life at 9 months in

So its been awhile, sorry for all of you loyal followers. Like everyone out their I got busy and posting on my blog wasn't a priority. Okay so last I wrote I was off to the game count, which I helped out at one of the camps with logistics and saw ANIMALS! All and all a good time if you are on facebook you saw the pictures if not ask and I can send to you or maybe someone else can help you out since my internet is slow and for some reason will not load pictures on the blog. But at least I have internet access on a regular basis, can't complain.

Okay since I last wrote Obama has been reelected! People here are pretty happy about it they see him as an African since is father was from Kenya and he is "friends" with the former presidents brother, Peter Mutharika who will most likely be running for office in 2014. Not sure how close of friends they actually are but people always mention it to me. Malawians just love Obama, they have Obama t-shirts, chechenjes, candy, umbrellas, and even an Obama roll (just a malawian scone with sugar on top). So after he won people here were excited, it was interesting to talk American politics with some of my Malawian friends. Okay enough about politics I know not everyone agrees on these issues so I will keep it short.

Okay so Halloween and Thanksgiving have passed since I last wrote. Other volunteers got together for halloween in Blantyre but I didn't got not a holiday that means all that much to me. I think the last few I have been working or haven't done much even while living in the states. Thanksgiving on the other had is my favorite holiday because in American it spans religion and politics and is just a day to be thankful and eat. So that is what I did, A few of my friends and I cooked a thanksgiving meal for about 30 people at the golf club in town. Some people from the UK, Canada, Malawi, Amsterdam, and America. We had chicken instead of turkey but had mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, homemade rolls, pumpkin pie and apple pie. People seemed to enjoy the food and the atmoshpere all and all a good time.

I have had a few intestinal bacteria infections which I have just taken antibiotics for a few days and then started feeling better. One time was during some training on teaching HIV/Aids education and gender empowerment. A bunch of people at the training got sick, something in the food or water made us all sick. The training was just okay got a few new resources but other then that was ready to get home and feel better. Next week I am going to training on natural medicine gardens and how to implement them in our communities I hope it is helpful.

My fence is complete and I have cleaned up my yard some and made one bed and planted some seedlings. Some have germinated while others have not done so well. I am excited to be able to produce some of my own veggies. It is now mango season so I am having my fill of mango's which is awesome but I have to be careful cause when I eat too many I get a rash on my face from them. They are in the same family as poison ivy and the skins have an allergen in them that I guess I am allergic to slightly.

I set up a training with the bee keeping group I am working with so they could know how to manage their colonies. I was at training when they were being trained but apparently it went well. They guy putting on the training let me know that they were motivated and enthusiastic, so that is good. I acquired some tree seedlings and tubes to plant the trees in so a community tree nursery has been established they have about 5,000 tree seedlings. They would have about 6,000 but the group village headman decided he should have a 1,000. I guess you get the good with the bad. I am not going to change a world of corruption but I can do my best to avoid and make sure the community are getting what they need. On another note I gave tree seeds and tubes to the HIV/Aids support group and they are also starting a tree nursery and working very hard to make it happen. I wanted someone from that group to come with me to this natural medicine training I am going to but it is mostly women and they said that they could not leave for a week. So my counterpart and friend Andrew is coming with me and then we will come back and do a training day with the support group and the women's group that we work with. So it will be nice to go with someone I am already used to working with but was hoping to give a women a chance to do something outside the village but I guess the life they live just makes it impossible. I have also met with an organization that is going to help me implement a management plan for the forest here at Tea Research Foundation.  All and all good things are happening just at a pretty slow pace but I enjoy the slow pace most of the time except when I am in a hurry :)

I am looking forward to the Holidays here I know I will miss my family and friends and life of luxury at times but I am planning on going up to the lake to visit with friends so it should be nice. Very simple but relaxing and enjoyable just what I want in life. Well I don't think I will get another post up before the holidays seeing that tomorrow is December first, oh wow how time flies. I hope everyone has a great holiday and enjoys time with friends and family. Just know I think of everyone often.
Lots of Love,
Essie/Esther

Training and a visit to the lake

I have been away from home for a little over 3 weeks and wow did I miss it. I knew I would but not this much. I came back and everyone was so happy to see me even the things that would usually get to me made me smile. When I returned home a fence was being built around my house and it is still in the process of getting done. Once it is complete I will be able to start my garden and lay around in my yard and not be stared at. So I am pretty excited about that.

At last I got to see the lake that most people talk about when discussing Malawi. It was very pretty and really hot. I stayed with my friend who lives by the lake it was really nice. We went swimming and laid out by the lake away from the village so we wouldn't be bothered. We kayaked to lizard island and saw cichild fish which was really cool. I have to say thank you to Genna for being patient with me because I was fearful of tipping my kayak. We made it back with no tips, mostly dry, and some awesome sunburn lines. It was also great to see what kind of work she was doing. She is health volunteer so her work is much different then mine plus she loves kids also much different then me. As volunteers we are often told how different everyone service is going to be but I don't think I really realized that until I saw a volunteer's site and day to day life that started the same time as I did. The experience was eye opening and a lot of fun it was good to bounce ideas and problems off another volunteer.

After the lake I went to In service Training also known as IST. The first day we went to the Nordin's former Peace Corps volunteers who have been living in Malawi for 15 years. We went to check out their permagardening that they have going on at their house. The whole set up they have is really cool. Then we headed to Dedza where our counterparts met us there. The college of Forestry in Dedza was our first taste of Malawi so it has this comfort factor to a lot of volunteers. We had a lot of good technical training and some fun exercises in trusting our counterparts and them trusting us. On Saturday our counterparts left and we went to a cultural center. It had some really interesting stuff in the center and a really cool and reasonable gift shop. Then on Sunday we went back to see our home stay families. Mine was really excited to see me and I got nervous and couldn't speak much Chichewa plus I am not that good. So it was still kind of awkward. I gave them some gifts and they gave me a bag of potatoes. They now have a pig and a TV that they run off a car battery so doing well I guess. The kids had gotten bigger and had new clothes so that was nice to see. In the afternoon on Sunday all the Health volunteers came so it was great to see them all. We had a week of training together on administrative stuff so not super interesting.

The following Saturday all the Env. volunteers left most of us went up to Lilongwe to hangout for a day to get some stuff done at the office. I stayed around to go to the dentist and do somethings at the office. We went one night and saw The Black Missionaries a Malawian Reggae band, it was a good time. On Monday I went to the dentist and my long term plan is to get two root canals in my front two teeth so that should be interesting. I will most likely have to go to South Africa to get that done. My Ipod is MIA I am hoping it is at the office otherwise I think I have insurance on it and can get another one I hope. An Ipod makes traveling here so much more relaxing so it is a must have.

All in all a good trip but glad to be back home and hit the ground running on projects. I am going next week to liwonde national park to help out with a game count so hoping to see some animals then.
Hope everyone is doing well.
Essie

A cat who thinks we are friends and a friend who is really a friend

Okay so I have a cat friend well it thinks we are friends but I have different thoughts on that. This grey cat sneaks into my backyard area threw the drain area where I dump my water a pretty small hole that this cat manages to enter. It eats from my compost pile and has now decided it wants to be in my house. I leave my back door open when I am home and it has just started walking in like no big deal I chase it out but it always seems to come back. I guess because I don't hit it or throw things at like most Malawian would do it seems to take that as oh I like it. Well it is a nice looking cat but I am just not a cat person or looking for a pet while in Malawi. So hopefully we can come to an understanding at some point.

My friend and village counterpart Andrew has been helping me out a lot as of lately. So my well project got prefunded so I got the money even though not enough has been donated yet. So check it out if you haven't yet. Andrew and I went to get the supplies on Wednesday and early Thursday morning I get a knock on my door. It is Andrew and the builder they want to get supplies so he can get to work. The builder also came by today for more supplies so he is working fast I am very happy and surprised. Last week I went to meeting with this group called BRIDGE they work with communities on HIV/Aids testing and getting out information about the issues. It was good I think I probably only understood a third of it. On the way home Andrew and I took a shortcut home that I have never taken and probably wouldn't have had I known that there were not 1 but 2 ridiculous bridges to cross. If you don't know already I have a fear of sketchy looking bridges completely rational I might add. So the first one I am pretty nervous that it can even hold my weight so I keep asking Andrew if he thinks it will hold me and I guess he thinks I say hold me because he holds my hand while we cross. All the while the women washing their clothes and getting water in the stream laughed and talked about me. The second one not as bad plus I saw a man with a bike and heavy load cross before us. I made it home eventually and I am completely grateful for Andrew in so many ways from helping be get stuff done to holding my had to cross a bridge.

Did I mention I met Hilary Clinton? Okay so when I say met she came to the ambassador’s house gave a short speech on how she is hopeful about the future of Malawi and she sees it going good places. As well as proud of the work that is occurring now. Then she shook a bunch of people’s hands mine being one of them. That is me meeting Hilary Clinton.

My electricity has been out for the last few days a transformer blew is what is said the problem. Luckily they run a generator so the office can still run but not to the houses. So I have been cooking on a charcoal stove called a mbaula not too bad I am pretty good at lighting it and I prepare the food I am going to cook while it gets going.

Things are going well I have talked to friends and family on skype a few times. I have also received letters and packages so feeling loved and not missing home. Have had a cold and bit of a stomach problem this last week but I seem to be feeling better. So my health is good.

Well until next time.

Wells

Hey all I am working on a project repairing wells in the village. The explanation of the project and if you would like to donate is located here: http://appropriateprojects.com/node/1257 Thanks for all the love and support. I am doing well and trying to stay busy.

Post Malawi Birthday, Age: 29

Okay so I didn't post as soon as I promised but well I have been busy I guess well busy in Malawi standards. My birthday was nice nothing too crazy just the way I like it. There was a race up the Mountain that weekend so was able to visit with a few volunteers so that was nice. My one friend said she wasn't coming then surprised me so that was nice to see her.  I made myself a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and yes I ate the whole thing over a course of a few days and was glad when it was finished. I got an awesome drunk call from Michigan so it was 9 am here so it was 1am there so that was entertaining and fun to hear every one's voice so thanks to all I talked to it made me smile and laugh some.

I have applied to a appropriate projects to help get some funding to repair some of the wells in the village. I have to wait 3 weeks to hear back they are back logged but when I find out what is going on people will be able to donate money to help complete the project. I will let you all know when that occurs. I have taken some pictures and talked to Andrew about what needs to be done to make these wells more functional. We will see what happens.

I went hiking on Mt. Mulanje this weekend I crossed some shady looking bridges and pipes that carry water which make me super anxious ( I am afraid of heights and shady bridges. Completely logical but the fear overcomes me and I often can't breath or cross the bridge without freaking out.) but I did it and only needed a little help. I also hung out with some other Americans so that was nice but I am glad to have a pretty low key week. Friday is World Environment Day so events are occurring here at TRF which should be fun and interesting. It has been cool and overcast the last few days I am going to try to enjoy the cool weather because in few months when it is hot season I will be wishing for 70 degree days.

My bananas finally ripened so I have been eating a lot of bananas for free I have been enjoying them with peanut butter and honey and just by themselves as well. I am eating what I think will be the last avocados of the season so I  am enjoying those. The monkeys have been leaving me alone guess I showed them whose boss :) I better be careful what I say they could be reading this or maybe karma will bite me in the ass.

I will try to post pictures sometime soon but does take some time. I am getting ready for training in the early part of Sept. I am excited to see all the other volunteers who I started with and see how they are doing. As well as obtain some more knowledge and skills. I am really trying to learn the language but I am struggling with it but it will come in due time. All I can do is keep trying to learn something new everyday. Other than that things are going well I am enjoying myself and learning some new things along the way. Hope this finds all well.

This one is for you Colin!

Okay so I talked to Vince on Skype the other day it was nice to chat with him haven't talked to him since being here in Malawi. He informs me that Colin doesn’t think I post enough on my blog and he often checks it daily to see if I post something and then is disappointed that I didn't post something new and exciting. Well this post is for you! I guess I just think that a lot of what I say is kind of boring so I don't want people to get bored so I post less and hopefully more interesting things well maybe not I guess you will have to judge.

This weekend was pretty relaxing I cleaned up my house and tried to do some work in my backyard area. Weeding it and digging up some bricks to make a pathway to the toilet so I don't trip or stub my toes on the bricks that are in the way to the toilet.

I went to a meeting on Friday about climate change (people here believe it is real why can't Americans). The meeting was supposed to start at 9 I showed up right at 9 and wonder around and then decide to call Andrew and ask him if I am in the right place. He informs me I should go to the agriculture office so not far from where I was so I head over. I say hello to the group sitting outside and a young women invites me to sit down inside. It is a group of young adults sitting inside listening to American pop music on one of their phones and they all sing along. It was entertaining. Then Andrew shows up around 9:30 so we go outside and look at some composting and garden projects/examples they are doing at the agriculture office. We wait till about 10:15 and then are informed the people that were going to lead the meeting are not coming and it is rescheduled. Okay so now I have a little more time in town. But I won't get the free ride I was hoping for. I get some shopping done, head to the bank and the post office and get some lunch. While eating lunch alone a large group of people come in with name tags on. I continue to eat and watch this group file in. Then a woman comes and sits with me I think oh she must want the chair to move to another table. No she sits in, I think oh must not be any other tables open, I look around there are. She says hi I am Christi and you look lonely can I sit with you and keep you company. I said yes and we had a nice lunch and chatted. I have been told several times that I am lonely because I live alone or go a lot of places alone. It is funny that in America that is just life but here it is so uncommon to do so much alone. Just to let you know I am not lonely. I enjoy alone time but I also enjoy the company of others as well and I am getting both here.

My neighbor's birthday was on Saturday she told me she was going to have a party but I didn't see anyone go over there or hear a lot of noise coming from their house so I went over in the early evening to say happy birthday and give her a card I wrote some stuff in Chichewa which I was pretty proud of but may have not made any sense. She was very happy I came over and said her pocket book was empty so they would have to wait on the party. I felt bad I would have made her a cake or something had I known that but she seemed pretty happy with the card so maybe next year I will make her a cake.

So American Independence day is July 4th and Malawi's Republic day is July 6th crazy that they are so close. July must be the month to be free! I am meeting up with some other volunteers for America's 4th but I have no plans for Malawi's Republic day. I asked my tutor what she does and she said thanks god she is alive and that is it. While American's just like the excuse to party and be off work.

I have picked bananas off one of my many banana trees. You pick them in a bunch I probably have about 30 or 40 bananas waiting to get ripe at my house. I put one bunch in a bag to hopefully quicken the process. Though bananas are cheap and I can buy pretty much where ever. I want to try the bananas from the trees at my house.

Last week I went to a meeting Os and I were showing women how to use an oil press. (Well mostly Os) So they can make peanut oil and sell and use. Peanuts are pretty reasonable while oil in general is pretty expensive. The women were very excited about the oil they quickly wanted to try to cook something with it so the cooked an egg quickly and let everyone try, it was good. They also all started singing out of excitement that they indeed did make oil.

I now have a radio that BBC worldview now comes in on. I had to look up the exact station and go around my house and find out where it works best. In my kitchen window on an angle with the antenna touching the metal frame. The radio is not powered by electricity it is powered by solar and a hand crank so I am working on a system that allows me to listen to it longer then an hour. But I do feel informed on world news.

Well I think that is all I have to say that is somewhat interesting. I will try to post more often I don't want to disappoint anyone especially you Colin! haha!

I have a new address if you haven't seen on facebook or in the margine on the blog it is as follows:
Tea Research Foundation of Central Africa
C/O: Esther Baumann
P.O. Box 51
Mulanje Malawi

A few things I have done

Okay so I will keep it short I think most of my post have been incredibly long and I am sure those of you with ADD don't even get to the end :)

So this past week I cooked lunch for my group village headman (basically the chief of the area he has other chiefs under him, so a pretty big deal)and Andrew. I made beans, rice, tortillas, and guacamole well actually Os made the guac. They both said they liked it. It is a pretty big deal not to serve nsima here but I did it!

I hiked up on Mt. Mulanje it was so amazing and beautiful I wish the pictures I put up did it justice.

Bought some beer for my house, now its a home :)

Went to the market in the rain even though the Malawians said I shouldn't go and even offered to have people go for me. I was very cold after the fact because i kept my wet clothes on so that they would dry. Had some soup and changed clothes and warmed right up. Who would have thought I would be cold in Africa, not me that's for sure!

Well my Peace Corps boss is coming tomorrow and another volunteer is coming to visit on Saturday so that will be nice to have some visitors.

All is well and I am enjoying life here.
Lots of Love
Essie/Esther

Expect Problems and eat them for breakfast~Alfred A Montapert

Okay so I was supposed to go into Blantyre this weekend, the big city but ended up getting sick I was up most of friday night getting sick and then just didn't feel good on Saturday. I think it was something I ate because by saturday night I was feeling better. A friend here said maybe it could be the pesticides they put on the greens that I ate raw. Most people here eat them cooked but hey I want a crisp salad sometimes so a risk I am willing to endure. I ate the same thing a few days before and was fine.

Then on Sunday I went to the funeral of a 3 yr old boy he was the son of a man I work with. I do not know the man well I just say hello and that is it. So i never met the little boy but went to pay my respects to the family and both my neighbors went as well so I walked there with them and another women. The family is 7th day Adventists I do not know much about that religion. In terms of funeral's in Malawi the men and women are separate. All the women were in the house or close to the house while the men sat farther away. The women's choir group for the church were in uniforms and sat in the house and sang. The women I went with were part of this group so of course I went it too. I tried to just sit outside with other women but my they wouldn't let me. Needless to say it was sad and hard to watch a mother loose her child so young. They are not sure what he died of. The people were very nice to me there and they asked to stay and eat with them of course we did. I shared a plate with the two other women while other women watched me eat nsima I guess they thought I wouldn't eat it or wouldn't know how. But boy did I show them I know how to eat nsima. Then we walked home.

Last week I met with an HIV/AIDS support group. I was confused by this title do they support others with HIV/AIDS or each other. I found out that the people I met have come out and said they have HIV/AIDS and support each other. A very big deal here not many people talk openly or at all about HIV/AIDS. They have asked for a lot of help and I am hoping that I can help them help themselves. They are great people and made me laugh when I was there. They want to get pigs and start a pig farm. So they brought a stuffed animal pig and showed it to me and made an oinking noise it was quite funny. They also gave me this drink made with millet the name escapes me but well it was not for me. So I gave what i didn't want to my neighbors.

Last week I also went to a distribution of mosquito nets with the group village head man (basically the chief) and Andrew he is the current volunteers counter part but he is very nice to me and speaks english well so he helps me along the way. They asked me to go to this distribution meeting they said come at 7 I said well I have to go into work I can be there at 8 so I got caught up at work doing a few things so I didn't actually get there till 830 so I thought it will be almost over so I go to the school get surrounded by kids I ask them where it is happening no one knows a thing. I go to call Andrew but then they see me and call me over. We go sit at someones house then move the benches under a tree then we wait till about 10 then the truck drives by so people start moving. (During all this  remind my self that you are on Malawi time so don't stress that they wanted you here at 7 and things didn't start till 10 )So we do too we move to the new location and we get situated someone has to bring chairs so certain people don't have to sit on the ground me being one of them though i try to insist that I stand or sit on the ground but no that is not going to happen. So now a bunch of people have to talk then they introduce me and want me to say something in chichewa. Okay so there are about 200 people there and you want me to talk in a foreign language uh well I said hi and my name. I am too shy or scared or both to say anymore. I hate public speaking or being the center of attention. Well I guess I should get over that quick :) Needless to say they call people's names who are registered at the health clinic. It takes awhile but some peoples names aren't called they are mad and there are few nets left. 35 people still want nets but only 14 are left. Needless to say things got pretty heated I did not like it. And to think they tried to give me one of the nets at the beginning I am glad I didn't take otherwise I would have felt so guilty. Anyways I don't get home till about 3 it was a long day. But glad I went it was interesting to see how the misquote nets are distributed.

Now I feel like I am rambling but I should try to tell one fun or stupid story I guess you make the call.
So I am making some chippies (basically fries) and I am putting them in the hot oil with my left hand I am not sure why but then one slips and flys into the hot oil and splashes and burns me. I am like shit this hurts but i keep putting the rest of the potatoes in and then go wash off the oil and try to cool it down. But without ice it just seems to keep on burning. I then decide i better go back in because they may be burning by now. I go and get them out and every time my left had gets close to the heat I am like ugh this hurts. Well now I have quite the blister on the same hand that has just recovered from a cut i got while try to eat sugar cane and not break my teeth but cut my hand instead. So well I am learning from my mistakes but these mistakes hurt :)

Things are going well I am learning something new everyday and enjoying life here.

Hope this is interesting and you all enjoy!
Take care all
Essie/Esther

Living, Learning, and Growing

Hello All

Okay so the last two times I posted on here I did not attach a link on Facebook my mom was saying that she liked that so she knew when I posted. My mom told me that Aunt Patti was saying she didn't know when I was posting so she didn't know when to check. So I guess I will continue to post a link on facebook when I post on here. If it is too much just let me know. I don't want to be consuming all of your virtual time :)

Anyways things are going well I have been keeping busy. I have been going to meetings and figuring out that I should plan nothing because things can change in a minute. Which is okay because it means that I am staying busy. Though when I am planning on going to the market to buy fruits and vegetables that I needed I got a little frustrated. But it’s a learning experience I just know if I want to make sure I go to the market I should go before I go into work and things change. I talked to my mom that day on skype and then headed to the little area to get some tomatoes, eggs, and bread to hold me over till I could get into town to get some more vegetables. On my way I saw a few people that I know and chatted which was nice then I was cleaning up my yard a papaya tree rotted out and fell over in my yard so the monkeys were flocking to my house not what I want. One was sitting on my window sill and just watching me until i noticed and scared him away. They were also on my back brick fence eating and watching me until I sacred them away. Anyway needless to say I found out that they are harmless to people from the locals they just want food for the most part. I also saw two having sex in the tree in front of my house haha. Later that day my neighbor gave me this outdoor broom that I could have and then I chased the kids around with it they thought it was so much fun. So needless to say I was quickly reminded that though I may have frustrations along the way there are great people here that are worth it.

I have a tutor that is helping me learn Chichewa which is going slowly but that is to be expected. So many people speak english here it is not a problem but to really help the poorest people I will need to learn it because they are the ones that have not had the opportunity to go to school and learn English. But when I go to the bank and the post office they all speak english to me which is nice kind of but also not helping me learn I try to great them in Chichewa but they often just start talking to me in English because they know that is easier for me. So it is just a matter of me forcing myself to chat to more people in Chichewa. It will come eventually.

Last week I did some local traveling with TRF(Tea Research Foundation) to meet with smallholder tea farmers. It was nice to see other villages and all the people dedicated to growing tea. I of course got introduced I am struggling with being the "center of attention" at times. I try to just blend in but well that just doesn't work :) I am sure people will in a sense get used to seeing me around and know who I am but until then. Some guy asked if I worked for BBC news I thought that was funny I think he was trying to make a joke with getting to know what I was doing at the meeting.

Oh I figured out that I need to close my bathroom door at night otherwise a bat likes to make it's home in there. I went in at night didn't really look up even though I had suspected a bat or some odd rodent to be going in there. Then i was sitting on the toilet felt something hit me and looked up and saw that a bat had just pooped on me. I will be honest I did freak out and ran out and finished peeing outside. I think because I was so surprised. But since then I have been closing the door and no bat poop and no sightings. So learning some basic life skills along the way :)

Things are going well and just trying to figure out some of the things that will make my house more like a home for the next two years. I have been reading a lot so that has been nice. I have already finished 6 books since being here.

Well I hope all are doing well and Everyone has a great Memorial Day Weekend.

Money Issues In Malawi

Okay this was an email from the Director of Mangement and Operations for Peace Corps Malawi in case anyone is intrested in whay is going on with the issues here. This affects me but it will all be okay as he says. Just thought I would share read if you want or don't :)
This is a quick note on the decision of the Malawi government to permit the Kwacha value to “float”.  The immediate impact has been a new Rate of Exchange closer to that offered by the informal markets.

Why a currency devaluation?
            Devaluation is usually undertaken to correct a deficit in the balance of payments. In the case of Malawi this is more imports then exports.  The theory is that weakening the value of a currency would be good for the economy-since a weaker currency will boost production, which in turn will lift employment and all this will set in motion economic growth and keep the economy going.
            The Kwacha is now a floating currency.   Its rate of exchange will be set by the market, and not as previously, set by the government.  This had the effect of causing the black market to flourish and grow and have undue influence on the economy.  The black market will not go away (there is always a black market – it’s one of the things that makes life interesting) but the official market should be more current and reflect reality causing the black market to diminish.

What are the implications?
            Devaluation makes a country's exports relatively less expensive for foreigners and it makes foreign products relatively more expensive for domestic consumers, discouraging imports. As a result, this may help to reduce a country's trade deficit.  Also, increase revenue collection and savings, and bring illegal foreign exchange (black) markets into official channels.

For you as a volunteer
            You may experience large price fluctuations, especially for imported goods.  This may vary depending on your location.  In the short term, you will see price gouging and speculation.  Over time this will settle down and prices will find their natural level.  If you have dollars you can get more kwacha for them in the banking system(~250 per USD today).  Prices may vary. 

Some suggestions:
·        Make only necessary purchases.
·        Be patient, if you don’t need it wait until things settle down.
·        Sellers will capitalize on fear and uncertainty.
·        Avoid imported goods, if possible
·        Do the opposite of the crowd.  If everyone is buying – sell; if everyone is panicking – be calm.
                For any economist, financiers, or development majors out there, this is a great learning opportunity.  You are experiencing on the ground the impact of an internationally imposed get well plan.  This could become quite useful for you when you become the decision-makers.  For the rest of us, it’s an education in group psychology, sound money management, and the impact of economic policy.  No more theory, just reality.

                Tough times are here.  I trust your resiliency, flexibility, and inventiveness to cope.  I also have confidence in your determination to stay focused on why we all came here.

Wish list of items to be sent

Okay so people have been asking me what they can send me so here is a list of random stuff that would make my day. By no means feel that you have to send all of these items or anything at all but people have been asking so I want to answer them.

Tolietries and such

-hand sanitizer

-individual wet wipes

-face lotion with spf 30 in it

-any lotion with aloe in in it( yes I have gotten sunburned already)

-Shampoo and Condtioner( expensive and not really any choices)

-Body soap or Body wash (a girl has to stay clean, even me)

-Face Soap something gentel like cetiphal

-face wipes
-hair ties
-Contact lens solution

Food/Snacks

-Jerky of any kind
-Canned Meat or the like

-anything with dark chocolate or really any candy you think I would like.

-energy/granola bars I am not picky

-Any sauce or seasoning packet ie. taco seasoning, gravy mixes, pesto mix etc.

-individual packets of things like ketchup, mustard, soysauce, hot sauce whatever sounds good.

-any cheese item the does not need refidgeration ie velveta or kraft parmasan.
-any spices or spice mixes

-Basically use your imagination anything that you think I would like I probably will.

-sugar free gum any flavor but cinnamon
-Coffee already ground

-Drink mixes anything from gatorade to hot chocolate.

Random Stuff

-Any books, not crazy about sifi but if its good I will check it out.

- I would like to learn to knit so a book and the tools needed I know very little about it. Or any other hobby you think I should learn while here.

-any music on cd or flash drive. or itunes credit I think i can download stuff from itunes it just takes awhile.

-Magazines/Newspapers anything that seems intresting

-notebooks/journals
-crossword puzzle books

-letters of course love to hear about what you all are doing :)

-Seeds of any kind that you think will do well here I am going to be starting a garden soon.

So the cheapest/best way I have heard about sending is a flat rate box or padded envelop from the post office. Any other carrier I will have to pay a duty tax on so not that great. Also put things that may leak or spill out in a zip lock back the boxes tend to be beat up upon arrival. Feel free to add anything you want that you think I may enjoy. Having the great support of family and friends means a lot to me so thank you.

At my home for the next 2 years!

Hello all I am now at my site for good. I have my house and all seems to be in order a few things that were wrong at first have since been worked out. So it is true it"Everything will be all right!" our language facilitator often quoted that from Bob Marley so funny that he transcends so many cultures. Anyways I have posted some pictures on Facebook for some reason they were taking forever to download on to my blog then when they finally did they were either huge or small. So needles to say facebook worked better even on the second try after the power went out. With Malawi luxuries come frustration. But at least I have amenities like electricity available when it is working.

My site mate who lives 5 min from me left to go to Lilongwe the day after I got here so I am really on my own but that is good for me since he is leaving in Sept. So I got here on Friday late in the evening and he had dinner made for me at his house so I just stayed there. On the way to his house we stopped by this South African guys who is doing contract work here and had a Carlsburg (Malawi Beer) the slogan they have is comical "Probably the best beer in the World" not sure that is true but hey its beer. Beggars can't be choosers. So I have been living pretty well to say the least in case anyone was worried :)
Over the weekend I just tried to get my house cleaned and organized still have some work to do. I did some much needed laundry and relaxed and read some. The market is not till Wednesday so I don't have many vegetables but I have a huge bag of potatoes that my host family gave me. So I have been eating those with some avocados. I also have bread peanut butter honey and banana sandwiches often which are very tasty. I have some passion fruit and tangerines that people have given me which is a nice treat.

Today I was chatting with the technical guy at Tea Research and he asked me how old I was I said 28 he seemed surprised I then asked him why was he so surprised he said he thought I was older because I was fat. In the states that would offended me but here I just laugh it off because here they consider it a compliment to be fat it means you are rich. I am not rich but comparatively I have been given more opportunities then most of the people here. Anyways thought I would share that funny encounter. I just set up to have a language tutor 3 days a week to help me get better with my Chechewa. Hopefully she is patient with me I am not very good but slowly but surely it will come along but many people speak english so I can get by for awhile though it makes me have to force myself to really use my Chechewa.

Well I will now have internet when we have electricity and when I get into the office here so I will try to update more but over all things are going well. Our swearing in ceremony was nice we had it at the ambassadors house she is a women which was nice to see. She is also very nice. As my mom said there were the senators there but they left in the middle they had a busy schedule. They chatted with us briefly before the ceremony with their wives. We had a nice lunch and cake and all the soda you could drink I had 2 cokes and was on a sugar/caffeine high.

Okay so to get in contact with me you can phone at 888662326 or 991095154 you type 265 before the 888 number has better coverage near me but the 991 has better rates for me to text in case you were curious why I had two. My address is as my mom put previously. Of course email and facebook work too.
Anyways love you all
Take Care Essie/Esther

I made it to Malawi if you haven't heard yet

Hey everyone I made it to Malawi I have been in training for this whole time I have 2 more weeks left. Right now I am at the place where I will be living for the next 2 years a town called Mimosa in the mulanje district I can see Mulanje Mountain amazing. I am going to be working with a place called the Tea Research Foundation it seems interesting it also has Internet at the office so that will be nice. My house is owned by them so also very nice for Malawi, it has electricity and a water tap outside of it. I am loving it here having a blast and enjoying the people and beautiful scenery. My address will be changing soon but still would enjoy a card or to hear about any new stuff going on with anyone. If you have not heard the president here has died and there is a 30 day morning period. which limited some of the things we could do but understandable it is a unique time. Now there is a female president here, kind of sad that Malawi can have a female president or VP before the US. But maybe someday. Anyways I have felt very safe here and really been enjoying myself. I will write more as I can but this is just a quick update I am loving it here and think the next 2 years are going to be great.  love all of you. Essie/Esther oh my number here is 991 925 154 i beleve the country code is 265 mom maybe you can add how to call since you did it already. It is pretty expensive for me to call but I can get text and such. but feel free to contact me.

Just a test

Just checking to see how this blogging thing works. I don't leave for Malawi till March 5th but I thought I would set this up while i am still in the states so I can get the website out and available to all my friends and family that want to see pictures or know what I am up to once I reach Malawi. Not sure how often I will be able to update this once there but will do my best to keep up on it. Thanks to all for all the support I have recived so far.