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.

I love fish but…what a disaster!

Today ended great. Marty and I made a fish concoction and it was HORRIBLE!! We invited Jacob and Joshua and they absolutely loved it. They were adorable, good company and even finished off the gross dish by having seconds and thirds. They loved it. I am glad we tried it, but nie wieder!! The fish are about three inches by one inch and they’re dried because fresh wouldn’t last long enough to travel and sell at our market. The fish wreak and when you cook it even with tons of vegetables, the bitter rancid smell and taste gets in the whole dish and you kind of want to die. The first bite was ok, then the aftertaste was too overwhelming. Then each additional bite got stronger and stronger until I had to quit. I can say I ate three of the fishes but I’d rather see them in the ocean or a fish tank, not my plate. We even gave the extra frozen fish to Jacob. Ooh, in two weeks, we got to Matama with them. That’s a city on Lake Malawi. I’m stoked! We’re taking motorcycles down.

After church, we talked to Zachariah and Robson, both Form 6 students with great English. The pastor today was very animated so I wanted a translation. On the walk home, I just started talking to anyone who would listen that was in school uniform and a bit older. That guarantees Form 6, and that fact guarantees more English skills. It worked! Zachariah gave us the sermon translation. Then he asked us about politics, pensions, and climate in the US. Very sharp kid. We invited them in to show a book on Washington and that just brought more curiosity and questions. It was fun to compare cultures.

I got a dress…for me!!

So yesterday was funny. I was talking to Macapagi and asked him to ask the pastor a question. I had told him a man called Macahabe was still at the church, so the church needed to be locked up. I got a delayed response from him: “Sawa.” I ask Macapagi to tell him my situation. Macapagi translates and then waits until the pastor leaves and says to me, no wonder you got a delayed response, the name is really something else and what you said translates to a prostitute! I told a pastor that I left the church unlocked for a prostitute! Marty, him and I bust out laughing!! Whoops!

Today cracked me up with the kids. We had a role playing game and we had it with a mom and a child over household objects. I got Asifiwe and Alpha to do it. Asifiwe was the mom and he’s a boy. They did a rockin job. I was a little proud, too because the skit finally worked.

Today I asked Ngwatika to make me a dress. It cost 3,000 Tsh. I gave her 4 and she tried to refuse. The dress would have been less than $3! Nuts, huh? Material was 7,00, so I’m paying about 10 bucks for a customized dress. I think I’ll make a few skirts since my clothes are ugly. I need different tops, too. Ironic. I’m so materialistic in a third world country. The people dress here pretty well. But I need to grow up. Ngwatika was getting three bucks for a dress and I’m complaining about my wardrobe. Well I do stick out too much. Oh well. :) I’m already the only tall white girl for miles. What’s an ugly shirt to go with it?

markets and church

This was a nice weekend. Friday we got out early because of the kid’s exam. We saw Joshua, a teacher and invited him for sodas at the duka. It’s a little ritual we have, to get sodas. Joshua is a sweetheart and talked to the pastor and translated for us the history of Manow and the school. I kind of went in and out but it was nice to get interaction. That night Marty and I graded the tests and two got 100%! I was proud.

Saturday was market in Lwangwe with Jacob. We got sweet potatoes, lots of tomatoes, lettuce, bananas and avocados. I love avocados. They are only 20 cents here, so we get our fill!! Marty has started cooking breakfast with fried egg and some avocado. So yummy. Ooh and the best part- we got over four pounds of beef! It’s hard to get protein in our diets. We eat eggs and meat when we can. Later we got a surprise dinner of chips mai ai from Mr. Macame. That’s potatoes (irish, they delineate since sweet ones are more common) sliced into fry shapes and cooked in fried egg. It’s super greasy and super good. I like it with ketchup. Nicole, you’d be proud. We thought we were just invited over for a visit, not a whole meal! When you eat, they always begin with woman pouring a pitcher of water over your hands to clean them. Then, at every meal so far I’ve been to, you have a soda with your meal. The sodas are in a glass that has been used probably a good 20 times because they are worn white. It’s a cool system really, and we Americans should get rid of our plastic “recycling” ways and do this. The food was delicious and we decided we’ll get a kitange for the mother. (Sewing material to make clothes, looks like a Hawaiian sarong but not stretchy and darker in color) That’s etiquette for dinner invitations. Then we got a tour of Macame’s farm which was beautiful because we went up on the high hills and overlooked the country, including our town Manow and neighboring Lwangwe.

Later we had good ol chili with our freshly purchased meat. We invited Jacob over to join us. Thanks to him, we got the meat without any bones or fat. That’s a feat! Sunday my parents called and we tried figuring out places they could find on the internet that is located close to me. I was a bit out of it, so I’ll have to have them call me again. We got to church at 10 am and it was 2 ½ hours. Almost like an LDS church! They had three choirs, blessing for the Form 4 kids because they have testing next week and local news. The choirs were so pretty with their acapella. I got a little emotional because although there are not many who can talk to me with the Swahili language barrier, I could listen to the harmony and beauty of the songs. The last song was one I actually recognized from our hymn book and I was thrilled! I felt at home. The whole service, I didn’t know a lick of what we were doing. All in Swahili. I followed the liturgy and the evangelist Mwandenkuka helped me find scriptures. After there was the weekly auction and they sold a mkeka for elfukuminatano (14,000 shillings…aka 13 bucks for a straw weaved rug), a live chicken, 6 feet long sugar canes, and a tree limb thing with big leaves. Only in Africa right? Later we got invited for lunch at Jacob’s. It was very nice. Actually it was way nice to get comfortable and chat. I feel like I haven’t really opened up or been my bubbly self because this school thing stresses me out. I got up and down. But Jacob gives me motivation to really be positive and pay it forward. He is an AIDS orphan and he volunteered for three months teaching at an orphanage. He is supporting three boys and is really generous. He’s going to be really missed in this community when he sets off to Dar for his masters. But it will be so good for him, plus he’ll be reunited with his wife.

Tonight I ended a good night with banana pancakes with Marty, calling Liz and having a good convo, and saying goodbye on the phone to Nancy. She’s flying out of Dar. Makes me think of flying out and how I think, I will miss it here. I will make connections and friends and I don’t think I’ll ever have the means to come back since it’s so expensive to fly here. Sounds strange. I am so glad for this crazy unique opportunity. Wow I am blessed.

We survived :)

One week of class: completed! We survived! The real scary thing is, Nancy Winters left Manow today and Marty and I are officially on our own teaching. Ah! We will do it. We can do it! We are officially independent, too because we cooked our own home cooked meal. Rice and eggs together really are good with onions, peppers, tomatoes, and a local green called mchicha. Rice makes it seem creamy. I made a salad from Chinese cabbage and it was awful! You’re supposed to cook it and I didn’t realize. Marty was so kind and even had seconds…I thanked him!

One of the students is very helpful. He can’t say much in English, pretty short and looks about 13 but I think he’s 17. He carries our teacher things after class every day. Teacher’s pet? Ya but we’ll take it. :) I just wish I could talk to him more. Hopefully that’ll change when we teach him more English and I a little Kiswahili! Ha ha.

Tomorrow is Saturday! We sleep in an hour, go to Lwangwa market for two kilos of meat, then tomatoes, cabbage, bananas, carrots and whatever else we may be lucky to spot. We don’t get apples. :( In Tukuyu, two hours away, we do and they’re soo good. Cucumbers, apples, carrots, and avocadoes are so good here. Carrots and cucumbers seem sweeter here. Bananas, I must admit, aren’t what I expected. I think I just don’t love bananas.

Then tables from school to church, visit Macame at 3pm, then pick up two loaves of bread at Mwasamwajes at 4:30pm. So glad I have bread. Here are the staples out here: eggs, tea, bread, tomatoes, rice, beans, and mchicha.

Glad Joshua is in Manow. Marty, Joshua and I got sodas at the duka (store) for 1500 shillings for three. So about 40 cents a bottle. Glass bottles are recycled til they’re scratched and worn white. It’s really cool.