Hey all, I was going to post pictures, but this old fashioned computer I'm on doesn't 'recognize my USB device'. I'll try another internet cafe soon...if I find time.
I've completed training, been sworn in, and been posted at site for about three weeks now. Crazy. Here's what's happened during that time.
First we were sworn in, which was a fun and somewhat emotional experience. We were all formally dressed, and spent our day out on the Embassadors plush lawn area. As we were waiting for the event to start, we were all taking pictures - it felt so much like prom. The speeches began, and some people, including the speaker got all teary-eyed when she was saying how appreciative she was of our service. Then after the officail swearing in came the best part. Food! All sorts of fried appetizers, soda, and cake! We then left the Embassadors house to go to a luncheon at our Country Directors house. So much good food, including macaroni and cheese, roast beef, garden salad, and more cake! Ahh...I'm drooling right now just thinking about it.
We then went back to the college for a few days to get ready to head to site. Amidst all the packing and safety lectures, we managed to find time for a rematch of the Malawi vs USA soccer match. It went better this time - it was 2-2 at half time - but we still got crushed 2-5. They had some rediculously amazing goals though. Like a corner kick that bent in into the opposite top 90 of the goal, and another one where a guy dribbled between 4 defenders, and was sliding to make a shot that just found the smallest window inbetween the keeper and hitting the goal post to go in.
Then the next day, a group of 12 of us played the most intesne game of ultimate ever to occur in Malawi. My team was up 12-9, then it was tied 14-14, and we managed to win 16-14. CLUTCH! The best part was right afterwards, James, the cook, made the best dish in the world: spaghetti and meat balls. Yesssss...
I don't think I recovered very well from the two matches, because the next day I woke up with a headache that persisted all day. I later developed other flu like symptoms - but I didnt have the flu. We went to Lilongwe the next day, so I popped into the health office just to check in with the doc. He thought it was a viral thing, exhastperated by dehydration. So I ended up spending the day on an IV (after which I felt amazing), and staying over night, just so they could monitor me.
I waited all of the next day for a transport going back to the college. I almost missed the only transport, but managed to get back to the college around dinner time, sadly after half of the training group had already been driven to site.
We were posted to site the next day. We loaded a small, SUV-like transport with three PCV's worth of stuff crammed in, and on top of the car. We spent all day traveling and unloading at each persons site. The host villages were very welcoming to the volunteers, and helped unload the car.
After being posted, I've spent 3 weeks at site. I've been spending my doing house chores and chatting with the village. I get to do fun things like carry buckets of water on my head from the borehole, chop wood, and spend forever cooking over a fire stove. Sometimes I think the ramen packaging is taunting me when it says "cooks in 3 minutes".
Cooking probably takes up most of my time just because I'm not that good at it yet. Sometimes it takes one match to like the fire, and sometimes it takes one box of matches. Last night it took me 2 hours to cook pasta. A bit frustrating, but that was the best pasta ever...it tasted like victory.
It hasn't been all play and no work. Integrating into the community in itself is a crucial and important task. So far it has helped me to find projects, make relevant contacts, and identify avenues of accomplishing projects, and identify what the community wants.
I am in contact with the Forestry Office in my area, I may be teaching at one of the Seconday Schools (high schools) here, made contacts with a couple NGO's and CBO's in the area, and am involved in starting up a young womens group - talking to them about staying in school or watever. Not to mention the 2 womens groups I have inhereted from my preceeding volunteer, and the garden and tree nursery I've started in my backyard, and the mud stove I've built at a nearby volunteers house. I've been busy, don't worry mom.
During my second week at site, I was invited to a nearby house that was hosting a womens group called the Flame Writers. They are a group of women, mostly from the states, who have come to tour Malawi, inspiring young girls' creative expression. After spending some time with them, I was motivated to lead some writing groups that they might have inspired at the local secondary school.
I'm sure I'll fall into other projects too. I'm here in Mzuzu for an HIV/AIDS training. And the other day, a young man stopped by my house while I was cooking, asking me if I had condoms. I was like "um...what?". Then I remembered reading in the previous volunteers report, and how she used to distribute condoms and educate the community about family planning and safe sex.
Hope you all are doing well. Have the Sharks won the Stanley Cup yet? Good luck with the upcoming club season!! I will be there...in spirit...like a Jedi. I'm sure my Jedi spirit can get some phantom D's for you guys. Keep me on the stat sheet!
