The first week of training is over and we have been having a really interesting time finding out more about local culture, politics and the health service. 80% of the population live in rural villages and below subsistence level. Unemployment is high and some people who work do not get paid. There is quite a bit of political unrest and parliament is not sitting just now because of the problems.
There are local jobs and responsibilities for the boys in the villages, unpaid but rewarding. If your brothers wife dies you get his wife, whether you want her and her children, or not. This wife inheritance is common. Not the sort of legacy we hope for in the UK. If your wife does not conceive within the first 6 months of marriage you let the village chief know and he sends someone round to roger her until she gets pregnant. If your husband dies someone is sent round to roger you before your husband is buried to free the spirits. When the girls are told how to behave when they get married some comes round to make sure they know all the tricks of the trade. Once children become adolescent they are moved out of their family home into a house for females and house for males. The males have to prove their manhood and regularly break into the girls house at night. The girls are taught to be submissive so not complaints are made. There are lots more similar practices. Maybe the locals are a bit too knackered to work.
Most of the Malawians that we meet are very welcoming and charming. One of the girls has already had a marriage proposal from one of the less charming locals. He said "white bitch I sex you and marry you". Too bad he used the M word and spoilt it. We were entertained in a nightclub last night by the locals who stutted their stuff for our benefit. A benefit we would have been happy to live without. I have progressed from the local gin to the local beer "kuchi kuchie" its OK and cheaper than carlsberg. We have also founch an ice-cream shop here where they dip the ice-cream in melted chocolate. There are a few places for luxuries here but not near most of our placements. I never thought I would consider ice-cream a luxury.
We had a day at the beach yesterday so life remains taxing but we tolerate it well. We did actually have a really busy and interesting week and we have the same again next week. I continue to humiliate myself in the language lessons, despite being in the remedial class. I am trying to convince myself that it will all fit into place when I'm immersed in the language and culture, well maybe not all the culture. I can understand somethings in context but there are a few of us who are struggling in the classes.
I'm looking forward to finally getting into my house, and kitten, when I get back to Malosa. Keep the comments coming, its great to hear whats going on in the other world.
Sunday, 29 July 2007
Monday, 23 July 2007
Lots Happening
Keep the comments coming its great to hear from everyone. Too bad about Tootsies, I suppose it was predictable. It sounds like you had a great holiday Karen let me know more as you remember more about it.! Thanks for all the goat recipes, I've not got round to them yet but will.
I've had my first mail from home. I was so excited opening it. I know other things were sent earlier but haven't arrived. The post is very erratic here. Jane sent wonderful earl gray tea and wee face creams. I was like a kid at Christmas opening it. I am assured that it can take anything up to 3 months for mail to arrive. The odd thing is I get my weekly news paper from London and it only takes a few days to get here. I keep it for Sundays and read the local papers during the week. They can be quite entertaining.
I've finished my orientation so I should get my registration through before I leave the country. I can now work in the college and hospital. I'm in Lilongwe just now for 2 weeks training with VSO. So I'm looking forward to catching up with all my VSO colleagues and having a few sundowners in the hotel next to ours. The hotel we are staying in is run by Muslims and is dry, no luck there.
I'm in the process of moving house. I've packed everything and should move into my new house when I get back to St Luke's. Its a 3 bedroomed house with a large garden and is only 5 minutes walk from the college and the main road. I'll be able to get the garden going and plant my veg. I'll also be able to get a couple of chickens and hope they don't eat all the veg. I found an amazing amount of mouse shit on the shelves and in the drawers in my house when I was packing and I did have something black scurrying round my feet one night when I got up to the loo. I had thought most of the noises during the night were from the animals outside including my night guard.
I'm getting a kitten when I go back. He/she is called Mati (short for Matawali a village close to Zomba). He/she is the scruffiest kitten I've ever seen but as long as he/she kills the vermin we'll get on just fine. I'll miss my wee house up the hill with the goats, monkeys and hyenas but it will be much better living beside other people and being closer to work and the road.
I was eventually abducted from the road leading to my house and dragged into the church by one of the choir ladies. There was a choir practice and they wanted to sing for me. It was absolutely beautiful, no organ or piano just wonderful singing. I was terrified in case they asked me to sing! The priest has continued to stalk me and I eventually came clean and told him that his understanding and my interpretation of non-denominational were different things and that I really was not about to join the church.
Because of the transport problems and always having to be home before its dark I have decided to buy a car. One of the other volunteers is leaving at the end of August and I'm buying her car from her. So there will be no stopping me then. Petrol is very expensive but it will be good to get out more and see more of the country and catch up with some other people here. The swimming pool should open next month and I'm looking forward to that. Its getting hotter again but the locals still think its cold.
I know some Brownies wanted to keep in touch and become involved in supporting people here. I've asked in the hospital and it would be great if they could knit squares and sew them into blankets about 1 meter square for the nursery.
So all is well here and its great hearing from everyone. I don't know if I'll get back to the Internet before I leave in 2 weeks but I'll keep you posted when I can. Enjoy the summer rain and keep in touch.
I've had my first mail from home. I was so excited opening it. I know other things were sent earlier but haven't arrived. The post is very erratic here. Jane sent wonderful earl gray tea and wee face creams. I was like a kid at Christmas opening it. I am assured that it can take anything up to 3 months for mail to arrive. The odd thing is I get my weekly news paper from London and it only takes a few days to get here. I keep it for Sundays and read the local papers during the week. They can be quite entertaining.
I've finished my orientation so I should get my registration through before I leave the country. I can now work in the college and hospital. I'm in Lilongwe just now for 2 weeks training with VSO. So I'm looking forward to catching up with all my VSO colleagues and having a few sundowners in the hotel next to ours. The hotel we are staying in is run by Muslims and is dry, no luck there.
I'm in the process of moving house. I've packed everything and should move into my new house when I get back to St Luke's. Its a 3 bedroomed house with a large garden and is only 5 minutes walk from the college and the main road. I'll be able to get the garden going and plant my veg. I'll also be able to get a couple of chickens and hope they don't eat all the veg. I found an amazing amount of mouse shit on the shelves and in the drawers in my house when I was packing and I did have something black scurrying round my feet one night when I got up to the loo. I had thought most of the noises during the night were from the animals outside including my night guard.
I'm getting a kitten when I go back. He/she is called Mati (short for Matawali a village close to Zomba). He/she is the scruffiest kitten I've ever seen but as long as he/she kills the vermin we'll get on just fine. I'll miss my wee house up the hill with the goats, monkeys and hyenas but it will be much better living beside other people and being closer to work and the road.
I was eventually abducted from the road leading to my house and dragged into the church by one of the choir ladies. There was a choir practice and they wanted to sing for me. It was absolutely beautiful, no organ or piano just wonderful singing. I was terrified in case they asked me to sing! The priest has continued to stalk me and I eventually came clean and told him that his understanding and my interpretation of non-denominational were different things and that I really was not about to join the church.
Because of the transport problems and always having to be home before its dark I have decided to buy a car. One of the other volunteers is leaving at the end of August and I'm buying her car from her. So there will be no stopping me then. Petrol is very expensive but it will be good to get out more and see more of the country and catch up with some other people here. The swimming pool should open next month and I'm looking forward to that. Its getting hotter again but the locals still think its cold.
I know some Brownies wanted to keep in touch and become involved in supporting people here. I've asked in the hospital and it would be great if they could knit squares and sew them into blankets about 1 meter square for the nursery.
So all is well here and its great hearing from everyone. I don't know if I'll get back to the Internet before I leave in 2 weeks but I'll keep you posted when I can. Enjoy the summer rain and keep in touch.
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Food Cravings
Having managed without chocolate, wine and meat for 6 weeks I cracked and bought a chicken. I thought it was worth risking African tummy again and I've always got the immodium at hand now. It was the best chicken I've ever had. Once the smell of roasting chicken came from the oven I could hardly contain myself and wait for it to cook properly. Its the best meal I've had since I've been here. The chicken curry I had on the 2 following days was not bad either. The next step might be goat. I'm trying to convince myself it will be like lamb. I'll let you know. Its bacon butties I really miss.
I was offered a new house. Not quite what I was expecting. Outside loo, shower and kitchen and on the other side of the wall from the mortuary which would have given me plenty opportunity to share every one's grief. Life is hard enough here without that so I rejected it in writing and was offered a decent house within 2 days. I can't move in for a month but that's OK. I'm really looking forward to getting my garden going and growing and getting some chickens. I don't know if I'll be happy about putting my own chickens in the pot but they better watch out if I have a midnight munchies. I've also had a kitten offered and I should be able to get it after my next course in Lilongwe. So I'm getting organised and should soon be really settled.
Orientation continues but I've only a few days left. After the Lilongwe course I should be able to get on with my job. I tried to use the new Internet cafe last week. The first place in Zomba to have WiFi unfortunately its slower than dial up and I didn't manage to log into my web page. I've also visited Blantyre where they have a couple of good shops that almost fool you into thinking that you are in Europe and you can get ice cream in an almost decent cafe.
Many thanks for all the kind offers of sending things out. I think I'm OK just now. JB has sent several parcels, all containing shoes, but they have not arrived yet. Once I'm properly in post there may be things that I'll need for work. Thanks too for all the comments its great to hear from everyone. Hope Tessa gets on well. Keep in touch.
I was offered a new house. Not quite what I was expecting. Outside loo, shower and kitchen and on the other side of the wall from the mortuary which would have given me plenty opportunity to share every one's grief. Life is hard enough here without that so I rejected it in writing and was offered a decent house within 2 days. I can't move in for a month but that's OK. I'm really looking forward to getting my garden going and growing and getting some chickens. I don't know if I'll be happy about putting my own chickens in the pot but they better watch out if I have a midnight munchies. I've also had a kitten offered and I should be able to get it after my next course in Lilongwe. So I'm getting organised and should soon be really settled.
Orientation continues but I've only a few days left. After the Lilongwe course I should be able to get on with my job. I tried to use the new Internet cafe last week. The first place in Zomba to have WiFi unfortunately its slower than dial up and I didn't manage to log into my web page. I've also visited Blantyre where they have a couple of good shops that almost fool you into thinking that you are in Europe and you can get ice cream in an almost decent cafe.
Many thanks for all the kind offers of sending things out. I think I'm OK just now. JB has sent several parcels, all containing shoes, but they have not arrived yet. Once I'm properly in post there may be things that I'll need for work. Thanks too for all the comments its great to hear from everyone. Hope Tessa gets on well. Keep in touch.
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