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
Essie, sooooooo good to hear from you!! I loved all the info you sent and will check out facebook for the photos. I loved the slogan about "probably the best beer in the world" I'm going to use that one. Wondering about the weather and hoping your not getting burnt.
ReplyDeleteLove you, Aunt Anne
Essie, Thanks for the update. I feel you are in good hands - I mean people giving potatoes and fruit. It sounds like you are in the hands of very good people. Know we are thinking of you. Luv ya, Aunt Patty
ReplyDeleteAunt Anne- I Have gotten burnt but I think it was because I was so white from the winter.It hasn't been so bad but have been super proactive with the sunscreen.The weather where I am living is nice warm but not really hot. We get some mountain air and clouds so we get rain even when it is not raining season. I think that is why the tea grows so well here.
ReplyDeleteAunt Patty- glad to know you are thinking of me thanks.
Essie,
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear all the nice things about Africa...Marisol, Nolan, Selena, and i were watching a cartoon the other day with huts and wild tigers & snakes. I always have it in my head that Africa is full of wild animals...and a nice place for you to be for a little while- I'm hoping somehow your next adventure will be in the outback- Anyway, since i'm probably more of a procrastinator than Vinny, i figured I'd at least write something on your blog... we always have you in our thoughts and prayers-
Story time:
I took the day off of work to go on a field trip with Nolan and his preschool class. I was one of many chaperones and was in charge of two kids, Nolan and Charlie. As you can imagine they were pumped to go to the petting zoo in wheaton. They have not-so-wild animals there: cows, lamas or Alpacas (learned what an alpaca was from you), goats, pigs, wolves, etc. I had two youngsters pulling me in every direction all the time. Anyway, it was the most amazing thing that i was able to do with Nolan...and i look forward to it again. He's been begging for us to get a dog. I've been telling him that if he behaves and listens to the adults then he may have one...looks like he might get his wish soon as he's been a dream. No little boys or girls are perfect- be he's adorable.
Selena is growing fast. She's already taller than Nolan was when he was two years old. and she has two more months of growth to go. It's not saying much since Nolan is the shortest in his class. I don't think he gets that from me- Selena is a singer and a dancer...when i walk in the door from work, she come running for a huge hug; and grabs my finger tight (not letting go). And runs me down the hallway to her room and back- It's nuts- I will try to read all the older blogs to catch up on the details of your adventure- I know the P's are very proud of you- keep up the good work- love- michael
Thanks Michael Keep the stories about the kids coming I love them. It makes me feel like I have an idea of what they do and like. I remember Charlie from the christmas show ha too funny. That would be fun to get a dog always fun to have a dog as a kid. Tell the family hi for me and take care love ya Essie
ReplyDelete