Sammy is gone and I am back to the grindstone in Salima, which is not such a bad place to be. The winter weather here means it is a reasonably pleasant 85-degree afternoon, and, even though I'm stuck typing exams AGAIN, there are a lot of great things on the horizon: my dad is visiting in October, a brand-new Luckey-Sadler is on the way, and I got a pretty sweet early Christmas present (a ticket home for a visit) from the folks. In fact, life has been good for lots of reasons, and I want to give credit where credit is due:
After a long dry spell (4 months when all the Peace Corps mail was sitting unsorted at the Lilongwe Post Office), I received four packages at once! I am now a girl rich in crosswords. Father Ethan to Sister Alexis included all kinds of smelly and tasty stuff, as well as a very important clipping about how Love Saved Brittney. (But will it last?) Also, two packages arrived from my parents, with books and snack bars, shirts, pasta, and a tiny fan. (Dad will be needing that in October.) And most surprising of all, a package from April, still waiting for her PC invitation, with tea, chocolate-covered espresso beans, mac and cheese, sock-eye salmon, yahtzee, games, crystal light, and other great stuff. Sammy also brought gifts from Sarah and Damo, and my folks. So thoughtful! Thank you, everyone!!!
While I am giving shout-outs, congratulations to Kevin and Catherine, newly engaged! Yay! And Dave and Jen! And Jonathan and Emily! Is everyone getting married while I'm gone?
Grateful for the love, and missing you all!
Loo
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Guest Blog Entry by a Liberal Commie Pinko Visitor to Malawi
I arrived in Malawi about a week ago, after a long and grueling bus ride from Lusaka, Zambia which left about 6 hours late. For those unfortunate 6 hours that Loo and I spent on the bus, in the parking lot, waiting for it to fill up, there was an annoying and intoxicated man who insisted that he was going to marry me – that I was “the one.” This was a couple hours after he introduced us to his wife and baby, sitting two rows back from us. Even though Loo is a year younger than me, he kept addressing her as his mother-in-law.
This story in many ways characterized the bulk of my trip in Malawi: awkward and entertaining miscommunication, long waits for buses, and lots of giggling between Loo and myself.
We arrived in Salima, Loo’s hometown and checked out some of her favorite spots: The Ice Cream Canoe Den (which only sometimes has ice cream), Chipiku (the grocery store with a very handsome man with whom Loo has shy and awkward verbal exchanges), and Senga Bay (a nearby beach accessible via the back of a pick-up truck). I met one of Loo’s Malawian friends Edward, who told me riddles – you know, the one about the hyena, the goat and the maize…. We also went out dancing with one of Loo’s coworkers, a teacher named Mr. Chipeta. He told us all about witchcraft, which is very real and alive in Malawi. He explained to us that witches who ride on broomsticks are only mythical. In reality, the witches turn into naked bears and ride on their private airplanes.
It was in Salima that I understood firsthand what Loo had been telling me about Malawian greetings. Basically, whenever you walk past anyone, you must stop to greet them. Loo told me about how she’d walk into a room full of her coworkers and she’d have to go around the room and greet each one individually. So much time is taken up with these greetings! At the same time, it is very polite and friendly and helps to make Malawi the so-called “warm heart of Africa.” One thing to note is that the children are also trained in this style of greeting. Usually, however, they conclude their greetings with “give me money” or “give me pen.” It makes one wonder about the societal ramifications of the decades of charity work and development in Africa.
We then ventured up the Lakeshore Road, one of the few major highways in Malawi. We stopped at the beautiful Nkhata Bay, which was filled with many other mizungus (foreigners/ gringos), specifically of the backpacker variety. We ate pizza! It was delicious! We also paddled for a bit out into the lake, though it was very rocky and we both felt a bit ill. For those of you who don’t know, Lake Malawi is giant – it appears to be an ocean, and has lovely beaches. It also seems to help create the country’s laid back island vibe, which makes it differ from its neighbor to the south, Zambia.
Continuing our trip northward up the lake, we stopped in Chitimba, which has a long sandy beach. We arrived to find a perfect, silent, private paradise. That was, until the “overlanders” arrived. Although this word had been thrown around by Loo and others before we arrived, I wasn’t sure what the overlanders were until I encountered them. Basically, the term refers to people who travel in giant groups in large armored bus-tanks. They bring their own food, cook for themselves and sleep in their own uniform tents. They don’t socialize with others. They do wear safari gear. Basically they travel through Africa at a distance, with limited interactions with locals (except of course to give the local children money and pens, which makes it really annoying for the rest of us). I am now preparing for my flight back to America (not “United States” – no one here knows what that is – only “America”). While I will be sad to leave my dear friend Loo, I will look forward to scheduled transport, shorts, Lebanese food and people ignoring me.
This story in many ways characterized the bulk of my trip in Malawi: awkward and entertaining miscommunication, long waits for buses, and lots of giggling between Loo and myself.
We arrived in Salima, Loo’s hometown and checked out some of her favorite spots: The Ice Cream Canoe Den (which only sometimes has ice cream), Chipiku (the grocery store with a very handsome man with whom Loo has shy and awkward verbal exchanges), and Senga Bay (a nearby beach accessible via the back of a pick-up truck). I met one of Loo’s Malawian friends Edward, who told me riddles – you know, the one about the hyena, the goat and the maize…. We also went out dancing with one of Loo’s coworkers, a teacher named Mr. Chipeta. He told us all about witchcraft, which is very real and alive in Malawi. He explained to us that witches who ride on broomsticks are only mythical. In reality, the witches turn into naked bears and ride on their private airplanes.
It was in Salima that I understood firsthand what Loo had been telling me about Malawian greetings. Basically, whenever you walk past anyone, you must stop to greet them. Loo told me about how she’d walk into a room full of her coworkers and she’d have to go around the room and greet each one individually. So much time is taken up with these greetings! At the same time, it is very polite and friendly and helps to make Malawi the so-called “warm heart of Africa.” One thing to note is that the children are also trained in this style of greeting. Usually, however, they conclude their greetings with “give me money” or “give me pen.” It makes one wonder about the societal ramifications of the decades of charity work and development in Africa.
We then ventured up the Lakeshore Road, one of the few major highways in Malawi. We stopped at the beautiful Nkhata Bay, which was filled with many other mizungus (foreigners/ gringos), specifically of the backpacker variety. We ate pizza! It was delicious! We also paddled for a bit out into the lake, though it was very rocky and we both felt a bit ill. For those of you who don’t know, Lake Malawi is giant – it appears to be an ocean, and has lovely beaches. It also seems to help create the country’s laid back island vibe, which makes it differ from its neighbor to the south, Zambia.
Continuing our trip northward up the lake, we stopped in Chitimba, which has a long sandy beach. We arrived to find a perfect, silent, private paradise. That was, until the “overlanders” arrived. Although this word had been thrown around by Loo and others before we arrived, I wasn’t sure what the overlanders were until I encountered them. Basically, the term refers to people who travel in giant groups in large armored bus-tanks. They bring their own food, cook for themselves and sleep in their own uniform tents. They don’t socialize with others. They do wear safari gear. Basically they travel through Africa at a distance, with limited interactions with locals (except of course to give the local children money and pens, which makes it really annoying for the rest of us). I am now preparing for my flight back to America (not “United States” – no one here knows what that is – only “America”). While I will be sad to leave my dear friend Loo, I will look forward to scheduled transport, shorts, Lebanese food and people ignoring me.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Week Zero
So, a whole new bunch of education and health trainees just arrived in Malawi, which is exciting for quite a few reasons:
1. I have 36 new friends. Yay.
2. This is a sign of time passing. I will soon be part of the Second Year Education group. While weeks fly by here, the months move like millenia, so it is nice to pass this landmark in my two years of service.
3. I got to spend a week back in Dedza at the College of Forestry orienting the brand new trainees and teaching them all sorts of fun things like how to use a pit latrine without messing up your skirt, accidently peeing on a goat, or being attacked by creatures of the night. I was pretty lucky to be selected as a week zero (orientation week) volunteer, and have the chance to get to know all the new arrivals right off the bat. It was a fun week, and also a time to reflect on my Peace Corps service and realize how far I've come, both with projects and with cultural assimmilation. I had fresh eyes and a heightened appreciation of my time in Malawi when I arrived back in Salima yesterday.
But... I couldn't stay there long because I'm meeting a very special visitor in Zambia on Wednesday, who just might be a guest blogger right here in the near future. One hint: she's a liberal commie pinko. And an English teacher at Annandale. That's all. No more hints.
Off to Lusaka via Chipata tomorrow morning!
Miss you all,
Loo
1. I have 36 new friends. Yay.
2. This is a sign of time passing. I will soon be part of the Second Year Education group. While weeks fly by here, the months move like millenia, so it is nice to pass this landmark in my two years of service.
3. I got to spend a week back in Dedza at the College of Forestry orienting the brand new trainees and teaching them all sorts of fun things like how to use a pit latrine without messing up your skirt, accidently peeing on a goat, or being attacked by creatures of the night. I was pretty lucky to be selected as a week zero (orientation week) volunteer, and have the chance to get to know all the new arrivals right off the bat. It was a fun week, and also a time to reflect on my Peace Corps service and realize how far I've come, both with projects and with cultural assimmilation. I had fresh eyes and a heightened appreciation of my time in Malawi when I arrived back in Salima yesterday.
But... I couldn't stay there long because I'm meeting a very special visitor in Zambia on Wednesday, who just might be a guest blogger right here in the near future. One hint: she's a liberal commie pinko. And an English teacher at Annandale. That's all. No more hints.
Off to Lusaka via Chipata tomorrow morning!
Miss you all,
Loo
Sunday, July 11, 2010
And then I hit you up for money
Peace Corps Education's Camp SKY is a month away and preparations are underway... If you're interested in helping support this awesome project, please read the fundraising letter below. I'm leading a creative writer's workshop, booking career speakers, and organizing field trips to Parliament and the airport. I'm also hoping to put together a publication of the best writing from the campers. If you don't want to/can't contribute, don't worry: there will be plenty of opportunities to support other projects in the future.
Dear Friends:
Since 2001 Peace Corps Education Volunteers in Malawi have hosted an annual summer school called Camp Sky. The camp offers students from rural community day secondary schools the opportunity to participate in a unique and challenging learning environment.
In their home schools, these students are often faced with overcrowded classrooms, limited learning materials, and overburdened teachers. Despite these obstacles, many have high academic performance and are strongly motivated. This year Camp Sky volunteers will select 100 female and male secondary school students from across the country. Many of these students have never traveled beyond their home villages. Camp Sky 2010 is an exciting opportunity for students from different regions to be able to come together at the Teacher Training College in Kasungu.
At summer school these students will have a learning experience unlike any they have ever known: small class sizes, motivated teachers, and a chance to explore their artistic creativity. Additionally, they will have access to computers, a science laboratory, and a library.
The theme for this year’s camp is “Illuminating Our Worlds” and will be held from August 17th to August 27th. Camp Sky 2010 will offer advanced core classes to help prepare students for the national exams which determine their options after graduation. At summer school, students will also take field trips and listen to a program of guest speakers geared toward future career options.
Camp Sky is an independent initiative of Peace Corps Volunteers, and therefore is not funded by Peace Corps. Fundraising is a necessary to ensure the success of Camp Sky. Without support and financial assistance from friends and family members back home, summer school will not be able to pay for essential items such as school supplies, transport, facilities and food. All donations to Camp Sky are tax deductible.
To contribute, visit www.friendsofmalawi.org and click on the “Summer School 2010” link. You can donate with any major credit card via Paypal, or send a check to:
Friends of Malawi
c/o Lance Cole (FOM treasurer)
7940 SW 11th
Portland, OR 97219
If you decide to mail a check, please specify that you want your contribution to benefit the Peace Corps Summer School 2010 project. Friends of Malawi will provide documents necessary for tax purposes.
We greatly appreciate any help you are able to offer our program and our students. We look forward to sharing the success of Camp Sky 2010 with you!
Thank you,
Your Friends and Family at Camp Sky
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
