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