basket carrying

As you’ve seen in some of the pics I’ve put up the women here carry things on their head with amazing ability. The loads are very often enormous but they don’t have to be. I’ve also seen women carrying keys, or an umbrella or one stick on their head. Guess it is a good way to keep your hands free. And they carry the most unbalanced (at least that is how it looks) loads at the perfect angle to keep them up on their heads. Amazing. Someone pointed out that if it is your livelihood (they often are carrying what they sell around on their heads) then you would probably get pretty good pretty fast so that you wouldn’t lose any capital. True but still. So Saturday at the market Ngari (Australian volunteer working in the hospital lab) was buying baskets and tubs…so I filled one with my shopping (to help her carry her many baskets, of course)…and then I tried to carry it on my head. Got some strange looks but they were also impressed (I think). It did make it nice that it wasn’t so bulky around where everyone walks and you have to constantly maneuver around things. But my arm got tired holding it up (no I can not balance it without the support) and I think it takes some training…because it was too heavy and gave me a headache after 3 minutes (if that). But it made for some pictures (don’t know if they were any good as I haven’t seen them yet).

lunch on the beach
barbeque (brai) at the guest house

end of term

Friday was the last day of term. I had 3 more parents come in to observe/conference. 5 out of 12…well, maybe I’ll do better next time (that will be the end of the year so I think I’ll see the parents?!) Nothing too exciting happened until the last 10 minutes when the NC group arrived with balloon animals for the kids…which they received on their way out the door. They were twisted into balloon dogs…the kids took about 10 seconds to figure out how to untwist the dogs and unlike at home where they would then want you to retie it they were doubly excited about the snakes they had made. Simplicity at its finest…could have saved some time and just given out the snakes…See you in 2 weeks! (bet they didn’t understand that one) (but I also didn’t get a see you tomorrow—actually I was pretty ignored after the balloon animals)

monday monsters

Oh my goodness. They were so wild. Two of the guesthouse people came to visit and see the school. They didn’t stay too long because they were sure they were the ones being the disruption. I wish it had been them as then things could have calmed down after they left but no…it continued all morning. We did get some addition in there counting balls and adding groups together but that was the extent of what I could do. They were loud and running everywhere…my head was ringing when we left and the headache continued through most of the afternoon.

The rest of the week was ok. So I guess that 1 out of 5 isn’t too bad. Tuesday was very calm in school. I don’t know if it was a breakfast change or if Monday wore them out as much as it did me but they sat and listened and were little angels…almost like Monday was just a bad dream. (I’m willing to look at it that way).

Wednesday afternoon a group from the Presbytery of Western NC arrived. They will be here for 10 days (I think) and will be working on various projects at the hospital, school, and outlying clinics. Good group. They came into school on Thursday (many are or were teachers) and the kids continued to be angels…I don’t know what the difference was…well, until the cameras came out and then there were my usual showboats but what can you do? It was a very nice morning and I’m more than happy to have them back for the rest of their stay (and the year). It is nice to have 6 extra hands in the classroom.

Friday was the last day of term. Nothing too exciting happened until the last 10 minutes when the group arrived with balloon animals for the kids…which they received on their way out the door. See you in 2 weeks! (bet they didn’t understand that one) (but I also didn’t get a see you tomorrow—actually I was pretty ignored after the balloon animals)

glasses

So I broke down and got glasses…still haven’t had any problem with my contacts. But I don’t want to tempt fate. And I’m hanging out with someone working at the eye hospital and the look I got when I told her I only had contacts made me think seriously about getting a pair. Went in and she refracted me. (I doubt that is actually the way one would say that) of course my vision is worse than in contacts…sounded really bad. Then I went to the eye workshop where I got to check out the glasses frames and take my pick. Trying out all sorts (almost went for some superman frames—but they were too small for my big head). Too serious sets and some that just wouldn’t work at all. but I got a pair and they were ready that day! I wasn’t expecting that. Of course I had to put on a fashion show when I got them. Took my contacts out and put the glasses on—they worked very well as long as I didn’t move. Any movement and I got dizzy—they handed me a sharp knife to make garlic bread…not really smart but safe enough as I still have all my fingers.

parent/teacher conferences

The end of the second term is upon us…(one week to go) and we were informed that we should invite the parents in for conferences and to see what we are doing in class as we have moved to the learning centers and have changed how we do things in class. So I sent home a letter inviting parents to come anytime in the next two weeks to observe for 30 minutes and see some of their child’s work that is in the workbook that will be sent home at the end of the year. I’ve since realized that I should have put in optimal times to come observe (as both parents who responded and came picked the times just before and after break) but you live and you learn.

So the first arrived just as the class went from random disorder but somewhat calm to complete and utter chaos. Oops. Pulled them into group time and read a story, asked some questions and went for break. Not too bad. Then talked with the parent about their child and showed her the work. Didn’t know what else to do or say…luckily it was photo time—we got the new playground equipment donated by a dutch school and we needed to send some pictures of everyone playing and the teachers and school team (like a school board) saying thank you and we love it (which we really do). My second parent was also on the school team and asked if she could stay after pictures so she wouldn’t have to come back another day. Sure thing. Though then she didn’t get to observe the chaos that is class as they were out for break but she seemed quite happy to hear about her child, see the work and look at the room. I hope when (if) the rest of the parents come in that the “conferences” go as well.

weekend restaurant

Stayed in Nkhoma this weekend. Went to the market on Saturday for lunch and shopping. Often our lunches at the market consist of chips (fried potato wedges-very greasy) and coke but this time we were going to a restaurant. No electricity as we were seated in a dark room. Ordered lunch of nsima (corn flour with enough water and cooking to make it very thick and filling but also bland) and relish (beans, tomatoes, meat of some sort-we think goat) and a coke. All for 160 kwacha (less than $1) and it was more than enough to fill you up. As there was no electricity he had to get the drinks from another shop but they came back cold and refreshing. I think this will become the new Saturday lunch when I’m in town.

hospital animals

So I don’t write much about what goes on at the hospital as I’m not there and as many of you probably know I don’t deal too well with that medical side of things…(I have this thing that what is in your body should stay there and can’t handle the sight of blood and even stories about it). I did go in with Rhona once (about 2 months ago) and sat through a ward meeting and started to do rounds with her. I made it through 3 patients before I started to feel lightheaded and I hadn’t even seen or heard anything that I thought would have affected me…but I went outside to sit and then decided I should probably just head home so she wouldn’t have someone else to treat.

However there are some unusual visitors (and possibly residents) at the hospital. While our hospitals at home are one very tall building (often) with very specific entrances that have doors that shut and visiting hours that are adhered to, the hospital here is set up more like my high school as an open air campus with different buildings that are mostly without doors. Walking through it is normal to see a rooster just walking through the hospital, through the wards crowing at the top of his lungs. There are dogs everywhere—wild mostly and the Malawians are afraid of them and most of the dogs are afraid of sudden movements so people are usually safe from them but still. There was a problem of the dogs cozying up to patients at night to keep warm…not really sanitary…Rhona has had people selling fish on her ward…not really what you want to be eating (or smelling) if you are sick in the hospital…and we were walking home one day and coming up the stairs when I looked to the side of the building and there was a cow sitting in the grass all by itself. We’re still not sure what it was doing there…

from nkhotakota

hard at work

wednesday

They came in on Wednesday and had these sweaters on. I was in a sleeveless dress and couldn’t imagine with all the running around they do that they were actually still cold so when they came into class I told them to put their sweaters and jackets into their cubbies. One girl started to take her jacket off but most of them just sat and looked at me. So I went over to one of them and started to pull off his sweater. Evidently his mouth was open as I pulled it over his head and it somehow got caught on his loose tooth. And the screams commenced. I had no idea what had happened but took him outside and saw the blood that started coming so we rinsed out his mouth and waited for him to calm down (apologizing the whole time—can’t believe I really caused blood to flow). He didn’t talk for about 45 minutes after that but then came around and all was forgiven. During break he came in screaming again—he’d hit his head on a scooter and blamed another girl for it. came in and sat on my lap until he had screamed it all out. Then looked at me and said “you can never do that again.” I agreed and said, “yes, but you should also listen to your teacher and do what she says.” He thought about it and repeated his earlier statement so I did the same. He lost the tooth that afternoon—no tears.

short week

A great week at school. No big breakthroughs but little things. Clean up has been going really well at the end of the morning. It takes a little while to get started and there are of course some who just refuse to help but even they are not playing with the toys quite as much…just pulling out the mats and sitting down (and then bothering their neighbors while I have my back turned. They come in after break (again not all of them but we’re getting there). I don’t think I had any of those really frustrating moments when I was afraid that I would scream in the middle of class. It could also do with the fact that I had Lawrence in the room for most of the week…second set of hands and eyes goes a long way. Even Friday was good (and usually they are little monsters on Fridays). They left after we sang all sorts of songs and copy games…I lined them up at the door had them all wave to me and say (together) “see you next week”…and then as they walked out about half turned to me as said “see you tomorrow!” ah, well. I know it is the weekend.

home again

Got stopped at the same roadblock as before (I don’t know what it is with Lilongwe as none of the other blocks had a problem with us and we sailed through). He looked like he was going to let us through but then caught sight of the 4 of us in the back…oh an offense! How are you today…isabelle was driving and she said that she was fine but that her passenger was not feeling well. This is true and we’d stopped in Lilongwe because she felt like she was going to be sick and faint so we were anxious to get her home…she still looked pale and he noticed that. But he said you see and pointing to the back one, two, three that is ok. But that (pointing at me) is wrong…(I didn’t even get a “that one” which is normal Malawian for her or him), but since “this one” is sick I’ll let you go if you won’t do it again. ok and bye. No other incidents on the way home (all 45 minutes of it).

lake

The lake was nice…lots of wind (which is why Nkhoma was having such bad weather last week we were told) and therefore lots of waves. It looked and sounded like we were at the ocean! But the water was “fresh” and I didn’t float very easily but then the lake is quite shallow so there wasn’t much need. Sunny and relaxing it was very nice to just hang out with the girls. The camping area was very nice and we set up our three tents on the grass…as it turned out this was the wrong thing to do as there were ants everywhere…I thought we had set up away from all the anthills but evidently I was mistaken. I woke up to ant bites and just kept swatting. Finally at 4:30 I turned a flashlight on next to my head and saw that my sleeping bag was teeming with them. Up I got and went to sit on the beach to watch the sunrise and get away from that (I wasn’t going to sleep anymore anyway after seeing that.). beautiful sunrise—great way to start the day. More relaxing and we “Doomed” our tent (bug killer) twice before getting in again Sunday night…woke up at 11 to more bites so doomed again and while it was better than before they were still around. Slept some but decided to get up for sunrise again as napping on the beach would be more restful than this…

driving

Gone again to the lake…of course. What else to do on a weekend? Especially a long weekend! 6 girls in a Honda CRV with an amazing amount of stuff in the back. Not all that bad as we were camping and needed tents, sleeping bags, etc…but still. Off we headed thru Lilongwe and of course through the police stop there. Made it through no problem and stopped for gas just on the other side (wouldn’t want to run out)…trying to leave the gas station one of the officers must have thought he’d found an easy mark and stopped us before we could get on the road again. came to my window and asked for my license…checked the insurance and the license and came back to tell me we were in violation as the insurance is good for 5 not 6. (as I watch a minibus pass through with at least 20 I’m sure). So what are we going to do? Where are we headed and where are we from? (to the lake from Nkhoma) the offense is MK3000 (US$17). I then asked if he was going to fine everyone coming through with too many people. Like who he asked. Like those minibuses…well they are allowed 16 people. I told him that every minibus I’d been in had at least 20 in it. well, some stop just before the road block and let people out to walk through (very illegal)…none of mine have done that. Well, some of them are going to funerals and we take that into consideration. Hmm. What about that truck (pick up with many in the back. Well, they are going to the fields for the harvest. Well, we are all volunteers working for free here in Malawi. So what are we going to do? I think you should tell us to have a good weekend. We are working for free and don’t have the money to pay. Well how are you going to pay for the lake? We brought just enough for the lake. Well, then give me a Fanta. We don’t have any Fanta. (worth MK60). Here is a water bottle (frozen). I don’t want that. Well, that is what we have. What are we going to do? You can say have a good weekend. And then while he didn’t tell us to have a good weekend he did let us continue on our way.