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!