So, a day late we arrived in Nsanje on Sunday (PS I'm in an internet cafe where the space bar is a bit sticky so forgive all my typos!). Over our 4 days in Blantyre we managed to see the Malawian version of Jedward (seriously they were hilarious), a Malawian engagement party and a lot of markets and sun but Blantyre was positively cold compared to the weather down here. It's so so hot, I'm justglad we have electricity so that our fan works although there was a powercut last night. We had candles but it was absolutely sweltering. We're getting used to it though and hopefully soon it will just be normal.
We are in a gorgeous little house,very basic and primitive but it's ours! We had a mouse (whom I named Morris- i know, how African) which Nancy wasn't a massive fan of but I thought it was amusing and he was gone by the morning. We don't have running water but it's not so bad, the electricity is enough and pumping water will mean I plan to actually develop some upper body strength by the time I come back!!!
We started working on our timetable for the next week this morning and it has made me soexcited about what is to come and genuinely how we will be able to make a difference here. All the people here are so hospitable and smiley even if today a baby was scared of us because we're white.
It's strange, it didn't occur to me that it might phase me to stick out like that but it has been very strange to walk everywhere and turn heads no matter what you're wearing or how unobtrusive you're being. I'm just very, very thankful to have such wonderful hosts, and of course Nancy who has been invaluable, especially over the past2 days where I have been rather ill (not fun) but I feel a million times better now so all is well.
Our Chichewa is coming along nicely although it is still a struggle to understand people which can be quite frustrating, especially when it's so obvious that they're discussing you!! Lots of people we're working with speak english if very very quietly! Sometimes I fear I'm being too loud but that's never stopped me in the past!
I don't have much more time online so I'll leave you with that. Look forward to more blogging!
Lots of love to you all,
Tionana
Chloe xxxx
Hey cuz-let! You are sounding awesome as ever and settling in so well with such a PMA about the hiccups!
ReplyDeleteTionana is going to be my new fave word and I'm going to sign off with it to most people now, then scornfully ridicule them when they don't know that it's Malawian. Mwahah.
I guffawed aloud at work reading about Henry's farewell speech in your previous blog (I want a sandwich) (and actually, it's made me really want a sandwich) - and love the sticky spacebar story. My Peru internet cafes involved a lot of stickiness and a lot of letters being in TOTALLY the wrong places, so I used accents all over the place in my English emails. How posh.
Biggest love and good luck with the blending in- it didn't really ever happen for me in Cusco but I bet you'll manage it somehow adn they'll love you whatever they think you look like!
Tionana, innit.
Biggest hugs
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Holly