contact

i've gotten inquiries as to how to contact me...obviously email works though it is slow as the connection is slow and getting to the connection (though right next door) is sometimes tricky.

an address that might work:

Jessi Stitt
c/o Dr. Rhona MacLean
Nkhoma Mission Hospital
POBox 48
Nkhoma, Malawi

though the post here has not always been the most reliable (read: don't send anything if you really really don't want it to get lost--send it with someone coming if they have room)

my phone number is 0265999122653 and any time after noon is a good time to call. which should work for most of you as it is afternoon when you get up in the mornings:)

Nkhoma Mountain

Climbed up Nkhoma mountain this morning. Lovely hike, even better when you are on the actual trail. We started up around 8. 5 of us. The 3 guys had been told that long pants would probably be nicer as the trail is quite overgrown. Rhona and I were warned but decided that climbing a mountain in pants on a sunny hot day was not a wise endeavor at least not for our emotional state of being. We were right. Had to stop and wait for one of the guys to run back and change because jeans were the wrong thing to wear. Continuing on we found Lake Nkhoma and started up and up and up. The sun was out most of the time. Lots of water lost on the hike up but the views from the top were spectacular. About half way up we lost the main trail but we had brought a machete and didn’t necessarily know any better so we followed a goat trail and made it to the pinnacle. Great breeze up there too. After staying what has proved to be too long (some sunburns were discovered once we made it down) we headed down and found the Mountain Hut (place you can stay on the side of the mountain). As we walked around the front we saw 3 baboons running away quickly.

I’m pretty sore today—really need to get some more exercise…can’t wait to go back up though.

Lilongwe

I went in bright and early as I was able to catch a ride from the hospital with a doctor going to work in a clinic in Lilongwe. The car was similar to a Jeep Cherokee and we put in 7 people and luggage. Made us feel more like we were in Africa. I went in with 2 med students who had to go and join the Malawi Medical Council and other various errands. Joining the Med Council was easy. Then we had breakfast and headed to the Immigration office for my visa. I went in gave the man my passport and he asked what I wanted. “to extend my visa.” “go back to your country. What is wrong with your country? I will extend you 2 days” “what? That’s not nearly enough. I’m not ready to leave.” “how long do you want then?” “60 days. Well, actually can you give me 5 months?” “I’ll extend you 2 days” as he writes 60 days and sends me to the cashier to pay for the visa. Well, now I know that I’m here till the end of March.

happy times

So I spend lots of time with staff at the hospital and hear about all that goes on and all the differences that are found between working here and working at home and different protocols, access to drugs, translating, and so much more. They often ask for a good/funny/cute/some story from school and I’ll have to admit that up until about this week I was at a loss for a good story…that sounds terrible but I just couldn’t see past the frustration and confusion I felt in teaching and not understanding and being understood.

Tuesday—we have gotten some new puzzles and they might be a little too hard for kindergarten. The kids don’t quite get the idea of matching the colors or straight edges to put the pieces together but they still want the picture to come out right. And the new puzzles are much better than the ones they’ve had and can do without thinking about. So we’re working on them and some of the kids are figuring it out faster than others. Patrick was working on one and just getting frustrated so I knelt next to him and gave him visual clues (basically pointing to the right spot) to put the pieces in. To see his face when he put that final piece in was to see the light come on and he was so happy. Big smile and a little dance led to a high-five and he was ready to do it again.

Today for story time I sat on the floor with the kids. They all crowded around and we read a book of nursery rhymes. They finished a few of the phrases and loved the lilting pattern of the lines. Then I let them go to get puzzles or books. Emmanuel, my child who understands some of what I say and sometimes just chooses not to sit or listen, went to get a book and then came back and sat next to me so we read it. He sits so passively and barely would answer my questions about the book. But when we finished the first he went to get another, came right back and sat down next to me, ready for the next story.

one month

This week has gone well. Monday and Tuesday were normal, crazy days and I’m either getting used to this craziness or it really is getting better. Everything still goes in their mouths and their ears stop working after I say someone’s name (that child’s and everyone else’s) but I’m not getting quite as frustrated. Wednesday I had to go into Lilongwe to renew my visa (upon entering the country you can get 30 days, then you can renew for 60 more, not sure what happens after that—we’ll see come end of March). Thursday and Friday were fine. I was very impressed on Thursday, I think that Lawrence-the assistant for the school who had my class Wednesday- did something magical. They seemed to listen just a little bit more. Today they were more normal and then it began to rain/downpour in the middle of their break/recess time…so they came in and had more class time as I can’t get them to play games yet as they don’t listen to rules. We read many stories and did puzzles. It was a good day.

a little on food

The food was amazing all weekend—you’d think we’d never seen some of the food before. Lasagne, chicken curry, ham, creamed spinach. Much of what we cook and see in the market right now is potatoes and tomatoes…so a tomato sauce of some sort with pasta and/or rice and potatoes sliced and put in the oven with oil is the mainstay of our meals in Nkhoma…lots of carbs. Luckily we have a garden and have been getting lettuce and green beans out of it. And then there is dessert—no worries about coming back after wasting away…cake, brownies, custard, apple crumble, fruit salad (apple, pineapple, mango). It is a great way to end our evenings.

At the market you can also find termites. I have not had them and would have to admit that they don’t look at all appetizing. Bartus (18, teaching math and physical science for 8th grade, from South Africa) bought some and mixed it with canned spaghetti…didn’t eat but 3 bites but claimed he was full. He gave it to the watchman who ate it all.

Monkey Bay

To the lake for another weekend. 6 of us—2 teachers, 3 med students and a dr. we stayed at Norman Carr Cottages. 3 hour ride (we got picked up) down a windy road, beautiful scenery all the way to the lake. We arrived in time for a swim or paddle (kayaks) and sunset. The water was much clearer here than at Senga Bay (but reedier as well). Each of us got our own “cottage”-a sitting room, king bed and outdoor shower. Talk about luxury. Had my first glass of wine in Malawi and it almost brought tears to my eyes, very nice. Dinner was lovely as was the sleep I fell into right after.

Saturday morning we went out on the boat to see the fish eagles and to snorkel. Watching the eagles swoop down to catch the fish was a great sight but our eagles weren’t very hungry. I think we all got some pictures so I’ll try to find some good ones. There were some very pretty blue striped fish we saw while snorkeling. The sun is strong here but we did very well at hiding in the shade any chance we got (not in the water).

Sunday we went out for another boat ride and to a jumping rock. Lots of fun and one more eagle sighting. After lunch and a quick siesta we loaded up and headed back to Nkhoma, none of us quite ready to finish our weekend but very happy with the time we’d had.