Thursday, August 11, 2011

Sindingakulupirire! Akubwera!

"I can't believe it! They're coming!"

I've started to count the days (not literally, though my Mom has a running countdown for how long until they're here, as well as how many days until I come home to her. Sweet, I know.) Anyway, I've been busy busy planning out they're trip, making sure they get to see everything I want them to see. I'm excited to see them, I can't believe its been over a year and a half. My, how time flies.

Things at work have picked up quickly. I now have a desk and and office (that I share with two other fine, upstanding gentleman). I am working with the district assembly, specifically under the department of planning. This means that I do whatever people want me to do, given that my experience is...not narrowed down to one field, as a result of my nomadic tendencies, I get to do all sorts of things. Currently, I'm helping with different HIV/AIDs prevention/ education projects within the district of Chiradzulu, as well as grant writing, and proposal projections for different things. I also have my hands in editing things like the District Rural water, sanitation, and hygiene program, as well as tagging along on feild visits with who ever will let me come (district development office, social welfare office, UNICEF, literally, whoever will let me come along). I like it. I feel productive.

Anytime I can, I make side trips to beautiful Mulanje to see my old village and keep up with some small projects over there (shallow well digging, women's groups, committees I'm still a part of, ect). All in all, I'm finally keeping myself busy again.

I still haven't moved to the boma yet, the house isn't done yet. I'm going to check on it today and I'm comfortable in saying that I will at least know how much the landlady will want for rent, that is, if she doesn't intentially inflate it as a scheme to get me to live with her so I can be HER Chichewa/chilomwe/chiyau talking monkey. Everyone wants one, weird. I'm making an effort to learn as much as I can in other local languages, because I like the looks on peoples' faces when I say, "Aswerere?" or, "Moseliwa?" or, "Mwatandala?" (other greetings in Chiyau, Chilomwe, and Chitimbuka, respectively.) ect, ect. you get the picture. I've found that I have a knack for languages (all except for english, as you can see from my superb spelling abilities), its just means to entertain myself, I suppose. A stimulated mind is a happy mind, you know?

That's all for now, I suppose. Winter is finally coming to a close, and the warm season is creeping up upon us. I find myself happy with a t-shirt and a scarf, instead of long underwear, scarves, gloves, hats, and still complaints about the cold. It was 80F yesterday, I only had to wear a sweater. It was nice and pleasant in the sun.

I hope everything is dandy back home!

Amy