home again

Long flights and lots of tears as we flew away. Dorothy and I couldn’t sit next to each other on either flight (Lilongwe-jo’burg, jo’burg-dc) as they were full and somehow people prebooked seats. She was close to the middle of the plane and I was all the way in the back—no reclining for the long flight. Watched 5 movies (none of which had I heard of after a year in Africa)…think I slept a little in between but not too much. Had to say goodbye to Dorothy on the plane before we landed in DC and it was good we did because we didn’t see each other after. Seemed strange and unreal. Then my last flight to charlotte where my parents were to pick me up…they were right at the security exit and they didn’t recognize me…guess braids and glasses are a pretty good disguise…I think my face lighting up and the flipflops were a giveaway…I’m so not ready for winter…

airport

Rhona left on Sunday along with Debbie and Susan both American nurses. They were all on the same flight to Jo’burg. Very hard to say goodbye. Isabelle and james came as well. The airport was in chaos. Lines for forever for all of the flights. No explanation as to the 3 maybe 4 flights that come in are all scheduled for the same time (well within an hour) and the flights out are about the same. Just causes a traffic jam. Anyway. We waited in line for at least 2 hours just to check in. then we actually had to say good bye as they went through security…lots of tears and then we waited for them to get through the customs doorway and give us a wave. Debbie and susan were through and we still didn’t see rhona. And then she was coming back down the stairs saying they wouldn’t let her through. Since I’ve got the same stamp/receipt in my passport I thought I would see what the problem was (as if I could do anything she couldn’t)…the difference is that I got my letter so I could get the stamp I needed and she only had the receipt…but the immigration officer was adamant that the permit we have is good only for the first 6 months we’re in the country no matter when you buy it…and as I didn’t have my passport (leaving the next day) I couldn’t show him what I had…and he wasn’t going to believe me as he’s worked for immigration for 20 years. The ter haars were at the airport picking up some family that were coming to visit so we called reynier (medical director of the hospital) and hoped they hadn’t left yet. They hadn’t and he came up…spoke some Chichewa and somehow solved the problem…then the guy told me I needed to go and get another permit so that I wasn’t illegal…I told him that I was leaving tomorrow and wouldn’t have time…well he’s working so we’ll have problems then. Ok. See you tomorrow! Cuts down on the tears at the very end when you have issues like that…

Dorothy and I had no problems getting through customs on Monday—he wasn’t working or was on break because I didn’t see him…of course I really wanted to show him the stamp in my passport that says I was fine until the 2nd of January 2011 but it was probably better that he wasn’t there. No crazy lines or anything to hold us up and so it went way too fast for me to get through and be gone…

goodbyes

I took the Ebenezer staff to lunch in the market after the Christmas program. So now they know first hand that I eat nsima (they didn’t seem to believe that I do) but I also noticed that most of them ordered the rice plate not the nsima…Mr. Banda loves agogo (Dorothy) and it was quite and entertaining lunch. Also amazing is that I spent less than $15 for lunch for 12 people…

I took in cookies on my last day at school and went through each class to say goodbye. Not really sad as the kids would wave and then hold out their hands for their cookies but it was nice either way. It was strange to leave on Friday as I wouldn’t be back before I left on Monday…

Saturday afternoon we had a get together in our yard—well the porch downstairs since we still don’t have neighbors and can use it. lots of hospital staff came to send rhona off and some of the school staff came for Dorothy and me. It was a nice gathering with cakes and snacks. I was actually late because I got my hair braided again but only 15 minutes so I still beat most people there. Hard to say goodbye (esp when you figure you’ll run into most of them again before Monday.

christmas pageant

For the month of December some of the teachers have been working on the christmas program. They have taken kids out of each class for parts in the play. Mark was picked for Joseph and chisomo was the lead angel. Every day at 1130 they would go to the office to rehearse. Then this last week of school on Monday they went to the church for dress rehearsal at 11. Tuesday got rained out and the program was on for Wednesday. I still had no idea what was really going to happen or be portrayed but was quite excited to see it. so Wednesday came and the invitation said to come at 1030 (though we wanted to start at 11) (the school team had wanted to put 1000 or even 930 for the same actual start time). Those in the pageant went over at 9 to practice again (Monday was evidently a shambles). The rest of us came over at 10. We were a part of the choir. Got to see a little bit of rehearsal. It was an adorable production. Teacher Patience was the narrator (using the microphone just made everything fuzzy but we all know the story) the kids said their lines…we had Herod with 2 soldiers who marched for all they were worth and shouted their orders at the first row of the audience…the inn keeper who told mary and joseph there was no room so mary and joseph had to continue their journey around the communion table with mary saying “I’m tired” and joseph responding “it’s ok” all the way around…3 times as the first 2 had full inns. The 3 year olds were all angels who followed chisomo as the choir of angels. I think it went very well. At the end of the play the school team made a presentation of Christmas gifts: umbrellas for the teachers, Dorothy got a wooden puzzle of Africa (the pieces were African animals), pictures in a frame, and a booklet with well wishes and thanks from the teachers, and I got a book on Malawi and a booklet with some photos and notes from my kids. We both said a few words but had to keep it short because the tears were threatening to start.

report cards

We were actually given reports cards to fill out and give to the kids. I really wish there had been some kind of warning. But esther and I sat down after the kids had gone and gotten them filled out. No number grades as yet just O, S, or U (outstanding, satisfactory, unsatisfactory) in the categories: math, social studies, science, handwriting, spelling, phonics, bible, creative writing. It also asked for attendance which I didn’t know I was supposed to be taking this term…so I made it up. And then developmental traits: respectful, works well with others, participates, listens and follows directions, etc. they were sent home on the last day of school so I’ll never know what kind of parent comments they might have put on the back…

reception

Malawian wedding receptions seem to be a fundraising activity. We also arrived late to this event after wandering around Lilongwe in our suits, but still arrived before the couple descended the steps and alighted on the stage or front area. And for them to walk down the aisle there had to be a double line of people each willing to give K500 (~$2.50) to the couple as they slowly danced to the front. Once at the front the mc was in charge (well he was the whole time) this part of the day was all in Chichewa so we didn’t understand most of what was happening other than lots of money giving…there was a large couch up front and the wedding party sat behind the couple (on the couch). The mc would have the bride or groom stand forward with a basket and call out categories and if you fit in that particular category to the front you would go with a gift of money. So to welcome one into the others family (bride to groom and then groom to bride) it would start at K500 and then after the people stopped coming forward the mc would drop to K200 and then K100 and then open it for any amount that anyone wants to give. Then he said that because Stella looks so beautiful (K500,K200,K100, open) Bazilio looks so handsome. Because you are friends with them, because they are a couple, because you work with them, etc. and on and on and on and on. They even sell pieces of the wedding cake! In the same auction style…little bites that have been wrapped in foil who knows when before the day…to the side of all the proceedings is an exchange area so that you can get smaller bills to shower the couple with. I would be very interested in finding out how much was made at the reception…

wedding

Back in the beginning we had been invited to a wedding. Well rhona had and me by default I think but I’ll take it. stella was a nurse on rhona’s ward and she got married the first weekend in December. So we went. Got dressed in our Malawian suits—isabelle, rhona, maria and me and off we went. Everything in Africa is late (except when you are and then it seems to happen on time) but weddings are often started at 8 according to the invite and then around 10 the ceremony might start. But this was in town and we were told that weddings in town start on time. However, the car wouldn’t start so we ended up being an hour late and arriving an hour late and just before she walked into the church (perfect timing really). Beautiful couple…some priceless nuggets from the ceremony:

Asked to representatives of each part of the couple:
“God will bless them abundantly with children, cars, bikes, etc. Do you promise not to grab anything from them?”

Told to us witnesses:
“Look at your neighbor and tell them that they look better than yesterday.”

In the part of being submissive to your husband, to the groom:
“if you love your wife, you can cook for her. If you love your wife, you can even wash clothes for her.” (she isn’t your servant)

To the bride:
“men are all the same, be they tall, fat, short, thin. If you leave him, you will only find another man who is worse. So it is better to work it out with this one.”

And the translation from English to Chichewa:
Honey honey==sweetie sweetie chocolate

It was a great ceremony. Happier (the couple smiled throughout the ceremony) and more lively than most (so I’ve been told as it is the only one I’ve been to in Malawi) and they even kissed at the end of the ceremony (not done in Nkhoma—as I’ve been told).

last days of school

One of my girls wanted to read a book that we hadn’t even looked at in class—Ira Sleeps Over. It was one that I remember growing up with and loving and she did a great job. It took us 2 days to get through it but she did most of the reading!

Our math lesson called for baking of a recipe…so I took in the ingredients and we measured and mixed and then I took it home to actually bake it. we did some oatmeal bars that turned out to be a big hit. The only problem I had with it was that everyone at school wanted some and I didn’t have nearly enough for that. So we shared that with the teachers and then on the last day I made and gave cookies to all the school. I would say goodbye and then give cookies. I don’t think most of them have any idea that I was saying bye—they just wanted the cookies.

public holiday?!

After another weekend at the lake (to distress from my training and to relax with my crowd—one of the last weekends)—no sleep because of the heat but lots of laughs, we get back to nkhoma and I try to find out about making copies for the next week as I’ve been gone and haven’t taught esther how to use the copy machine but have gotten her to make the list of the pages we’ll need…when I get a text that Monday is a synod holiday—no school as we’re a synod school…nice to know but no warning…oh well, last minute is better than after waking up and getting to school to find it cancelled.

teaching

The next morning I was up early, sitting by the water, contemplating life when one of the leaders (kennedy) came up to me and asked me to teach one of the sessions on making good decisions this afternoon. What?! I thought I was here to observe and see what goes on…guess not. He said I could do good communication if I’d rather. Leaves me a book to help prepare and there I am. Completely freaked out and feeling lost. Look through the book and there is lots on AIDS/HIV (I’m catching a theme). After a while I figure this could be the answer to whether I come back…at least if I do horribly and they don’t want me back then I don’t have to make that decision….this calms me some but of course not completely as I still really don’t like public speaking. Get my session planned out according to this book and then ask kennedy if they really use this book—no you can do whatever you want…not really what I wanted to hear…go for lunch and abusa tells me that I’m up right after…now I’m not hungry either. I have an interpreter which is actually quite a nice way to do a lecture/teaching…gives you time to think about what to say next and if anything goes wrong you can blame the language barrier…there were a couple of times I would ask a question, it would get interpreted, then he would look at me for the next point…no answer because there was no question asked to the audience. So we’d try again. and a couple of times he said things that were funny—mine wasn’t so I have no idea what he said. But I think it went alright…

malingunde

The synod has a youth camp at malingunde. So I went there on Wednesday. Went into town with James Veitch who told me that his colleague might ask me some questions because he wants to be sure that he can work with me if I decide to come back next year…an interview of sorts. Um ok. I’m sent out to malingunde with Abusa Juma (the colleague) and Chimwemwe (secretary for youth offices). I was asked how I became a christian and what ideas I have for the girls youth program. I don’t really have any ideas right now as I don’t know what they do or what anyone thinks is needed…wasn’t sure I was going to pass my “interview” but when we arrived and I was introduced to the “youth” (under 30s) that were there it was announced that I was coming back in February to work with the youth dept. guess I passed. :o the trainings (1-2 hour sessions on different topics) is done almost exclusively in Chichewa so I had not much idea of what was going on…I did catch HIV/AIDS a couple of times and the second one was on the transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS (I caught that because it was written on the board in English). Another was on the Word of God as a weapon, as the giver of wisdom and truth. AIDS was brought up in this one as well—the Word of God being a way to fight and prevail against it. that evening there was a talent show…everyone sitting around and if you had something you wanted to do you would put your name on the paper. Lots of singing and some recitation of poems or bible verses. Very good singing by everyone it seemed like—they kept asking if I wanted to do something but I opted for being an observer.

thanksgiving

I celebrated on Tuesday as I would be out on Thursday. Invited the guest house people over and cooked up a storm. Being the only American I had to represent especially for all these foreigners who’d never experienced thanksgiving. I did realize that I could get away with a lot since noone else knew what to expect…we had turkey, stuffing (I really did stuff a turkey!), gravy, mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, onion, and pumpkin, pea salad, salad, strawberry pie, and brownies. Tons of food and great company. I deemed it a success.

rains

The rains have begun. It is nice as it hasn’t rained since about april. Gets some of the dust down and cools things off a bit. Not green yet but it will get there quickly. And it is definitely muddy.

out for hte week

I was out for the week…mulanje on Monday and a training to check out next years possibility wed-fri. so I was there on Tuesday…seemed to go well with esther doing the whole class…

braids end

Took them out upon our return from mulanje. Haircut and hour and a half later… Went to school Tuesday looking like this:

lizard island

but no lizards

from the trip to liwonde...i can finally upload it!

sunday

Hired a guide and headed up to the first hut (chambe hut) for a day hike. We were offered 2 ways to go…a shorter steep path and a longer, more scenic path. And then back down the other way. Our guide asked us which way we wanted to go and then he said no we should do it the other way…ok, he’s the guide. So up the steep (skyline track) and down the scenic. And it was up but at a good pace. Beautiful. Found a fresh water stream to refill our bottles and then we were at the top. We passed many Malawians headed down with cedar logs on their shoulders or heads…barefoot and running down the mountain. I don’t know how they do it. Mulanje cedar is beautiful and they make all kinds of carved things that you can buy at the bottom (boxes, candle holders, wine racks, frames and so much more). Amazing to be passed by at a run someone with a 7ft log on their head. The hut is in a basin surrounded by high peaks…and once we’d made it here I figured rhona and I could have definitely done the whole thing…and I really wished we could have. Down the more scenic path which turned out to be no less steep (at least we didn’t think so) and personally not as scenic. But it was a great day. while getting ready for bed that night we found a snake in our room. The watchman came to kill it and remove it from the room. We were informed that it had been a black mamba but I don’t really know…it was quite small but it shook us up pretty well.

saturday

On our way early the next morning and the mountain is huge. Known sometimes as island in the sky because of the clouds that often cut the view in half making it look like land in the sky I couldn’t imagine if rhona and I had made it before that we would ever have made it up…it looked very formidable. Again we missed our turnoff but it gave us the chance to see all the tea plantations. Fields and fields of green all around the mountain. And we just kept driving. I think we were probably 6k from the Mozambique border before we realized that we should have turned 20k behind us. (NB: we passed through at least 3 police road blocks who all asked us where we were going and when we said the mountain they let us continue…all in the wrong direction—so helpful). so around we went to our (once again well marked from this direction) turn onto a dirt road to get to the entrance to the national reserve. Pounced upon every time we had to stop or turn by people who wanted to be our guide we continued on to the CCAP Guesthouse where we found clean rooms and friendly staff. An afternoon hike to a waterfall where we could swim and relax. Just beautiful really. We started back down when the clouds came in and we were worried about rain. Made it back to the hostel before the rains began and set up for some r&r for the rest of the evening.

mulanje 2

Attempt #2—this time we borrowed a car—Mercedes ’85—from the Ter Haar’s. Rhona, Adriana, Kim and I and we were off. I was designated driver (being the only one who brought my driver’s license to Africa). I had been warned that it was sometimes difficult to get the car into gear and this did prove to be true. Stalled out at the first stop I made because it would go into first. Then when I had to stop to avoid a semi that pulled out across both lanes I couldn’t get it back into first. It kept going into reverse…luckily there were no cars behind me but the onlookers were full of advice and offers to drive us. one more offer and I think the car got worried that I would give it over because it finally caught in first and we were off. Another thing about the roads in Malawi is that the turns are most often only indicated in one direction…and that was most often the opposite direction from where we were going. And so we often missed the turnoff we were supposed to take. In this way we saw the Balaka cathedral (large new building built by mission organization in the middle of a village) before turning around and driving the 5k back to the turn which was well marked in this direction. We stopped in Blantyre for the night as it was getting dark and had been a long day and the driver was ready for a break.

movie nights

We figured out we had a perfect movie screen on our wall and as it turns out there are a couple of projectors we can get our hands on if we plan and ask. Also one of the Malawians has started a pizza business on Thursdays so we thought we would try some movie nights. Invited the guest house people over, ordered pizza from victor, and got a projector. Our first one was a bust because we didn’t choose the movie before hand and no one wanted to be in charge of making the decision and there were just too many choices. It was a good evening of pizza and chatting but no movie. So the second attempt Up was chosen and set up before people arrived. We had movies and then moved the furniture for stadium seating…chairs, couch turned around and a mattress on the floor for the viewing. It was such a hit we watched Forrest Gump the next week…

lizard island

Getting down to the last weekends so they’ve all been planned out. Time to go to the lake as it is hot hot hot. The days are fine because you can get in the water and cool off. The nights are still and not any cooler—harder to deal with since you can’t jump in the water to cool off as there may be crocs or hippos (though we haven’t actually seen them here) took a boat out to lizard island where we could snorkel and had a picnic lunch. Walked around the island looking for the lizards but no luck—just saw and smelled lots of poo on all the rocks. Had a few boats full of Malawians on tour come up to the place we were…felt a little like we were part of the tour as they didn’t get off their boats and they did take pictures of us…on our way back to nkhoma on Sunday we stopped in salima at the ice cream den—we saw it every time on our way back and figured we should really stop. So we went in and the menu seemed extensive for the choices of ice cream. Well turned out the choices weren’t actually that extensive—vanilla ice cream and you could get chocolate sauce on it which was good for most people. Isabelle and I ordered a banana split. The waiter went away and came back a couple of minutes later and said that he’s sorry but they can’t make the banana splits. I’m confused because I know there are bananas everywhere right now (maybe not in the kitchen but easy to get probably right next door) and since everyone else is getting ice cream and chocolate sauce adding bananas would make a good split. So we asked “why not?” we can’t make the banana split because we don’t have any strawberries. ??? we asked for the bananas with the chocolate sauce and that seemed to confuse him but he did go to make it. after about 5 minutes he came out with one of them…and about 5 minutes later he came out with the second. (these are not works of art—small plastic Dixie cup with soft serve vanilla, choc sauce, and sliced banana) but we enjoyed and then continued our return.

water loss

Every morning we lose water. it stops almost like clockwork at 6 and comes back a little after 7…just the time I’m up and trying to get ready for work. Well, I’m usually awake by 530 but not really moving or doing anything that requires water yet. And then at 6 when it is time for me to start (tea, brushing my teeth, washing my face) the water has stopped. Luckily we have a rain tank that fills and that runs into 2 taps in the bathroom. (sink and tub), but that only lasts so long. For the hour in the mornings it is fine. Until the Friday we had our housekeeper there and the water didn’t come back on…she had done laundry and used all the water in the tank…and the water didn’t come back for 3 days. So isa, rhone and I carried buckets from the hospital (luckily we live right next door) and were very sparing with our usage because we didn’t want to carry much. Luckily it didn’t last much more than the weekend.

possibility for next year

The year is coming to a close very quickly (especially since I actually had this conversation in mid November and am just writing about it now). Offers to come back next year with a different job. I’ve been talking with James Veitch about coming to work with him in the Youth Department of the Synod. It would involve learning Chichewa which I still feel that I haven’t picked up at all. and that is the only thing that I know for sure. The rest is finding out how a Malawian girl grows up and what kinds of things the church can do, meeting with the 16 presbyteries that the synod covers and meeting with the congregations. Attending and helping to teach and plan trainings (not quite sure for what) and camps or retreats. And writing reports of what I learn…it sounds interesting and difficult and he’s warned me that it will be hard and lonely and that I will encounter things that will be frustrating and discouraging and that I can do nothing about. Somehow I’m still entertaining the idea of coming back…

dipping, painting and drying

esther according to the book

Teaching money out of an american textbook is a little bit difficult to do in Malawi. I don’t have pictures of the money here that I can photocopy. I tried to do a drawing and I thought it was ok (not great by any means) but it didn’t seem to work when we used in class or on the homework. So now we just do it in class with real money. They seem to do ok with it (not too surprising as it is very exciting to have money). Still working on counting by tens and then changing to counting the ones and last week we introduced the fives. (I was then out all week so I don’t know how that went yet) I’ve gone through and changed most of the problems that have to do with dimes, nickels, and pennies so that they make a little more sense in this context. I have to point this out each time to esther who continues to read directly from the book and then has questions about what they should do. But we’re working on it and it is getting better. Now I’ve been given some pictures of Malawian money for copies and that will hopefully work when I send it home for homework.

beautician inthe making

Since coming to Malawi I have become a beautician! Well not really but before coming I had only ever cut my hair (ponytail that I chop off and it comes out differently every time). Since coming I’ve cut Rhona’s bangs (fringe), colored Hester’s hair and given Anthony a haircut. I’ve also done nail color for a couple of people though the color selection we have here is not the best by far. Guess I should be taking pictures for a portfolio…

braids

Took the time in the afternoons to explore the option of getting my hair braided. Went to the Beauty Saloon just down from the hospital on the way to the market. About 5 dollars to get my hair braided but of course I have to get some extra hair (surprise to me as I have tons of hair) so one of the girls I know from bible study was in town and offered to pick it up for me…she came home with 6 bags of fake hair! I went in early on Saturday and about 6 hours later came out with braids and a very heavy and painful head. I’d taken IBprofen before going in but definitely felt it when it wore off and they still had 2 hours of pulling and braiding left. I don’t know how the little girls sit through it! I was told to take more of the pills at lunchtime (long passed for me) and before bed otherwise I wouldn’t sleep. And they were right though I still didn’t sleep too well…

I’ve had various reactions from liking it to “what happened to your head?” but I like it and think that it works pretty well on me. I wore it with my Malawian suit to school on Monday and was a big hit among the teachers and the students.

xray

My foot was still giving me some pain…usually after I had spent all day walking on it. buty I was told that I should get an xray done just to be sure. Well the Monday was sore but was able to put off/avoid the xray. However that night my foot was quite sore and when I woke up the next morning even before getting out of bed my foot was still throbbing. So after school and lunch I walked over with rhona and got the picture taken…no break…just bruised so it would really help if I’d quit walking on it…can’t see that happening but I do try to take it a little easier and cut down some on the amount of walking I do. After the xray I went to see Rhona and Floor (dutch med student) put up the rest of the mosquito nets. They’d done the rest that morning and only had one more room to do. The patients were excited but apprehensive I think. And some of them thought it was a personal gift…on the ward round the next day rhona got her translator to explain that the nets had to stay at the hospital even when the patients left.

Rhona has also instituted bedtime—when she goes over and starts to put the nets down over the beds. This also is quite amusing to the patients. The first one done was laughed at until she moved to the next bed and then they realized it was going to happen to all of them. In the morning on the ward round one of the patients complained that they had pain in their face from sleeping under the net. The next night one of the rooms had done it themselves (which is the hope). Others tried to say it was too hot (which is understandable to me except that) so they were told to take at least 1 of the several blankets off of them and “use” the net. We’ll have to see if and how it catches on. The latest I’ve heard is that one of the women had spread the rumor that sleeping under a net will mean that you can’t ever get pregnant. Hard to combat rumors of all kinds but this could be very bad for the female ward.

nets stamped

That weekend we asked about getting the nets stamped and were told that the laundry would do it sometime that week. Well rhona and I were still stir crazy so we got the paint and the stencil and had the med students down to help. On the tops of all the nets we painted either mw (male ward) or fw (female ward)…then our laundry room was all blue for the paint to dry…it took 2 days because the room wasn’t big enough to hand them all at once.

nets dipped

Rhona decided to donate mosquito nets to the medical ward in the hospital. She was told that they already had them but they seem to have all gone missing. She was also told that even if they do have them they wouldn’t use them, but she was determined. So we tried to find mosquito nets in town (better price) but they only had 8 and we needed about 45 but we figured it was a start. Then one of the other ladies went to the same store the next week and asked and was able to get the 37 more that we needed…guess it just depends on who and how you ask maybe?! But that meant we had them. They don’t however come with the poison mosquito repellant already on them but with a tablet that you have to dissolve and then soak the net in…so we had to find time for that. After our accident since we had the week we decided that it would be a good time…so that Friday (when we were feeling like we could be a little more active and really needed to get out of the house) we went to the porch downstairs (still no one living there) and started dipping. Our housekeeper, Elizabeth, came down to help because I’m sure she thinks we azungu can’t do anything ourselves. And granted it did go much faster when she got there. Soon our yard was awash with the blue mosquito nets. After they were dry we brought them in.

Go fish

In my family we grew up playing card games and we all know how to shuffle. Here I gt told that I’ve obviously dealt in Vegas with my “skills.” But it did mean that I was able to understand some game that was in the math curriculum for addition…and cards are a huge hit in class. so now we play the add to ten game (use only A-9) and you can only play if your card adds to 10 with the one that is already down. (start with A, 2, 3, 4, 5 in the middle) and take a card if you can’t play. Game 2 is Go Fish! Which teaches pairs and adding doubles (in order to put your pair down you must add the cards). The third one I taught was War (though I didn’t call it anything)…whoever has the greater number must add the cards together (take out face cards) to put them in their stack. We play go fish almost daily and the others get thrown in when there is time…

mouse nest in backpack from before attempt to go to mulanje

team teaching

So esther is now doing half of my class. the first week she said that she would do the math portion. She can do it and is doing it. I have to admit though it seems to go much slower with her up front but it could be because I’m sitting in the back with nothing to do. It was nice the first week though because the cut on my foot from the accident was still a little painful and I didn’t have to walk as much when she was doing the lesson. We are working from an American curriculum which makes some of the pages useless because they talk about pennies, dimes and nickels which aren’t used over here. Here we have the kwacha. And the coins are 1, 5, and 10 so not too bad but not with the same names (or any names really—5kwacha, 10kwacha and 1kwacha) but doable. Supposedly they have the kwacha also divided into 100 tambala but I’ve not seen it and it hasn’t been used in a long time so there is really no need to teach about it (I think). So one of the lessons that Esther was teaching was on money and for some reason she was talking about kwacha and tambala even though the coins she was using (that I had brought in) were all 1 or 10 kwacha…but the kids seemed to answer the questions and understand so I let it go.

schedule

So I’m not too schedule oriented but since we’ve been back at school Teacher Esther who was observing and I believe will be taking over when I leave asks me any time I do anything in class where on the schedule it is and when exactly I do this that and the other. It drives me crazy I must admit because it doesn’t matter how often I tell her that I don’t have a schedule and I just kind of make it up as I go—she asks again if not in 10 minutes then the next day. I started to think I’m a bit defensive because I really have no idea what I’m doing or should really be doing but am trying my best…then I tried to make a rough schedule of each part that I do everyday…math, spelling, language, etc. and then I’ll have etra time before I think I should let them get puzzles and games and I pull out another worksheet and Esther is right there—“where did that come from?” and “how often and when do you do that?” no worries…I still have all my hair and I haven’t said anything rude yet…I just keep remember that I need to calm down. I also find it hard because she is a teacher (was before she retired) so I think that she should already have all the answers and why is she asking me??

http://www.nationmw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8093:for-the-love-of-others&catid=1:national-news&Itemid=3

the picture is of the wreck on the other side of the road...

convalesence

Not much to say other than we slept a lot and watched quite a few movies in between visits from everyone who heard. By Wednesday (that’s being quite generous) we were going stir crazy being laid up. We keep trying to push the limits and come home more sore than we should probably be but it is getting better each day. found out that the wreck had made the newspaper—the nation—and we were referred to as two hitchhikers of European descent having to swim to safety. Also found out that another truck (semi carrying fertilizer) went off the other side of the road evidently to avoid all the onlookers. Not good. But no serious injuries there either.

dedza hospital

Thanks to Tom, Tove, and Anne for their help and support as we were pretty shaky after our adventure. Rhona was put on a stretcher and we went right in. they started cleaning us up and checking us over. Rhona first: cleaned the bigger cut on her left arm and then looked at the other cut. Much smaller but stretched so they said that it needed stitches which she vehemently denied even though she couldn’t see the cut. Called in for a second opinion and then tried to get a picture to show her. Then she finally agreed—so 3 stitches. I’ve never seen stitches being put in and as many of you know I don’t handle the medical/blood/whatever without becoming the patient myself but the shock had me able to watch and be fascinated. They really pull at the skin. Rhona was laughing watching my face as I was intrigued but then trying to hold still at the same time. Then they came to clean my foot (I was sitting right next to her). And I wasn’t nearly so happy just knowing it was going to sting. But they started with the saline solution to just clean it out and it didn’t hurt at all (well anymore than it was already stinging. So I went back to chatting and feeling ok with this cleaning. I’d stopped paying attention when they came with the iodine or whatever the orange stuff is that stings and I almost jumped out of my seat and onto rhona. Malawians in general are quite stoic so we were a scene I do believe. It didn’t help that I was doing big gestures and giving them the option to just cut it off and be done with it. I’m good for entertainment if nothing else. Then it was over and we went outside to await our chariot back to nkhoma. Dr. Barbara Nagy came in the car (with a driver) to get us and we made it home safely and have been laid up for the week watching movies and being waited on hand and foot from our wonderful guardian isabelle. (patients at the hospital come with at least one guardian to feed and take care of them—we didn’t have to go to the hospital though)

beginning/end

Remember we’re fine:

Left early after getting the sleeping bag that had been left in the last vehicle we’d taken (stuffed into a smaller bag to carry). Minibus to Kamphata…there was almost a fight outside the hospital between 2 minibus “companies” but we got in and had an easy 20 minute transport. Then since we wanted to go south (not to Lilongwe) we had to get out and flag down another ride. We tried minibuses but none were going right where we wanted to go and then they would decide not to take us. the big busses that were going to Blantyre wouldn’t stop as they were already full. We kept trying…then a truck stopped and I heard him say Blantyre. When I asked he said that yes but they had to make a stop on the way…off the road a bit but I said they could take us that far and if on their way back we were still there they could pick us up again. so in we got. Turns out they weren’t going that much farther before stopping to pick up what turned out to be a minibus that had broken down last week and needed to be towed to Blantyre. They hooked it up and we continued on. Looking around at the dusty dry landscape I was hit by the fact that it is still beautiful and breathtaking. The next thing we know the minibus is going from side to side and then taking our truck with it off the road and this is not looking good. Down what we thought was a small ditch but that just seemed to keep going. I felt myself coming out of the back and suddenly was underwater. We have no idea where the water came from but that we need to get away from the truck as we don’t know if it is still moving or turning or what. both of us were worried about the other because of course we lost each other when we went under. The truck ended on its side in the water. the driver was around and helping us before we knew what was going on. Got out of the water and there were already at least 100 spectators. I have no idea where they come from. Lost: 3 flipflops and one pair of sunglasses. Not bad. Of course any of our electronics have just gone for a swim as well…so 3 cell phones, 2 ipods and 1 camera. Not so good. Out of the water and on the shore and trying to figure out what to do next. I remember the questions: should we keep going? No. where should we get to. All we want to do is go back to nkhoma but we’re closer to dedza and actually get an offer of a drive there and I figure that the hospital there will have a phone number for someone in nkhoma hospital. So we go for that. Injuries: I had a good scrape on one foot, small scrape on the other leg, rhona had a shallow gash and already a good bruise on one arm, small cut on the other side, and her back was hurting some. So into the car with Tom, Tove and Anne (Danes who were going to Dedza for cheesecake and didn’t mind a detour to drop us at the hospital). Rhona laying in the laid out front seat with me anne and tove in the back. They thought of trying our sim cards (memory card for the phone) in their phone and we were able to get the number from the medical director at nkhoma and I told him we’d been in an accident and could he come pick us up or arrange it. no problem he’s on it.

midterm break

Friday night was the beginning of our first term midterm break. The hospital has recently gotten a Malawian doctor who I believe has just finished training and some work at the hospital in Blantyre (Queens). He is 25 and seems vry nice. There are also 2 malawian medial students here and so we had them over for dinner. Floor (Dutch med student) and Anthony (Aussie med student) and Maria (Swedish nurse) came as well. It was great fun. We served egg fried rice and of course there was a power cut and so we ate by candle light and shared stories. They seemed to be surprised that the children at the hospital were scared of us azungu. Couldn’t remember ever feeling that way themselves but then I’m pretty sure they didn’t come from the village. Told them that we were planning to leave and climb Mount Mulanje on Saturday and they warned us that people get lost there often and that we should really come back. Stories that the ancestors take the people and that they don’t come back. We assured them that we would get a guide and be back probably on Wednesday night.

After dinner and everyone leaves we start/finish packing. Stuff had been laid on my bed but none of it near finished or sure. Well the tennis shoes for hiking have to go so I pick up my backpack, go to put my shoes in and it (backpack) squeaks! I don’t believe it but it has been living on the porch since we got back from Nyika and sure enough there is a nest in the bottom compartment. I got rhona’s attention when I found it and took it back to the porch. Turns out there were 2 baby mice living in the nest. Very cute but what am I supposed to do with them?! Took some pics and then took them downstairs and tried to set them out with the nest…returned to the wild and they weren’t there in the morning…finished packing with no more excitement.

creativity

I found some notebooks that are blank on the top and lined on the bottom. Perfect for drawing and then writing about the drawing. When I found them I thought they were great but didn’t know what we were going to put in them…one of the other teachers asked if we use them for weekend updates. No, but what is that? Because we might. She said that on Mondays you ask what they did over the weekend. And so we started. After our math lesson we did our weekend. Pictures of playing and going to people’s houses. Cute. Then on Wednesday I gave a sheet with a drawing on it of a person sitting at a table so we drew foods we like on the platters and then wrote about it. sausages, rice (rayce), cece (cake), and more. Then Friday (as we were going on holiday) I started the sentence: Tommorow I want to…play with (insert name here) was a common sentence. I hope this will get more elaborate as time goes on. Esther asked what it was and where I got the sentence beginnings and seemed worried when I told her that I made them up.

changes

At school things are changing. Obviously as things are always changing and especially since the school is still new and we’ve just hired 3 new teachers and moved so many around and created the new classes…we’ve found that our kindergarten teacher Esther has only ever taught older children and while she is open to the learning centers way of teaching she doesn’t really get it and the class gets more and more didactic if Dorothy isn’t in with her. Our first/second grade teacher Gift is getting worried for when I leave as he will then have both classes and as I’ve explained some of my challenges when I had both, he’s not really looking forward to it. so the powers that be are trying to decide what to do and how to maybe move people around so that things are all covered and it is best for the school and the kids.

The 3 year old teacher (Rebecca) and 4 year old teacher (Patience) have been asked to observe and try out the kindergarten class. they do a great job in their classes and it will be a shame to move them, it will be easier to move them and get a new teacher in one of their classes than to get a new kindergarten teacher altogether (is the thinking that I hear happening). Esther has been observing me in my class with the thought that she could move to be the 1st/2nd assistant. I was asked many times if that would be ok with me and I don’t mind at all. she seems to be good with the kids at this age and has no problem asking questions of how I do things and where I get my ideas and curriculum and who will make copies if I’m gone. I think that it might work. She observed Thursday and Friday and each day after sending the kids home she grilled me with what I do and when exactly and where my schedule was. I had to tell her that I didn’t have a schedule—everything I did was a rough estimate of what needed to get through. We need a schedule and everything has to be on it. (I have no idea how to put everything on a schedule) but I told her I would try. When we get back from midterm break (next week) I think she will teach some of the subjects but she doesn’t want to take the whole day just yet. We’ll see how it goes after break.

this is the day

At school this week I learned a new song…well new verses to an old song:

This is the day (repeat)
That the Lord has made
We will rejoice
And be glad in it.

These are the friends
That the Lord has given
We will rejoice
And be glad in them

Christ is the way
That the Lord has made
We will rejoice
And be glad in Him.
A very nice continuation to a song I’ve always loved.

burning trash

For the first 6 months of being here (while I lived at Barbara’s house and had 5 workers) I had no idea what happened with the trash. One of those day to day things that I didn’t have to deal with. It was there in the trash can and then it wasn’t. we did have 2 different bins—one for compost and one for trash but they never overflowed and I never thought about it. when we moved into the cottage it was something that we had to think about…we let it go on a little too long but finally we had to deal with it…we knew that people burn it. (asking questions gets you no end of answers) but where? There were burn patches everywhere and not in out of the way places but it just seemed so exposed. We thought that our downstairs neighbors might use a corner of the yard and that we could too so we asked one day and as it turned out it was not in the yard but just behind our fence. So early on a Saturday morning rhona and I ventured out to do it for the first time. Not too many people around but of course those who were out found us to be interesting. Now we have a housekeeper and so we don’t burn our own trash (very often). Last weekend we had the public holiday and then we were leaving town so we did it ourselves…not too interesting for pics but it is what has to be done.

linn(Norwegian nurse), isabelle (Luxembourgian optician), rhona (english doctor), floor (dutch med student)
burundi drummers

lake of stars

This weekend was a big music festival at the lake so we got tickets and headed down. it was in monkey bay and it was a very good thing that it was at the lake because it was really really hot this weekend. Friday was a public holiday (mother’s day) so after a ward round (rhona sees the patients and tries to discharge them if she can) we packed up and took off. Leaving nkhoma around noon with a quick stop in dedza for a bank and some groceries. Down one of the steep windy roads called the galimoti road which on a clear day gives great views of the lake and surrounding countryside…right now it is too dusty to see the lake and everything is brown and dry but still beautiful. And the temperature rose as we descended the hill.

Arrival at Nanchengwa lodge where we set up our tents and decided on a swim (ok no decision really just the next step). Weedy but the water was cool and therefore worth it all. I even thought I didn’t need to go to the festival…I was at the lake…I’m good. But then of course we had to check it out. Another large group had arranged a bus to go and we would all just split the cost and we could even arrange for it to pick us all up again at the end of the evening. So on we went and away we go another 15kilometers to the festival grounds.

Things we found strange (but good):
 The food prices were not inflated as at home—we could get fish and chips for 600kwacha ($4) or curry for 800K ($5.50) and drinks-$1 for soft drinks and <$2 for beer.
 Once you paid for parking it was for the whole weekend…not day by day.
 Advertised shuttles didn’t actually exist. Well I guess that isn’t too strange we are in Africa. (and not so good)

The music was good. Lots was African along with some british…Oliver Mtukudzi was a great performer…really loving the energy and dancing. There were Burundi drummers who put on a great performance as well. Also heard were Tinashe, Marko Sadiki, AlyKeita, Nomfusi and Khethi, Peter Mawanga (rasta xylophone player) and many more. It was a great atmosphere right on the beach and music going on all night. We didn’t know that and weren’t prepared (mentally) so we packed up and headed back to our tents and sleep each night. We didn’t really get to sleep in though as many people came back in the early morning hours and made lots of noise. There were also some dogs who didn’t like the “intruders” and the sun that heated up the tents to saunas by 730. only one bad sunburn between the 7 of us and it was a very bad sunburn (she fell asleep on the beach and was awakened by concerned strangers offering sunscreen).

i love my mom because of my family. my family is kind

monday

ABC (African Bible College-private school in Lilongwe where most of the azungu children go) is on their midterm break and so the Ter Haar older children and the Veitch children are home for the week and they often come in to the school to help in the classes. I had one each day in the room to help. It keeps the kids attention better as they are something new and since they know the information maybe it is relevant and they should learn it. one of the new things we learned or are in the process of learning is the doubles +1 facts. Something I’d never really heard of and when I read about I thought that it sounded much more confusing than just learning it but maybe that is because I already know the info. so we’re learning addition…slowly but surely and we have timed minute tests on 25 problems every day. So far we have done the +0, +1, +2 and doubles (4+4, 2+2, etc). so doubles +1 is taking 2+2 and making it 2+3. that is one they can already do but when you get to 7+8 they have problems. The strategy I’m supposed to teach them is to find the smaller number, double it, and then add 1. this seems very odd and round about to me but I’ve noticed that it does work as the kids mostly know their doubles. And it is faster than counting your fingers. Though on Thursday I also noticed that on occasion they were not picking the small number but doubling the big one and adding one. More practice needed…

watermelon on the floor before rhona's party
in our malawian suits

the cottage girls--me, rhona, isabelle
menu on the wall at our market restaurantnote the sandwitch...we order the nsima for 100 and are very full. i can only imagine what a 400 would be like. mpunga is rice for those who don't like nsima or just prefer the other