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.