More on Lake Malawi

fish!

Today was incredible! First went for a run on the beach. Went to the crazy crocodile site which is owned by a German. He drove all the way from Germany to Tanzania! Took four months. The four of us pals returned to our run and then jumped in the lake. Then we had breakfast. After we went on a canoe ride and snorkeled with the fish. Our canoe paddler, Emmanuel, said he could paddle all the way to Malawi in two days! Wow. We came back after a couple hours and ate fish. Yum! Then vegged out on the beach. Our Swedish friends came to visit, Lina and Malin. So fun. Talked about our exact same experience with terrible restaurant waitresses in Tukuyu! So funny. They always make you feel like you are totally inconveniencing them. Strange, we’re giving them business! So after, we played foosball, Joshua and I. Then my sister Christy called me. So good. Then I called Liz and we decided in 2012 to be the third set of volunteers for Pre-Form One at Manow Seminary School. I think it’s a great idea since she’s fluent in Swahili and I know the program…it would be so freakin fun!

Then we had chicken and pineapple for dinner. And chips mayai. (potatoes and eggs) After, we had a fun talk, the four of us about elections. Tomorrow we find out if Kikwete in the CCM party wins or Slaa! We hope Slaa to break the 51 year line of the CCM party. Then I had a great convo with Jacob about my family, school fees in Africa and getting Americans to donate…only $20 a year for a kid’s school fees! Plus Jacob’s plans and future and leaving Manow for grad school and having kids. It was nice. Ok, it’s midnight, goodnight.

Lake Malawi

Today is the best day ever. I’m in Matema! A village on Lake Malawi. We’re at Lakeshore Resort and literally it is on the lake. The four of us, Jacob, JoshuaWe have a two story bungalow and I have the top floor with a balcony facing the water. So exquisite! We had pizza with Marlin and Lina from Sweden. Never thought I’d have cheese! I met the two at the Itete Jubilee. Before that, we, Jacob, Joshua, Marty and I cleaned off by swimming in Lake Malawi. We got awful dirty from our awesome motorcycle ride. I was filthy! There’s a good picture of my face. We had a great talk, the four of us on our porch. Oh so nice, I can’t believe it. It’s right on the beach and I’m listening to the waves crash. I don’t need the white noise maker or a fan. On the porch, Joshua, Jacob, Marty and I had many laughs, played “Where in the World am I?” and riddles. Joshua told me his hopes and dreams. I love my cheesy questions.


on the way to lake malawi! got so dirty


at matema beach with Joshua and Jacob

Pictures

me teaching. look the kids are even participating!!


This was one of my first meals in Africa i made. I'm wearing a dress
I got made for me. pretty sweet, eh?

Safari to Tukuyu

tractor ride home!


Kids at Itete Jubilee Children's Program


Today Marty and I woke up at 3am, yes 3AM to make it to the 4am bus trip. Well ok, it was at 5am, our mistake, (oops! who needs an extra hour of sleep, right?) but anywho we got on for the 2 hour trek to our market! What inspired this trip? We couldn't handle going on a month with no more jam and margarine. Two hours for this? You don't realize how important these things are until you eat them for your meal for breakfast on a daily basis. Granted we got a few other things (cocoa powder, curry powder, apples, cucumbers, black pepper ok many things we can't get in our local Lawangwa market! You have no idea how excited I was to see BLACK PEPPER! oh how I missed you!), we had a fun adventure. Let me tell you how it started:

We arrived and thought, hey it's 7am, let's get breakfast at this restaurant. "Do you have Spanish eggs?" (looking at the menu) "No." "Do you have cocoa?" "No." "Do you have any eggs?" "No." "Do you have any breakfast food?" "No." "What do you have?" "Sambura and coffee." Wow, ok, so that's what we had, well Marty had the latter. Sambura is a fried tortilla with meat inside. It was tasty at least!

Next we went into the market to start our shopping. Yes! We first got notebooks and pencil sharpeners. Then we headed over to the Western Store to get our prized possessions. Sophia, the saint, (ok duka worker) sent a boy to get any other ingredients we needed she didn't have. He went a couple times and I got so excited when he came back with first: yeast then: black pepper! Oh man. It's also interesting how the whole market works together. If a vendor doesn't have the right change for a customer, they ask for the neighboring duka to give them some money. And here, she didn't have yeast and black pepper, so she just gets it from someone else. Hm.

Anyway, after this and buying a bunch of kitanges, we went back to the Konde Dioses, which is the Lutheran Church headquarters for the area. We were able to leave our things and shop for more. I was very happy to them! It made buying food without a heavy box and bag much easier. We then got beautiful big garlic and green peppers, coconut, and...ok I won't bore you to tears. But I was excited to get cooking oil! Only 90cents. It was sold in an old Kilimanjaro water bottle. The US would never pass this in food inspection. :)

Our trip back home was a bit more adventurous. We got on to a full bus, meaning the number of people sitting (all the seats) were also standing. We got to stand, then a gentleman didn't let me stand and switched with me. He actually was headed to Manow as well with Marty and I so he became a nice travelling buddy. He explained the region as we were riding the very BUMPY road. Oh my goodness. The route back took 3 hours and poor Marty stood the whole time minus 20 minutes. We got to Lwangwa, bought the weekly necessities of tomatoes, onions, avocados and eggs with Boaz' (our travel companion) ever present assistance and headed to Manow. Halfway up, we saw a tractor pulling a cart and I eyed Boaz to get us a ride with the man. Farmer style and all we did! How glorious, with all our shopping goods, school supplies and kitanges. We road into Manow and saw a glimpse of the Manow vs. Lwangwa soccer game (whom we beat 3-1!) Boaz bid us farewell and gave us the things he carried for us and we made our way home. Whew! 6pm, 15 hours later and we're home safe!

We finished up with a delicious meal of spaghetti, and topped it off with brownies with the western food I got today. Yipee! Joshua and then Jacob joined us because they can't get enough of brownies! Jacob even said he'd come back for more tomorrow. :) Hopefully I don't finish them off.

Next weekend is the trip to Matema. I'm excited! It's on Lake Malawi and Joshua, Jacob, Marty and I will be riding motorcycles down. I can't wait to swim, possibly snorkel, see my Swedish friends from the Jubilee and have a fun weekend with the funniest and funnest teachers at Manow!

Frohe Feiern!

Last Sunday marked the 50th Anniversary for the Itete Hospital. I am happy to say I joined the festivities, because if it weren't for the hospital, I would not be permitted with my parent's permission into this country! I have severe food allergies and thanks be to heaven I can be treated at this hospital. We celebrated with a good sermon by the Lutheran Church conducted by Pastor Klaus Dinkel, a good friend and fellow german. I helped out with his wife, Dr. Carina Dinkel, in the children's program. Kids liked the butterflies, flowers, and snails but the big hit was what is pictured here: a lion! I got a few to even roar for me! The boys loved it and many came for requests.

moon!

Communication

Wednesday was our Friday. Tomorrow commemorates the death date of President Nyerere. He was the first president of Tanzania when the country was formed in 1961. He did a lot for the country. The country was previously called Tangalia and Zanzibar, but then he merged them to make Tanzania. (It's a mix of the two names)
After class and after a hearty dinner of leftover bean soup, Marty and I went on a walk to catch the sunset. The sun was brilliantly red and incredible! The moon has also been slightly red and it's cool to see it on it's cheshire-cat-smile side. Reminds me I'm on the opposite of the world!

After walking a little ways, we came across an abandoned brick house. We went around the back and had a captivating view of the slanted farming fields. They use every inch of space regardless of how inconvenient it may be to work on! When we walked around, Marty heard voices and got a little timid to trespass. I was curious and opted for an adventure, Marty followed suit. :) We met two men weeding corn on the steep hill. The first man was named Beston and the second Abraham. We got our "Ugunili" introductions and then were stumped on further communication since either of us didn't know each other's language. Abraham picked up a stick and started writing on his arm, then continued on his leg! We got his name that way. Beston wrote on his arm the Diosese Konde, signifying that the farm was owned by the Dioses in Tukuyu, basically the religious community government. It was funny to use sticks, so I wrote on my arm my name and then Marty tried but his skin wouldn't hold the scratch. We all had a laugh on that. Moments like these makes us really want to know more Swahili, but we are so happy to meet people so friendly and patient that want to interact with us.