8Kns3MgA1px8yc_vzP4uUm5qndpbuvBGeobO36r2jH2n2tR4/s1600/DSCN1422+(768x1024).jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgsjfTlKRsfQtQQFUR5PCj8GN215ObrnVzTclchBnhaFNawt_2RuxT9Nn_pkiQx_yXm-m-B_dK8MvPDAOT0HTDohRNQCXw4ODO1emuQSdM5hIAzV6-IShHjqjE5UvWSC2gNah3e8s9PI/s1600/DSCN1429+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgsjfTlKRsfQtQQFUR5PCj8GN215ObrnVzTclchBnhaFNawt_2RuxT9Nn_pkiQx_yXm-m-B_dK8MvPDAOT0HTDohRNQCXw4ODO1emuQSdM5hIAzV6-IShHjqjE5UvWSC2gNah3e8s9PI/s1600/DSCN1429+(1024x768).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Success!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">You
wanna know why he was starting a fire? To smoke a cigarette. Not just any
cigarette, but one made from locally grown tobacco and hand rolled in a
cornhusk. Naturally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKruNWA7ymQVmLm5OFNCCrSfwjj9w3TmvKTvNru05rt4V2CEzUmVTTOyyifYPz6LWSzBXMgw3YRnJUFtMcQ4qtL90WgN2m6ycj6Uv2K1MLO1hbywZOGGXFrJaw8XOM-oWxuu-KhmDz2s/s1600/DSCN1459+(768x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKruNWA7ymQVmLm5OFNCCrSfwjj9w3TmvKTvNru05rt4V2CEzUmVTTOyyifYPz6LWSzBXMgw3YRnJUFtMcQ4qtL90WgN2m6ycj6Uv2K1MLO1hbywZOGGXFrJaw8XOM-oWxuu-KhmDz2s/s1600/DSCN1459+(768x1024).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand Rolling a Cigarette</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
calmly looks at me and says “I don’t buy matches”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzAxMNiLJVdpL6ZuIiDhzBWjP-VDy1BAKGP7MX-ydl_R3RRxbYizNt0bV6PGdqhGlvEMKdiRhg1rKuGPi80sHVUs2glSeqNg6auBefydC4CgDghdqBcNdBAV76jPVJus0cRE_LTh9Ihg/s1600/DSCN1462+(768x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzAxMNiLJVdpL6ZuIiDhzBWjP-VDy1BAKGP7MX-ydl_R3RRxbYizNt0bV6PGdqhGlvEMKdiRhg1rKuGPi80sHVUs2glSeqNg6auBefydC4CgDghdqBcNdBAV76jPVJus0cRE_LTh9Ihg/s1600/DSCN1462+(768x1024).jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the fruit of his labors.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
sat down to talk with Sekulu, and to watch. (Sekulu is the Chitombuka word for
grandfather, and the way you greet any elderly man in order to show respect)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">We
ended up talking in ‘tombuka for over an hour. He talks so fast and so eagerly
that I typically understand only about 10% of the conversation, but he never
bats an eye. No matter how many times I sheepishly laugh and tell him “Nindapulikiska” (I
didn’t understand) he just keeps rolling, saying whatever happens to be on his mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">One
of the things I love about him is that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">he
is always laughing, always happy, always talking away.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92usGnnp0YontOcPyNDlhVHtmYXEjUMMVEB-E9OEi03LEafGXVZqFNkuYJgCw4fU5jQ4oedNutLwVNZMm9L93OW6GFuOaGvWjwBbvHB8FlDPWBXCz4QtBvoNKF8L74tiWCHC1b5LP51o/s1600/DSCN1439+(768x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92usGnnp0YontOcPyNDlhVHtmYXEjUMMVEB-E9OEi03LEafGXVZqFNkuYJgCw4fU5jQ4oedNutLwVNZMm9L93OW6GFuOaGvWjwBbvHB8FlDPWBXCz4QtBvoNKF8L74tiWCHC1b5LP51o/s1600/DSCN1439+(768x1024).jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">While
we chat he shows me what wood he uses to start a fire, and what dried leaves
make the best kindling for the first embers. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r7ESiZkZH3M-hjUajifYQ-Yfo1dMf2XNRm_3Y55ULQcrth5Opk0HAyoafXLBNBOKtZy3qrp4lhyg8Nw4_4rJ3yuevZ7vetzNJhTValK2HcGayAAa1Lz_5_vLY7Iw7VWH5nb6WS-_GiM/s1600/DSCN1457+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r7ESiZkZH3M-hjUajifYQ-Yfo1dMf2XNRm_3Y55ULQcrth5Opk0HAyoafXLBNBOKtZy3qrp4lhyg8Nw4_4rJ3yuevZ7vetzNJhTValK2HcGayAAa1Lz_5_vLY7Iw7VWH5nb6WS-_GiM/s1600/DSCN1457+(1024x768).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tools.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4O_0gF2ujlPU61ukrjcy53ZssYs1WifMC1iZDdAtE4uoyYioWohFj9NfaUrfcZHv536XTfWPendHZVn5fiVUSk5c0wjQ0PL-CKMolJB4PipaB-5Uwwf9bv7FTsY09C_WD1j9xXwqIws/s1600/DSCN1448+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4O_0gF2ujlPU61ukrjcy53ZssYs1WifMC1iZDdAtE4uoyYioWohFj9NfaUrfcZHv536XTfWPendHZVn5fiVUSk5c0wjQ0PL-CKMolJB4PipaB-5Uwwf9bv7FTsY09C_WD1j9xXwqIws/s1600/DSCN1448+(1024x768).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prep work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0ifaxW8i5ipWULJMT1Shm-myz-x3SyePKsLBavqUoDAZq7Qa6h_DGXN_CuD5NflSNAhwBsG1tRhvoU-w5NOhWc1iaMwlx1JYWH8P_Ul_yDDteKjnS6_wKVMFOoyVNzoCwpNSU6WdWqQ/s1600/DSCN1449+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0ifaxW8i5ipWULJMT1Shm-myz-x3SyePKsLBavqUoDAZq7Qa6h_DGXN_CuD5NflSNAhwBsG1tRhvoU-w5NOhWc1iaMwlx1JYWH8P_Ul_yDDteKjnS6_wKVMFOoyVNzoCwpNSU6WdWqQ/s1600/DSCN1449+(1024x768).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to get started.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
give it a shot and with considerably more effort succeed in making smoke but am
promptly rewarded with two sizeable blisters. He did it without batting an eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">What a bad ass.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
later find out that none of his sons or grandchildren have learned this skill
from him – undoubtedly one skill of many that will fall by the wayside in
coming years as old cultural traditions and knowhow fail to be passed to the
next generation.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rfPh20sKxe3IpW6-x9T50WxhDEZOjCmCM49dDN15jQ6XIFP9SLsEfU2IMLF84k9kiwHt1oSpwpQ_ds7Ha2TCwwxTmoGhiTl4GWPIqK1QbmSomFXag-JUXeYi5TVMA1AY86_lkIk3ECg/s1600/DSCN1451+(768x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rfPh20sKxe3IpW6-x9T50WxhDEZOjCmCM49dDN15jQ6XIFP9SLsEfU2IMLF84k9kiwHt1oSpwpQ_ds7Ha2TCwwxTmoGhiTl4GWPIqK1QbmSomFXag-JUXeYi5TVMA1AY86_lkIk3ECg/s1600/DSCN1451+(768x1024).jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM63E3QkCvJp4kFnu5hq6xe_-XZaGk1op54lDOLyl293jcJjQceMlwsF-3PlQxGMKlLDV4Mq2lU2mANpGtLnj0PnQe8j_HjIkoFFmyb2oHhyphenhyphennqjpf5DaKcwf-pZl2qhrFReXY-RW22Wws/s1600/DSCN1454+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM63E3QkCvJp4kFnu5hq6xe_-XZaGk1op54lDOLyl293jcJjQceMlwsF-3PlQxGMKlLDV4Mq2lU2mANpGtLnj0PnQe8j_HjIkoFFmyb2oHhyphenhyphennqjpf5DaKcwf-pZl2qhrFReXY-RW22Wws/s1600/DSCN1454+(1024x768).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
enjoyed our time so much that I came back the next day to take photos, I was
rewarded with an interview when one of his sons that speaks a little bit of
English came by and joined us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">The
answers are not verbatim, but based an aggregate of responses as a result of
the tedious translation process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">- How old are you?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
thinks for a moment and then responds “I was born in 1939.” This is pretty
common in Malawi, as there is little value placed on a person’s actual age and
most people only keep track of the year they were born. I quickly do the math –
He will turn 76 this year, and is easily one of the oldest members of the
community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Unprompted,
he then follows up with comments about how few people lived here then, how
‘clothes’ weren’t around - the adults all were hunters and wore animal skins.
The children too, if they wore anything at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
talks about training to throw a spear at game, and about how the road was
already built but was much smaller then and how so rare it was to have
visitors. He remembers walking to the nearest trading center 3 days away in
Livingstonia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">- How different is
the park now?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">First
he talks about how much game there was. “There used to be lions and more
leopards and hyena. There used to be cheetahs, more elephants. So many zebra”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Rhinos
have been gone for so long that I need do draw a picture of one in order to get
an answer. “Oh yes! They were here too, but many more in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=vwaza+marsh&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&gws_rd=ssl" target="_blank">vwaza</a></b>, they have been gone for a long time. Some people
from Zambia were coming to hunt them with guns”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“The
<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Eland&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&gws_rd=ssl" target="_blank">E<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">land</b></a> herds were so big
then. Sometimes three or four hundred at a time” (it is now exceptionally rare
to see more than 5-10 at once, even though a group of over 100 was recently
spotted on the high plateau.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
mentions being kicked out of the park when the country established it and
removed all of its inhabitants. He chuckles when I ask if people were angry
about this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Of
course they were angry, but it was with President Kamuzu Banda. We couldn’t say
or do anything against the government then – it was a one party system you
know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
talks about how the crop system was different then (few people grew maize and
now few people grow anything else). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
talks about his family and marriages, and then he buttons up a bit. I can tell
it is time for the questions to end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
rolls another cigarette while we finish our conversation more casually - After
an hour or so the English skills of our translator have been exhausted and we
decide we will continue the chats another time.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JrF24rVnUgrNaZD5cVFYy7CnX0eql1UHUn02OLBlzoycKXH5FfZHW6fLhWHjf8x91ACWElGluEsXf-m_IVNHmsufsEJKaJJhTq8uTA3NuKKBbjJJOvMIg6Yt5VmVX6LyZc1cS1DF07A/s1600/DSCN1464+(768x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JrF24rVnUgrNaZD5cVFYy7CnX0eql1UHUn02OLBlzoycKXH5FfZHW6fLhWHjf8x91ACWElGluEsXf-m_IVNHmsufsEJKaJJhTq8uTA3NuKKBbjJJOvMIg6Yt5VmVX6LyZc1cS1DF07A/s1600/DSCN1464+(768x1024).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
leave him and his son to get back to weeding his paprika crop. The more time I
spend with this man, the more I like him.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCn_2NqrSNDyjwMSq5ZPG0-IiagokwH4rbEifvlKtCJIIF8wD87mp0aywTb-IH-_33PY_rIReiQeDRBGIN91P6a7e65brYNHiIFBnM3j8jphXhMvR8I-WqISJ2RIuQisbA6ag-DPLW74/s1600/DSCN1392+(768x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCn_2NqrSNDyjwMSq5ZPG0-IiagokwH4rbEifvlKtCJIIF8wD87mp0aywTb-IH-_33PY_rIReiQeDRBGIN91P6a7e65brYNHiIFBnM3j8jphXhMvR8I-WqISJ2RIuQisbA6ag-DPLW74/s1600/DSCN1392+(768x1024).jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-57884899797370469772015-03-04T23:37:00.001-08:002015-03-05T00:40:08.856-08:00Malawian of the Moment - What is it? <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">So
for those of you following along at home, you may remember that I am working on
a photo project of portraits of interesting people I meet in Malawi. The first
photo that inspired this whole idea is this guy here.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27UBSqPRRGn88KUzJoIVGGRs8FRZrPxrz8jK1ybqe6P5LSErrbsFIwdrkCrK7pB8IYg7_184RuFryBY2VV1q2aFzRT4lbHKscP-3sB2IkGr6jvH58ULgmWmz9ejOXYkJ5_9WmrbCBNrY/s1600/Blog+17+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27UBSqPRRGn88KUzJoIVGGRs8FRZrPxrz8jK1ybqe6P5LSErrbsFIwdrkCrK7pB8IYg7_184RuFryBY2VV1q2aFzRT4lbHKscP-3sB2IkGr6jvH58ULgmWmz9ejOXYkJ5_9WmrbCBNrY/s1600/Blog+17+-+1.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
dig it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">It
is my first time doing something like this, but having a whole year left in my
service and an abundance of time at site, I thought it would be a great opportunity to
take on something a little bit artistic and interesting to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">All
of the portraits are going to be in black and white, because I think that when
you see a picture of someone’s face without color, you really focus on the
content of the image and come up with your own idea of who the person is. I
think that a lot of people tend to gloss over this in a color image. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">With
black and white your brain has to do extra work filling in the missing
information, and maybe it adds some along the way. At least that is how it
works for me - I feel more pulled in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">So
while I am working on this, I thought I would tie it to interviews of some of
the most significant of those humans I meet along the way. The questions from
person to person will differ, and it doesn’t have to only be Malawian citizens
– just people that are contributing to the social landscape of the country,
Peace Corps volunteers and Expats included.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong><a href="http://ae-outintheworld.blogspot.com/2015/03/malawian-of-moment-rhabson-mhone.html" target="_blank">So let’s get started, shall we?</a></strong></span></div>
Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-85144412437413718302015-03-04T08:04:00.000-08:002015-03-05T00:38:52.228-08:00Line Dancing<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">As
in it seems like I take 2 steps forward, and then one step back (or 2 or 3 Arrrgh…..)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eEefdwMwl3IAJ6aMsL0yAma4iz6BYWFKkr4aZfz2uLBcmeQLHzmU0dVVgC8XhULhAriJWMt2wYK1jILHdVFGERfo2Qsw7rY0Wu-0xH17WMquPl7ux9_2rG9tI4LCn0mgP2O8sYEfxMQ/s1600/variations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eEefdwMwl3IAJ6aMsL0yAma4iz6BYWFKkr4aZfz2uLBcmeQLHzmU0dVVgC8XhULhAriJWMt2wYK1jILHdVFGERfo2Qsw7rY0Wu-0xH17WMquPl7ux9_2rG9tI4LCn0mgP2O8sYEfxMQ/s1600/variations.jpg" height="320" width="315" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">
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</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">At
least that is how work feels for me at the moment. (pic not mine)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">After
GTOT in Lilongwe to prep for the new trainees arrival, I had a scant 11 days
back at site before having to turn back around and head all the way back south.
I am now in the office ready to greet them as they come off of the plan
tomorrow. I’m only just a little bit excited.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Uh……..
more like….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYW2AhwWi6cwfkh9VG2m6eAjMODIdAG2VvMOlJ51BrXa1DDuNZSR6QicZuikscVmZM5ppPpvKKLGefAxyz6Cj6Nz_4uhDEm_SB_nXQAz9nKx4zHzshjfPsb91fFR9Aw1IwHNyd31dqw7Y/s1600/DSCN1468+(600x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYW2AhwWi6cwfkh9VG2m6eAjMODIdAG2VvMOlJ51BrXa1DDuNZSR6QicZuikscVmZM5ppPpvKKLGefAxyz6Cj6Nz_4uhDEm_SB_nXQAz9nKx4zHzshjfPsb91fFR9Aw1IwHNyd31dqw7Y/s1600/DSCN1468+(600x800).jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt;">I CAN’T FLIPPING
WAIT!!</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1027" style="height: 256.5pt; mso-wrap-style: square; rotation: 90; visibility: visible; width: 342.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
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</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">In
the mean time I have been dealing with a variety of issues at site. <strong>Right now,
things are ‘<u>Just OK</u>’ </strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>:/</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Malawians use the phrase 'just ok' to reflect being
very good or very happy, and it has become a running joke amongst volunteers as
we use the phrase very differently stateside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Before
I left for GTOT my Village Headman told me he was going to get the village
together to work on the contour ridges and tree planting for a new woodlot I
had just finished training him on how to build. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I was OVERJOYED when I returned
to find out that they had in fact gotten together and done the work of digging
ridges, planting with vetiver grass to control erosion, and planting seedlings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt;">AWESOME!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Ok,
so that is about the <strong>greatest thing ever to happen in a Peace Corps service</strong>
right? (<strong>slight exaggeration</strong> here, but bear with me – It is the little things
that get you excited) I was blown away that the work happened and was self-directed.
I heard about it before I saw it, and overall they did a great job. There is a
little bit of work left to round the woodlot out, but damn, good job team
Thazima.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Unfortunately
everyone I normally work with is pretty busy working the fields right now,
especially the tobacco growers as now is the time they start pulling leaves for
drying. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I was feeling prrrretty bored and had not checked out the tree
nursery in well over a month – the last time I was there was when they were
supposed to finish sharing out the last of the seedlings for the season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
show up and find the fence collapsed, weeds overgrown, and about 100 seedlings
that have rooted into the ground, never being shared out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18pt;">CMON
GUYS! FFFFFFFfffffffff</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">ffffff</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt;">ffff</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8pt;">fuck</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">…… </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt;">sigh. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8pt;">okay</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3OUV8xNECqnJ2ij4iQr5pjHHUn7LsFHBSBuWO2PcV3limsu0BPQHbXbXlfMDTd57ygpspt1aXFQszjBvYfjECJXvs9vNMz9rWMmbHMGM7IrxzlgnaFGcIul-N9HyjubI0tLroPXQNhI/s1600/1234931504682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3OUV8xNECqnJ2ij4iQr5pjHHUn7LsFHBSBuWO2PcV3limsu0BPQHbXbXlfMDTd57ygpspt1aXFQszjBvYfjECJXvs9vNMz9rWMmbHMGM7IrxzlgnaFGcIul-N9HyjubI0tLroPXQNhI/s1600/1234931504682.jpg" height="243" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">This
image pretty much sums up the two immediate emotions I may have experienced.
(images borrowed from teh interwebz)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
wanted to scream and cuss out loud, but didn’t. Instead I sulked back to my house, had a
few glasses of homemade bucket wine and proceeded to head up to the top of
Thazima Mountain to sit on my favorite rock and think. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I don’t know about you,
but sometimes I find that having a mild buzz can help me mull things over a bit
better, and I wanted some time to myself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
had not seen my main counterparts in almost a month (mostly my fault traveling so
much and all) and both of them were pretty involved with the tree nursery. This
may seem like a small thing to get bummed over, but when you spend so much time
working towards something AND it is so central to all of the other work you
want to do in the community, it is pretty easy to get frazzled when things aren’t
going quite right. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">
It honestly feels like no one seems interested in working with me right now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">This
is where I ended up:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtTrjnYtZQwxl8PcJKtSStl3Yn3ClmZGSje28j3U3Ufl7TgX80Uu8Ztu07ZtCv6Nv4zT_sG9RVDYBx1bH83iz8w5W-EThviX_fXhNVfsppoSZftyp1Qs_akfSC0xzYwrt0O35gWUyhJQ/s1600/MW+Mar+-+Jun+2014+(93).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtTrjnYtZQwxl8PcJKtSStl3Yn3ClmZGSje28j3U3Ufl7TgX80Uu8Ztu07ZtCv6Nv4zT_sG9RVDYBx1bH83iz8w5W-EThviX_fXhNVfsppoSZftyp1Qs_akfSC0xzYwrt0O35gWUyhJQ/s1600/MW+Mar+-+Jun+2014+(93).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">This
is the vista I seek out when I want some time to myself. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I had a lot running
through my mind- personal stuff, work with the park and community, bigger work
at the national level in the coming year (Camp TIECH, connecting the bee group
with <a href="http://www.ovop.org.mw/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;">OVOP</span></a>), and lastly the fact that I
would be leaving site soon soon for yet another 3 weeks first as part of PST
and then later as part of spending time with my parents. (Can't Wait!)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
came down the mountain a few hours later feeling better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
made a point over the next week to talk with two of my counterparts about the next
14 months of my service: what they wanted to do in the community, what role I
would be playing, and how they would be stepping up to take the lead in all of
the activities. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Emmon (my neighbor and a local <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">H</b>ealth <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">S</b>ervices<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> A</b>ssistant) and I sat in my house after
dinner one night and talked for the better part of an hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">It
was a great conversation. We covered all the bases and he had a really great
perspective on what was to come, including the immediate work needed on the
tree nursery. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I even cried a little bit at one point as we talked about what my
service was beginning to mean to me in this second home of mine. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I really am
starting to truly and deeply love this community.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">The
next day after lunch I went looking for Prince in his tobacco fields so that we
could have the same talk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">On
my way there I ran into Sekulu Mhone. His real name is Rhabson, but Sekulu is the term for grandfather in
Chitombuka, and at 76 he truly is that. That experience was unique in and of
itself, so much so that I am doing a separate blog post on him and our talks. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">You can find it <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://ae-outintheworld.blogspot.com/2015/03/malawian-of-moment-rhabson-mhone.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> as
he is the first person I will explore in my <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://ae-outintheworld.blogspot.com/2015/03/malawian-of-moment-what-is-it.html" target="_blank">Malawian of the Moment</a></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">After
conversing with Sekulu, I found Prince and family in his tobacco shed tying leaves for
hanging. His 2 year old daughter calls me by name with a huge smile when she
sees me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Over the next few hours I sat with him and helped with the work while
we chatted. A huge thunderstorm rolled in on top of us, and we spent the time huddled next
to a small fire, shaking with each monstrous thunderclap. We had much the same conversation
as I did with Emmon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">As
the rains dwindled and dusk set in, we walked back together. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I felt at home</b> walking up the muddy
slopes with my friend and his family; I was emboldened by both of my friend’s
words and my anxiety about work for the next year diminished with the fading
sunlight.</span></div>
</div>
Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-7427607996108731202015-02-14T00:46:00.000-08:002015-02-14T00:59:06.060-08:00Looking Forward<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">So,
2 weeks of preparation for the new volunteers is through. We had a blast
working together to get ready for their arrival. I am blown away that I have
been here almost a year, and I am so excited to greet them as they come off of
the plane. I look forward to seeing the excitement and apprehension on their
faces as they soak up all the newness.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
remember arriving and thinking about how little I understood about life abroad
and the Peace Corps, and I also remember thinking how interesting it would be
to sit on the resource volunteer side of things watching all of it unfold as
new volunteers get a grasp on their new life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
love it here in Malawi. I love the work I am doing, and I love the potential it
has to impact even just a few people’s lives, no matter how hard it seems we
have to fight for it at times. I really, really hope that some of that rubs off
on the new group of trainees. They are a diverse and talented group, and I
already want to be friends with ALL OF THEM!! (We resource vols have had the
chance to read up on them a bit – new trainees, if you are reading this, we
promise we aren’t creeps!... uh, at least not much :p )<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPvaxxfqaO3sjUp8jYqZzRlg6Ghxf5ES75IsVodI8ReJH8DNh3h4yUui46krAZxD9rqakU0zrX0-TWYRgAOrzWCH3UYLmwDmVI5FW9Vf0_ZkraH7zk3vKRS1Sy_QMRSErAVATs2AkoQ8/s1600/Reource+Vol+Peace+Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPvaxxfqaO3sjUp8jYqZzRlg6Ghxf5ES75IsVodI8ReJH8DNh3h4yUui46krAZxD9rqakU0zrX0-TWYRgAOrzWCH3UYLmwDmVI5FW9Vf0_ZkraH7zk3vKRS1Sy_QMRSErAVATs2AkoQ8/s1600/Reource+Vol+Peace+Sign.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
All of the Resource vol's hard at work prepping for the new trainees arrival in March<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">All
said, it has also been a tricky time as I look forward to the next step of my
life. This last year will move every bit as fast as the one I just left.
Already there are friends from the group before us that I am getting sad to see
go – they are readying for COS in april. (COS = Close Of Service). I really
don’t know what I will do after Peace Corps, and it is not for lack of interest
or options. I literally want to do ALL OF THE THINGS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Every
possible life path and career path that I have been interested in seems open to
me. It is just too hard to decide on or plan for at this midpoint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">As
a result, when people have been asking me what I want to do after Peace Corps,
I have narrowed down to only 3 things that I can realistically think about for the
time being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.
Spend some time catching up with the people I love. I eagerly look forward to
seeing my parents, sister, and brothers – I am sure it will be a tear fest of
happiness. I also plan on couch surfing for a few weeks or month to visit my
MANY good friends around the country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.
Mountain Biking - duh, I love this shit. I plan on spending more time trail
riding with my good friends – I also plan on putting more effort into racing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.
Rock Climbing - As much as I love mountain biking, I have come to realize that
this is the personal passion I want to chase the most. Short term goals after
getting back are Redpoint 5.12 outside, and onsite/flash<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5.11b and V6 outside. I also want to work on
traveling to competitions more. Long term goals are to redpoint 5.13 outside
and to travel for climbing as much as possible. I also want to do my part
developing in the crags that are near my hometown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">That’s
it. That is as far as I have thought. And I am ok with it (for now). Kind of
single minded, but these are all ‘gimmes’ given my passions. I have a lot to
look forward in the next year of my Peace Corps service, and I am excited to
see where the projects in my village go and what new ones develop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
want to open up to those of you reading this. Have any specific questions about
my service? The work I am doing? What it is like to live in a tiny brick hut in
the mountains without power or water? What my favorite color is? ASK AWAY! I
will do my best to share questions on here and answer them as openly as
possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">What
to look for in the coming months </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">- My parents experience here (They are
visiting Malawi for 6 weeks, 2 of which are going to be traveling and visiting
with me) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Pictures of travel down south to meet them </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Climbing in Malawi! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">-
Featured villager of the month, this will be tied with sneak peaks of my portrait of Malawi photo project</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">- More pictures!</span></div>
Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-46226684090715749622015-02-14T00:36:00.005-08:002015-02-14T00:36:46.463-08:00Mphalata
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">22 Jan 2015.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching my very good friend
Prince build a trap for Mphalata (Large edible termites). I watched with a
smile as he dug on top of a large termite mound, the result was a slanting pit
leading down to half of a plastic jug that had been buried in the clay. The
whole pit was probably 2 m long and 1 m wide and about a foot deep. Long
arching branches spanned the top of the pit, these are then covered with banana
leaves and piles of leafy branches cut from nearby trees. The purpose of this
is to darken the inside of the pit to encourage the termites to come out and
eventually fall into the jug.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am not sure why the termites act this way, but Prince was
excited at the possibility of catching them – the resulting sale of the termites
would bring a much needed boost to his income at a difficult time of year. One
tin of termites (~20L) brings between 6,000 and 15,000 Malawi Kwacha (about 12
to 30 USD). Considering that the average household in Malawi currently earns
around 80k to 150k kwacha a year, this is a noticeable chunk of potential
money. (as of this writing the MWK to USD conversion was around 500 to 1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had come to find Prince so that we could plant some
Moringa trees at his house – we were planning ahead for some live fence posts
to use for a shed he was hoping to make next year. I left him to put the
finishing touches on the termite trap while I went to retrieve the last of the
Moringa seeds from the treasurer of the community tree nursery. When I returned
I found him smiling ear to ear with a toothy grin as he dug a hole under one
side of the termite mound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Have you ever tasted the honey of this animal?” he coyly
asks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Confused, I ask a few questions and watch as he eventually
unearths the beginnings of a small hive of a tiny species of stingless,
communal bees. The hive was buried deep in the bowels of the termite chambers.
All of the digging has unearthed loads of guard termites – 1cm long insects
with huge heads and pincers that can easily break skin. Comically the body seems
like an afterthought as the sole purpose of these blind termite warriors is to
attack anything that threatens the termite nest and to block tunnels from
further enemy entry by stopping them up with their chunky noggins. Apparently
the teeny bees are always found in termite mounds, they must take some
advantage of the protection offered by the guards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I laughed aloud many times as I watched Prince gingerly try
to pick his way around the termites in his attempts to reach the cache of
honey. He poked & prodded and unsuccessfully flicked the offending insects
away from the slowly pooling prize. I watched as they aimlessly wandered
blindly in circles, vainly trying to find the offending predator that has
opened up their home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I winced
sympathetically as he finally took my advice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I think you are just going to have to suck it up and shove
your hand in there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Into the fray his hand went. He got the worst of it in the
first wave, and after pulling many tightly clamped pincers from his skin, he
was able to scoop the rest of the honey out of the ground and into a small
plastic container. During the process I yelped as a few stray warriors latched
onto my bare toes and fingers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was clearly worth the effort, Prince licked his honey
soaked fingers and palms clean. We laughed and smiled together as he started to
take bites of the humorously small honey comb. With eat bite he ingested honey,
wax, bee bread (stored pollen), larvae and bees alike. You bet I tried it as
well. The honey was delicious, though still no match for the best honey taken
from proper hives up on the Nyika plateau. The comb with the pollen was,
however, unworldly. An exceptional variety of rich, flowery flavors swirled my
tongue. The sweet taste was so intense that only the smallest bit was needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shortly after this the sky darkened and light rains started
in around us. Because of the weather we were unable to capture the mphalata,
but it was still easily one of my favorite moments with my friend Prince to
happen so far. I do look forward to eating termites with him, as those little
critters are surprisingly tasty once salted and fried up.</span></div>
Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-82246693696031506622015-02-14T00:34:00.001-08:002015-02-14T01:00:45.226-08:00The Rains<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
is wet, very wet. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jan 21, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dry season has been fully over here in Thazima for a month
now, we received rains weeks before the rest of most of the country. Showers
take place daily, often replaced with heavy rains at night and in the early
morning. The temperature has started to drop again and I am reminded by the
regular chill that I live in the mountains.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(*note, this was originally written prior to the devastating
floods that have taken place in other parts of the country.)</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So it has been a few months, sorry friends! Zimachitika (It
Happens)!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">November and December saw the end of the dry season. Uh…
well sort of but not really. While hot season temperatures soared elsewhere in
Malawi, the avg. daily temperature remained fairly mild here in Thazima – one
of the benefits of living in the mountains. That isn’t to say that it wasn’t
sunny and parched enough to make my early start on a permaculture garden
difficult at best. My daily routine involved at least one ~3k round trip to the
borehole to carry 20L on my head - the water I used for cooking, cleaning,
bathing, and watering the few seedlings that clung to life. My water routine
was frugal, to say the least, and every extra drop went to the few plants I was
able to establish.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMg4A8EfH_CGke2oQPalyYs8yuIp1RnD3n5ZpOtaY4vLAxoX1TD2iAs9cfo7IXS4ADa73VfWM8Jf3sw1s9X51cv9s-FXEyDXH7Yf6a01M1KYL4QHMr6wx3934oLAXEZw1yc1hO1dMfC8/s1600/MW+Nov+-+Dec+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMg4A8EfH_CGke2oQPalyYs8yuIp1RnD3n5ZpOtaY4vLAxoX1TD2iAs9cfo7IXS4ADa73VfWM8Jf3sw1s9X51cv9s-FXEyDXH7Yf6a01M1KYL4QHMr6wx3934oLAXEZw1yc1hO1dMfC8/s1600/MW+Nov+-+Dec+2014.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slow Start in the dry season</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iSk3xSiB6a_w2PZnBeBS4ocx-4Dp7uywH8n6V5REZw6tqNy1TVrEv6IFeYx7COVOtLtftc6M2zEB5_mZUf4Z6nhyphenhyphennDbBrq0olzWa20E_cVx4xyLgx1ao3YqcN0g24yFpwEKmkN3pV5I/s1600/MW+Aug+-+Sep+14+(17).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iSk3xSiB6a_w2PZnBeBS4ocx-4Dp7uywH8n6V5REZw6tqNy1TVrEv6IFeYx7COVOtLtftc6M2zEB5_mZUf4Z6nhyphenhyphennDbBrq0olzWa20E_cVx4xyLgx1ao3YqcN0g24yFpwEKmkN3pV5I/s1600/MW+Aug+-+Sep+14+(17).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
Dry season at the lake - During Lake of Stars Music Fest<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1F9JquNXEEgD9Bagc6SuBOPm3UzQMyoZaw8qj0lgav6XcHZZq7rSVmAJHKJnG56vURbCvw7c3kXWdmfEB28ebxaL7gkvdgYEDjeMSX_eTCmA2ehP88AnjwjMdvaZIPIRxWh-1ZUDZd4/s1600/MW+Sep+-+Oct+2014+(44).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1F9JquNXEEgD9Bagc6SuBOPm3UzQMyoZaw8qj0lgav6XcHZZq7rSVmAJHKJnG56vURbCvw7c3kXWdmfEB28ebxaL7gkvdgYEDjeMSX_eTCmA2ehP88AnjwjMdvaZIPIRxWh-1ZUDZd4/s1600/MW+Sep+-+Oct+2014+(44).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
Dry Season on the Nyika Plateau - During Camp TIECH<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Malawi has been burdened by a month long delay in the start
of the rainy season - a problem that will affect food security in many parts of
the country. It is estimated that at least 650,000 people will need food aid.
Fortunately several governments and NGO's have pledged support in advance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thazima (and the Nyika Plateau in general) is unique in that
annual rainfall levels are consistently high and even in the dry season, there
are once monthly light showers. Local farmers have still had cause to stress
about the very noticeable delay in rains. Locally the rainy season typically
starts in late November -This year we saw 3 days of showers, and then weeks of
patchy and insufficient rains until the very end of December. Finally the skies
opened up and light but consistent rains allowed farmers to begin planting
their maize and tobacco just before Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVG4IuXHZAt4ArzLOGCGqiBQcro7W0cdx7BAkAxNaCjNwZlQoq9tjKv1kHFEw9VTyhRL7e4QJwUGEvpSqS_BmUNU1GRL1VLVEI3sh81hcyDqczifp8F7bxPE6nZ8jcvSlqyeW5K-ibSbw/s1600/MW+Jan+-+Feb+2015+(93).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVG4IuXHZAt4ArzLOGCGqiBQcro7W0cdx7BAkAxNaCjNwZlQoq9tjKv1kHFEw9VTyhRL7e4QJwUGEvpSqS_BmUNU1GRL1VLVEI3sh81hcyDqczifp8F7bxPE6nZ8jcvSlqyeW5K-ibSbw/s1600/MW+Jan+-+Feb+2015+(93).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When it rains...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkaCpk0Y66uLTH_GKONcM3dssMF3pt5SrzsLLK3QQXflS6nzad900Qd5m-WgdpCFeLakAB-o6Ex7vPIyRDa_zGw3V8rJWgg13xdY1KLVX2W6r3ElZZGDdudCITgcUziiw8q56P1V7D0s/s1600/MW+Jan+-+Feb+2015+(97).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkaCpk0Y66uLTH_GKONcM3dssMF3pt5SrzsLLK3QQXflS6nzad900Qd5m-WgdpCFeLakAB-o6Ex7vPIyRDa_zGw3V8rJWgg13xdY1KLVX2W6r3ElZZGDdudCITgcUziiw8q56P1V7D0s/s1600/MW+Jan+-+Feb+2015+(97).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It pours.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXxINGfLHv1j5tetlXIqff8uRp_y_PTepO-RmbwfZ9ChhmTe3g8OVS2GDiNMz6BZBc89-Cdo4dtXGmsnWyelQ1Av5gwF247Dc-CVZ9OhBzRQue496esbPumRcxd172ELlVwh0Iewos3U/s1600/MW+Jan+-+Feb+2015+(95).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXxINGfLHv1j5tetlXIqff8uRp_y_PTepO-RmbwfZ9ChhmTe3g8OVS2GDiNMz6BZBc89-Cdo4dtXGmsnWyelQ1Av5gwF247Dc-CVZ9OhBzRQue496esbPumRcxd172ELlVwh0Iewos3U/s1600/MW+Jan+-+Feb+2015+(95).jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the plus side - Things are finally growing in my pathetic soil</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It has been wonderful watching the colors shift over the
last few months. The first notable move away from dry season came the week I
was at camp TIECH in mid-October. 2 unusual days of solid rains sparked the
first changes. At this point you could taste the dry season in the air - a
layer of dusty and windblown brown and red dirt seemed to coat everything, this
was along with the constant ash; dry season is a time of burning in Malawi.
Brushfires and crop residues are set alight in very misguided attempts to ward
off snakes and prepare fields for the next season, the ashes find their way
into your homes and sometimes food. This worst case farming practice is deep
rooted in the culture, based on old and terribly outdated slash and burn
shifting agriculture techniques. It is probably the most harmful and yet
hardest practice to change here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyways, the rains in Oct. allowed the deep rooted trees to
tap into that groundwater and come alive much earlier than any of the shrubs
and grasses. It was as if they had been given permission to get a head start on
the growing season, eeking out inches of growth between Oct. and Dec., the
verdant woodlands of Nyika showed a vastly different world than that of the
rest of Malawi - One full of life as verdant trees set flower in order to
develop seeds in time for the real rains.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaO3H8ybhlPdnQB0uKCJep2Hfc_iBNV9xSm416LP_SIQWJXVqPAWtNGRNE4v47kYXco512EoShoyABSVH5TNLcEn4bEqaskjvGZUbQ1NPwvvKp5XHU-eDIDndLQHZmLMmdy8r1HyPdfo/s1600/MW+Nov+-+Dec+2014+(30).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaO3H8ybhlPdnQB0uKCJep2Hfc_iBNV9xSm416LP_SIQWJXVqPAWtNGRNE4v47kYXco512EoShoyABSVH5TNLcEn4bEqaskjvGZUbQ1NPwvvKp5XHU-eDIDndLQHZmLMmdy8r1HyPdfo/s1600/MW+Nov+-+Dec+2014+(30).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
Thazima after the rains had started<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During this time I set to work on my small plot of land next
to the house. I was given approximately 1/8<sup>th</sup>? Of an acre of low
fertility soil by Mzikilla, my village headman (almost as if a challenge – “see
what you can do with THAT azungu…”). No longer suitable for maize, the staple
crop of Malawi, it had been relegated to cassava. The cassava plants leaving
large amounts of exposed soil that only worsened the erosion with dry season
wind and the first rains.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0J6tnwz07zOH5Q4OzWpdsZLP6HB6WH0uypLsfFqbOUvlHpS2HaxXkffSkzOygiBtDUIBRfJZOLWYiWiP4GU_LJXEKTDjqXDA9IGSUGFNPb3_tBFOPP76tI2BXOFlI3hij4kvBfHaSGA/s1600/MW+Jan+-+Feb+2015+(99).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0J6tnwz07zOH5Q4OzWpdsZLP6HB6WH0uypLsfFqbOUvlHpS2HaxXkffSkzOygiBtDUIBRfJZOLWYiWiP4GU_LJXEKTDjqXDA9IGSUGFNPb3_tBFOPP76tI2BXOFlI3hij4kvBfHaSGA/s1600/MW+Jan+-+Feb+2015+(99).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Storms A Brewin'<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG3VktjZ1YUrsoq4_2TypTwIvIGpz5OcyunoULvN6CkDll1uTea_LjzSLhOvjbTADQjyYMlC5B6TxDA0hOnKnPVdVD3wy1zeLnIdG2jeAYxk63TMBbQOg8aHr-pkdBUUNQ-f5yAJZNpo/s1600/MW+Jan+-+Feb+2015+(103).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG3VktjZ1YUrsoq4_2TypTwIvIGpz5OcyunoULvN6CkDll1uTea_LjzSLhOvjbTADQjyYMlC5B6TxDA0hOnKnPVdVD3wy1zeLnIdG2jeAYxk63TMBbQOg8aHr-pkdBUUNQ-f5yAJZNpo/s1600/MW+Jan+-+Feb+2015+(103).jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I set about the task of improving the soil over the next
growing season, starting with the sweaty and backbreaking work of creating
contour ridges – A permanent feature intended to control erosion and hold more
water in the soil. Next over many, many, trips I hauled stacks of old roofing
grass I was allowed to take from a nearby house to use as a mulch layer. Over
the last year I have allowed natural trees to start regenerating, pruning them
along the way for vertical growth, instead of cutting them down or burning them
out as is the local practice. With the first rains I planted vetiver grass,
papaya, and pineapple suckers along the contour ridges. Pineapple and papaya
have been shown in other developing nations to be successful cash crops to
supplement erosion control measures when planted in this way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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UH! Dig those contour ridges!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finally, with the onset of the very regular and constant
rains of the wet season I have planted beans for a food crop and Tephrosia
vogeli as the primary soil improving plant. Tephrosia is widely used in the
tropics and is a locally available small tree that is known for its fast
growth, even in poor soils. More importantly, is its ability to improve those
soils via nitrogen fixing nodes on roots that grow deep, allowing water to
penetrate the soil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At this point the intent is to improve the soil in the field
enough for next season when I hope to plant local maze intercropped with beans
and Tephrosia <u>without</u> purchasing fertilizer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have also been teaching my neighbor about the benifits of
making a compost pile, and the resulting rich soil has been helping us when
planting the tree seedlings we have been putting in. He still doesn't quite get
the importance of maintaining one, but the concept is slowly sinking in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It has been quite a learning process. Upon arriving in
country I dove into and devoured any literature I could get my hands on with
regards to permaculture and improved agriculture techniques – especially ones
that have already been shown to work in this country. As my garden grows I have
begun to figure out what works in my area and at what time of the year. The
next task is convincing people that the changes they can make are worth their
time. I need to tailor my efforts in a way that makes teaching and learning the
techniques easiest and most likely to be adopted. Hopefully this demonstration
plot goes a long way in supplementing those efforts. I am already enjoying the
changes the rainy season is bringing – I can’t wait to see what I can do a year
from now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> Thanks for reading my boring agriculture post!</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">P.S. You may have been following the international news
following the heavy rains that have set in and caused extensive damage around
the country. Malawi has been called a disaster area by the president and is
receiving extensive aid following heavy flooding in Karonga in the north and
deadly floods much further south in the country. (later the flooding impacted
districts was extended to include almost half of the countries 28 districts)
As of the writing of this, the floods have been subsiding and all PCV’s have
remained safe. The next year will be tough for the country as efforts take
place to recover from the damages, loss of life, and loss of important crops.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> It feels good to be green again! (my daily walk to the park office)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-5946641074446267542014-11-18T02:06:00.002-08:002014-11-18T02:13:09.810-08:00Camp TIECH and the end of Oct<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Camp TIECH in Chelinda was fantastic! I spent 3
nights in Rumphi town with fellow volunteer Christy who was one of the
coordinators. We went to Rumphi ahead of time to collect supplies, arrange
transport to Chelinda, and generally prepare for the students arrival in Rumphi.
Christy headed up to Chelinda a day early while I waited for the students to
roll in. They arrived Sunday morning, and through a whirlwind of activity we
managed to get the matola loaded with all of our supplies and food, and also
get 30 students fed. (matola is the word for a big flatbed truck – the one that
would carry us up the plateau) Nothing ever goes perfectly here and of course
we had a hiccup with the driver and his funds not being released by the owner
of the truck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally
on our way, and only running a half hour late we hit the road. Mind you, we had
packed everyone gear and all of the food quite well, to prevent anything being
crushed – apparently they had issues last year. One hour into the drive it
starts to rain heavily on us (unusual this time of year!) and we have to
scramble to cover everything with a large tarp. Later we would find that much
of the fruit had been crushed in the process!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
ride from Rumphi to Chelinda took us about 4.5 hours with a stop in Thazima to
check out the information room. We were accompanied by Harry Kapira, an
education and extension officer from the Karonga district side of the park who
had worked in Chelinda for several years prior. He went through the info room
with the students and would prove to be a fantastic resource throughout the
week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
did have another unplanned stop inside the park when the semi became stuck in
the mud and all of us had to pull it out! We saw one elephant off in the
distance and many antelope as we drove the remainder of the way. All of us were
very excited, but quite exhausted arriving in the dark. Thankfully Kay and
Christy had arranged for dinner to be ready when we got there, and after a meal
and short meeting we headed to bed for a very cold night of sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
students would be in class from 8 am to 5 pm each day of camp. We took all
meals with them and spent the week teaching about a variety of health and
environment topics. Some of these included: HIV/Aids and Malaria education, healthy
sexual choices, composting, agroforestry, diet diversification and nutrition,
etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On
average, counselors started the day around 5 am and ended around 9pm. It was a
great time for all of us to bond with each other and build on existing or
create new friendships. Luckily we all also had plenty of time to appreciate
our surroundings. Nyika is full of breathtaking views and interesting animals
(as you may remember from my earlier posts). Bushbuck antelope are ever-present
around Chelinda and we also got to see our share of reedbuck, roan and eland. I
also got to see zebra, duiker, klipspringers, toucans, turacos, one jackal, and
countless other plants and small animals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Two
animal encounters in particular stand out to me. One night while walking from
the guest house where the counselors stayed to the youth hostel where the
students sleep and have classes Kay and I spotted a leopard! I had my headlamp
on, and about 20 meters ahead of us I spotted large, wide set, brilliant green
eyes flash back at me and suddenly crouch down. After a moment the leopard
decided we were neither a meal nor a threat and stood up and turned to our
right, slipping behind a small hill. I caught its full silhouette before it disappeared.
Damn. Those things get big! We kept watching and would catch a glimpse of its
eyes as it looked back at us between tree stumps as it wandered away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The second was at the
end of the week as we left the park. We were riding in the back of the matola and
as we rounded a corner we came upon the same elephant we spotted at a distance
coming into the park. Apparently he is a large bull that roams around on his
own. We must have startled it because he came charging at the open truck bed,
ears flapping and truck held high in threat display. Luckily he didn’t come to
close – Either the driver spotted this, or simply never noticed the animal, we
didn’t even slow down to watch it as we usually did when spotting an animal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">That day the camp
ended, we took the students from Chelinda all the way to Mzuzu so that they
could visit the university and see the SMART Centre for water and sanitation.
They received a tour and demonstrations on several appropriate technologies for
Malawi, including water catchment/ pump systems and composting toilets. We had
dinner and breakfast with them before finally sending them home the next
morning. The hope is that students will begin to initiate activities they
learned over the course of the week at their home villages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I stayed in Mzuzu for
the counselor dinner that Sunday night and then returned to site in Thazima briefly
before returning to Rumphi town to attend 2 days of the Nyika/Vwaza Trans Frontier
Conservation Area conference for Zambia and Malawi with my supervisor. The
conference tried to fit far far too much into too small of a period and was
even called short – the Zambian officers had to leave early due to the
unexpected death of the countries president. In spite of all of this I still
gained quite a bit from the event. It gave me a far more complete picture of
the issues facing the Malawi and Zambian parks and the communities surrounding
them. I also got a better idea of the efforts already in place to help reduce
poaching and human – animal conflicts. Overall the event really reinforced for
me my role in my community. It also provided possible opportunities to work
more closely with the park system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later that weekend I went to Kande Beach for Halloween
celebrations and to visit Ripple Africa, and NGO that operates in the area. Halloween
was fun, though I was a party pooper and slept early both nights, as I had
exhausted my energies in the sun during the day. At one point we paddled out to
a small nearby island where I got to see a fish eagle up close and a water
monitor in the wild! Better still, I got to put to use some climbing shoes I
had lucked into finding at the market in Rumphi. That’s right, I got to check
deep water free solo climbing off of my life list! It was a huge rush and a ton
of fun, I look forward to doing it again soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Though I really enjoyed
seeing my friends and a very busy 2 weeks, I was also very happy to finally get
back to site and start working towards the coming planting season. I will be
working with a few very interested farmers to teach about contour ridging and I
am also building a demonstration plot at my house for conservation agriculture
and reclaiming/rebuilding soils using agroforestry species. Somewhere in there
Prince and I hope to do some more cookstove work. It is so dry right now, it is
hard to imagine that the rains are just a month away!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-18540134659109212932014-10-27T00:20:00.001-07:002014-10-27T00:20:50.999-07:00Catching Up - Oct 14<span lang=""><div align="CENTER">
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Wow, it has been a while. A big part of that is that I have been downright busy, another part of that is that it is harder to write about life when the little things no longer seem novel. My mother keeps hassling me to write another blog update, if only just to fill people in on what I have been up to. Here is the rundown on the past few months!</div>
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<b><br />
August<br />
</b>Got tree nursery built and ready to work on, Didn’t get supplies (tubes to plant, seeds, watering cans and hoes) until the very end of September. I had given the tree nursery committee some tubes and seeds and told them to start without the supplies, all they need is a bucket and small cup to start watering, but they insisted on waiting until the supplies were given to them… oh well. <br />
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I attended Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) as a member of the ‘Manel’ a five person man panel consisting of 2 American men and 3 Malawian men. The intent was to give the young Malawian women attending the camp an honest and uninhibited opportunity to ask men any question they wanted <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">– This would be very culturally taboo here and is</span> something that we take for granted in even casual conversation in the US. Here in Malawi it would be incredibly culturally inappropriate for a women to ask most of the questions we were asked. Many were with regards to sex, behavior, and relationships <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> The intent is to give them answers that are based on reality and scientific explanation. This is to help combat many of the often dangerous local myths/beliefs regarding sex and sexual behavior. I found the experience incredibly rewarding and moving. It was fantastic to see the other activities going on during the camp. I think that it truly served as a starting point to empower the young women that attended and is one of the best things that Peace Corps Malawi has going. I hope to have the chance to be a part of it next year as well. Check out the video that one of the volunteers made regarding the camp and the status of women in Malawi.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbIjZ-Kwj9g">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbIjZ-Kwj9g</a><br />
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Near the end of the month I finished building and drying my improved cookstove (check out the photos below!) Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to use it until over a month later. The last Saturday of August I did some work with the tree nursery <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> filling over 320 tubes, ready for planting! Unfortunately, I then had to leave a week early for <b>I</b>n <b>S</b>ervice <b>T</b>raining for a few different reasons.<br />
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<br />
September<br />
</b>IST lasted for 2 weeks starting with all the volunteers arriving on Saturday the 7<sup>th.</sup><sup> </sup><br />
<br />
It was fantastic to spend the first week catching up with the other volunteers – Many of whom I had not seen in 4 months. We spent the day (8-5pm) in classes, furthering our PC training, and often stayed up late catching up with each other. Being so excited to see each other and to share our experiences we often stayed up quite late (much later than the typical post-sundown village bedtime) and we were all short on sleep for the entire two weeks.<br />
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During the second week of IST we were joined by our counterparts. Khunga came down for the whole week of training. We had a good time catching up <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> this had been the longest I have been away from site! When we greeted each other, we both said "I have been missing you!" as is common in the local vernacular.<br />
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Unfortunately for me, I found IST to be rather uninformative and unproductive from a professional standpoint <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> A significant portion of the training was detached from the skills that would be useful in a village setting, or were simply a direct repeat of PST when we arrived in country. I know I am not alone in this and I hope that the feedback many volunteers provided will improve future trainings. I do however think that the training was of great benefit to my counterpart. It was good for him to hear the things I have been saying come from other professional sources as reinforcement, and I think he was further motivated. I am very excited about this aspect of the training and look forward to collaborating with him on more of our work.<br />
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After IST I returned north to Mzuzu for a meeting on the camp TIECH. TIECH is a weeklong environment and health camp for secondary students (think high school, but due to the education system here ages can vary from 14 to 26 for these camps). It takes place next week (Oct 18-25) in Nyika National Park <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> Right in my Backyard! (Sort of) At the meeting, we discussed the lesson schedule and responsibilities leading up to the camp. I am pretty excited to be a part of this camp, and have hopes of being one of the coordinators for it next year. I am joined by fellow volunteers Ian, Brittany, Lea, Meg, Rachael, Matt, and coordinating volunteers Kay and Christy. We are even going to be visited by the new Country Director <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> I hope she is ready for the long and bouncy ride to Chelinda from Rumphi town. Overall this promises to be a rewarding experience. (Plus more time deep in the park will result in some fantastic photo ops for wildlife and landscape)<br />
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After TIECH meeting, midweek, I took some vacation time and headed back down south to the Mangochi lakeshore for The Lake Of Stars Music Festival (Way south for me <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> the furthest south I have been). I got lucky on transport both in and out of the fest <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> hitching resulted in some good rides with some cool people and saved some money + time over minibus travel. I stayed for 2 of the three nights before heading back up north. It was cool and very interesting to see an event like this unfold in the heart of Malawi. Many great artists from the southern Africa region played and there were about 3000(?) people there. It felt good to cut loose and swim in the lake again. I actually got in a little bit of bouldering with another volunteer. Mangochi was beautiful, even in the blistering heat of the season. There were giant Baobab trees everywhere, and I can imagine how nice it would look in the wet season with leaves on all of the plants. Thazima/Nyika NP still remains my favorite part of Malawi though!<br />
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<b><br />
October<br />
</b>Travel takes a bit here of course and even though I left Mangochi on a Sunday, I didn’t get back to site until the Wednesday 1st. Let me tell you <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span>I missed home! I promptly got back into the swing of village life and reconnected with my friends and counterpart. <br />
<b></b><br />
<b>October highlights so far:</b> <br />
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Fired up my cookstove for the first time and now I use it all the time, holy crap this thing is awesome and I often joke that compared to cooking on a 3 brick fire is like cooking with electricity (it isn’t, but is a helluva lot better). <br />
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I helped the tree nursery to plant their first seeds <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> we filled 300 tubes with Moringa and Senna spectabilis. <br />
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I noticed how nice my tiny house looks at night when it is all lit up with candles. <br />
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I adjusted to the realities of being in full swing of dry season <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> While away my nearest shallow well dried up and I have to walk over 1km for water now, carrying 22 liters on my head at least once a day (not as bad as you would think once you get used to it). <br />
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I have been fighting with the 2 carpenters I have contracted for work. One of them finally came through and supplied me with a set of shelves and planks for making an A frame. The other one skipped town without doing any work more than a month after I paid a hefty deposit. Turns out his references were not as solid as stated. This means I still have an unsecure house <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> Front door is basically plywood and back door is held shut with a bent nail. Things I wish Peace Corps had taken care of before I moved in! <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> I now have no idea when I will be able to find someone to do the work. ug. Luckily I have great neighbors just next to me and I do feel safe, and in 5 months at site, nothing has been stolen from me. This is not something that many volunteers here can claim.<br />
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I have finally gotten a back gate for my yard <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> this means that the goats are no longer eating the trees/plants in my nursery and yard! Finally my plants can start growing uninhibited. Unfortunately it may be too little too late for my nursery to give good sized seedlings for the rainy season coming in December. We will see.<br />
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I have started more home improvement! Using the extra bricks I bought for the cookstove I have started to outline and pre dig more of my yard. I plan on it being a permaculture haven by the time I leave. I will go crazy with planting and gardening during the rainy season.<br />
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I have also gotten to explore the nearby areas in the park a bit more including finding a new area to look for elephants and a hiking trip with Prince Mhone, one of my good friends and the chairperson of the community tree nursery. <br />
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I set a new PR descending the plateau to visit Ian on my bike, and finally made the ride/walk back up the mountains. Getting to Bembe where he lives (16km away) takes me ~40ish min (I think I can break into the upper 30s). Biking back up took over 2 hours including a 15 min rest and walking the longest, steepest sections. Ug, doing it in the heat of the day didn’t help, but I was downright exhausted by the time I got back. Not sure how motivated I am to try and improve on that time...<br />
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Lastly, the local HIV/AIDS <b>C</b>ommunnity <b>B</b>ased <b>O</b>rganization reformed and elected committee members! I hope to find some activities to do with them - mostly permaculture to improve the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS<br />
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That’s it for now! Khalani Makola! (Stay Well!)Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-57407280552234585852014-08-18T04:13:00.000-07:002014-08-18T04:13:30.203-07:00Slowing Down<span lang="">7 August 2014<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Apart from big events, I am finding it harder and harder to find things to write about. Life here is…. mellow. We finally made the tree nursery fence and I am certain we will receive seeds and tubes to start planting the nursery before the end of the August. I have also finally located the bricks I need to make an improved cook stove at my house. I want 100 of them </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">–</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> they are bigger than the ones you will find stateside and locally made. The stove only calls for at most 60, but I want to use the extras for other projects. To make the bricks they find a termite mound, dig it up and make the bricks from the clay the termites build with. They painstakingly form each one, dry it in the sun, and then build a large shaped pile that they fire with a huge amount of firewood. Unfortunately the process of making them contributes readily to deforestation, but the intent of the cookstove is to offset that with a more efficient mode of cooking. I have to haul the bricks over a kilometer to my house </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">–</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> I already moved half with a borrowed wheelbarrow two days ago (exhausted) and hope to finish today. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Remember when I said patience is a virtue here? Well, my limits of patience are expanding all the time. It took nearly 3 months to get the bricks and has been more than that since I ordered some shelves to be built - My house is tiny and it would be nice to move some things up off of the floor in the name of saving space. You get used to things taking a while here. Transport can take hours longer than expected. 'Programs' (as they call any activities and events here) are always late, postponed, or cancelled. I always have a book on hand to fill dead time, that is unless I have read them all....<br />
<br />
All being said, I am becoming more and more comfortable w/ the community and my daily routine. I am also finding more that I will want to work on in the next two years. It will be frustrating - habits are hard to change and I can already see so many cultural issues that will come into play. <br />
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It is tough, you try to take it to heart when they tell you during training that even small things will take time. Even though I remind myself of this regularly, you can't help but get frustrated with just how slow the process can be. But then, sometimes seemingly out of nowhere something will click; Someone will just 'get it', or the tree nursery committee comes together and makes an excellent fence with their own time and resources, or someone comes to you with an idea for the community that you know they are serious about and want to follow through with it. When this happens I get all smiles and excitement. (well, maybe just more than I usually am)<br />
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I am still trying to decide just how much is too much to take on, what the right balance of my time and skills will be, and exactly what I am wanting to get out of my time here - but I feel it coming. <b>I</b>n <b>S</b>ervice <b>T</b>raining is next month and my big community meeting to discuss possible projects is at the end of August. Both of these events, I expect, will help me get a better idea of what the area both wants and needs.<br />
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Camp GLOW is this month and I will be traveling to Lilongwe for the Man Panel that takes place on the 16th. Will definitely fill you in on that experience as I expect it to be a good one.<br />
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</span><br />Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-46288904423887918682014-08-18T03:51:00.000-07:002014-08-18T03:52:27.466-07:00Quite a hike<span lang="">26 July 2014<br />
<br />
For the last month my bike has been stranded at Ian’s house. I kept getting lucky with transport and had no need/means to get to his house to collect it. This morning I sucked it up and walked the 16k down through the mountains to his house with the plans of riding back up. I left bright and early with nothing but my mp3 player and camelback. It took 3 hrs and 6 minutes door to door. So I guess now I know that. The walk was very relaxing and just what I needed. I got lucky again and by chance caught another ride up the beat up mountain road with my bike in the back of a park vehicle that was passing by. <br />
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I expect that this hike, both up or down, will happen often in my time here - apart from park trucks and the odd tourist, there is no regular public transport that comes to my site. And while it isn't too terribly hard to get in and out of site most of the time, I hope this gives you a feel for how out of the way Thazima is.</span>Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-20559289305601299772014-07-21T03:22:00.000-07:002014-07-22T01:34:03.893-07:00Chelinda<span lang="">20 July 2014<br />
<br />
After waiting for 2 days for the park to have a vehicle that could take me and the university students into Chelinda, I got lucky and found an early morning ride on Tuesday with two Swiss tourists and their 3(!) safari guides/drivers. They had room in the covered bed of their pickup truck and were leaving again in two days. I laid back in the bed and enjoyed the luxury (no joke, this ride was awesome compared to most).<br />
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This ended up being a smart decision. I arrived at the small village and ‘resort’ before noon. Transport was largely uneventful except for some zebras close to the car as we neared Chelinda (no time for a photo ) The university students arrived near 10 pm, were cold, and their trip took almost twice as long.</span><br />
<span lang=""><br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;"> The views on the drive in are fantastic. Scenery slowly shifts from seemingly endless </span><a href="https://www.google.com/"><u><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;"><span lang="">Brachystega</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang=""> woodland to rolling hills of short grass interspersed with towers of bare rock and forest in the damp parts of the valleys. By the time you reach Chelinda it is nothing but grassland as far as the eye can see, with one very prominent exception. The Chelinda area sticks out like a sore thumb.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> The village has ~200 people not counting the guests (currently very few). The whole area backs up onto a tremendous pine plantation, and the village area is scattered with blue gum trees (Eucalyptus). The weather is damn cold and regularly misty for hours. The village houses are constructed from great pine planks, layered like shingles </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">–</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> very un-Malawi like. The upscale (in cost) Chelinda lodge looks as though it belongs in the Swiss Alps. The whole scene is surreal given the context of location and feels as though it has been plucked from an entirely different continent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> I get to spend my nights in the simple youth hostel for free. It is decorated with paintings of animals from the park and has three old elephant jawbones that are speckled with lichen sitting outside one of the huts. I have brought some rice and sweet potatoes to hold me over for the time I am there. I buy some mpangwe (</span><span style="font-size: small;">mustard greens) for 20 kwacha to accompany my dinner.</span><br />
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I have come to meet with the assistant park manager, who is also the research manager, in order to discuss the possibility of conducting my own ecology research project in addition to my other Peace Corps duties. I also want to talk about another possible project with the manager of the safari company. Wilderness Safaris currently holds the park concession at Chelinda for the tourist lodge and camp and I have some rough ideas for an eco-tourism project that could benefit the people of Thazima and also the safari company. I will keep you posted on this if any of it seems feasible to pursue working on.<br />
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Unfortunately the manager of the safari company is busy and leaving early the next day so I will miss that opportunity and with the research officer also out I have some time to kill. I am limited in the few areas that I can access by myself on foot but over the next few days I explore all of them (though I am later told that as a park employee this restriction does not hold for me).<br />
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Here is a short list of the things I see: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roan_antelope" target="_blank">Roan</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sable_antelope" target="_blank">Sable</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_eland" target="_blank">Eland</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_reedbuck" target="_blank">Reedbuck</a>, Zebra, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushbuck" target="_blank">Bushbuck</a> so close I could tackle one should I choose, some large buzzards, and a day old leopard kill that is gone the next day along with leopard scat and foot prints but no leopards! Next time I hope….<br />
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</span><span style="font-size: small;"> I also walk through the pine plantation. It is so vast and the trees so large that the sky darkens as you enter and all you can see are the trunks of trees. Exceptionally few animals can use the pine woods and no native plants grow there. The wind howls in the treetops and the trunks sway and creak. It is beautiful, haunting, and slightly depressing. The pine and blue gum are over 50 years old and are monstrous in size. I shudder at the thought of one tipping and squashing me flat </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">–</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> I have been told they collapse on occasion and it has caused damage to buildings in the area.</span><br />
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My meeting with the research officer is productive and it seems like I will get to come up with my own project for studying the reptiles/amphibians around Thazima and I will also get to contribute to other research projects in the park when time and transport allows. I will now have to think up a project.<br />
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After 2 days and nights of shivering and spending the time with a constant cold in my fingers and toes I am eager to get back to my village. The same Swiss couple that gave me a ride in also share a meal with me and provide some very pleasant conversation. I am quite grateful as they are willing to give me another ride back out early Thursday morning. Overall it was a great experience and I look forward to braving the road in the rainy season when over 200 species of orchid are in bloom.<br />
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I have come to Mzuzu for the weekend to get some work done for Peace Corps and to use the good internet to update this blog. Next week I hope to build an improved cook stove at my house in order to teach my neighbors, counterpart and supervisor. I also hope to take the community elected leaders of the tree nursery into Rumphi for meeting with Total Land Care! This is particularly exciting to me as I plan to make agroforestry one of the main focuses of my time here.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: small;"> It should be some time before my next blog post goes up </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">–</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> I won</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">’</span></span><span style="font-size: small;">t have much internet over the next month and hope to be fairly busy. I have been elected to be a part of the Man Panel (Manel for short) of a female youth empowerment camp that Peace Corps is hosting in Lilongwe in early August. I will get to candidly answer anonymously posted questions from Malawian 2ndary school girls (high school age). The purpose is for them to get honest answers to questions that they might not otherwise be socially able to ask of men. Expect more updates around that time and some photos later this weekend.</span><br />
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Cheers!</span>Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-70841073071510072772014-07-20T04:24:00.000-07:002014-07-22T01:17:51.759-07:00The woods are my church<span lang="">14 July 2014<br />
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Yesterday my alarm went off at 5am. I hit snooze until I was sufficiently satisfied with my Zz’s and finally awoke at 5:30. I looked out at Bwerumbwe hill, a nearby mountain inside of the park and my destination for the morning. The sky was a dusty ochre hue with highlights of amber. A halo of deep red surrounded the peak. It was still dark enough that I needed my headlamp as I dressed and inhaled my breakfast of cold oatmeal. I was anxious to start my hike, hopeful to see some animals in the early morning hours.<br />
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By 5:45 the cloudless sky had turned to shades of pink, peach, orange. I began my 1km walk through town, thankful that it is early enough on a Sunday that few people were awake enough to want to stop and chat. I wanted only the quiet and comfort of a morning spent in the woods alone. As I passed the gate and walked on the path that passes through the park employees housing complex my thoughts begin to ramble… Eager to escape the rising sounds of humanity I pick up my pace.<br />
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The ceaseless cackle of roosters begins to diminish behind me and I finally slow when I reach the fire road that descends to the creek that marks the start of the long climb to the crest of Bwerumbwe. Today the air is particularly frigid, lower 40’s. I am bundled against the cold, hands deep inside the pockets of my light jacket and my ski cap pulled tight against numb ears. The sharp chill makes my sunburnt nose feel wet, my eyes water and cheeks sting. I have slowly become accustomed to the morning temperatures, always just cool enough that I start every day with it deep in my bones.<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;"> I shake off a shiver as I listen to the birds come to life while the daylight brightens. The fire road borders a long leaf pine plantation on my right and as I walk the sounds of dew falling from the </span><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=uapaca+kirkiana&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=SprLU_TyE4LF7AbCzYHwCw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&biw=1366&bih=611"><u><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;"><span lang="">m</span></span></span></u></a><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=uapaca+kirkiana&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=SprLU_TyE4LF7AbCzYHwCw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&biw=1366&bih=611"><u><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;"><span lang="">u</span></span></span></u></a><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=uapaca+kirkiana&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=SprLU_TyE4LF7AbCzYHwCw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&biw=1366&bih=611"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="">su</span></span></a><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=uapaca+kirkiana&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=SprLU_TyE4LF7AbCzYHwCw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&biw=1366&bih=611"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="">k</span></span></a><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=uapaca+kirkiana&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=SprLU_TyE4LF7AbCzYHwCw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&biw=1366&bih=611"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="">u</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang=""> trees on my left repeatedly give me pause, causing me to think I am hearing the snapping of twigs made by a fleeing animal. The path eventually turns to the right, becoming single track, and takes me into the pines. This stretch is eerily silent; the non-native trees give few local animals reason to use this space. The undergrowth is sparse, here and there stunted native plants struggle to survive against the poison released by the pine needles.</span></span><br />
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I come across an old pile of elephant dung, long since engulfed and then abandoned by termites. It gives me reason to think on why I woke so early. I would love to see an elephant so close to my home and to the park boundary. It is unlikely to happen, but this is the time of day for it. I have already been fortunate enough to see some on an earlier day trip into the park with the local beekeepers group. A family of 8 had walked in line into the bush as our truck drove slowly by. I remember the bull male made an imposing visage, standing guard with his ears flared and trunk held high while the rest of his troupe slipped into the woods.<br />
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What I really want to see though is a leopard. Oh how I wish to see a leopard! The locals tell me one lives on Thazima hill, the mountain that my house backs up to, and the last time I hiked Bwerumbwe I found some leopard scat. Apart from some klipspringers that we glimpsed for only a second, scat was about the only thing we found on that hike. I was accompanied by 3 university students who were far too loud to allow for any animal sightings. This time it is just me, and with the day free of obligations, I could take all the time I needed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;"> It is not long before I am rewarded. Shortly after leaving the pine strip I hear a twig snap and the swish of grass being parted. I freeze in place, waiting for my guest to appear. To my right, 30 meters off, the silhouette of a bush pig comes into view and I immediately drop to a crouch. He moves in short bursts </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">–</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> quickly moving a few feet then stopping to listen. This repeats several times and for a few moments I think he may pass right in front of me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
If there ever was a time I would call a pig beautiful, this is it. He is large, much stouter than I expected. I would guess in the range of 80lbs. His coat is mottled in black spots and a simple but clean reddish/tan fur. Long wisps of hair swirl about his face and give image to a small beard. Suddenly he gives an extended pause, sniffing the air vigorously. I am immediately aware of the steam coming from my breath. He turns away, holds for a moment more, and then vanishes into a thicket.<br />
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Soon afterwards I cross the stream. It is a simple, elegant thing that steadily burbles as it carves a path through the granite bed. By this time the sky is a milky white, the color of baby’s breath and giving hint to the clear blue sky of day. The sun is barely hidden behind the mountain, surely shining on the other side of the valley. It is warm enough that I can take my hands from my pockets and lift my cap above my ears in the hopes of hearing something new.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Apart from the wonderful views of rocky, boulder strewn woodland, the hike up is largely uneventful. I pause often, half to strain my ears for sounds of wildlife and half for the sake of catching my breath </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">–</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> exercise has hardly been part of my routine lately and my lungs struggle to keep pace with my feet. The view of the peak is obscured by trees and just before coming upon it I hear a strange grunting noise from my right as a bushbuck slips away on my left.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> The top of Bwerumbwe is marked by two large rocky outcroppings. The first of which is capped with a stone hut that the park installed along with a relay tower for staff radios. The hut reminds me of images of montane Europe and the relay tower has long since collapsed </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">–</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> its guide wires cut in the night by poachers some time back. I drop my bag and shed my jacket in the rising morning temperature. It is now 7:30 and the sun is well in the sky. The woods are fully alive with the hum of insects. Several times I am buzzed by bumble bees larger than my thumb as I sit on the cliff staring into the park below. I have borrowed some old military binoculars and scan the area.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> I discover two </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushbuck"><u><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;"><span lang="">bushbu</span></span></span></u></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushbuck"><u><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;"><span lang="">c</span></span></span></u></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushbuck"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="">ks</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang=""> 1km away on the valley floor and follow them for 10 min before finally losing sight of them. As I get up and take a few steps to the other side of the hut a male </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klipspringer"><u><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;"><span lang="">klipspringer</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang=""> sprints down the hill and hides behind some trees. He is followed by a female who stops atop a boulder, back to me but neck craned and eyes fixed, ready to flee. She repeats a very loud nasal warning grunt that surprises me given her small size. A tiny thing, weighing only ~25 lb at most. 1/3 of the weight seems to be in the thighs, a product of a life spent jumping from rock to rock.</span></span><br />
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I am nearly still, the only movement my hands as I scroll with the binoculars. She must be curious to find if I am friend or foe, she has turned to face me. Painted in a raccoon like guise, her eyes are locked to mine. For a full 5 minutes she grunts her alarm call, occasionally supplementing it with a small bounce of her front legs. The resulting crack from her hooves striking the rock echoes a sharp report in the area around me. Her call has been answered by a third klipspringer, another male. Eventually they regroup beneath a tree 50 meters away and linger in the area for 20 minutes before they decide I am not worth their time and move around the other side of the hill.<br />
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I spend another half hour or so on the second outcropping, a tremendous monolith with the best view in the area, before I finally begin my descent. I am sweating and in a T-shirt by the time I reach the stream. It is around 10 am and the temp has climbed steadily to the mid 70’s. This swing in temperature is common during the cold season and most pronounced on sunny days like this one.<br />
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Before the sounds of humanity reach my ears again I spend the last of the walk contemplating. I think about what it means to me to turn 31, to spend this time on a new continent, the work I hope to do and how I am happy to be here but simultaneously lonely for so many friends back home. Eventually I hear the pounding of maize and the howls of children and my thoughts turn more to the day at hand.<br />
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I did not get to see a leopard, maybe luck will be with me this week. This afternoon I am supposed to leave for Chelinda, the camp/village in the center of Nyika National Park. I am going with the university students (they are from the University of Livingstonia, Malawi) for some training on park research and a meeting with the manager of the safari lodge there.<br />
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I am bringing my camera this time.</span>Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-5933317741419601392014-07-20T04:07:00.002-07:002014-07-22T01:07:06.024-07:00Meetings, Counterparts, Activities and stuff<span lang="">12 July 2014<br />
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It’s been over a month since I have sat down to write. With my counterpart coming back on duty from his yearly mandated leave, and me falling into far more comfortable of a routine, there has been less compelling material for me to write about. Here is what I have been up to lately.<br />
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Mid June my counterpart and I did our first community development tool. We had a community meeting to draw a map of Thazima. This is one of the initial tools that Peace Corps encourages us to use early on in our time at site. The purpose is less to give me a map of the Thazima and more to introduce me to the community and to get them talking to each other and thinking about making changes in the area.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: small;"> We split them into 4 groups: men, women, girls and boys. This gives each group its own voice </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">–</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> that way no group is overshadowed which often happens if done all together. It also highlights the different ways each group functions and shows the different views and uses each group has of the surrounding area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> The meeting was scheduled for 8 am. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I have become completely accustomed to what us volunteers now call ‘Africa time’ </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">–</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> That is to say that patience is more than a virtue and things will happen when they happen. You become used to events starting hours later than planned, transportation having unpleasantly long delays, people not showing up etc. etc. People have to take care of their homes and families first: Food needs to be cooked, water fetched, the field tended, the house cleaned or repaired, and the list goes on. My counterpart and I take this time to discuss our current projects and activities, and to plan future community events.</span><br />
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As per usual, the meeting started at 1030, over 2 hours ‘late’. I was lucky as 56 people showed up, most of them youth, but I had enough men and women to make a go of it. The maps turned out well (though surprisingly simple compared to the ones we had our villages make in training) but I gleaned more than a fair bit of information from the activity about community behavior. Surprisingly the young girls, very reluctant at first, ended up really embracing the project and turned out the best map. I think my counterpart was the one to gain the most from the activity though, He claimed it has taught him new ways of viewing and interacting with the villages in his catchment area.<br />
<br />
At this moment I am taking advantage of ‘Africa time’ again while I wait on the start of another set of meetings. The first is to make a seasonal calendar for the community. This is another development tool that helps my counterpart and I to better plan projects so as not to interfere with the community needs, to further educate my counterpart on how to initiate development with a new area, and to continue to build community familiarity with my presence and purpose. I am taking advantage of this time to think about possible projects and how to approach them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;"> The second meeting is to start the committee for the community tree nursery. I am setting up all projects I do so that the community has ownership of them and learns from available local resources so they will be better able to solve problems and manage projects on their own after I leave in 2016. The goal of this is to make the projects more sustainable and impactful. Let’s hope it works out that way. The community is going to elect a committee to take charge of the nursery. They will choose a representative who I will guide through the process of finding local NGO’s that can teach them about starting and maintaining the nursery. This representative will then bring the NGO to teach the community. We are planning on using </span><a href="http://www.totallandcare.org/"><u><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;"><span lang="">Total Land Care</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang=""> as they have an office in nearby Rumphi Boma.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
With all of these activities I first teach my counterpart what I know and work until it seems he has a strong understanding and then have him take the reigns and lead the activity when it happens<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">–</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> This is so that he can initiate them on his own in other communities and effectively (I hope) create the same sense of ownership we are trying to instill here. He is a good leader and comfortable in the role of public speaker and facilitator, my work would be exceedingly more difficult without him.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> About my counterpart… M.C. Khunga is in his early 40’s. (That really is his name </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">–</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> Musandivute Chizizimu Khunga) He is ~5’8" and extremely lithe - maybe 140 lbs and all of it muscle. His voice is deep, gruff, and raspy with a hint of melody. The first time I met him one of my friends said he sounded like the rapper DMX. Except for an extremely thin goatee that comes and goes he is generally clean shaven. When not in uniform he always wears a baseball cap with the number 32, a black button up collared shirt with thin neon blue and green stripes, color matching flip flops, and dress slacks. Everyone here seems to wear dress pants at all times, even when working in the field. When on duty he wears park issue military fatigues branded with the Malawi National Parks emblem and carries an M16A1. A relic of a firearm that likely saw service in Vietnam, branded with ‘property of the US govt’ below the receiver. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
M.C. Khunga is an Education and Extension officer for the national parks system. He has worked for MNP since 1991 and has alternated between Ed. & Ext. and Wildlife management throughout that period. He has lived in Thazima since 2006 and for 3 years prior (1997-2000). I am extremely lucky to be working with him. He knows the communities and the areas around Nyika well. He is motivated and eager to learn and is aware that he needs to teach me every bit as much as I am teaching him.<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;"> When I first asked him why he wanted to work with the park system he said it was because he had a love for it. His personality feels a perfect pairing for me. He is typically serious and focused - with his demeanor matching his burly vocal affectation </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">–</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> but with frequent bursts of laughter emanating deep from his belly, belying his small size. He smiles big, and when you look at his eyes you know it is genuine. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I have become convinced that we will accomplish much here in Thazima and the other areas that we will work. I just hope that some of it holds up after I am finished and that at least a few people take the lessons to heart.</span>Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-46452517076438630382014-06-06T04:22:00.001-07:002014-06-06T04:22:22.714-07:00The Funeral<span lang="">This morning I was supposed to attend a meeting with the local community banking group. They were having their very fist gathering and I had been invited by way of a very polite note that was handwritten in chitombuka and left with my neighbor earlier in the week. Late yesterday afternoon, however, I was informed that the village headman for nearby Bowa had died and that the meeting was to be postponed due to the funeral.<br />
<br />
Early in our training Peace Corps had informed us that it was good integration practice to attend all community events including funerals. I wholeheartedly agree, and as this is to be my home for the next 2 years, I informed my next door neighbor and group village headman Mzikilla Mhone that I would like to accompany him. (This is the same Mhone from whom I have acquired my adopted surname <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> I am known as Andrew Mhone here in Thazima.) We left my house at 8 am.<br />
<br />
I am very fortunate to have Mzikilla as my neighbor and landlord. He is excited, always eager to learn, and he never fails to help teach me more about life here in Malawi. He is a small, goofy man of about 45. He has thick dark curly hair and just a hint of a beard, all speckled with white wisps of age showing through. I tower over him, as by Malawian standards I am a giant. Most days our conversations consist of lots laughing, smiles, and the male hand holding that is quite common and customary here (awkward to me only, though I am getting used to it). We speak in spontaneous bursts of broken English and Chitombuca followed by awkward pauses and the inevitable return to sheepish laughing when the language barrier prevails and our communication breaks down. He is silly and I am thankful for this as it makes my time here that much more enjoyable.<br />
<br />
I have however learned that when the situation calls for it, he fills his position of leadership with a stoic nobility and quiet strength that always surprises me. It is easy to appreciate, because though it is in stark contrast to his usual behavior, it clearly comes naturally to him and feels very genuine. This was one of such occasions. The walk to Bowa is ~6k away and takes exactly an hour. Apart from the usual greetings to those on the road, and a short conversation with his brothers whom we meet along the way, we barely speek.<br />
<br />
As we come into Bowa we walk through the open space of the football pitch and then past the open windows of the unusually nice primary school. The children are singing joyously to each other in class. The house of the deceased was shortly downhill from the school, just out of earshot. We quietly addressed others coming to pay their respects and pass a group of women sorting flowers behind a very large stack of harvested maize, the ears of corn still on the stalks. To the left of them is the path that works its way up to the front steps of the house.<br />
<br />
It is a small brick house with three front windows that are draped in heavy green cloth to block out the sun. To the right is a large reed fence obscuring the view of the back yard and in front of this several unusually large logs are scattered and smoldering, collectively sending ash and wisps of smoke trailing towards the sky. The front door is open and in the dim light penetrating the foyer I can see several children sitting on the dirt floor, beyond this only darkness. Inside I hear the low murmurs and muted sobbing of several women.<br />
<br />
Following Mzikillas lead, we walk 20 meters past the door to a small grove of trees, none of which are much taller than me. There is a clearing that is scattered with freshly felled branches and several benches. Taking a seat near several other village headmen and a few area principles I wait, I watch, and I listen. The women are all behind or inside of the house, their number is a mystery to me <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> the men all seat themselves separately from them. I can, however, hear them clearly. They alternate between waves of silence and overt incomprehensible wailing, as this is how the women are expected to express their grief.<br />
<br />
At this point there are about 20 men gathered. Many of them are in a position of authority <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> identifiable by a unique hat that very vaguely resembles a miniature turbin. For an hour groups of 2 to 4 men come and go. When they arrive, they sit in the center of the clearing with those already present and the eldest of the newcomers begins a prayer. The prayers seem to be directed to no one in particular, and vary in length and volume. <br />
<br />
One prayer in particular stood out to me. Roughly half an hour after arriving the only man I saw leave the house stumbles out and begins to walk towards us. He is wiping the salt and mucous from his face, crying audibly <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">– </span>unusual amongst the men. He is slender and in his late 70<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">’</span>s. Both his hair and goatee are more white than black. In spite of his grief he carries himself with a clear sense of both physical and mental strength that is required of the people that live here. He takes a seat two spaces from me, breaks down, and begins sobbing uncontrollably with his head in his hands. My heart crumbles to pieces for him. Shortly thereafter he gathers himself up and, very composed, offers his own prayer to the group. He wanders off and I do not see him again.<br />
<br />
The pastor and a group of about 8 men dressed in black slacks, white shirt and white suit jacket, and black ties come shuffling up the path while singing. The wailing grows louder at their approach, only to die back down once they arriv and the singing ceases. Next, 10 women wearing matching black skirts, white head wraps and white blouses with large flat black and white collars march in song from behind the maize stack. Singing a different hymn, they carry large bouquets of flowers that seem to shift in hue from deep pink to a crimson purple. Collectively, this church group enters and leaves the house in short order and for several minutes one of the men bangs on a loud drum. I believe the purpose is to alert the surrounding hillsides that the ceremony would begin soon.<br />
<br />
While our numbers had grown since arriving, they would swell to more than 400 people within the next half hour. The men arrive quietly in small groups as before, all dressed in their best clothes. The women come in waves of 3 to 10. Dressed in chitenges and simple but clean blouses, they all wear head wrappings of various sizes and colors. One or two of the bunch would inevitably be heard sobbing and moaning from a distance, the volume increasing as they near the house. Several carry bowls of food, also wrapped in chitenges, the exact contents hidden as though a secret. Upon entering the house, the loudest of the women collapse on the floor and then shuffle out of sight. As new women enter the front door, others emerge from the back of the house and sit together opposite the men.<br />
<br />
While this is ongoing, there are men walking around with notebooks and collection bags. They would take a donation for the family, and then write down how much and who gave so that later it could be read aloud. Certainly an unusual practice by US standards. I donate some money and politely requested that it not be announced. <br />
<br />
The pastor started and spoke for about 30 minutes while more donations were collected. He finishes, at which point those who had arrived later rise to condole the family and view the body. Mzikilla directs us to leave and as we near the school we could hear the whole collective of women howling their grief in unison. <br />
<br />
The hour long walk back to Thazima remains quiet, but more of Mzikillas jovial nature shows through. We jok a bit and he educates me on some trees; the drop in levity reminded me that death is much more a part of life here that we seem to be used to in the states. Unfortunately I strongly doubt that this will be the last funeral I attend in Malawi.<br />
<br />
</span><br />Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-13148242123916956822014-05-16T01:28:00.003-07:002014-05-16T01:31:36.012-07:005/11 - Volunteer!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is
the last of the backlogged Blog entries. After this one, everything should
remain relatively up to date and current as I now have internet (slow,
unreliable) and access to electricity during the day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yesterday
was my first real day at site. I live here now! It was a good day, Made oatmeal
and French press coffee for breakfast (I see a theme starting here) and had a
curried vegetable/egg scramble for lunch and dinner – I swear I am a master
chef by Malawi standards! (just teasing, the food here is pretty good most of the
time). I played soccer with the local team and met new people, I read, I slept.
Life is simple and good here. The only real hassle is starting and maintaining
a fire for cooking, which I do 2 to 3 times a day – I am sure I will get better
at it. (Update, I did improve, but now finally have a supply of paraffin oil
which makes starting a fire so much much easier.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My
Counterpart leaves Monday for a paid month off so it seems I will spend a lot of
time exploring the nearby mountains (enormous hills?), getting to know the
area, talking with my neighbors, and watching lizards roam my yard in the
morning while I drink coffee and either read or write. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Update here also – Currently I am spending a good chunk of
the day in my office talking with my supervisor and reading while my computer
tediously downloads updates and charges up on the solar electricity so it can
then again download updates at night. It sure feels weird having electricity
and internet again)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So let’s
see… where did I leave off? After our site visit we had a fast and busy 3 weeks
to finish up classes, make last arrangements before moving, and take the
dreaded LPI – the final language test. I received the grade of intermediate
high, a step above what is required to swear in as a volunteer w/o mandated
provisions to further your language learning. I plan to take a tutor anyways as
it will only help to learn more chitombuka.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">OH YEAH! I am now an official volunteer!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The swearing
in ceremony was at the ambassador’s house in Lilongwe and was followed by trays
and trays of delicious snacks. While everyone else watched the dancers all of
the volunteers spent the time following the food around and gorging ourselves
on so many tasties – rich food that was a far cry from nsima. Afterwards we had
pizza at PC Malawi headquarters and finished the day with pre-departure
shopping for our sites. It was a good day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That
was Wed, April 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>. The next day we had our village appreciation
ceremony for most of the morning. Speeches, certificates for our host families,
dancing and the like. Certificates are a really big deal in Malawi and any recipient
proudly displays them in a place of prominence in the home. This makes for a
handy development tool as it motivates people to fully participate in
trainings, really pay attention (we hope) and stay to the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Back to
the dancing! We were very lucky to have the Gule Wamkhulu or Masked Dancers
present at both the swearing in and village appreciation ceremonies. </span><a href="https://www.google.com/#q=masked+dancers+malawi+gule+wamkulu&spell=1"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.google.com/#q=masked+dancers+malawi+gule+wamkulu&spell=1</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an awesome
site to see and a very special cultural experience. My camera died, so I photos
will have to come later as I get them from friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have
started to receive my first letters from people and I very much appreciate
them. Now that I am no longer in training and have more time on my hands I
shall start responding! Again, Thanks for the letters – If/when you feel like
sending any, hard prints of photos are awesome!! They give me something to show
of my friends/family and home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*** An additional note to my climbing buddies – I hope at
least one of you has the chance to visit, I am in climbing heaven – There is a
huge boulder field with some monster rocks right in my front yard and I am
developing as you read this! This country is a hidden gem, Malawi is dotted in
boulder fields, and exposed faces of rock. The chance for first ascents abound!
There is a smattering of trad routes around the country, and if someone was truly
adventurous and willing to put in the time/money, sport routes could be bolted.
Bouldering seems to be the best option though if willing to visit this great
country.***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Take
care!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-70106929391030372292014-05-15T00:50:00.002-07:002014-05-15T00:52:00.644-07:00Address and...... Suprise Baboons!!<br />
My new address for those of you wishing to send me letters:<br />
<br />
Thazima Wildlife Camp<br />
P/Bag #6<br />
Rhumpi<br />
Malawi<br />
<br />
<br />
As I am writing this, in the office of the camp, I looked out the window to see a family of baboons casually making their way through the grounds. Not 50 feet from my window are several large males and females with young close behind. Too Cool!Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-58834705846167609952014-05-13T10:39:00.001-07:002014-05-13T10:39:43.561-07:004/20 – Ug!<span style="font-size: small;">The serenity of meeting this new place yesterday was spoiled last night by a bought of terrible diarrhea. Fortunately I was feeling better by mid-day. Oh well, as they say, Shit Happens.</span>Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-81668029321035227582014-05-13T09:58:00.002-07:002014-05-13T09:58:30.270-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt204CLpYVxVGVLQ6POwgzEg2WWt9B6SYZXNKwuCFt8V288YKUAcVXshyphenhyphenFLmzOypCgyCUXm6QsjksiWBOwLJjk_V9UVG8CAIZYca_vnaeY2xV7Y3hWJvBZBIAkV6_5kP9NefwJFaVyBZQ/s1600/DSCN0178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt204CLpYVxVGVLQ6POwgzEg2WWt9B6SYZXNKwuCFt8V288YKUAcVXshyphenhyphenFLmzOypCgyCUXm6QsjksiWBOwLJjk_V9UVG8CAIZYca_vnaeY2xV7Y3hWJvBZBIAkV6_5kP9NefwJFaVyBZQ/s1600/DSCN0178.JPG" /></a></div>
I have braved the most perilously slow and unreliable of internet connections to bring you this photo. I hope it worked and uploaded. This picture is from the top of my mountain.Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-23457370519667280022014-05-13T09:29:00.001-07:002014-05-13T09:29:57.129-07:004/19 Site Visit!<span lang="">
I awoke to discover my site this morning. Gorgeous Mountains covered in endless trees and an impossibly beautiful grew up around me while I slept. I left Kasungu district yesterday to travel to see my final living site for the first time. At a crisp 530 am we rolled away from the village of Chinkhombwe with its flowing plains and sparse hills that is dominated by the towering, lone Kasungu Mountain that has watched over us during our training. First stop is the hotel in Kasungu Boma where our counterparts are staying so that all of the people traveling north may cram on a minibus. (Boma is the term used for major cities and trading centers <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> a remnant acronym from British rule, I don<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">’</span>t remember what it means!). <br />
<br />
‘Mini’ is the key descriptor there. We fit 26 people and gear onto a vehicle designed to carry 15 <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> glad I packed light. Such is travel in Africa, and by now we have become well aware of the regularity of this situation. Unfortunately this makes the situation no more tenable. I find myself precariously wedged between three people<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">’</span>s knees and the back of the front seat. The first stop is a little over an hour away and while we lose 4 people when we get there, we gain 2 more. Now I find myself in nearly the same spot, this time sitting in the lap of Jackie. Jackie is an intelligent and joyful woman who is much smaller than me and remains quite a good sport about the situation.<br />
<br />
We complete the second leg of the journey with her acting as the ‘big spoon’ <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> you really have to be comfortable with your fellow volunteers. She departs at the next stop with her counterpart but the general theme of seating remains the same for the duration of the trip. I also sit on Brittany and Amy<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">’</span>s laps and finish with Matt in mine before we finally part ways 2 hours later as we head towards our respective individual homes. The last leg of minibus travel from Mzuzu to Rhumpi is much more tolerable.<br />
<br />
My nearest volunteer will be Ian, another trainee, and we meet up in Rhumpi Boma around 2 pm. I will be working with an extension and education agent at Nyika National Park and my counterpart has arranged for transport the remaining 40k (Ian) & 60k (me) to our sites. I will be living on Thazima Mountain in Thazima village, a kilometer from the park entrance. We expected to be at my site by 3pm or so, but have arrived a little later than planned and our park transport is tied up for the afternoon dealing with some poachers that were caught removing a large portion of park fence from nearby Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve with the intent of reselling it later. <br />
<br />
We don’t leave Rhumpi until almost 7 pm. We pass the time talking to our counterparts and to Brooks, the volunteer that Ian is replacing. We learn of specific projects and activities he has taken on and discuss his experiences as well as the general social climate of the country. It is dark and chilly by the time we start the last leg of the journey. The road is a wide, rutted, and pot hole filled adventure <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> we ride in the back of a heavy duty park truck. My bones are jarred by the time we drop Ian off.<br />
<br />
Then it gets interesting. The driver knows an off the beaten path shortcut that surely only the burliest of off road vehicles can take. The twin track we drive up and down requires the truck to be paced in mechanical 4 wheel drive. Much of it resembles mountain bike trails I have tackled in the states. By this point I have ridden much of the way standing while grasping the roll bar, probably the best way to keep from being rattled to pieces by the bumps or tossed from the truck bed.<br />
<br />
There was no moonlight. All that I can see is the stars and the small bit of red earth ‘road’ or trees that are illuminated by the headlamps. When we arrive I can see very little of the immediate area around the house. I meet the headman of the sub village I live in and I take a meal with my counterpart. We eat a bit of bread, some nsima, and fried egg before I finally sleep <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> exhausted.<br />
<br />
When I wake the view is, as previously stated, overwhelming. I am greeted by an exceptionally cheerful dog (unusual in Malawi, dogs are typically not treated well here). I later learn his name is lion, no surprise as I have begun to wonder if every dog in Malawi has been named the same. We are fast friends before I am through with breakfast. The house is small, two rooms with a fenced yard. Outside is a nice open aired kitchen, the bafa (bathing room) is reed/bamboo with a cement pad and the chimbuzi (toilet) is a touch removed from the yard. I am a stones throw (ha!) from climbing; there are some marvelously large boulders up the mountain from my front yard. Fruit trees abound and the soil seems good, I hope to have a great garden by the rainy season next November.<br />
<br />
This place, this country, and the people here are amazing. In the time I have written this out the weather has turned from sunny to cloudy to foggy and raining and back yet again. My neighbors have brought me fresh cooked corn on the cob, a very common treat here. It is all nearly too much to take in and since arriving in Malawi I often feel many waves of emotion washing over me. The fact that I am fortunate enough to be here never ceases to astound me. I look forward to the times to come!</span><br />Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-34773068490562289012014-04-16T20:02:00.001-07:002014-05-13T10:52:58.797-07:00Letter to home Mar 25th<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a copy of a letter received from Andrew on April 9<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was mailed from Malawi on March 25, 2014.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hey All,<o:p></o:p></div>
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First off, I miss everyone very much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am eager to read your first letters that
come in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the first I have
written.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Postage is very expensive here
– they charge per sheet of paper and by weight.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I have been enjoying the experience <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">thoroughly</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have yet to snap a photo, which means I am living every moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will
soon take pictures. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This feels like the perfect fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am excited to see what my next few years
here will bring. I am 20 days into Africa as of this writing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We (there are 37 of us) first started off in
the Malawi Institute of Management (MIM) outside of Lilongwe after 30 hours of
total travel time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were there for
five nights. We did some initial language and cultural training, vaccinations,
and initial medical briefings, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>We have since moved to the villages of Chinkhombwe (chink-ohmb-whey)
and Dombolera (dom-bo-rey-rah.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>L’s and
R’s are often interchanged in both spelling and pronunciations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I live in the Chinkhomobwe village in the
Kasungu district. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were each assigned
a host family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My “Dad” Elijiah
(pronounced as in the States or as Ey-li-ah) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is 77, my "Mom" is Irice (Iris) and is 56. My
younger brother is Steven, often called Sidi, and is 21. He is actually Elijiah’s
nephew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have two younger “sisters” –
Delibe (Day-Lee-bay), the granddaughter is 16, and Martha ( Mar-ta ) also a granddaughter<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>aged 4 almost 5. Delibe attends secondary
school when the family can afford it, but she mostly works around the house
cooking, cleaning and looking after my other sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Currently she just started class for this
session (trimester). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Martha rarely wants anything to do with
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find this hilarious, esp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when compared with the other “Iwe’s”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(this means ”you” but is often used to refer
to children) in the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They always
smile and wave to us on the way to classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They also yell “abo,” “abobo” or ”wawa.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These are all informal greetings similar to “hey.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is beautiful here and I live near a mountain “Mount
Kasungu”, for now. I started playing soccer today with the village team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, we got our bikes, mine is a good
MTB.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have already organized the first
mtb race and I also rode on it to Kasungu boma to go to the market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was well prepared for this experience and have yet to be
“culture shocked”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I expect it might
happen in 7 weeks when I move to my site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am learning “Chitombuca” and will be placed in the mountains up north!
Yeah!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I packed very light compared to most people
and yet I still over packed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is OK as
it will come in handy after I move.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are a diverse group and we are learning a lot from each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are a few people age 30, one is 32, another 64 but most are between 22 and
26.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The courses we are taking are very
extensive & seem most relevant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
doing /will do well – I hope that stays the case once I really get my feet on
the ground. This week’s concept for the majority of classes is HIV/AIDS
education & I am learning a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
will offer its own challenges within the context of whatever specific work I
end up doing here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wake between 5 & 6 every morning with sunrise and the
roosters – usually 5:30. I started this on day one with no issues from jet
lag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most days, Delibe starts the fire
to heat my bath water and then cooks if there are going to be a breakfast other
than bread and peanut butter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family
makes me bathe two times a day which I find very excessive!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the other PCT’s (Peace Corps Trainees)
get the same!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually take tea with
my father at breakfast and then study language while I wait for class.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I forgot, I am
assigned very few chores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think this
is for two reasons: 1) my family takes pride in providing for me as a student
staying in their house, and 2) I believe it is part of male privilege.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am still trying to find ways to push back
against this but it is difficult for cultural reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some mornings I help Sidi & Delibe sweep
the dirt yard!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find this tedious
because it is conceptually bizarre – they do it to keep the area clean but in
the process have constant soil erosion w/o vegetation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rarely do I get water for the house from the
“borehole” (the word they use for well) with the exception of for doing my
laundry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I refuse to let anyone help me
with the laundry. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, you’ve got to
pick your battles!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do get teased for
the manner in which I do it, mainly because it is not the same as everyone
else. They tend to be very process oriented and it is a cultural faux pas when
you don’t do activities in the same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Faux pas might be a bit strong – I should say they find it very funny
and always try to ‘teach’ you the ‘right way’. All said and done, my clothes
are still plenty clean at the end of the day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back to the meals; lunch and dinner vary regularly because
PC (Peace Corps) gives my family food and a menu to follow in order to
supplement my presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 2/3’s of
the hot meals consist of nsima.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nsima is
a patty made from corn meal flour and is typically served with a relish of
chicken, soya pieces (look it up) or vegetables cooked in sauce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vast majority of the time you eat with
your right hand only & no utensils.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is kind of funny because nsima is very sticky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is only scooped out as a patty for the
first 2 patties and is then spooned out like <u>a very thick porridge</u> after
that. It gets all over your fingers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BUT whenever a meal has rice
instead if nsima, we use spoons because it is “messy”!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall the food is very good, if not
monotonous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chicken is served at about 4
total meals (lunch & dinner) per week and is the richest food we eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have come full circle as I now look forward
to it and I even suck the bones!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still expect to be
mostly vegetarian in diet here and fully vegetarian when in the USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have had mphalabungu (small green caterpillars)
3 times now and they are quite good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are boiled and fried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
better are ngumi, (large termites)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>also boiled then fried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have had those twice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was excited today to have part of a custard
apple!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m super happy to know that they
grow in this country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have also been
eating guava nonstop –ripe & unripe- love it & in season now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I go to bed around 8 or 9pm most nights, depending on
homework, if there is dancing in the village or socializing with locals or
volunteers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is dusk at 6pm and dark
at 6:30 almost year round.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For now we
are like children and are not allowed out after dark without an escort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sidi typically comes with me if I am out in
the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Classes end at 5pm which does not leave much time to do more
than bathe & study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Darkness
redefines everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try to use my
head lamp very little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family uses
one “torch” - a large dim flashlight - that lights a small area, plus some
candles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dinner is always taken in the
dark with some poor light from the torch & my paraffin hurricane lantern
which is nearly broken!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have become completely use to insects at all times, but it
really isn’t as bad as you would think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have used insect repellant one time ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mosquito net is a sanctuary at night
though and I keep it tucked in all around my thin foam twin mattress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Occasionally (frequently) I am awakened by
the squeaks and sounds of mice and rats scrambling in the rafters and on the
tin roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the last week,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have begun to find a small pile of rat droppings in the corner of my room as
they drop them over the edge of the wall in the ceiling!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the doors of the house open while
cooking in the evenings, bats fly in & out of the rooms and the living room
while they catch insects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My USA mom
would go crazy!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Oh, I saw my first
snake –my sister killed it - an African House snake, just like the two I had as
a kid.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But really the food is clean, my
clothes are clean and my bed is clean & dry, so what else do you need?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I don’t miss AC or heating!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is raining tonight & whenever it gets heavy the house
gets very loud with the sound on the tin roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I actually find it quite soothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I keep my water clean via either Iodine (emergencies,) water guard (a
bleach treatment) or by boiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
the water is run through a British Berkefield water filter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This consists of ultra fine ceramic filters –
simple design but actually quite nice. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I take Malarone for malaria prophylaxis (oral! LOL) every
morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could have chosen Doxy
(daily) or Mefloquine (weekly) but avoided those because of the higher
potential for side effects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I feel I
need the other benefits of Doxy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can
switch to it later on but doubt that I will.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cultural exchange is interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am fortunate because Elijiah speaks pretty
decent English, so we often alternate in telling of traditions/cultural norms
in Malawi and in the USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dropped the
gay rights bomb on him the other day and he took it quite well, though he did
state “We do not agree with it in Malawi even though it is here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interesting conversation indeed!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been writing for two hours now and I am running out
of things to say!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is so much more
that this medium cannot convey!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone please know
that I love and miss you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tiwonanenge!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(See you later)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andrew <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is a quick language lesson for you:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“B”s typically pronounced like “W”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Monile = hello<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yebo =thank you<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
Muli uli? =how are you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nili<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>makola = I am well<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kwali<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>imwe? = and
you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nili<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>makoslaso, yebo = well too thanks! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tiwonanenge = see you soon/later ! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-5811731690854485512014-03-08T21:49:00.001-08:002014-03-08T21:50:37.724-08:00Arrived!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynNbNQeYRdsK_AQ8ny9Lb89OjwpfCT2EreMiKu9X-G1mVxPNZQqCqfDD_Hj8ryGa0nEysxPq3Das50yuKc8HAVitsefLTL7F0x0bya7jxlD50TTI2ZUafr5wJ5tEf10fG2GoOqH91v9E/s1600/WELCOMETOMALAWI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynNbNQeYRdsK_AQ8ny9Lb89OjwpfCT2EreMiKu9X-G1mVxPNZQqCqfDD_Hj8ryGa0nEysxPq3Das50yuKc8HAVitsefLTL7F0x0bya7jxlD50TTI2ZUafr5wJ5tEf10fG2GoOqH91v9E/s1600/WELCOMETOMALAWI.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Travel was over 30 hours with only a few minor hiccups! Fist African blackout happened in the Johannesburg airport and held us up for 3 hours, but other than that it was good. First week has been fantastic! Good people, already friends! I leave for Kasungu on Tuesday to stay with my host family for the rest of training. Will share stories with you all after we get done!!<br />
<br />
Tiwonana!Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-1753698564793183672014-03-02T18:32:00.001-08:002014-03-02T18:38:37.273-08:00Packing List!Here is the packing list! This is what I settle upon based on items I deemed necessary after reading multiple packing lists from previous volunteers, and then extras after finding I have more room than expected.<br />
<br />
This is now everything that I own!<br />
<br />
Amazingly this all fits very well into the bags - Both of my carryon bags are fairly light when loaded.<br />
<br />
<strong>Bags</strong><br />
1 checked large duffle bag w wheels (48lb loaded w gear and I have room for more if needed) - this is the only item I am not fond of, but it works and was free! - just happens to be a little unwieldy even though it fits into the travel restrictions.<br />
1 Dakine backpack as carryon (can be used with water bladder)<br />
1 Osprey 30LTransporter pack as carryon - I love this thing it fits an astounding amount of stuff! Loaded with enough clothes to have nice ones for staging/arrival in country, and a change of 'casual' stuff during travel - basically if my checked bag gets lost, this thing has me covered for a while.<br />
<br />
1 Osprey 75L Transporter duffle bag/backpack for daytrips once in country (this is compressed amazingly small and being kept in my backpack during travel - That being said it is very durable, and will fit everything needed for camping)<br />
<br />
<strong>Clothes</strong><br />
3 belts<br />
-dress<br />
-money belt<br />
-work belt<br />
1 pair black slacks<br />
2 pairs black dress socks<br />
1 pair black dress shoes<br />
1 dark grey dress shirt<br />
2 ties<br />
10 pairs underwear<br />
1 pair athletic shorts (sleeping in and double use as swim trunks)<br />
3 pairs quick dry socks<br />
6 pairs dark socks<br />
7 light breathable t-shirts (mono color or with conservative designs - to be used as undershirts or when at home)<br />
1 pair winter socks<br />
1 knit hat<br />
1 Underarmor long sleeve for winters or camping in the mountains<br />
1 rain jacket<br />
5 long sleeve collared button up shirts - quick dry and durable for field use<br />
1 multipocketed vest<br />
5 pairs pants (2 Kuhl Revolvr (love these), 1 pair jeans, 1 pair quick dry multipocketed pants, 1 pair light canvas work pants)<br />
1 pair shoes (yep, that's it - these are comfy and durable, fairly conservative, and I will supplement with other shoes/boots in country as needed)<br />
1 fedora hat (it was 9$, looks ok, and covers my ears from the sun - hey, I'm on a budget here)<br />
1 Hoodie - That grey, ultralight one you all have seen me wearing constantly<br />
Light jacket (Kuhl brand - canvas, durable, hand washable, several pockets)<br />
<br />
<strong>Gear</strong><br />
Wallet<br />
Passport<br />
1 pair climbing shoes and chalk bag (These pack amazingly light and Malawi is covered in rocks and I plan on getting my bouldering in)<br />
1 Camelback Mule w/ extra bladder<br />
2 water bottles<br />
1 magnesium fire starter (10000 uses and tiny!)<br />
1 single person light tent + footprint to help prevent tears<br />
1 ultralight sleeping bag (will double as cover for bed in winter<br />
1 camping sleeping pad<br />
1 set plastic camping utensils<br />
2 Knorks (these rock!)<br />
1 CRKT Eat'n tool<br />
1 Gerber multitool<br />
1 Baladeo 15g pocketknife (this is also awesome)<br />
1 ultra compact, reusable water filtration system (several people have said they regretted bringing on, but I love camping and this thing was tiny)<br />
- toothbrush+floss+toothpaste<br />
- tweezers<br />
- nail clippers<br />
1 Quickdry, compact towel (basically a shammy for the body)<br />
1 headlamp (4 AAA batteries - selected for water resistance and battery life on "low" setting)<br />
1 watch (analogue, conservative, backlight, water resistant, basic functions)<br />
- 8 each of extra AA and AAA batteries<br />
1 tiny sewing kit<br />
- several basic pens<br />
- 2 composition books<br />
- binder with extra envelopes, stamps, printouts of required PC paperwork<br />
- some Aleve<br />
<br />
<strong>Electronics</strong><br />
- basic laptop, something inexpensive with antivirus, word processing, loaded with Peace Corps documents, Wikipedia, music.<br />
- Digital camera, again something incredibly basic and inexpensive.<br />
- extra memory card<br />
- 2 flash drives (love how cheap these are anymore!)<br />
- Mp3 Player, ultra cheap<br />
- ear buds<br />
- external hard drive - already backed up everything on the comp<br />
<br />
<strong>Extras that I had/made room for</strong><br />
Camping French Press and cup combo (compact and has several uses)<br />
Compact and durable stainless steel/ceramic hand grinder for coffee<br />
flat disk Frisbee<br />
hacky-sack<br />
pro homebrew kit (Rubber band, balloon, packet of Fleischman's yeast) - More on that to come<br />
Books<br />
-Catch-22<br />
-Chichewa 101<br />
-Bradt guide to Malawi<br />
-Venomous snakes of Malawi (I am really excited about this one! Most of the info is current - some of the bite treatment is outdated even though it was just printed, but still a great resource!)<br />
<br />
I am sure there are a few small things I am forgetting. I will get more living items once training is over and I know what my site will require.<br />
<br />Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927522376795208133.post-67294422948788445712014-03-01T18:54:00.003-08:002014-03-02T18:38:50.042-08:00Here We GO!<span lang=""><span lang=""><span lang=""><span lang=""><span lang="">In late 2012 I began to start looking at what I wanted out of the next stage of my life <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> I was single, I knew I wanted to return to professional work in my field, and I knew I was ready for a change of scenery. I started applying to ecology jobs around the country and world, and looked into a few other possibilities. At one point I applied to a yearlong post in Guam working with invasive species management for the brown tree snake. Finally, one of the options I had considered at an earlier age was the Peace Corps.<br />
<br />
I began looking into it again out of sheer curiosity. I thought about what I wanted to do and where I was in life. The fact that I was about to turn 30 in 2013, I was single, I wanted to see more of the world, I wanted to put my education to use again, and how I have always wanted to really get to know another culture. Basically all of the common reasons one joins the Peace Corps. The overall feel and mission of the Peace Corps fit with my personality and goals perfectly. I dove into research - reading blogs, interviewing returned volunteers, attending panel discussions, and generally devouring any info I could get my hands on (good or bad <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> not everyone loves their experience). The more I learned, the more the interest snowballed. I started my application in early January of 2013 and then waited. And waited. Through periodic correspondence from the Peace Corps and fulfilling further steps in the very lengthy application process I was eventually offered a spot 9 months later at the end of September.<br />
<br />
The offer was for placement in Malawi in March of 2014 as part of an environment cohort <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> putting that ecology degree to work I hope! The email was accompanied with lots of information and the ability to think on it for 7 days. In spite of the drastic change that a commitment to 27 months in a completely foreign country entailed, and telling myself that I would think on it for the full 7 days, I sent my response in a mere 37 hours. That time felt like an eternity. I was so eager and excited that restraining myself from responding instantly with a huge YESYES was all that I could do. Without hesitation, I sought out information on the country, the program, the language (I am still quite rough at it), and the people. I immediately began pairing down my possessions to the minimum essentials All of the "things n stuff, stuff n things" that I now own fits on the top of a twin mattress. This process I found rewarding in its own right: With less "stuff" I had significantly more time for the people in my life and the activities I want to do. The last 5 months have been immensely rewarding in building and strengthening friendships (I am going to miss all of you and we will see each other soon, two years will go by so quickly).<br />
<br />
I am excited and already humbled by this fantastic opportunity and I can’t wait to fill all of you in on my experiences. <br />
<br />
I will post my final packing list shortly.<br />
<br />
I leave for Philly in 2 days on Monday March 3rd. I am fortunate in that I get to spend the evening meeting my fellow volunteers (Health or Environment sectors). March 4th we have staging/orientation. Then we leave the hotel at 2am on March 5th to make it to JFK airport in New York City for a 1045 am flight to Johannesburg South Africa (15 Hours!). We connect from there before finally arriving in Malawi. Training will be the only thing on my mind for the first two months <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">–</span> Don<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">’</span>t expect to hear anything from me for this time (no news is good news!).<br />
<br />
If anyone wants to write me the old fashioned way (Please do! There is something so much more exciting, genuine, and personal about real mail) you can send letters to me at the following address:<br />
<br />
Andrew Ellis, PCT<br />
<br />
Peace Corps<br />
<br />
P.O. Box 208<br />
<br />
Lilongwe, Malawi</span> </span> </span><br />
</span> </span>Anduluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15228749435050936112noreply@blogger.com0