homeschool

For two weeks on Wednesdays I’ve helped with homeschooling for the Veitch’s. with the fuel situation as it has been the missionary kids no longer go into town on Wednesdays…their teachers send them home some of the work to keep up…and with mom in Canada and dad had to invigilate exams at school they asked for a hand…4 boys of 4 ages…but for a morning it went pretty well. Amanda also came to help…so we sounded out words, measured out rice into different containers, did spelling words, math problems, history lessons…the older boys worked on their own mostly. And would take breaks and walk around the house terrorizing those of us working…and then they found water guns…so I confiscated those until all homework was done…pouting ensued but they also agreed that things wouldn’t get done otherwise. Dad came home—we had lunch—and then we had a big water fight…good fun and a good way to end the morning. Then I went to help with some computer problems (not that I know much as many of you know)…felt good to get home and get into dry clothes…

free

I don’t know what it is…getting things for free is great in all cultures…but begging is usually looked down on or something embarrassing that you don’t want others to know. But here getting things and asking for things is cultural. And they yell it out at the top of their lungs—give me…give me…
At school all of the kids are on a half scholarship (which could be seen that no one is)…but there are some who are fully sponsored. It is hard to sustain because when someone is fully sponsored others believe they should be too. why them and not me? No such thing as discretion.
I have been to a couple of meetings where they have begun to talk about sustainability and how to become self-reliant because they are realizing that NGOs and donations and volunteers may leave and they should take care of themselves…(especially in this political climate), but that moves very slowly and doesn’t seem to be a wide spread sentiment.

school teachers

Two of our teachers have been placed in a government school. I think that the training that they get is paid for by the government and then they are bonded to teach for some amount of time in a government school but then they don’t get placed for ages…our first grade teacher was placed somewhere way down south and she turned it down and so I think she is now waiting for another placement. Our second grade teacher has been placed in dedza and she has agreed to finish this term (one more week). Prayers are appreciated and/or if you know anyone who wants to come out to be a volunteer teacher or support person. There were interviews last week but we only had one candidate—she is good but we possibly have 2 openings…we might get to keep the first grade teacher who is once again waiting on placement.

birthday

Friday was my birthday. Thanks for all the well wishes and greetings. Emails and facebook messages from all over the world, texts from US, England, Luxembourg (and Malawi), and calls from US, Canada nd England. It was a great day. It happened to coincide with the last day of term at school so everyone was in a pretty good mood. (not that they aren’t usually—esp on a Friday). It was a short day at school as well. And I’ll have to admit it felt like I was just biding my time until 10 when the kids left…there was no power at school so I was at a bit of a standstill. Went to the market and bought sweets to give to the kids…I normally don’t do this as they ask for too much already but I figure once a year is ok. I went into each classroom where they sang me happy birthday and then I gave sweets. The kids were so cute. After the kids left we had a teachers meeting to bid farewell to Sandra and Magrate (see next post). We were supposed to have cake but it never arrived and the network was down so we couldn’t check on it…luckily there were enough sweets for the teachers too. They gave me a beautiful chitenji that I wrapped around myself immediately and wore on the walk home.
Spent the afternoon baking first in the cottage then at Ute’s. and then for my party. The Jones’ were gracious enough to host…soup and bread and cake…I brought cake and bread (with help from many others) and it was a great gathering. It always feels like such a production to organize one of these get-togethers but they are really enjoyable and actually not that much work…but I was quite happy to crawl into bed that night.

game of telephone

Just before I moved out of Barbara’s house the power went out…only at the house, not all over nkhoma which would be normal power sharing. So I called Escom (power company) to report the fault…Hi there is no power at my house in nkhoma. “I will check if it is power sharing” I have—it is only my house “ok. Which house?” nagy, n-a-g-y. “N-a-d-y” no n-a-g-y “n-a-d” no. (I couldn’t for anything come up with a word that started with g) a-b-c-d-e-f-g “oh d” no. (I recited the alphabet again…and we finally got to the right letter. I tell you what…sometimes we think that they do this on purpose just to see how far we will go…sometime between midnight and 4am the power was restored to the house…i was quite sad that it wasn’t an all over power cut as they were having some kind of party/revival at William Murray with a sound system that they turn up to full power with yelling and singing and preaching and it went on all night…when I woke at 4 I thought someone had a radio on my porch (I’d forgotten about the party) and couldn’t figure out why there would be someone on the porch…then it registered that it was preaching from the school…

mountain

Once going up the mountain once it reminds you of what you should be doing…so up again on Sunday. Had a two dog escort and Shadow really lives up to her name…she would follow right behind me and step on the back of my flipflops…then she would race ahead and come back long enough to step on my shoes again before racing off…Ute and Taonga were way ahead so I missed most of the conversations on the way up but I was ok with that. Beautiful green all around…above the mountain hut we found more of the tall grass to swim through but then we were up above…and you couldn’t quite see where you were putting your foot but at least your face was mostly free from lashings…we watched the clouds come in and we did get a little wet on the way down but it wasn’t too bad. Taonga was quite impressed that I did the climb in flipflops but I can’t imagine putting my feet into shoes for the climb even with the wet steps…wet on the way up (dew on the long grass) and wet on the way down (rain)…
And then just 5 min from home Shadow banished herself from inside the house by finding something really smelly to roll in…ewww!

accustomed

There are things that you think you will never get used to…and things you think you will get used to…and sometimes you are right and sometimes you aren’t. while living in Barbara’s house the first time I never noticed that you could hear the hospital…this time you would hear it if you listened…and sadly it is mostly the screams of children as the pediatric ward is the closest. Last week I was sitting on the porch watching the full moon and listening…it took a while but as I was listening I heard the dogs, the bugs and then underneath (or over) it all I could hear the sound of the pediatric ward. It is (sadly yet a relief) easy enough to block out…(you do know that they are getting care)
Last year I was up early all the time. Now I’m still up early though often not quite as early…and living in Barbara’s house the rooms were much darker and it made it much harder to get up early…but then I moved back into the cottage and it was early mornings once again…(probably also comes with living so close to William Murray boys school—they are up early). It gives the impression of the day being longer, more time to do things though I don’t necessarily think that more gets done.
It often takes new eyes, new perspectives to bring back to mind the things that are around each day…the same happens at home. You get used to what is around and no longer see the beauty and novelty of your surroundings. That is one of the great things about having new people coming in and out of nkhoma…it helps keep your eyes open to the wonders of the creation that are always all around.

press news

Petrol was good for a while and now it has disappeared again…and well, with statements like these…I tried to find the links or have them emailed to me and they were lost in the ether…

.Malawi's President Mutharika tells donors 'go to hell'
President Bingu wa Mutharika won a resounding second term in office in May 2009
Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika has told foreign donors to "go to hell", accusing them of plotting with local groups to topple his government.
Mr Mutharika said he was "tired of being insulted" and urged his followers to prevent any protests against him.
Civil society said there are no planned protests - and condemned the president for inciting his supporters.
The UK and other donors cut aid to Malawi in 2010, criticising its economic policies.
Last July, at least 19 people were shot dead by police during anti-government protests over the worsening economy.
'No more nonsense'
Mr Mutharika said he has intelligence reports that some Western donor nations were working with local non-governmental groups (NGOs) to hold street demonstrations and vigils against his rule.
"I will not accept this nonsense any more," Mr Mutharika said as he opened a road in his home tea-growing district of Thyolo in southern Malawi.
"If donors say this is not democracy, to hell with you... yes, I'm using that word, tell them to go to hell," he said on Sunday.
He urged youth cadets of his ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to "do everything possible to rise up and make sure the demonstrations are thwarted".
Malawi's NGO umbrella group, the Council for Non-Governmental Organisations (CONGOMA), says the president has the "wrong intelligence", and no demonstrations are being planned.
"The president should be tired of the problems on the ground, not his critics," CONGOMA chairperson Voice Mhone said in a statement.
"Unless he exerts all his energy and resources in finding solutions the criticism will not stop," he said.
The BBC's Raphael Tenthani in Blantyre says Mr Mutharika has had several run-ins with foreign donors - with the most high-profile row ending in the expulsion last year of the UK's high commissioner after a leaked diplomatic cable quoted him as describing the president as autocratic and intolerant.
He won a resounding second term in office in presidential elections in May 2009 - but has since faced criticism over his handling of the economy and his apparently growing intolerance of anyone who criticises him.
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an estimated 75% of the population living on less than $1 (60p) a day.
The country has suffered shortages of fuel and foreign exchange since aid flows stopped two years ago.

swimming

March 5 was a public holiday. I don’t know what it was for but I don’t really question long weekends…no special plans as there is once again a petrol shortage…and I think I must have been tired because I was quite content to lounge around, watching movies or playing games or reading…and as it was rainy it was perfect. But Monday was a pretty day and ute and I decided it was time to tackle the mountain again.
Started off at 8am…about 15 minutes into the climb we passed a whole crowd of Malawians going up to the hut for prayers. We had just decided that we should try the other peak…and then it seemed like a great idea. We didn’t know the best way to go so we continued on to the hut (after a nice rest on picture rock) and then cut across instead of continuing up. The beginning was not too bad…but very soon the trail (if you could call it that—goat and monkey paths) would disappear. And we would continue on to the least overgrown area or where there was a ghost of a path…we were constantly coming up against large rocks (islands) that we would climb on and look around to find the best path forward…of course once we got back down I don’t have any idea if we followed our charted route.
We would find a path that would lead in the right direction and disappear after about 10 steps (that would be a long appearance). Once off the rocks we were in grasses that were over our heads and very thick. So we went swimming in the grass…never would have thought it would be possible to swim in grass but really we would breast stroke through to keep the grass out of our face but of course they would still hit us in the face so we were also spitting and spitting so it was like getting hit in the face with little choppy waves while swimming. And when we got to a place where the grass was shoulder height (or below) it really felt like we could breathe again. So strange.

The top of Mbalabala is sheer rock so we couldn’t actually make it to the top top. But we got some great views of the valley and the villages that nestle up right next to the base of the mountain on the back side. There were loads of kids collecting wood off of the mountain and they were noisy…it was ok as long as they were where they were collecting…but of course as soon as we sat down they came and sat very near and continued their yelling and singing (but only loud shouting) so we went to a different part and were of course followed…and the yelling continued…so finally Ute and I both turned around and yelled at them…our peace was finished…but it worked…they were quiet and finally lost interest and left.

The way down was more bushwacking and we were done…tired and ready to be home…finally we were. And for the next 5 days we were so sore…walking up or down slopes was just impossible (well painful).

observations?

I’ve mentioned what they yell at us as we walk:
Azungu!
Give me money (pen, exercise book…take your pick)
Give me my money.
What’s your name?
Where are you going? Coming from?
And all of these are repeated whether you respond or not. Over and over and over. And depending on the day you’ve had or the mood you’re in (often a mirror of the day you had)—determines how you respond…whether cringing and wishing you were invisible, responding good naturedly, responding not so nicely, ignoring it all or finding it entertaining…well entertaining is probably not the right word but sometimes you will get a very small child and then it is just cute and makes you smile…
I was talking with some Malawians once about travel. And going to my country or other places. And they asked if they were to walk around in our country what would people yell out at them. Nothing. We don’t yell at others. (at least usually) it is so cultural here that they couldn’t fathom that it doesn’t happen elsewhere.

teachin

Friday Teacher Magrate (2nd grade) was sick…so I was on…oh dear. But it went well I think. Not as quick as when she teaches but then she is a bit more prepared…or at least knows what is coming…I didn’t hear until I got to school…no warning. But we did adding three two-digit numbers…by going shopping and adding up the receipt. Had a spelling test. Did some reading. Made it through the day without losing too much (I think). They are doing so well according to what I see from when I was teaching—listening, following directions, and even understanding.
The next Thursday Teacher Sandra (1st grade)was sick. On again. But math was counting and sorting things into groups of 10—we used pieces of maize (corn) which are easy to get a lot of…along with the regular counting—by 10’s, 5’s, 2’s, etc. there are 21 kids in this class…much bigger than I am used to or feel that I can handle but the morning went well and they really do listen pretty well…

not so good publicity

Last week NKhoma made the news but not really ina good way. When the president travels everyone else must get off the road. They set the police all along the way and they stop all traffic and the convoy flies by…really flies. Last week the president was coming up from Blantyre…and there was someone who wouldn’t get off the road after being flagged down by the police…he just kept going…turned out he was a driver for the hospital in a hospital vehicle…but even ambulances must stop and get off the road for the president. The driver claimed to be on hospital business but wasn’t and was on other substances (alcohol and Malawi gold?). Got back to the hospital with his wife and child in the car as well and went hiding on the different wards. I don’t know what happened after he was arrested …but they took him and the vehicle. Here is the news article: href="http://www.mwnation.com/index.php/the-nation-current/30242-driver-in-for-defying-bingu-convoy.html

baking with 3rd grade

On occasion the math lessons cover measurements and so last week the third grades math lesson was on measuring and reading a recipe. So I went in on the Thursday just to show the measuring instruments and read through the recipe. We practiced measuring with rice (it had quite a few bugs in it—oops) and with water…how many times a 1/3 cup will fill the 1 cup…etc. then on Monday I brought in the supplies (ingredients, mixing bowl, measuring things) and we mixed…there is no way to cook at school so I brought it home and baked it and then took it back the next morning. It was a big hit (of course. We made Choc-Chip Crunchies…while we were mixing I asked them if they knew what crunchy meant and they said no. so I explained…we mixed…I took home and baked…and it was not crunchy…much more of a cake. But it was still good. If you would like to try—here is the recipe:
1 c margarine
1 c brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
½ c white sugar
2 eggs
2 c flour
½ tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 c chocolate
2 c oats
Cream together first 5 ingredients. Add the last 5 and mix well. Press into 9”x13” pan. Bake at 180⁰C (350⁰F) for 35 minutes.

flexibility

We still make plans…we just know that they are going to change…whether it is what to have for dinner or where to go for the weekend or what you think you will get done in the day…plan it out, know it will change and just be ok with that. Flexibility is key. The power has gotten much better lately. Which of course just makes it more surprising when the power does go out…as it did when Ute and I actually planned what we would have for dinner. Grilled fish was on the menu—looked up recipes, were in the kitchen getting started when the power went out…and of course it was 6pm but the power hadn’t been going out and so change of plans…coconut curry fish over the gas burner…and it turned out very well-just a little heavier than we had planned for. And since then I don’t think the power has gone out…until this morning that is. (but when working in the hospital there is a generator—it has been fixed for the time being—so you don’t notice quite as much after you’ve had breakfast)

lost key

I went to the market last week…took a big loop..carrying a basket heavy with produce (and 3 chitenji). When I got back to the cottage I went to open the door and my key was not there. I’ve had it on my carabineer for a year and a half but that day the string broke. Oh no. so I put my basket between the screen door and regular and then to retrace my steps…back along the loop with a stop at ute’s house as she has a key…of course I didn’t find it on the ground…I was sure if I dropped it it would have been picked up immediately and I wouldn’t find it…and sure enough I walked the loop and didn’t find it. however when I returned home the gardener from downstairs came to me and asked if I’d lost my key…yes…and he had found it just at the gate of the house! Yeah! returned it to me and retied it onto my carabineer for future use! So excited to have it back and not have it wandering Nkhoma…

power

two weeks ago the generator at the hospital broke…that is what keeps things going when the power is cut or is too unstable to run the hospital equipment. This is not good. It would be out for 5 days to be fixed. And the medical director and deputy medical director were in Kenya for a conference…not that they necessarily have more pull with escom (power company) but maybe have more clout in calling in. but Natasha (dr from south Africa) was here and called escom to tell them the problem…people die when we don’t have any way of having power…it runs the oxygen machines and other essentials. The man on the phone said that she would have to write a letter (on letterhead) scan it and email it and he would get it to the person and see what would happen. I’d have to say that I wasn’t too optimistic but it worked (along with a meeting with the head guy by Mr. Veitch) and we had constant and good power for 10 days!! We didn’t want to tell them that the generator was back…(I don’t know what actually happened) but then on Saturday we had a normal 2 hour cut at dinner time…of course ute and I had planned on an oven-grilled fish dinner but we are easily changed…(as we didn’t have any choice).

board meeting

Last week we had a board meeting with the teachers…just a coffee/tea and cake get together. During Term One we had lunch with the board…getting to know you—see the school, see what the teachers are doing, becoming more approachable on both sides. It went so well we decided to repeat (on a smaller scale as lunch was big). So we came together with cake and coffee. It started with Willeke taking us outside for an icebreaker…line up, shoulder-to-shoulder and repeat what the first person does. We went on a bear hunt. Where is the bear? There is the bear. First pointing with the left arm, then the right and then bent down…then she wanted to push us over but we weren’t actually shoulder-to-shoulder so we didn’t all fall but we did laugh a lot.
Back inside for refreshments and discussion. The question was memories from primary school—specifics or overall feelings. It sounded like everyone had memories of very strict/mean teachers but they see the feeling behind the strictness…wanting something better for the child…but the punishments were harsh…but then these are all people who have since succeeded and see the importance of education and many of them work in education still. Punishments from sweeping around, kneeling and being pulled by the ears, digging latrine pits (in primary school!)…but still an overall positive feeling…
They were then asked what makes a good teacher—honesty (kids take what their teachers say as true even over parents), caring, openness with kids and parents. And whether they think that they can come to the teachers with concerns and if their kids can come to them with concerns even about their teachers. Different from when they were growing up as parents sided with teachers almost across the board…it was a good meeting.

You're rate!

As you may have noticed I haven’t had quite as many stories about the police blocks…don’t worry they haven’t disappeared but they aren’t as entertaining…when they stop you they check your insurance sticker on the car and your license but other than that it isn’t too interesting. And there even seem to be more of them…there have also been more road signs—new ones. Leaving Lilongwe we now have a sign as to where the road leads—dedza, Blantyre, nkhoma…and at the turnoff to nkhoma there is a sign that mentions the hospital with an arrow even. But along with the new destination signs came new speed limit signs…and they are slow—50km…in some ways it makes sense but it is really slow. And they have been quite around for speed traps. So when I was driving to the lake I was pretty careful (hard for me with my inherited lead foot).
I got stopped multiple times on the way but at one the officer came to the window and started the conversation with “You’re rate!”…what? “You’re rate?” (oh I’m late) but I don’t know what for…late? Am i? well it is because the speed limit is too low… (and I thought because all of your colleagues keep stopping me)…he just laughed and let me go. So far so good. No trouble…though yesterday I did go into town and had forgotten my license…didn’t get stopped though…don’t plan on doing that again anyway.

technology

So I found out last night that someone from the first world was trying to call me but my number didn’t exist…but she was able to text me and I received that…but try as she might all evening for calls I didn’t exist…reminded me of trying to call my sister for her birthday this year…I called and got an automated response (first in Chichewa and then English) telling me that the number I had was not valid. I thought about texting her but she blocks them as her carrier charges her for incoming texts…so instead I texted my brother to pass on birthday greetings as I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get online…turns out she had changed her number…but I guess since I’m in Africa I wasn’t expected to need it so I wasn’t informed.
Also can’t remember if I put this in…I have heard that sometimes people here can skype…and I have it installed on my computer so sometimes I can chat with people…but it doesn’t ever say that the connection is good enough to talk or video chat…and others can (sometimes). So I searched some online to see if there is a fix…it suggested that I uninstall and reinstall the skype…so I tried…got it uninstalled and then couldn’t get it to reinstall…finally succeeded in reinstalling but had the same problem…it says my computer is running too slowly and I should close everything else…but nothing else was open. Asked for other suggestions and I was told to add RAM (but I should have enough) and the other suggestion was to try internet in an non-third world country…

new house

Once again I have moved houses…I was back in “my” place for a week and then Dr. Barbara’s mother passed away and she and Happy went back for two weeks. She asked before they left if I would stay there so the house would not be empty. Of course. The sellers of mats and ropes and things are getting quite confused that every time they knock on a different door it is still the same person who answers…and funnily enough I still don’t want or need a mat, rope or whatever else…
Barbara’s house is the house that I lived in when I first arrived…so I know the staff and can (usually) find what I’m looking for…and I now have access to a big computer (still very slow as it is quite old) that plays movies…so I’ve watched films before going to bed…a nice wind down to the evenings.