Monday, April 16, 2012
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.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Electricity & water tap outside! This Easter, at your house, I read your letters you sent your Mom (hope that's OK)& you said that might not be the case...Glad all is well. I'm recouperating from right knee replacement surgery. I should be able to climb Mount Kilimangaro by this time next year. Keep us appraised of your work & if you need anything, don't be afraid to ask. Love you. Uncle Tom
ReplyDeleteuuuuuugh. i just typed a comment. it's not here. damn internets. i'll sum it up - so glad and happy and excited to hear from you, take care, love and hugs!
ReplyDelete-tati
ps. i'll write again later :) you'll be checking gmail, right?
and although it's just me.. i'm sure kelton says hi, too. i'm actually going to see her next weekend for her bachelorette party!
ReplyDeleteSo great to hear from you, Essie. Keep the blogs coming. I love to live vicariously through you! Jaime graduates on Saturday and that's about all the exciting news I have. Love you, Aunt Anne
ReplyDeleteSuch good news to hear you are having a great time!!! Cant wait for more blogs and pictures. Miss you tons... xoxo Paige
ReplyDeleteOk so Happy to hear your voice on Saturday & then talking more on Sunday!! Azazing time for you as you get settled in. I can not wait for our visit in 2013!!! We have a year to plan..plan ...plan! :) I pray, as always, for your continued strength, courage, as you adjust to living in Africa. I also pray that you are able to assist the community that you will be working with in whatever way possible. I still can't beleive you were one that said you would welcome roughing it & having no electricity or running water ...and then you get electricity & a water tap outside!! That's Awesome!!
ReplyDeleteLet your Spirit shine bright! Love ya Essie!!! For everyone reading ...to call ...you have to dial 011 265 991 095 154. Not sure of costs yet ..I'll be finding out from AT & T today on my situation from my phone & will share. I do know that she does receive text on this line also. We exchanged text message on Friday & Saturday. Essie, I'm not sure why you put down 925 rather then 095 for second to last set of numbers for you phone but the number that worked for you was the number above. Maybe the number they give you to dial out is different then the one you recieve on or maybe just a typo.
Update: Had great time at Brookfied Zoo for Marie's 34th Birthday. Nolan & Selena were too cute! We went into the African jungle building ..I tried to tell Nolan that his Aunt Essie was really there in Africa. His eyes got kind of big...so maybe he thinks you are living with the gorilla's! HA! Vince met us at Home Run Inn for dinner & proceeded to ask Maria over & over again how old she was! ha ..She said listen buddy...your going to be right in the thirty's with me in just a couple weeks! :) Deb (joan's friend..now my friend), is killing me at the Elmhurst Courts pluss health club! muscles are being built! hopefully they will burn off the you know what! Signed up for Chicago half maration! I just have to do it! One of my personal goals has always been to run a maration when I turn 50 so I guess I better start with the half for now ..Maybe ..just Maybe I'll be healthy & will be able to run a marathon in 2013. I don't get ahead of myself but I'm working towards it! Sure wish I could have run the half marathon across the golden gate bridge with you!! Maybe when your back state side!!! Sorry so long. More letters are on their way! Take Care!
Great to hear from you Essie, and great to hear that not only will you have water and electricity, that we will also get to hear from you on the blog! Will you be able to take a lot of pictures? Like Tom said, if you want us to send you anything... let us know. If its expensive we'll pool our funds together. I'm so glad you're happy (and safe). I will think of you whenever I drink a mimosa or see a gorilla (I'm not that different than Nolan). Looking forward to your next update!
ReplyDeletehey,
ReplyDeleteGlad you made it. Ill send you an email next week or so, have some updated news for you. And make sure and post your new address when you get it. Hope your also taking pictures.
Talk to you later.
Stay Safe,
-jess
Esther!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHi, it is Glen and Marie. We miss you! We received a letter from you today and we were very excited to hear about things. We are looking forward to more letters. We sent you a letter about two weeks ago and have realized we did not put enough postage on it. We have not gotten it back yet though. So, who knows where the letter is or where it will end up. We will send you another this week. We are excited to hear the news about where your first assignment will be. Sounds like it will be an awesome experience. Keep us posted as much as you can. We are living vicariously through you... as you know Illinois is boring and you are not missing anything here!!!!!!!!
Love and miss you,
Marie and Glen
Hi Essie! Last I heard from you was your text saying you were back on a bus (first time traveling alone you said) and going back to the college in Lilengwe for 2 more weeks of language studies, etc. That was 10:55 pm on Wednesday. I haven't heard from you since so I am going to assume they are keeping you busy & since with the group of volunteers probalby hard to make the time for contact. Hope all is going well!! New language can be tough! I sent another card/letter today ...hopefully they will get to you even after your address changes! Love ya ..Hopefully your first 5 hour travel by yourself went well. I can't help thinking about how some have wanted to touch you since your skin is so white. Probably not so white now! ...are you?!
ReplyDeleteSee below ..I checked regarding phone charges. I'm thinking about upgrading now to 4G iphone so that I have skyp on it. The camara is on the side that faces the user so I can see & you can see me..they said it would be way better for skyping. As you know our plan is up in July so they are offering upgrade now & since my phone has issues with some water damage..I'm looking to do it next week but would like to talk / communicate with you first. We'll see how it all goes. Take Care Love ya!
Oh..in case you read ..I know you want news. Bulls lost to Miami Heat last night so their even with them with 2 wins a peice but Rose didn't play - hurt ankle. Blackhawks playoff series has been crazy with the Phoenix Wolfes. ALL four games have gone into over time! Their have been some dirty unprofessional hits everyone is talking about (HOSA got carried off on stretcher the game before last so we are down a good one! The guy didn't even get a penalty for a hit that he left the ice to throw his shoulder in Hosa's face. Crazy. Anyways...we are down 3 -1 in the series ...so not good. They have to win now! I decided I am not going to be wearing my new Blackhawks shirt anymore ..I think it must be bad luck!
"Cubs are going to be a team you don't want to watch every day...until they figure out what they are doing" - Quote from Mike. Vince is going to Cub game today ...it's raining a little now but hopefully will be good for game time!
Love ya Es
~ TAKE CARE ~
Mom
Hi Everyone! Essie's Friends & family!
For your information:
It has been taking 3 1/2 - 4 weeks for my letters to get to Essie & less time for hers to get to us. :)
Also, I am with AT & T for cell service & they let me know that each text ...sent or received is 50 cents. They do offer me a global texting package but not sure if we are going to be doing more skyping or not so I'll decide after the next time I talk or comunicate with Essie about it.
My phone calls to Africa are 10 cents a minute. You would just need to call or contact or service providor to see what your cost is. :) Essie said to buy a international phone card & buy by the minutes is a good way to do it. I will look to do that today. I'll update if I have cost/information.
Take Care Everyone & have a happy Friday & a good weekend!
Judy
Essie- Miss your updates...sounds like you talk to your Mom, though. Looked up languages for Malawi: Chichewa (official) 57.2%, Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (1998 census).
ReplyDeleteWhich one are you speaking? Maybe we should learn it, too.
Good luck in all your endeavors.
Megan will be gratuating in June...so we will be heading to Boston for a week. Saw Vince & everyone at Jaimie's graduation last week. Sara Mitchell was going to see Paul again - flying into Ft. Hood from Iraq - this week (on her facebook). Well, that's about it.
Take care - I brag about you all the time!
Love,
Your Uncle Tom
Well...It's official!! Essie was sworn in today 5/2nd in Malawi as a Peace Corp volunteer!! She said that two US Senators happened to be there in Malawi so they were going to be there at the ceremony. One from Wyoming & one from North Dakota.
ReplyDeleteTom, I see you asked about the language she is learning. It is the national lauguage of Malawi because of where she is going to be. It is like you said, Chichewa.
She will be working with the Tea Foundation in Mimosa, Malawi You can google it & it gives you some information on what it is all about. She is also going to be working with a PhD from South Africa on the rain forest preservation...not sure on all that she mentioned it breifly but she sounded very excited about it.
She has a new address:
Esther Baumann
C/O Oliver Cole
P.O. Box 119
Mulanjae, Malawi
AFRICA
She said the last time they delivered mail ..she didn't get any.... :( .....Guess I better get to writing again!! Send letters if you can. Post office said $1.05 to send a letter so I have a book of $1.05 stamps. :) Take Care all & more to come as I know she said she would be heading to her sight after the swearing in & there she should be able to get on line at some point.
FYI also ...some times I have called & it dosn't go through..so we have to figure that one out. But my text messages to her & the ones I receive are 50 cents so not too bad.
Tiwonana! (means...see you later in Chichewa!)
sounds like ...tionana
Moni(Hello)
ReplyDeleteOkay I have posted some other blogs but realized I have not answered everyones questions.
Uncle Tom, I am learning or trying to learn Chichewa I know some of the basics. Learn it if you want but just don't show me up :) A lot of people speak English here especially in bigger cities and well educated areas or work places. Awesome that Megan is graduating tell her congrats. Also so glad Paul is home but wished I would have been able to see him before I left. Anyways good that he is home safe and sound.
Jess- I want to know this new news! I also for some reason do not have your email or physical address I think I wrote on some paper and left in the states sorry. But email me at essiebaumann@gmail.com( in case you don't have mine) I want to hear all about it.
Thanks to all for posting and keeping me somewhat in the loop.
I talked to my mom on skype yesterday for a short time it works just a little delayed and some times cuts in and out but it is better then nothing. I know she really likes to hear my voice haha. So if you want to talk for free get skype and figure out a time with me that works. The time diffrence can be a challange at times.
Take care
Essie