All Packed Up And Ready To Go

Three days to go until I fly home. Sometimes I think I have been here for years other times it feels like I have just arrived. The College gave me a lovely tea party and traditional gifts. I am going to friends for a farewell diner to night, more Malawian cocktails, and Harry keeps hiding in my case. Out of the 14 of us who arrived together, 3 went home early, 4 of us are leaving as planned and 7 are extending their placements. The last few weeks have been busy saying goodbye to people, giving away my belongings and packing up. One of my colleagues is moving into my house so she is happy to keep some of my belongings and inherit the chickens.

Luckily I will miss the elections, all the volunteers have been advised not to go out, even to work, around election time, I would see that as a holiday opportunity. There have been a lot of political meetings and a little unrest. There has also been a lot more crime, some of it very frightening. So its good to go before anything else happens.

Even the last few days here have continued to challenge me in some way or another. The bat with the 30 centimeter wingspan in my bedroom during the night was one challenge I could have done without. I also had my power cut this week for non payment of bills. I had thought that I had paid my bills but I was told I had false receipts. Some things are much simpler at home but there are lots of things I'll miss, the relaxed attitude, the students, some colleagues, fellow volunteers, the holidays, the African skies, the beautiful country, the lake and much much more. However, there is so much more to look forward to at home and I'm more than ready to return. First stop will be a shoe shop then M&S for wild Atlantic salmon and Madagascar prawns, home to the cats and a long awaited for bath, oh and perhaps a bottle of champagne!