Thursday, May 19, 2011

Kusowa nyumba.

"There is no house."

I left. I was out. Now I'm back.

Tuesday morning, I left Lilongwe and headed all the way down to my site in Mulanje. We met with my chief and said goodbye. From Duswa's house, we went and packed up my house and moved it all into Peace Corps transport. I said my goodbye's and we were on our way, to stay in Blantyre for the night. I left some furniture and Chuck at my house until I can come back and divvy it up amongst community members and peace corps volunteers in the area. I also got permission to go back to the village to continue projects (like the bore hole project) that I already started.

The next morning, I woke up early after staying at a friends house in Blantyre and headed to my new (most likely) site. I got there, only to find every person we needed to speak with in Blantyre for a meeting. On top of all of our contacts being out, there was no house for me. So, there we were, my boss, myself, and the driver, with a carload full of all of my possessions (minus my furniture) with no place to put it. We brought all my stuff to another PeaceCorps volunteer's house who lives in the district. After we left all of my stuff there and after speaking with the district health officer and a representative for the project I'll be working on, we headed back to Lilongwe, where I am right now.

So, basically, I am here until the district assembly (which is like a city council, but for the whole district) can figure out a house for me. There is a housing committee meeting on Friday, so I'm here until at least next week....homeless, still. I feel ok about it because the awesomeness of the job trumps my disappointed over still being homeless.

About the project: The opportunity (which will go through assuming adequate housing becomes available) is a job with UNICEF working with a project called WASH ( Water And Sanitation Health) advising on water and sanitation projects under the WASH umbrella for the entire district. I'm really excited. It's really a great opportunity.

Anyway, I'm heartbroken and upset over not being able to return to my village but I'm relieved that I can not only visit, but see through previous projects. I'm also excited that the village might also get another volunteer next year. Why I can visit when I want and finish projects and they can get a volunteer next year but I can't stay there now is beyond me, but I'll take what I can get. Anyway, like I said before, my being upset over not being allowed to live there anymore is trumped by my excitement over this new opportunity.

In other news, if any of you would like to see some great pictures of Malawi by a VERY talented photographer and good friend of mine check out Briana's blog at: http://www.brianascroggins.blogspot.com/ You won't regret it!

2 comments:

  1. Dear Amy,
    I'm anxious to keep up with the work you're doing via your blog. I'm sure it's odd to get a message from a complete stranger (though it can't be unexpected), but my partner is about to embark for Malawi in June to teach English with the PC, so I'm starting to read and collect as many blog URLs about life in Malawi as I can :). If you'd be willing to correspond (ever), or if you know where I can chat with people who know what I can do as a supporter of someone in Malawi, I'd love to hear from you at your earliest convenience (I understand it could be a while). Thanks very much!
    Paul Mitchell (paul.mitchell@ou.edu)

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  2. Paul, I am happy to answer any of your questions/give you further information; however, I seem to be technologically incompetent and can't get your e-mail address to work so go ahead and e-mail me at amymcross@gmail.com with anything you want to know and I'll get back to you pretty quickly since I'm close to internet for the time being.

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