Visitors!

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.

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.

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.

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.

We caught up over our first breakfast together

We also ate all the delicious food. I got spoiled rotten while they were here!

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!

Street side mural on the way to Mandala house - I have not seen anything like it in Malawi!



The Mandala House - Historical location, art gallery, and restaurant

After storing their extra gear at the orphanage we hit the road on a major Malawian bus line for Lilongwe.

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.

Best father ever?

Buying some roasted maize.



Street vendors always approach the busses trying to earn some coin.

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!

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 HERE.

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.

Dad practicing his hand wave, the Malawian signal for "Pick Me UP!"

Lookin' for that hitch

Nap time is the best time

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)

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.

Mom took this cool picture of a woman selling her wares in the Chitenge market.

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.

I relaxed by playing Bao. Bao is THE game in Malawi

The views, swimming, and weather were amazing.

Monitor Lizard!

Returning after a trip to do some Deep Water Free Solo climbing - it was flipping awesome.

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)

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!

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.

Morning in the village.

 

Breakfast! The most important meal of the day.

We took some 'snaps' at the local market.

My counterpart, love this guy!

This is our serious face.

Dancing with my village headman, Mzikilla Mhone

Waiting for the celebration to start.

Khunga with the parents.

Mom dancing with Grandma Mhone

Sekulu getting down with dad!

Everybody loves a dance party!

Nyika Grass on the safari.

Orchids in bloom

Bush Buck checking out someone's laundry





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?!