The Adventures of Nambewe!

Christmas!

2011-12-31T03:26:00.000-08:00

For Christmas, me and six of my closest friends here in Malawi went to the beautiful islands in the northern lakeshore. We all met in Mzuzu, then traveled together to Nhata Bay. After taking, what seemed like a lifetime-long, trip on the Ilala (which I did not get to drive this time) we arrived at Likoma island. There we spent the next few days relaxing on the beach, swimming, and enjoying ourselves, when we weren't fighting off whip scorpians....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whip_scorpion Gross. Lets just say that we were all really careful about tucking in our nets, even me.

After three wonderful days on Likoma Island, we arranged for a sail boat to take us to Chizumulu island. The boat left at 3am and got us there just before 5am, which meant we got to watch the sunrise over Likoma Island as we slowly sailed away. It was incredible. After arriving and walking across the island (barefoot because my flip flops finally died and it was too hot for close-toed shoes) we made it to the Wakwenda retreat lodge. It was a beautiful lodge on he beach with lots of large rocks to jump off and the most beautiful bar I've ever seen in my life(probably should have taken a picture of it).
Four days on Chiradzulu with delicous food and good friends and we were on our way back to civilization. We opted not to take the Ilala on the way back (because its miserable and expensive and slow and terrible in every way) and ended up taking a boat called "Malungo" (which translates to "Malaria") . We were nervice about taking the slightly sketchy cheaper boat but it ended up being fine. Not only did we pay less, but there was air flow, and we got to watch local music videos at volumes that will blow your ear drums wide open. I don't think anyone I was with enjoyed it, but I had a great time...especially when the people who run the boat found out the seven of us are American's and insisted on playing the song "Barack Obama" over and over again (my local favorite, because of its rediculousness. Its played in buses and bars and everywhere that plays music here all the time. You can enjoy it here (it is not a waste of your time, you won't regret it, regardless of how you feel about him)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPIMkDjzAlc

We made it to Nkhata Bay safely, and what seemed like quickly after we realized that the entire purpose of the top of the boat was for dance parties.... We stayed in Nkhata Bay only long enough to get transport into Mzuzu. Transport problems, as usual. We arrived in Mzuzu tired, hungry, crabby. Sleep. The next morning, we all had delicious Chipati's and eggs for breakfast then headed our separate ways. Five of us headed to Lilongwe, two went down the lake shore road to Nkhota Nkhota. Getting back was the first time I have ever had an easy time with transport in the Northern Region, thanks to a very friendly bishop who took three of us.
That was my last trip to the North. Goodbye Northern Region.
Since I've been back I've been in Lilongwe working hard on Grad school applications (deadlines are closing in). I'm feeling pretty good about things. I opted to skip out on a party in the north and the south and the central, so I could stay and work to make my applications as strong as possible.

It looks like I am here in Lilongwe until my close of service conference on the 9th of January when I'll go to Senga Bay...then again, I might try to escape Lilongwe for a bit, depending on how efficiently I work. That's a long time in the city. We'll see what happens.
HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!! To all of my friends and family, I love you and miss you and, though I'm enjoying myself here in Malawi, I'm excited that this is my last Holiday Season away from home. I look forward to celebrating with you next year...regardless of where I'll be (which is still a mystery).

Here's how my Christmas was, how was yours?

Waiting on Christmas Eve where there was network (the cell tower was on the island in the distance, Likoma Island)

Hanging out...enjoying island life.

Everyone waiting for lunch to come.

This is what I stared at for a week, how's the weather in America?

Working in Lilongwe at the Peace Corps office (disregard the fact that facebook is displayed, I actually have been working). Note: these photos are out of order.

Mom, Dad, and Diana, this is what I was looking at when we were talking on the phone on Christmas Eve. Standing at the top of the hill on Chizumulu Island, taking phone reception from Likoma Island (in the distance).

Sol waiting for his parent's to call him.

Colin and Bri waiting for calls from home.

Playing bananagrams.

Bri really likes rice and beans.

Christmas eve lunch...only at the fanciest restaurant.

My hair has officially turned blonde. Waiting for our christmas beans and rice to come.

Katy likes dogs.

Bri and Sol.

I wear my sunglasses at night, so I can, so...I....cann

I tried to keep the sunset pictures to a minimum, but come on, its incredible..

Ujeni

2011-12-16T03:19:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes its been a while since I updated last. A few weeks ago I updated, a long update too, with pictures and humor an everything that is nice and sweet in the world. It didn't work. Right before published, the black cloud of ESCOM (Electric company in malawi) kicked me with a blackout. Lost. Anyway, you're not here to listen to my sob story. You're here for the pictures, maybe, or you just want to know what I've been up to. The answer: a lot.
Lets go way back to October.
The last week of October, I headed north. I got on a bus in Blantyre at 1:30pm. The bus broke down 3 times, the last time resulting in a bus change. Due to my position on the bus (the back) I lost my seat after the swap and then had to stand for the next 6 hours. I normally would complain about the standing (ok, maybe I did a bit at the time), but if I wasn't standing I would have been sleeping and if I had been asleep I would have missed getting to watch the sunrise over Nkhata Bay, which was one of the most beautiful scenes I have yet to see in Malawi thus far.
Life here is all about small victories. Its the only way we survive with (most of) our sanity.
I got off the bus at 6am in Mzuzu where I immediately got on a minibus (because the direct big bus filled up and left while I was peeing out sixteen and a half hours of pee. I took a mini bus to Karonga where I got on top of a Matola (a giant Lollie) which also broke down 4 times which made the 3 hour trip last almost 7. I pulled into Chitipa (the farthest north district in Malawi on the borders of Zambia and Tanzania). I stayed there for under 24 hours for a Halloween party then headed back south. I haven't decided if it was worth it or not. As future Amy. On the way back south I was traveling with friends and we skipped down over 3 days, stopping at my friend Sol's site on the way to Lilongwe for the Peace Corps/USAID 50th Anniversary party.
Hitching down to Lilongwe was interesting. There was a mass exodus of Peace Corps Volunteers as everyone was headed into the capitol for the celebration. The party was fine. Important speakers, muckity mucks, good food, open bar, good friends, what's not to like?
After spending a couple days in Lilongwe for the festivities, me and some other volunteers headed down to Liwonde National Park for the second half of the game count (transect walks) for our last battle with Jurassic Park. The transect walks went smoothly, with the exception of the fact that we didn't realize until we walked the width of the park in a straight line that you can't build a road on a river (and Malawi's not good with bridges) so we had to walk all the way back to where we started for transport back to camp. We didn't ration water adequately for both ways. It was a long, hot day.
On the last day in the park, we had to leave earlier than we planned to leave because the rains started and once they fall, the roads are impassable. The park wanted us to stay. We wanted to leave. There was pushing and pulling and mud everywhere and eventually a tractor. 4 hours later, we were free. A few hours after that we were back in civilizationish.
After freeing myself from the bonds of Liwonde national park for the final time in my service I went back to site. I was in Chiradzulu for about a week doing different things, working with youth clubs, writing proposals, planning for world aids day, then I was back up in Lilongwe for the GRE. I have little to say about the GRE except that we got to keep our calculators. That was neat.
After th GRE I was back at site for a bit. World Aids Day came and went. We through a celebration in one of the villages in my district. It was great.

Thanksgiving. Bri and Jeremy and I were in Blantyre hanging out. We watched a movie, Columbiana in the movie theater.

Bri and I climbed Mt. Mulanje with he wildlife club at the primary school in her village. Us and 35kids, the headmaster, and one teacher. That was tiring. When we got to the top, the kids went and collected a bunch of plastic and made a soccer ball so they could play because they weren't tired. I will never have children. Is that normal? Mountains not being tiring? I'm confused.

The next week I went to help do work for an under nutrition study. I was mostly translating and entertaining women (like the chichewa talking monkey I am), it was fun. We got to stay at an Italian Mission so I had delicious food, showers, electricity, it was fantastic.
I got back from helping there 2 days ago and then left early this morning for Lilongwe because my vacation starts tomorrow! I'm going to an island. I'll take pictures.
In the mean time my time has been going quickly writing grad school applications, getting together recommenders, ect. I'm surprised to realize that I only have 4 months left in Malawi. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. What can I say, you're all up to speed. Enjoy the pictures.

This is the view from the top of the hill, just feet down the road is where I work. Way in the distance off to the right behind the hill a faded bump. That's Mt. Mulanje. At least my site is still pretty.

This is how you know its 10:30.

The MSF (doctors without borders) people playing a game on world Aids Day.

Mt. Mulanje.

Mt. Mulanje

Chambe peak on Mulanje.

Wildlife club on top of Mulanje

This is the cabin we all stayed in.

Carlesburg brewery tour (That's what I did for Thanksgiving).

My neighbor, Hendrina, who breaks into my house and mops, frequently. This is where my water comes from.

Transect walks inside Jurassic Park.

Transect walk...before we knew we had to go back to the beginning.

Jeremy making coals out of ebony so we can cook our chicken on endangered woods.

A PCV gutting the chicken.

Bri cuddling a chameleon on the lakeside. Classic Bri.

Chitipa Halloween. We went as Wayne and Garth.

I forget what kind of animal this is.

These too, its really bugging me. Can someone remind me?

This is a tent. This is where we slept inside the national park during the game count. Those tents in the background had to move because the elephants kept wanting to chat.

Mwandisowa?

2011-11-29T03:09:00.001-08:00

https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=614-233

I had a very long post all typed up (completely with more pictures, yes pictures) but the world lost it and I have to start over, but not today. In the mean time, the above link is to a project by my old-sitemate Bri. She's building a library for the primary school in her village. I promised her I'd help advertise as funding is coming in slowly for her. No obligation necessary, but any help would be appreciated by many. I'll update when I can.

Happy Birthday to My Wonderful OLDER Sister!!!!!

2011-10-27T01:24:00.000-07:00

No translation necessary.

Not a whole lot has happened since my last post but I'm here with access to internet so I might as well post, right? In the words of my Genius cousin, Jenni, "you know if you post more often you won't have to write as many words." Thanks Jenni <3.

So last week went by like any other week where I'm just going to work and not traveling a lot (which is actually kind of rare for me these days). The only exception was the weekend. Over the weekend I went to Mulhako Wa Alhomwe, which is a massive festival (it is estimated that about 40,000 people attended) in Mulanje celebrating the Lomwe people, a tribe located mostly in the Southern region of Malawi as well as in parts of Mozambique. There was traditional dancing, song, food, dress, ect. Seeing as how many cultural practices particular to different tribes in Malawi are being lost and forgotten (even the language of the Lomwe people, Chilomwe, is unknown by most people my age and younger, its only the older generation and the traditional authorities who know it), it was very interesting to get to see, first hand, the reincarnation of tribal and traditional pride, especially in a place when those things are lost or undermined by Westernization.

The festival was Sunday, since then I've been working all this week, until today. Today I head toward where I will be for Halloween...but more on that after it happens.

It is hot here. It was 90F inside my bedroom last night at 11:00pm. Hot. I bought the thick candles so they wouldn't melt and bend over like they did last year. Hot. I don't mind it though like i did last year, I found a fridge I can use while I'm at work so I can drink cold water. The only part of hot season that REALLY bothers me is that vegetables don't last. They wilt and then rot within one day...now I never thought these words would leave my mouth (or my fingers, as it were) but there's only so many peanut butter sandwiches a girl can eat. Also, thing about the humidity, I'm drinking at least three Liters of water per day and still only peeing once...I guess I'll try to push for more (but not too many seeing as how I'm going to be on a bus for the next 12 hours).

They're not actually working, they're looking at pictures...but look how professional they look. My officemate and another co-worker.

A friend of mine in the office, Yami, the assistant forestry officer.

Yami was playing with my camera. This is me sitting in at my desk being the most productive human to ever live.

The ride back from the Lomwe festival of course everyone in the car wanted their picture taken. Everyone here always wants their picture taken.

President His Excellency Bingu Wa Muthalika.

Some Mozambiquan guy wanted to show off his knitted bottle at the festival, he didn't do that great of a job. "Pobregado! (Portuguese for Thank you)."

I didn't think I had enough pictures to be enough for this post so I just took this of myself.

Aaaand, this is where I'm sitting at the moment, in the blue chair.

I'll post again after I get to Lilongwe for Peace Corps and USAID's 50th Anniversary celebration. Sorry this wasn't very exciting, but at least now you have a glimpse into my every day life instead of just the exciting stuff.

Ndine Nkalamba Sopano

2011-10-19T03:38:00.000-07:00

"I'm an old person now"

Lets start waayyy back. Mom and Dad left and it was sad and lonely for a while. I was used to constant attention, then they left. That feeling, however was short-lived since i jumped right back into the crazy life that is of a Peace Corps Volunteer. After they left, I made and attempt to go back to the south and failed because of a bad hitching day. Day number two of trying and I made it down in no time. Coincidentally that day I also was invited to meet with the new US Ambassador with some other Volunteers from the southern region. She is phenomenal and seems eager to work and in and with our little organization which means good news for us, or it at least can't be bad. I spent the weekend in town seeing as the demonstrations were switched from active anti-government rallies to silent protests in the form of staying home from work for three days. Town was safe, we had official Peace Corps transport, and it was a great weekend. After that I headed back home and back to work. That weekend was lake of stars which was great, as expected. What could be bad about a giant hippy-music festival in the middle of Africa right on the lakeshore? That's right, nothing.

After LOS, I got violently sick (no doubt from the water at the festival since i was cheap and refused to buy bottled water). Four days at home on the couch, unable to move. I called the doctor. Gastroentinitus. Medicated. Now, I've never felt better. I was only home and at work for a few days before I headed to Blantyre and celebrated my birthday with some people from my group. Another girl from the central region came down and her and Bri and I went to my house for the night. The next morning we got up, and hit the road toward Liwonde, only stopping briefly in Zomba to pick up some groceries for the week. From there it was on to the park for the water hole count.

Last week was the waterhole count for Liwonde National Park. See pictures. It was fantastic! Basically, everyone was assigned one 4 hour shift per day with the option to choose more shifts (which most people did). There was always a minimum of two people per shift, one volunteer, and one park guard (with a huge gun that they will not let the volunteers play with no matter what they offer). So the parks people made a little hide out house just above each of the three waterholes, normally up in a tree. Its a basic structure, covered in grass (very hi-tech camouflage) with a slit to look out of. I saw Elephants, Zebra, Water Buffalo, Rhino, Bush bucks, water bucks, wart hogs, impala, baboons, monkeys, Elan, Kudu, ect ect ect. It was really a great experience. Not only was it really neat to get to be inside the Rhino Sanctuary inside the park but I got to spend almost an entire week with some of my closes friends in Peace Corps, people I came into country with. We spent the week (night and day) taking shifts, cooking together, hanging out, reminiscing, talking about our experience and how its coming to a close, making Christmas plans, talking about after service trips, ect ect.

Yesterday was my birthday. I celebrated kale kale (already) in Blantyre with some friends who were nice enough to come all the way down to the southern region to celebrate Bri and I's birthdays. We wore party hats and caused scenes and watched Cowboys and Aliens at the movie theater. It was everything I could hope for in a birthday. That being said, when my actual birthday came, yesterday, I went to work like the responsible adult that I now am at the striking age of 25. The world looks different. I am adult, hear me roar. Like I said, my actual birthday was anti-climatic, except for all of the people who e-mailed me and texted and called and facebooked me to wish me a happy birthday. To those of you who thought of me, I would like to say thank you for remembering me even though I'm tucked away in a very far corner of the world. I know its easy to forget someone when they're no where to be seen or heard and I'm very grateful to have such wonderful friends and family.

So life here is what it is. I've come into Blantyre for the day to use the internet. I'm on the hunt for grad schools. Before I need to apply I need to know where exactly it is I want to apply. I am taking a break from my last minute, panicked, intensive school search to appease the complainers and reward the interested with an update (complete with pictures! See below).
Other than waterhole count and my birthday I haven't updated because there really isn't that much going on. Lake of Stars was great, obviously. My birthday was cool, I got a free mini bus ride. Work is picking up, in that I think I have a nice balance of responsibility. I got to go see a movie at the movie theater last week (always a highlight), ect. I did however discover this morning that even though cooking on charcoal is life changing, I can't seem to light it myself. Maybe I should switch to good old-fashioned wood....except I would have to climb a mountain (literally) to get it and I don't have an outdoor kitchen to cook in...maybe I will just stick to karosine, despite the rising costs and increasing scarcity (there are petrol and diesel shortages again in country causing long lines, rising prices, and a very frustrated population...even coke is unavailable these days though there's some debate as to whether that's because of fuel shortages or because the factory only produces one kind of pop per day).

The ticker is still counting down the days between now and my contract being up. Just taking life one day at a time. I am however finding myself at a crossroads between being excited for what will come next after my service, and simultaneous nostalgia for the roller coaster that this time has been.

Ok, I should really get back to trying to figure out what my future will look like (its kind of important) so as a prize for reading all this, you get pictures!!!

This is my desk, this is where I sit and do very important things of a very important nature. Notice the ipod speakers are on. The desk across from me houses the Environment Minister (I can't remember her title, exactly but its something along those lines). There are four of us in the office. Me, her, the acting Deputy of Planning and Development, and the one in charge of the "One Village One Product" project. It's a pretty bwana office, I'm the only one who is ever in it.

Bri by the Shire river, note that she is an appropriate distance away from the crocodile, hippo, and carnivorous-fish infested water.

A heard of bush buck coming for a drink. Those trees in the background are ebony.

Can't remember exactly what kind of animal this one is....weird how the memory fails occasionally.

Elephants. At one point there were about 27 elephants who were hanging out at this waterhole for the entire 4-hour shift. They had no idea we were there as we were down-wind of them which means two things: 1. as I said they didn't know we were there, 2. It smelled. I have videos.

The view from the slot of the shack we sat in. Now you can see that I wasn't using my zoom with these pictures.

There was a monkey jumping on the tent. Hippos and Elephants just roamed around where we were camping. A baboon stole our hardboiled eggs!

Baby monkey.

Some of my co-workers, Jolly and Henry.
At the going away party for my supervisor who was transferred to the northern region.

XXX Amy

Tinalandilidwa Ndi Manja Awiri

2011-09-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

"We were welcomed with two hands"

Chuck's puppies....last one, I swear!

One of my old landlord's (right) cows. I do not enjoy being close to an animal that could break my femur without trying very hard. Can't wait to see some elephants!!

That tea you drink, this is how its picked. This is one of Andrew's sisters plucking tea leaves.

Andrew's family

Andrew's Mom insisted on having her picture with Mom and Dad.

These are not this child's flip flops. Old Navy flip flops however, are a big hit in Malawi.

This is where I used to charge my cellphone.

My old neighbors making breaks. They're a riot.

No big deal....its not like water's heavy.

My old nightwatchman selling bread to Spoon.

Monty, my old nightwatchman. He's awesome.

Firewood on head.

Tea.

This is a little boy who sells sugar cane. He always tells me he goes to school but I think that's to avoid my long lectures on the importance of education. He's pretty clever.

My old landlord insisted that we go see his church. We interrupted choir practice. When you see my mother after she's home safely bug her about seeing videos. They're incredible.

This is Mom and Dad's gift from Andrews sisters and mother. They gave me some too so I wouldn't feel left out. This the 4th variety of banana we've received as gifts.

Spoon reading to her mother. She was really excited about the bible my folks brought her. Excited is actually an understatement.

A select few members of the greatest Village Development Committee in the history of the world!!

Mom was excited about the cookies.

The School Committee gave Mom and Dad a bunch of tea leaves to remember them by.

This is the headmaster of Bangu Primary School, Mr. Jailosi showing mom a workbook.

First grade....one of the classes.

This is the same class. Schools here are slightly overpopulated (about 200 people per class, about 2,500 students in the school, about 19 teachers).

Some more members of the VDC here, including the chairwoman, Chrissy Spoon, on the left.

I wasn't going to update again but the internet here is still working (its a miracle!) and so fast that I could hardly help myself. These are from today, the second, and last, day in my old village. The plan for today was mostly to visit the schools, which explains all of the school pictures. Tomorrow we leave Mulanje. We'll give Andrew a ride up to Zomba which is our final destination for the night. We will, however, stop by my old house, meet everyone I work with now, and then continue on to Zomba where we will crash for the night, then drive up the the plateau for some beautiful views. The next morning we'll head to Liwonde for Safari, then Monkey bay at the lake, then up and off to Lilongwe. The past couple days, however, in Mulanje, have been the most important to me. It's been really nice to be able to share what my life has been like here in Malawi, with my mom and dad, especially to be able to share my friends and family here.

Amayi ndi Abambo wophiya

2011-09-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

"Mom and Dad arrived"

Please excuse the fact that these are in no particular chronological order. Thanks to my super-bwana status, due to my folks being here in Malawi, I'm staying at a nice hotel with a wireless option. Since its evening, the internet is fast enough to upload pictures.

I headed into Lilongwe on Tuesday and started preparing for my parents' arrival. Friday came before I knew it (I never am really sure how time passes in that city, it just does) and I was meeting them at the airport. Our faith has been re-instated in Ethiopian airlines as they got here safely (though exhausted...proven by the fact that its not even 8pm and they're both snoring away.) with all of their luggage in-tact. We relaxed a bit then the next morning we picked up the rental car I had made reservations for. Driving is fun :). We drove down to Blantyre where mom freaked out at every pot hole (as was excepted, its not like I put them there, though, sheesh). We grabbed dinner at Kips in Blantyre then headed back to Doogle's where we were staying. Mom and Dad passed out early which left me with a bunch of friends and nothing to do. We went dancing. It was awesome. Later that night my dorm bed was stolen so my friends and I got to go sleep in a private chalet. EARLY the next morning I woke up to check on my folks who were just starting to rustle around. We breakfast, then headed to Church. We attended the first church ceremony I've been to since being in Malawi.

After church we headed to the curios market to exchange money and pick up some souvenirs, that was interesting, as it usually is. After that we hit the road and headed to Mulanje where we had pizza with Bri and landed at Kara O' Mula lodge, enjoyed the hiking tails for a bit, then relaxed and spread out legs out a bit.

Early this morning we woke up and had a delicious breakfast, provided by the hotel. After that we hit the road and headed to my old site where there was a meeting with some chiefs, some friends of mine, and the womens group I was working with. There was lots of dancing and singing, obviously. We wandered around seeing everybody. On the way out we were given at least 50 pounds in banana's (I wish I was exaturating), a head of cabbage, and a live chicken with its legs tied together. Classic Malawi. We eventually came back here where we are getting ready to do it all over again tomorrow in Bri's village.

Two village headman and two sub-chiefs. On the left is Sub Chikapa, my sub chief from when I lived there, and Chief Bangu in the pink shirt.

Dad playing at the curios market.

The place we're staying here in Mulanje.

Chuck tied up so she didn't follow me into my old landlady's house.

Chuck's puppies!!

Forgive all the puppy pictures but how cute are they?!

Linda, a good friend of mine with one of the puppies.

This is how big Chuck was when I got her.

Mom and Dad with our gift, the live chicken.

Handing over the oil presses. This is Group Village Headman, Duswa, and the Chairwoman of the women's group.

Dad sharing some words with the crowd, Andrew, Duswa, and the chiefs...the women's group was there too, just not in the picture.

Looking over Mulanje, from the side of the mountain around the hotel.

I've been waiting for this pizza since Diana left in February.

As you can see, Mom and Dad made it here safely.

Shout-out to those who sent gifts for me with my folks, thank you. You will get something more personal from me as soon as possible.

<3 Amy

Sindingakulupirire! Akubwera!

2011-08-11T02:03:00.000-07:00

"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

Zithunzi

2011-07-30T00:19:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlement who contributed to the appropriate water projects, Bangu well project, this is one of the 9. Inside there is clean water. Look how happy you all made this woman who only has to walk a couple hundred meters, instead of 3-4 kilometers.

This is Andrew, one of the builders, and a friend of his. A while back I posted a picture of a hand-dug well that was covered with bamboo. This is the post-cemented result. Before too long I'll be doing another grant (and it will be posted here) to do 5 more wells to finish one in every village under Group Village Headman Duswa.

This is the house I want to move into

Dance party in Nkhata Bay. This is what Bri and I were doing while our backpacks were stollen. Don't we look excited?

PROOF! Me driving the Illala (ferry).

The Ilala herself, the ferry I drove.

Waiting on the beach for the ferry to come.

Bri reading. Taken from the trail.

Katy on the trail. She really likes hiking.

Beautiful lake Malawi.

Water break

On the trail just starting off toward Ruarwe. Leaving at sunrise. Leaving at sunrise is nice but leaving at sunrise means you have to wake up before sunrise. Before sunrise is night time. Night time is for sleeping. I had trouble. Twila and Bri. That's the lake in the background.

Sarah.

This might or not might be true, I'm unsure. I am, however, glad that the Malawian government appropriatly values their roadsigns.

This is the house I'm currently staying in. Two bedrooms is small. When I finally got all my stuff, it took a couple hours of re-arranging to be able to close the front door.

Well, the time has finally come, congratulations! Pictures for you. I have the whole day to upload them. Unfortunatly, they're the same ones I put on facebook, so those of you who have facebook will be a bit bored with nothing new except the background.

Enjoy!

I'm in Lilongwe now, I got here a couple days ago. I came to pick up oil presses, which are in the country, but because of customs, or something else, are being held hostage. I'm going to have to wait a week or so. That week or so will not be spent in Lilongwe, but at my house, at work, like a good volunteer.

Kuli Mademonstrations ku town.

2011-07-21T06:25:00.000-07:00

"There are demonstrations in town"

As many of you might have heard by now, there were anti-government demonstrations in town. As I am not supposed to comment on my feelings for or against (for) those demonstrations, I won't. Simply know that I am safe far away from town and don't intend to go anywhere near until I hear things have calmed down more than they have. Malawi has been slowly building up to needing these demonstrations throughout my entire service and it finally came time for the peace-loving people of Malawi to show their government what it means to fear its people. I will not be commenting more on the issue; I will simply be wearing red and, quietly, keeping my distance. As I am not a part of Malawi, I'm only staying here for a bit, there is no need for me the comment further. This battle is between Malawi, and its people.

I am safe, and keeping out of trouble (please recognize the amount of discipline it is taking for me to keep a safe distance from town and not poking around seeing what sort of trouble I can find for myself). In the cities, there are demonstrations/protests/riots, whatever you want to call them, whatever they are, but in the village, you wouldn't even know (despite the fact that the feelings toward the government are, generally, universal regardless of proximity to the city. Most people just want to avoid the clamor that all this is causing.).

In other news, I know I promised pictures, but as I can't go into town, you don't get any until I can. There is a PC-issued site lockdown until Sunday, to ensure that we don't, accidentally, run into any issues. These things tend to happen, you know.

If you have any further questions, e-mail me or facebook me, I have an internet phone, and "I might have forgot that my wonderful, fantastic, delightful older sister also has my log in information"

Munthu Wokuba Wanandipeza ku Nyanja

2011-07-15T05:51:00.000-07:00

"A theif found me at the lake"

After a WONDERFUL, and completely undeserved two week vacation relaxing on the many stunning beaches of Lake Malawi, Bri and I had our backpacks stollen from out tent.

Missing: Backpack, hiking boots, passport (which was then recovered), clothes, multi-tool, sunglasses, and a long series of unvaluables.

Even though its unfortunate to have things stollen, always, I'm glad it was me and not some poor tourist who had everything in his/her bag. I can go get more clothes at my house. Besides, ipod, cash, debit/credit card, phone, house key, were all on me at the time so it could have been far more than just extremely frustrating at the time.

Vacation:

Bri and I headed up to Mzuzu in the northern region in time for 4th of July celebrations at the lake in the northern region of Malawi, Nkhata Bay. Independence day was fun, fireworks and baseball-less, but fun. There was a group of volunteers from the Northern Region (who we never see), and Bri and I. The next day we picked up and headed toward the trailhead to Ruwarwe. Three days of hiking, never more than ten feet from beautiful Lake Malawi. It was incredible. I wish everyone could do it. Yes, I took pictures, but (as usual) be patient with me, I don't have a camera cord on me. The first day we hiked for about 5 or 6 hours, not counting the hour long swim break we took to fully embrace the tropical paradise we were tromping around in. That night we camped on the beach in a small fishing village. In the morning we were woken up at dawn by the fisherman singing as they came in from a long night of sitting silently in their hand dug-out canoes on the water. We packed up and headed out.

The second day was a similar program, except we pitched our tents inside a church right off the shoreline. After a long day of sweating, I decided to do some laundry in the lake. The rough waters of the giant lake stole my underwear and I had to jump in after it while a small gaggle of village children took their seats to watch the antics. I got it back, finished, went for a quick dip to rinse off and we hit our tents for the night.

The third day, since we were ahead of schedule the entire time, we only had a three hour hike until we reached our destination. We got into the lodge, it is beautiful. The only way in is hiking for three days or a ferry that comes once a week, I assume there's no more I need to say about the seclusion of the place. We enjoyed beautiful scenery, good company, a plentiful library, and delicous food for a few nights, all broken up by days of jumping off of rocks and decks and snorkeling.

Before we new it, it was time to head back to "normal" life and we made our way to the neihboring village where we would catch the Ilala (the 620 ton ferry that moves up and down Lake Malawi and a snail-pace). Boats came to shore and shuttled people to the ferry that is WAY too large to beach. We climbed on, bought our tickets and were on our way. We were in third class (the cheapest) and were sort of cramped, so I decided to wonder around a little bit (in true hobo fashion). I made my way up to the top deck eventually where I not-so-accidentally ran into the cabin:

Amy-Hello, are you the captain?
C-Yes, one of two, how can I help you?
A-I want to drive the boat.
C- Excuse me?
A-I want to drive the boat. Do people ever drive the boat?
C-Yes, uh-I do.
A-Can I drive the boat?
C-Um....sure.
A-Great!

I then spent the next chunk of time getting tutorials on the benefits and how to use pnuematic steering systems, the course we were on, and driving the Ilala ferry. Half way into my Ferry boat driving experience:

Captain2: Whose driving my boat!?!
Amy: I am! Also, I would appreciate if you refered to me as Captain, there's been a mutany on this vessel.
C2: Laughs. [Exit Stage left]

After five hours of entertaining myself on the ferry (which if you know me, personally, you know what a challenge that can be for long periods of time sitting) we finally got off in Nkhata Bay again. We stayed a few nights there, waiting for a two friends who recently finished their service to show up on their way out of Malawi to Dar es Salaam. They showed up, we had a dance party. That night our backpacks were stollen and you know the story and we're back to the beginning of this entry.

The next morning, we spent at the police station where we charmed the police into helping us with a free police report (too much charm, I think, there were 2 mairrage proposals in a matter of 2 minutes that went something like this:

Police officer: Well your passport was stolen so you can't leave the country, you're going to have to stay here.
Amy: What will I do here?
P: Marry me!
A: Sindingalole ("I can't accept that").)

After I got my passport back, we headed down to Lilongwe in the back of a truck full of sweet potatoes. We got in yesterday, slept really well (this was the first time I had slept in a bed since vacation started, since I don't have an therma-rest in countrty and I was camping the whole time to save money).

Now I'm at the Peace Corps office filling out reports and updating you find folks on my semi-interesting life (mostly for my whiny brother).

I'm ready to go back down to site and get some stuff done. Vacation is over, I have a ride to Blantyre tomorrow, then its back to work on Monday!

I hope everythings good stateside.

For more information, or a picture of the Ilala, see: http://www.malawi-travel.com/lake_malawi_south/mv_ilala_cruises.html

My luck is changing, hopefully for good

2011-06-30T23:24:00.000-07:00

So, I have been running around for a while now trying to get a new house and figure out my work situation (minus a detour to Lilongwe to say goodbye to a friend and ex-fellow Mufasa's resident who is returning back to the states). Yesterday I was on my way to the peace corps volunteer's house where all my stuff is to get things for my upcoming vacation. I was on my way and flagging down cars to give me a ride, when who stopped? Unicef (they're not aloud to pick up extra passengers)! Before I could even start talking, the driver, Allen, told me that he knows I'm Amy and that I'm working with WASH under Unicef and that he is supposed to take me around to get all of my stuff. "This is your car," he says. NDINADABWA (I was surprised)!! I stopped to see some people in the boma (because he was headed there to try to call me) where I cought up with some people. I went and found the Unicef people, turns out before I was talking to Undp. The Unicef people and I spoke about my current housing situation, and told them I am there volunteer and that they should tell me what they want me to do, I'm at their service, and they said they're going to find me a house in the boma (maybe with electricity) because I might be more useful there, but though the project I'm supposed to be working on has no funding, they have lots of other projects they would love my help with. Things are turning around. So here I am, a lonesome hobo finding a home again....maybe.

Last week I met a couple in the Chiradzulu boma from the UK, we were talking and I explained a bit about my situation and they asked me, "You don't have a blog do you?" Small world.

Today, I'm waiting for Bri (who is having a horrible time hitching to Blantyre), then we're headed up to Lilongwe for the night. Tomorrow, Mzuzu. Sunday, Nkhata Bay. From there we'll hike Rowarwe, where I have never been but I hear wonders about. After we're done hiking in, we'll stay three days in paradise, then take a ferry, the ilala, back to Nkhata bay. From there, we'll visit a friend's house, then back to Nhata Bay to say goodbye to one of the awesomest PCV's to ever live. Then its back home for the both of us. Two week vacation, here I come! I'm glad I'm leaving on a good note, I'll hurry home. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/blog-25767.html here's a link to a travel blog about ruwarwe. That's where I'm going. I'll take lots of pictures. I promise this time.

That's about all I have now except for a big congratulations to my cousin Matt who is recently engaged! We love you!

Hope everything's good in the land of plenty! Over here, things are looking up; however, in the mean time, Chuck and I are still separated.

Manyuma, yamavuta, Ntchitoso.

2011-06-27T01:28:00.000-07:00

"Houses are trouble, jobs also."

House:

I realize this is beginning to sound like the never ending story of my misplacement but it continues. I got down to my new site only to find that my house was not done being built. It was finished soon enough, however all of my stuff is still a 3 hour bike ride away at another volunteers house. It looks like it might stay there for some time also, as there is a country-wide fuel shortage, and me having something to cook on and sleep on isn't important enough for the district assembly to use there precious reserves on moving me around (understandable, yet frustrating).

The house was finished after a couple of days so I've been there. The house, as small as it is (I wanted to post pictures but the computer I'm on isn't recognizing the camera so you're going to have to wait), its fine. The problem is my extremely wealthy and even more so overbearing and clingy land lady who is horrible to her hired help and inhibiting my ability to integrate into the community because people are scared of her and what she can do when she throws her money around. I'm looking for another house, one that is not on a family compound, with more space, my own toilet, and a kitchen. Not too much to ask for, me thinks. Finding a house is seeming to consume all my time since my landlady is making it difficult, she doesn't want her Chichewa, Chilomwe-speaking monkey to leave her house, it gives her a step up over the rest of the community. So that's that, I'm house-hunting.

Work:

When I arrived in the BOMA for work, the first thing I did was meet with the District Commissioner to introduce myself and and figure out what my work situation is. She said that the project I was supposed to be working on is idol and has been for six months now for lack of funding. They offered to give me busy work to occupy myself, which I quickly refused. So, here I am, with 8 months left of my service and no job to do but starting over in a new community, finding projects for myself to do. Here we go. We'll see what happens.

On the bright side, I still love Malawi, I'm just a bit more excited to finish my contract than I was before.

Borehole:

One last update. For those of you who have been following me and waiting for the borehole project to come through, it won't. It has been canceled. The Peace Corps office took so long to process my grant (about 9 months after all was said and done, and still not quite finished), that people in the community (the primary and secondary school committees) thought the village development committee, along with myself, stole the money that was raised for the community contribution (about 90,000 Malawian Kwacha = about 600 USD). They asked for the money back and for the grant to be canceled, despite my best efforts to advise them otherwise. They said they would prefer to take the money the school children had raised and do a smaller scale, less reliable, but much cheaper piping system, rather than a full-fledged borehole. That is that.

Oh Murphy, I am your sister.

Ndapeze nyumba, kawiri!

2011-06-09T04:33:00.000-07:00

"I found a house, again!"

Last week I went down to chiradzulu to look at houses that had already been scouted out. They were declined by the safety and security department of our office because of the amount of people in one compound and the toilet situation (shared..not cool by peace corps). Anyway, since that insident, I've been back in Lilongwe in meetings about what we are to do about my homelessness. Success! Monday I leave for Chiradzulu (right outside of Blantyre) where I'll be living in a guest house on a family compound. I'll take pictures as soon as possible and see if I can manage to get them online, or anywhere, really.

While I was down in the southern region, I got to stop by my old village. I saw a good friend's daugher in the distrcit hostpital, she's receiving TB medication and doing well.

Last weekend I went to the lake. It was wonderful.

Anyway, I'm here in Lilongwe until Monday morning when I head down south.

Nyumba yakupezeka....I hope

2011-05-31T02:21:00.000-07:00

"A house is available...I hope"

So, while I'm still here in Lilongwe, enjoying rituals like the barbreaking party, representing the last night at Mufasa's (the backpacker's lodge where I've been staying for two and a half months) old location and the move to a different location. I had the honor and the privalage of taking the first swing at a giant pile of bricks and cement with a sledge hammer I could barely lift while a group of roughly 30 Canadians, 1 Englishman, 1 other American, and roughly 6 Malawian's cheered me on. Always a good time. Pictures to come as soon as I replace the batteries in my camera.

A good friend of mine from my village came through Lilongwe two days ago. He was north of here and headed through town on his way to Nsanje (as far south as you can go without being in Mozambique). He stayed long enough to have a fanta, see the office, and threaten a man who insists that I marry him. Thanks Namanya, it was a great visit. Not to taunt you with possible, false promises, but I have pictures of him here too, that you might get to see if I feel like it....and again, the battery thing.

In other, more exciting news, a house has been identified for me. Everyone, cross our fingers that it doesn't fall through, as these things have a bad habit of doing, thus, proving Murphy's law correct at every opportunity. Tomorrow, I'll leave Lilongwe and head down to Chiradzulu, where my new site is. I'll stay with a friend that night and go see the new house (one bedroom, 11km away from the office I'll be working with, no electricity- but hey, its a house), then head to Mulanje. After arrival in Malawi's most beautiful district, I'll visit Spoon (a good friend)'s daughter in the hosptital who is receiving treatment for the galoping consumption (as some would say) for the next two weeks after months of un-identifiable illness. She seems to be doing well, as far as I can tell from my breif, yet frequent phone conversations with her mother. After a short visit in the hostpital I'll go to Bri's house. Overnight at Bri's, then I'll stop by my old site to see some old friends on the way to Blantyre. A night in blantyre, then its off to the lake for a weekend of party and relaxation (if those two can be combined). I'm excited for a bit of roaming after being on the border of becoming a barnacle for so long. Awe, freedom, how you taunt me with your breezes.

What else is there to report? I was poked fun at yesterday for being pale for the first time in this country. Do we know what that means? I'm being a good little northwesterner and wearing sunblock! Be proud Mom and Doctor who will most likely treat my skin cancer that I could have given myself from being flaky. That can happen, you know. Flakiness leads to cancer, I hear.

Anyway, Mufasa's moves today after a long time planning. Hopefully I don't lose all of my worldy posessions in the process, especially since my leaving tomorrow would leave me with limited recovery time.

What else, what else, what else? PCPP has been signed off by Peace Corps Malawi and forwarded to Peace Corps- Washington DC so, hopefully that should be up soon, I will update when it is. Borehole!!

I think that's all for now, I'm hungry, and I do beleive its time for lunch!

Kusowa nyumba.

2011-05-19T01:28:00.000-07:00

"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!

Abwana anakana

2011-05-09T00:46:00.000-07:00

The boss refused.

The final word is in, I can't return to Mulanje. Sometime (hopefully in the near future, but no one can know for sure) I will be headed down to look at a new position near Blantyre. Hopefully that works out. In the mean time, I'm around.

Ndikusamuka

2011-05-07T07:45:00.000-07:00

So, I would first of all like to apologize for my lack of updates/communication for the last two months as I haven’t had much to say. On March 12th, due to a security issue (in reality, Peace Corps being over-protective because of recent policy changes as a result of re-occurring bad press) I was pulled from my site. Since then, after spending a week with the new trainees, I’ve been in Lilongwe. I’ve spent the last two months in Malawi’s capitol trying to decide if I want to stay in Malawi, as well as trying to find a new site for me to live for the next year before my close of service in April, 2012. These two tasks involved me sitting around the Peace Corps office, bored, a lot. Anyway, under the saying, “if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all,” I’ve been silent (except for updates on the new trainees). So, here’s what happened (forgive me if I have already explained either partially or in full):

In December I found out some behaviors of my former counterpart that forced me to stop working with him because I did not want to be associated with him and those behaviors in a community, especially when we were both supposed to live a certain lifestyle, an example of development and behavior changes. I stopped working with him and cut off all communication between him, his family, and myself. I started working directly with the traditional authorities in the area as well as active community members (instead of a government-assigned forestry extension worker who only lived in the area because of a government assignment). After changing my professional associations within the community, I had become, in general, a more affective volunteer.

Some time after I had cut off communication with my old counterpart, I was informed, by the Peace Corps office, that he had been calling the man in charge of safety and security to ‘tell them what I was up to’. I was telling the Peace Corps office lies about what I was doing and who I was associated with at site in hopes of removing me from the area to make room for someone who would be more willing to work with him. After the 6th phone call, I was called into the office for an explanation. Rather than being unquestionably supported by personnel in the Peace Corps office, I was lectured for disrupting the relationship between Peace Corps and the department of forestry. After feeling I did, in no way, need to defend myself against the frustrated spouting’s of a rejected, and ego-bruised man, I went to the next highest authority to report my being unsupported by the staff in the office. Because of, what I can only imagine was a misinterpretation of my objections, said higher authority remembered my complaints in a different light.

Months later, when I was helping as the PCV of the week for the new trainees, I found out that the highest authority on safety and security for my region was coming to the college of forestry to lecture as an expert on safety and security. While he was in the area, a particular authority within the Peace Corps ladder decided it would be a good have me explain my situation to him. I explained it in the light of me not being supported by staff; he received it as a security report. After not more than a two minute conversation with me, he decided there was too much of a risk and I should be pulled from my site. One nightmare of a miscommunication.

All parties involved (except myself and former counterpart) had a meeting and decided to pull me from my village. The decision officially came from Peace Corps main office in DC. I spent the next two weeks trying to fight the decision and have it overturned. This process included phone calls, visiting my chief and community members, letter writing, ect. The decision remained the same. I started trying to find another site. I was offered three positions (including teaching abstinence-only education, working with a district forestry officer who asked me to do his job for him, and a village with a drunk for a chief), all availability due to the sub-par quality of the positions.

Update of the last two weeks: An ideal position has been made available to me but due to the amount of time I have already been out of site, the slow motion timing in which things here tend to run, and the unwillingness of my supervisor to do excess paperwork, that may not happen. Also, my old counterpart has been transferred to a different district, as per his request. These two situations are up in the air but will, with a little hope, find resolution within the next week.

In the mean time, I’ve been living in a backpackers lodge in the capitol in a room with 13 beds in it (most of which are filled with any combination of peace corps volunteers and/or travelers on any given night). The picture is the place where I’ve been sleeping for 2 months now (with exception of the few nights I spent in Blantyre or at Bri’s site). It has surely been interesting. No personal space, no alone time. I have, however, made contacts all over the world, which might or might not come in handy depending on the severity of my future hobo-ing. To protect any possible future contact I have made so to remain hospitable in any way possible. I show people around the city, I take them to the market, I offer myself up as a translator, ect.

All and all, given the situation (and day, of course) I feel I’m doing pretty well, especially considering the fact that I’ve been living out of a backpack for 2 months that when I packed I intend to be gone for 5 days.

Happy Easter, Happy May Day, Happy Cinco de Mayo, and more than anything…

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY, Mom!!!

Amy

Trainees

2011-04-07T23:18:00.000-07:00

I had it in my head that I was going to build up a hearty little collection of pictures for those concerned but what I didn't anticipate was my battery dieing. That being said, these two pictures were the only one's I got. Its better than nothing right? Also, the new trainees head down to site visit tomorrow so, with any luck they should be able to access the internet. Also, as you maybe know, they have their phones. So there's that. Anyway, this weekend I'm going down to Blantyre to help guide their little souls as an act of orienting them to the wonder that is the Southern Region of Malawi so I should have pictures of people being sent to the South.

I just can't get enough

2011-04-06T22:55:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day of homestay for the new trainees. That means today is the village fairwell celebration then tomorrow the move out and the day after that, they're headed to sitevisits. I'm going down to Dedza today (since my work load has failed to increase, let alone exist) to watch the festivities (complete with the Guli Wankhulu...the seceret dancing society of Malawi). Look for pictures later today or tomorrow (probably tomorrow).

Chuck update

2011-04-03T23:45:00.000-07:00

So I'm back in Lilongwe after a nice week at my sitemate, Bri's house and a great weekend in Blantyre. Last Monday I was allowed to go into my village to get some things from my house after being out of site for a month. The country director met with my chief and old counterpart, said the meeting went well but that I should keep my fingers crossed because he really doesn't see it doing anything. Anyway, there is supposed to be sometime in the near future or recent past a conference call to the main office to suggest they overturn their decision but I've been informed that its extremely unlikely and I should prepare for the worst, which I have been. After the meeting in my village, I headed over to Bri's house where I stayed all week. We spent most of our time sitting on a make-shift futon (a mattress that we bent between the wall and the floor, reading and watching movies on our various laptops. I went with her to some meetings, we made a mud stove for her peanut butter-making group, and walked around hanging out with different people in her village who complain that I'm never around. It was a really great time. I'm glad I did it. After a few days in Bri's village, the two of us headed into Blantyre. A mutual

friends parents are in country so we sort of spent the weekend helping show them around. It was a really good time. On Saturday, said friend and parents headed up to Lilongwe after a quick detour to see a cultural center just of the coast of the lake. I tagged along for the free ride....and free bananas. Saturday evening we got into Lilongwe where I have been ever since catching up with friends who I haven't seen in a while and trying not to blow all my money on food (I bought bread and peanut butter yesterday). I guess that pretty much catches you all up on what's been happening with me. I know there are a lot of people waiting to hear what the decision concerning me and my site will be. Prepare for the worst but I will update when I find anything out.

In the mean time, here are pictures of Chuck from when I stopped by my house. She was so excited to see me that she peed on my foot. My cousin Jenni said that it was payback for me accidentally peeing on her head.

Oh how the world works in circles.

Pictures of the Trainees!

2011-03-20T00:22:00.000-07:00

So, every Thursday, the trainees take a break from village life in class and with their homestay families to go to the college of forestry. Its everyones favorite day because not only are they re-united weekly with their entire group (instead of broken up into four homestay villages) but they get a break from the usual schedule. They meet with he medical staff, get more shots, administrative staff, and do anything necesary to do with the entire group.

This is all the pictures I have, so I hope I got everyone!

Elizabeth is from Seattle! West Coast (Pacific Northwest-more specifically) love! Mary likes bugs.

This is Trason (trainee) talking to Lauren (PCV) outside of the dining hall at the college of forestry.

Hanging out after snack. Behind them is one of the two dorms they stayed in their first week in country.

Justin-PCV of the week and one of my sitemates.

Right after lunch. Don't worry, they're eating well.

Lots of eating pictures here.

Sorry its blurry, they were just so excited to say hi to America.

Hungry trainees.
Sitting in class, learning about cultural excepctatons and gender rolls. I guess I distracted half of them when I took this picture.

Music Videos!

2011-03-18T23:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, Since I've found myself in Lilongwe for a semi-long period of time with endless access to free internet, I've decided I am going to share with you some of my favorite Malawian songs/videos. These are songs I hear anytime I go go ANYWHERE. I love them. Ok,so they're not neccesarily Malawian but Malawian's LOVE them.

"Bwanzi Langa" by Kapirintiya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2l4pDHOHyo&NR=1

"Mphete" or "Tuphe Lonse" by Dan Lufani (this is my favorite but I can't find the video)

"Dalo" by The Black Missionaries (sorry the videos bad and partial)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee4hB9vg3PM

"Beautiful Girls" by Sean Kingston (I think this guy's South African)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrTz5xjmso4

There are more but I'll save those for when there are no other people trying to use the internet.

Note on the new trainees: They're doinggreat and loving Malawi. When I was at their training for a week I offered to translate anything they needed me to to their hostfamilies....it was mostly to tell their host parents that they're really happy. They're adjusting to the culture well, learning the language quickly, and enjoying themselves and each other. If you are friends or related to any of the new trainees, you should be proud, they're great. I have pictures and I will post them...they're just stuck on my camera until I can remove them. No one seems to have the right size camera cord. You will see them this week, though. Don't worry. If you have anyone in particular you want a story about (especially environment volunteers), give me their name (I check comments) and I can tell you, more specifically how they're doing! I'm happy to help! I know its stressful not knowing how your loved ones are for 2 months. Stick in there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrTz5xjmso4

Off to See the New Trainees We Go

2011-03-06T04:22:00.000-08:00

I just purchased toilet paper. What's left? Go to Dedza (for which transport leaves sometime in the next sometime) and gently guide and nurture the new trainees into an existance that will define the most spectacular experience of their lives. I bought soap too.

I'll be in Dedza Sunday till Sunday. That means no internet, and no updates until next Sunday. I'll try to take pictures of the trainees in my village for anyone who might be hoping to see proof of their existance from back home.

zifoto

2011-02-28T04:01:00.000-08:00

My neighbor lady getting water. This was not posed, she was just excited that I was taking her picture. She was actually trying to not smile (typical here).This is one of the bicycle taxi guys who takes me for free sometimes. This is him posing...he then giggle like a little girl when I showed him this picture.
This is spoon mixing some nice mud so we can make her a mud oven. She bakes flour rolls and sells them making a fraction of a penny per each one. That business is her only source of income. She's also the chairwoman of the Village Development Committee and the coolest woman in my village.
This is my dear from Esme, half of her brother, Andrew, and Prang-Mantis (sp?) Sorry its blurry, I was scared to get closer. They bight, you know.
This is Chuck showing the world that she is a terror.

Because the internet is fast (relativity speaking) right now.

Enjoy!

Graduate Program Search

2011-02-28T03:22:00.000-08:00

I'm currently looking into programs involving Civil and Environmental Engineering, more specifically as it relates to international development. So, if anyone of you fine blog-readers has any information on said program, your help would be much appreciated. Masters program, not PhD.

I came into the boma today to finish my quarterly report but I am having problems with the file (it downloaded incorrectly last time I was in the office) so I'm spending my time finally looking for graduate programs.

The last couple days in my village have been oddly relaxing, which worries me because I know that only ever happens right before the storm hits and everything happens at once. There is a lot pending. I've been spending this time catching up with different people who I have been accidently neglecting, and running around bugging different people about meetings that need to happen because I am going up to Dedza on Saturday or Sunday and I want things to happen before I'm gone for who knows how long.

Ok, I'm hungry. Time for food.

Ntchito, ikuyenda pang'ono pang'ono

2011-02-24T02:30:00.000-08:00

"Work is going slowly"

A project that I more or less found funding and plans for (missing only a final budget) might or might not have been interfered with this week by a large organization here that may or not not necessarily be non-governmental. Frustrating. Its ok though. I have a meeting tomorrow morning with the village development committee to discuss said issues. This might involve me changing projects to something other than that which was more or less almost done being planned. On the bright side, someone in my village got to watch me yell at government employees who were trying to manipulate me....that didn't work.

The rainy season is tapering off about now. Its been a week with no storm, only sprinkles. I'm taking advantage of the dryer weather to make a mud oven for my favorite women in my village, Spoon. Awesome. She's actually doing most of the work because I've had too much running around to do.

I learned that, in Malawi, one is good friends with a person of the opposite gender, people in the village assume that you have promised to marry one another. I'm stamping out rumors.

Chuck plays in the mud all the time...I don't know where she finds it, there's been no rain.

This morning I went to Blantyre to try to get my old phone number back but it didn't work. I was told blank sim cards would be in by Monday but then today they said they won't be in until late March. Ugg. So, for what its worth to those who call me, call my TNM number not my Zain number. Ask my mother for it....actually, its +265881284342. On the bright side, I also went to the shop who sold me this other piece of crap phone and yelled at them in front of customers until they gave me a new battery. Sometimes if one is too nice, people try to convince the customer that the problem could not be the phone, but the user.

I just typed a whole sentence in chichewa without thinking about it....I deleted it. The people at the Mount Mulanje Conservation Trust (where i use the internet and charge my electronics) recently found out that I speak chichewa and now refuse to speak english with me.

Really, I don't have too much happening at my site right now, I'm just making preparations so I can be gone for a week starting a week from Saturday to help with training for the new volunteers coming to country this week! I'm excited for them to come! Speaking of, if there are any loved ones of the new volunteers who read this, I'll try to post some pictures of them...I know my mother definitely appreciated when people did that for me.

So...I really have nothing left to say. I'm just trying to look productive so that I am here (charging my electronics so I can later watch Pocohantes...thanks Mere!...on my laptop) more legitimately.

Pamene bwana amabwera ku town, Timada ulere!

2011-02-17T23:54:00.000-08:00

"When the boss comes to town, we eat for free!"

So, After Diana left, I left Lilongwe in a hurry (I don't like to stick around there too long, money slips away). On the way down to site, I stopped by a friends in a neihboring district. We stayed there and had a mini party for a couple days. It was great. After speading a couple of days at said friends house we headed to Mulanje where we went for a small hike to see a waterfall. When I was trying to put my pants back on after a while swimming in the frigid water, my cell phone jumped (litterally jumped) out of my pocket only to land in a small (but seemingly endless) cave-pool thing never to be found again, whether by hand or foot. I am without a cellphone.

After a while, we eventually decided to head back down the mountain. A group of people headed toward a hostil in the boma, and a group of people (4) headed toward my house. We grabbed dinner and got back home in the evening. We stayed at my house for a couple days hinging out. After 2 nights, they left in the afternoon to go back to their sites. I was left alone, theoretically, for the first time since Diana came weeks before. People kept coming over and the rain wouldn't stop so I couldn't do laundry or wash dishes (that's legit enough of an excuse, right?). One night at my house, then I left again the next morning to head into Blantyre because the Director for all of Peace Corps Africa was in town. When Bri and I got to the boma to start hitching, we came across a peace corps vehicle (in the district to check out another PCV's house). Free ride to town! We got to ride for a while with the coutnry director (whom I never get facetime with) and talk about my projects and my community, ect ect, blah blah blah. It was great! We got into town, showered up and then went to kips for a dinner with Dick, the big boss. We ate and talked about Peace Corps, gave suggestions for improvement, talked about successes, ect. It was a good time.

After the dinner was over, there was talk of dancing but we were all pretty tuckered out from eating so we retured to our different hostils and hung out there with other people we don't know (at least that's what I did).

The next morning we got up bright and early to meet for Peace Corps transport again, going to Mulanje. We stopped in Thyolo to see some other volunteers' sites, then went to the pizza place in the mulanje boma (often drooled over, rarely experienced). Delicious. More talking with Vic and Dick about projects, things going on, suggestions, successes, sucking up, ect. It was really great to and both parties were extremely receptive to anything I wated to say from de-centralizing the entire organization, to the benefits of getting ducks over chickens or turkeys. It was a great time.

After lunch, we worked another free ride back to town so I can take care of some other things, get a new phone, maybe hit the clothes market, and ...most importantly...go to BBQ at a friends house (today).

That's what's been going on here. I'm off now to get some stuff for said BBQ, maybe some new duds, and definitly a new phone. Hope everythings good back home! Nice and sunny and warm here...the rain's even tapering off.

One more week until I am no longer a first-year volunteer, until the new trainies come in, until I'm not a newby anymore...next week is big. Really big. I'll try to celebrate in my village while being wild-ly productive saving the world with one pinky.

Love from Malawi!

forgot something

2011-02-10T06:35:00.000-08:00

Future Peace Corps Volunteers of Malawi who are coming in...what, 2 weeks? Some of you are packed, some of you won't start until the night before you leave for staging, but I bet all of you are nervous. You've done enough blog, list, whatever stalking to see the recomended lists of what to bring. Here is my supplement:

I brought a small cast-iron skillet to country. I use it every day.
Bring a tent if you have it, you'll use it. If you don't have one by now, there's always someone to bum off of.
BRING A LAPTOP. You will NOT regret it.
Chacos.
Old Navy/american flip flops of your choice.
People from my group brought some coffee and french press to enjoy during training...it made us happy.
Girls, bring something nice clothes/make-up but one set for events and swearing in. You won't where them ever again but if you have the space its nice. If not, borrowing is always an option.
Don't worry about bringing presents for people. They're happy with market stuff.
Something warm. Dedza is cold (50's-70's sometimes hotter but still cold).
Feminine products (if you are female in any way) enough to get you through training and after if you're picky....but you should get a diva cup (they sell them at REI). Amazing.
Clothes: Bring the clothes you wear in the US. You'll be comfortable. Don't go out and buy all new quick-dry, anti-microbial, SPF whatever, clothes. Uncessesary. I wear jeans and a tank-top/t-shirt. Bring a few skirts for homestay (as long as they don't show your knees when you're sitting but even if they're too short you can wear them with leggings under)
Load your laptop/harddrive with movies, music, and tv shows for you to watch/share.
I brouht parmesian cheese and have yet to regret it.

Before I came, I had a bunch of questions, so if you do, I check comments...but also, you can just find me on facebook. Hope that helps!

I'll be helping with your second week of training so I'll see you before too long!

Anakwera Ndege

2011-02-10T06:18:00.000-08:00

"She boarded the airplane"

This morning, Diana and I got up, puttered around a bit, then took a cab (split a cab with an australian girl heading to Ghana) to the airport. We waited around for her to check in, had lunch, then split our separate ways. She went through security early thinking it might be like security checks in America (not) so I had already left, gotten 2 free rides and was back in town 45 full minutes before she even boarded the plane.

I've spent the last couple hours taking care of everything there is to do in the office (medical re-supply, check in with safety and security, check in with IT, with my boss, talked about fundnig resources, got my W-2, found proposal information for a girls-empowerment camp, ect ect. This has been the most succesfull 3 hours I've had in weeks). I also wanted to buy oil presses but, as it turns out, they are out of stock in the ENTIRE COUNTRY. In the mean time, I promise to hold onto that money and not let it slip away to whatever my money slips away to. Don't worry. Anyway, tomorrow I head back down south to a friends house for a couple days (to soften the blow of being by myself and without my big sister again) then back to my house on Sunday....then back to work Monday morning.

It's been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks having Diana here. More than seeing elephants, more than laughing at her butt hurting on minibuses and watching her surprisingly take pictures of chickens on buses and goats everywhere, it was nice to have someone back home to share the experience with. I can describe things here all day long but its just not the same until someone sees it. I know that because of the, "Ohhhh, that's what you meant!" all the time.

As sad as I am to see her go, I'm excited and ready to get back to work. If you want to know all of the things we did, look here in the next week for a guest-blog entry (hopefully, complete with pictures).

Now all I need is a new bycicle pump. :)

Diana's taking SOOO many pictures!!!

2011-02-01T01:26:00.000-08:00

Diana and I are down in Mulanje now hanging out at my house. Yesterday, at Bri's house she carried water on her head and spilled a bunch of it. Half way to Bri's house, she said the water was too heavy and made Bri take the bucket from her......that'll get her to respect the water distance....My house, however, we had to stage water carrying because my well is literally RIGHT next to my house (something she thought was an lie?) We've spent the last couple days wandering around my village showing off another American. I've been doing a lot of translation....and, according to Diana, a lot of forgetting to translate. I'm trying. The funniest part about Diana being here is EVERYONE is confused by the fact that, even though Diana is older than me, I'm taller. People can't wrap her head around it. I'm also learning that Diana is the first person people in my village have ever met who speaks NO Chichewa (they don't count the typical greetings I guess). They keep telling me how weird it is that she doesn't understand....which is ok because I think its weird too that she doesn't understand.

Anyway, we're having a good time so far. I just found out that I'm going to be helping out in the first week of homestay for the new trainees coming in this month. I'll be there March 6th until March 12th holding the trainies hands through the first little chunk of homestay. YEAH! I'm so excited!

Okay, this week, we're off to go find elephants for Diana, but until then, we're just hanging out meeting everyone in my village. Funny fact: when they meet Diana, everyone in my village says , "when does your brother, the pilot come?" (I haven't been translating that one for Diana but I thought you'de like that, Jeff). haha.

Bye for now!

"Everyone is carrying everything on their heads!"

2011-01-26T23:42:00.000-08:00

"Yep, Diana, that's what people do here.....its better for your back"

Tuesday afternoon, Diana arrived safely. I wanted to hitchhike out of the airport but a massive rainstorm was coming, I didn't want to get wet and we got a really cheap cab ride (the trick to bargaining in this country is to NOT actually want what you're bargaining for). So within the hour of her flying in, we were safe at Mufasas (the lodge we stayed at) and unloading all the sweet stuff you sent with Diana. WOW. I can't even begin to list everything and thank everyone but its FAR BEYOND anything I expected or deserved. Thank you everyone. Clothes, lotion, grandpa's fudge, cereal, tuna.....amazing. I'm going to eat really well for a while.

Diana and I went to bed early, got up the next morning and headed to the peace corps office....which was soon deserted because Laura Bush is in country and evidentally agreed to meet with the grubby peace corps volunteers. We took advantage of the empty office and got a new back wheel for my brocken bike then headed out. After waiting not too long we got a ride in a giant truck all the way to Blantyre (not normal). It was great, until we got o ut and the driver wanted us to pay. Lame. Oh well. We spent last night in Blantyre, where we'll spend another night tonight getting supplies, watching a movie, getting oilpresses, ect.

Tomorrow, we go to my village where Diana will see how I live for a few days (until early next week) when I get my butt in gear and find something exciting for us to do. Maybe canoe safari? Maybe lake? Who knows what her two weeks left in country will come up with us but judging by her general fascination with this country (and we havn't even left the city yet) it has to be good.

the countdown as come to an end

2011-01-24T22:29:00.000-08:00

Diana lands at the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, Malawi in approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. That means, as soon as I finish with this, I'm going to to start hitching in that direction.

Yesterday I got into Lilongwe via back of a truck. Before I got in, we had this conversation:

me:hi! I'm headed toward Lilongwe but will go as far as you're going north.

them:We're headed to lilongwe too.

me: great!

them: ok, go ahead and get in, will you be comfortable in back?

me: of course, no problem! Anything's better than a minibus.

them: yeah, ok, so how much can you pay?

me: (upon hearing the words 'pay' stopped climbing in) oh. um, I really was hoping to not pay.

them: Only 1000 kwacha

me: I really don't want to pay

them: oh, youre hitch hiking, well just pay half, 500 kwacha.

me: um....its ok, don't worry, I'll just wait for another car, someone will come.

them: wait, are you peace corps?

me:uh, yeah.

them: just get in.

me: thanks!

So I made it. Now, its about time to go to the airport and wait for Diana. Note, I am going 2 hours early so I will be sure to get there in time for her plane to land.

Its sure to be an interesting couple of weeks. People in my village are just as excited for her to come as I am. I'm not sure what her trip as in store for her but we'll find out.

Ok, I'm off to the airport! To get "another american!" in the words of a friend in my village.

Ankulu anga abwera lachiwiri!!

2011-01-21T05:40:00.001-08:00

"My older sister comes Tuesday!!"

I lot has happened in the last 3 weeks. I returned from vacation. I moved houses. I lost a night watchmen (because of the house move) then hired and fired another. Learned that pasteurizing milk is just cooking it a bit. Cut the forestry extension working in my area (previous colleuge) out of my life due to his bad behavior. I broke my camera. I learned how long milk lasts without refrigeration (less than 24 hours). I was told that I speak Chichewa with a Lomwe accent ( a prominent tribe in the southern region of Malawi where I live).

My new house is amazing. If you scroll down to the last time i uploaded pictures there is a picture of a house. That's where I liven now. Its amazing. I moved last Thursday. The previous week I found a car to hire and we agreed on a day, time, and price. Thursday morning comes (the agreed upon day and time) and no show. Bri (who graciously promised to help me move because she's seen my packing skills first-hand) and I waited outside my house with all of my stuff, through a rainstorm, until 4pm when a friend came over to make sure I moved. He saw that we were, in fact, still waiting, then grabbed a bike and went to another drivers house and returned with a truck. I was moved within the hour. Bri and I spent the next 2 days in my house cleaning and decorating ( a task she was weirdly excited about). Bri's a weirdo, I can say that because she'll never read this. There's not much point to saying that, though, because she's sitting right next to me, and I find myself so funny that I just told her. The conversation went as follows:

Me: (I read what I wrote)

Bri: Oh yeah, that's true. Wait. Why am I a weird-o?

Me: Because you were excited to clean and decorate my new house.

Bri: Yeah, ok.

At my new house, not only do my neighbors and landlord not constantly ask me for money, but they bring me freshly milked milk every morning (which I pasteurize...a process to be a lot simpler than one who was completely unfamiliar with cattle might think....Diana).

I am a frod as a Peace Corps Volunteer. My house has 6 rooms and (thanks to the REI garage salesand my wonderful father and sister and all the WONDERFUL people who send me coffee all the time ...shoutout to the Dutchers!...) I drink freshly ground coffee with fresh milk every morning. There's also a rumor going around that my new house might be wired for electricity. Can you imagine...a fridge? No, a hotplate? No, enough electricity to watch the office on my laptop? Yes. It has to be too good to be true. We'll see. Maybe lightning will strike or something. Anyway, the point is, its wonderful. Chuck (who is still annoying like a puppy) loves it too even though I took her away from her friend, Coal, my neihbors dog.....she'll get over it. We play games with banana leaves.

I used to work with a forestry extension worker. I don't anymore. I found out that he's been doing very corrupt things in my village so I cut all ties with him. He things we're at war and is not spreading rumors about me around my village. Unfortunately for him, he underestimated the level to which I have integrated into my community and people stand up for me and tell me everything he's saying and tell me they know he's lieing. I thank them and refuse to gossip back because I finished middle school when I was 13. He has my pressure cooker. That bugs me more than anything. 15 minutes until fully-cooked beans? Someone is a genius for inventing that. One never appreciates things like fast beans until he or she is forced to cook on fire....or a kerosine stove as it maybe me.

So now, I have shifted who I work with from this certain forestry extension worker, to my chief, the chairwoman of the village development committee, and the chairman of the village committee. I am much more affective now. Long story, short, I'm doing very well.

Today is Friday. Tomorrow I will wash every article of clothing I own using rain water I collected from the monsoon yesterday. Sunday, I have a meeting with my entire village about cementing the hand-dug wells in the village. Monday morning I leave for Lilongwe. TUESDAY, DIANA COMES IN! I am so excited for all those ranch packets she's brining me.....I mean, to see me sister! Just kidding Diana. She took the news very well that we're going to have to hitch-hike out of the airport because there are no buses and cabs are too expensive. Yeah!

My old night watchman didn't come with me to my new house because it was too far from his grocery store and he was tired of working nights. No problem. My cheif found me a new one....William. William worked 2 days then asked to borrow money from me. Came to work everyday smelling like Kachasu (Malawian Moonshine), and didn't do anything to make me feel safe. I fired him. He took that well. I told him he did a bad job. When I told him, however, to leave the flashlight I bought him (because he only worked for 5 days and it was the flashlight of my night watchmen, not his) he freaked out and refused. He told me I had to pay him 5 months pay and then ran (literally, ran) away with the flashlight to tattle on me to the chief (who brought the flashlight back the next morning and apologized on his behave). The chief offered to find me another guard but I told him that I wanted to try without one for a while (which means I can put peanut butter back in my budget). Bri (because she was there when this went down) would like to note that when William ran away with the flashlight under the pretense that he needed it to see in the dark on his way to the chiefs to tattle on me, failed to actually turn it on. He really just waved it around while he LITERALLY ran away.

I'm not sure what else has been happening other than its been raining and I have a lot on my plate work-wise.

Oh, I got paid today. I splurged and bought myself some corn flakes so I can have cereal in the mornings with the milk my landlady brings me....of course with a side of lactaid. Yum. That way, I don't have to cook for myself before I leave to get Diana at the airport. Don't worry Diana, I'll get my pressure-cooker back before you come so we can have beans. That's how much I love you. Mmmmmm. Beans.

What else, its pineapple season! Yeah! I need to plant flowers at my new house.

Christmas cards are starting to come in. I got a bunch of letters today, no packages, but letters. For those of you who sent letters, by the way, and they haven't come here, there's hope. I got a letter today that was send in June....it wasn't even mis-sent to Jamaica. Weird. The letter was from Allison.

I bought a pair of earrings and a tank top today. Its been a productive week. Actually, I've has a couple meetings a day every day (which means I finally learned the shortcut between my new house and the chiefs house...that's been handy.)

People have ceased to send Ukulele tabs.

All is great here. Sorry for being skatter-brained.

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T05:33:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone. Not a lot has changed in the past week. I'm still here at the lake having an awesome time, frequently applying sunblock, and eating fresh fish. I was on the southern part of the lake in Cape MaClear, but now I'm up north at Nkhata Bay. Good times. Happy New Year to all! Welcome to 2011.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-22T01:00:00.000-08:00

First of all a big thanks to all those who donated to the Bangu well project. You're really making a difference to the people in my community. When I told the Chairman of the Village Development Committee (the one in the pink shirt below), that I secured funding for shovels, piping, and bags of cement, he went nuts and started dancing. So thanks from all of us in the village!

The last couple days I've been sick so I'm still recovering from that. Before you get excited, you should know that its just a head cold...nothing cool and exotic. This morning I got an awesome hitch into town where I am until tomorrow morning when I'm off to the lake.

I'm excited to spend the next two weeks hanging out by the lake, though it doesn't feel like Christmas, maybe its because its so hot and humid. Oh well, first Christmas away from home and I'll be spending it in a tropical paradise. Not bad.

I hope everyone over there has a great Christmas and a very happy New Year!

I send pictures in the mail yesterday so you should get those in a few weeks.

This is not the borehole project...but

2010-12-20T05:36:00.001-08:00

http://appropriateprojects.com/node/473

This is for a smaller scale water project with my community. There is no water in my area so people in the village are resorting to what they're ancestors did...they're digging them. this project is to get more supplies and find cement so the water is clean(er).

This is my real first approved grant, so I'm excited! This is an amazing organization if you're looking for some place to donate. Its only available for peace corps volunteers which means more of the donated money actually goes to the project. I'll be buying bags of cement the first of the new year.

I should tell my friend Andrew (the one in the pink shirt in the photo) that he's famous. That might excited him.

This morning I headed to the bank with three members from the village development committee so they have a place to store borehole money before its done (mostly so its not in my house). Done and done after waiting 4 hours in the bank (that's how things are done here) and then lecturing the teller about the necessity and functions of the federal reserve (idiot). I even offered to draw her a graph, I'm not sure why she declined...maybe it was a translation issue. Whatever.

Rain storm. The rain finished but I have a problem with my bicycle tire....can't figure that one out and I have 18km before I'm home. Won't walk it...what to do.

Anyway, Wednesday I'm off to the lake to enjoy my Christmas vacation for a week and a half! I'm excited. I just got all those pictures and videos my mom sent so a big thanks and I miss you to all the folks in Lake Stevens. You're great. I'm going to send more pictures tomorrow in the mail so hopefully they should get there in a few weeks!

Thanks for all of your support, I'll try to get another post in my Christmas, maybe pictures if your lucky (actually, no, that won't happen, sorry). Anyway, hope all is well in 'merika!

Chitukuko wa Madzi

2010-12-13T01:42:00.000-08:00

One of the diggers standing in front of a hand-dug,un-cemented, traditional well.

I might move here."Water Development"

Dear, Lake Stevens, WA,

I am craving an Ixtapa Burrito and a Pepsi. Eat/drink on on my behave. Don't forget the chips and salsa. Most of my cravings are Mexican food.

That is completely beside the point but now that its out of the way I can get back to the issue at hand...what's happening here.

Yesterday, I was at a friends house when I saw a little boy dancing. He reminded me of a muppet so I laughed at him. It turned out he ate to quickly at was choking a little. Fail. People asked me why I was laughing at a choking 8-year-old boy....I tried to explain that he looked like a muppet (with my explanation I did my muppet-head/arm flail-you know what I'm talking about) but the explanation didn't help my case. Luckily the friend whose house I was at is the boys uncle so everything was explained. Amy strikes again.

It has cooled down here considerably, when the rain is actually falling. When its not falling, its unbelievably hot, or at least unbearable humid (it really IS the humidity that gets you).

I got grass clippings to bring back to my village to plant along the sides of the roads to prevent soil erosion. I'm also going to plant it on the sides of the river banks but I haven't told anyone that. I'm in the boma right now hoping to hear some things back from some different proposals and contacts I sent out last week...also, because I was looking for an excuse to get out of the village for a bit. Its always nice to take a break and get a cold fanta or bag of milk (yes I take a lactaide and yes, Diana, its pasteurized).

The borehole, I'm almost positive, is going to have to wait until next year because of the rain. Its here. I still have to convince my village to go along with it and wait almost a whole year, but that's ok.

Friday, I promised to explain the larger water project thats sort of still in the brainstorming area.

Water in my area is piped off the mountain from the Lujeri river that runs off Mt. Mulanje. Its piped down around tea fields and into the villages. The problems start right as it reaches the village because the bulk of the water is diverted into the tea estates to water the fields. The problem, with the water in the village, as I've been told is that the pipe that runs through the villages is too small. If the holding tank were to be situated with more cement to increase pressure, and the small pipes were to be switched out with two larger ones and expanded the length of the district, people could put taps in wherever they wanted and the water problems, would theoretically be solved. Keep in mind, however, that this is what was explained to me last week, I still have yet to see the scheme. I'm hoping to this week have a better idea of what exactly is needed. I know, however that it would mostly be pipes, taps, cement, and I don't know what else. We'll see if I get to see it this week and what I find out, but that's what's in the works right now, other than the fact that its lunch time and I'm hungry but I'm trying to upload photos so I'm stuck here until that's done.

I need to get flour on my way home so I can make pancakes. I make them a lot. :)

With the holidays coming up I'm finding myself slightly nostalgic for cooler weather, fudge, and dad's snow onsey (not that there's still snow on the ground). Then again, starting next week I'm going to be lounging on a white-sandy beach in a tropical paradise so both have their benefits. I have, however, been listening to Christmas music.

I went to my first wedding in Malawi this week. I'm not sure if I was late or early or that's all they do but it was a lot of dancing. Also, people here throw money (while dancing, of course) at the bride and groom. I think that's a tradition that should be taken to the US (meggie?). I like it. Anyway, it was a lot of fun, especially when the headmaster of the primary school in my village says "lets see your moves". People here need to stop watching bad American television. It was a good time though, despite the fact that I got caught in the rain. I have a hard time explaining to people that I'm used to the rain. They say it rains where your from too? Oh yes. Haha. Well, that's about all for now, enjoy the pictures, sorry there are only 3.

Love from Malawi

Diana's coming! She bought a plane ticket!!!!! Wahooooooo!

Hey there from Malawi

2010-12-10T05:07:00.000-08:00

where rice is a breakfast food, eggs are strictly a dinner food, and bananas are to aid digestion after meals (I'm not convinced)..and people here think everything I do is backwards.

This week, I'm still messing with borehole stuff, I'm not so sure now that it will happen this year seeing as how the community isn't even 1/4 of the way with their contribution and the kids start on Christmas Holiday today until the first week of January. Bad timing I guess, its the hungry season, after all; no one has money. Anyway, that's an update on that.

On top of the bore hole I'm trying to get my hands on some smaller scale proposals to get bags of cement so some of the hand dug wells, and more that will be made, can be cemented so they're at least producing clear water, instead of the cloudy, dirty water people are using now. We'll see how that goes.

What else, I'm still working on a greenbelt project to plant a sort of nitrogen fixing, creeping grass along the sides of the roads and rivers to help prevent erosion. All that's left now is to get the seeds which I have been promised by a person who is now really hard to find (I think he's avoiding me).

Other than a bunch of other little projects, like trying to find and oil press, knitting machine, gender development, small business advising, ect, I think I finally stumbled upon the large scale water project I've been waiting for in my area.

I'm not sure if I've explained the water situation in my village, other than complaining about how it never works. Actually, that's a story I'm going to save that story for when the internet at MMCT isn't broken and I'm not paying and uploading pictures for a proposal that needs to go out this week. Basically, I could fix all the water problems in m y area pretty easily, it just might mean me staying here an extra year....its a big project. More on that later.

That's an update on my projects.

In other news, Bri and I found bacon at a gas station in the boma (less sketchy than it sounds) so we're going to have BLT's - lettuce -mayo. YEAH!

Well hey there

2010-12-06T04:07:00.001-08:00

So, I typed up a long post about everything I'vebeen up to this week (mostly complaining about long meetings that turned out to be pointless and talking about how I eat baby chickens and bugs and they're delicous) but then I accidently deleted it.

On the bright side, I uploaded this photo of a boy in my village. Meredith, this is the 13-year-old boy I promised you to. I went to take his picture and he asked me if it was to show you. When I said yes, he made me wait so that I could dress up. He ran to hishouse, colored this paper tie and pinned it on his shirt. Then, he let me take the picture. He also said that if you come here he'll give you a 50 kg bag of maize....you should be exciting. I probably should have put this on facebook.

Anyway, meetings meetings meetings this week since I've been back from Lilongwe.

Village Development Committee
School Committee
Community based organization
Head Masters
Cheifs.

All concerning the bore hole and the 25 % required community contribution.

Long meetings. In these long meetings, people are mostly discussing how to make people bring money. I'm worried because the rainy season is here.

I really wish I didnt erase that post. It was a good one.

Chuck likes the chimbuzu too much

2010-12-02T05:45:00.000-08:00

WARNING: THIS IS GROSS.

I peed on her head this morning.

Woops.

Happy thoughts from Malawi.

Ndege ya pansi

2010-11-29T00:04:00.000-08:00

"Airplane of the ground"

I haven't left Lilongwe yet. I Think tomorrow I'll make an effort to head in the direction of Mulanje. I've decided, however, that I need to stop by Blantyre on the way home (possibly causing me to stay the night) so I can go to the limbe market to get a Jimi Hendrix shirt that I didn't buy. Hopefully its still there. It haunts me.

In the mean time, I'm waiting on a lot of projects right now that don't require my assistance so I'm staying close to the Peace Corps office to make people feel uncomfortable until they pass my proposals along to the appropriate person. I've quickly decided that that is the way to get things done.

Yesterday morning, when I was in the process of moving dorms, the chairwoman of my site-mates women's group (the one who she happens to think is the coolest women in the world)

called me to chat. Bri is bitter. I think its hilarious.

Yesterday, after two nights of getting bitten up by horrible bed bugs (the worse I've had, definitely) I moved to Mufasas, another lodge. There weren't beds left in the dorms, so me and some friends got moved to a private suite. Exciting for a poor peace corps volunteer. We decided (since everyone was exhausted) to watch some episodes of Arrested Development (I slept through those) then just go to sleep. Finally, a good nights sleep...with the exception of the itchiness.

Anyway, like I said, I'm in Lilongwe until tomorrow morning, when I'm going to try to head down down down, back to the South.

As you can see, I found a photo editor on my laptop that allows me to re-size pictures and since I'm in Lilongwe I have endless free internet so I can update said shrunk pictures.

Anyway, unless something exciting happens, this is probably my last post from the city. Just a warning.

In the mean time, here are some pictures for your enjoyment!

This is a Baobob tree in Liwonde National park. There is a human skull inside. Its hollow and 50 years ago as punishment, people through him in the tree. The skull is still there. I did NOT post the picture of the skull, I thought that might be too much.This is in September before IST at the lake. We camped here....ON the lake. Beautiful.
Chuck! This is Chuck last week. She's adorable.

This is a little girl in my village. I just thought it was a cute picture.

Things are good here.

I'm still in the city so I might as well tell you what I'm up to...not a whole lot

2010-11-28T02:08:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning I headed to the office to hang out before it was time to head to the ambassador's place for our Saturday-thanksgiving party. Around 1:00, the embassy buses started shuttling us over where we hung out and ate and drank and danced and had a good time. After we got back from there a group of us hung out talking until we decided to take a taxi across town to a dance club called Chez and Ntembos. We danced, watched a dance-off and had a good time then headed home, exhausted and sweating. Sleep.

This morning I grabbed my stuff and headed over to a different hostil where I'll stay tonight, maybe tomorrow night, I still haven't decided. I do, however, need to stop by the Limbe clothes market on the way home because I saw a Jimi Hendrix t-shirt for 400MK (which is almost $3) and I'm regretting it enough that I'm gonna go back for it. Lame.

Right now I'm at the office, people are throwing frisbees, checking they're e-mail, I'm trying to upload a picture of Chuck on facebook. I tried to upload a picture of elephants but it got to 95% complete and the power went out and dumped everything I was doing so I decided it wasn't meant to be. The picture of Chuck, however, I'm determined. That's pretty much it for now, exciting, I know.

why yes, this is real silk.

2010-11-27T00:19:00.002-08:00

Wednesday afternoon I got back from the boma (you like that seamless transition from the last post to this when, when does that happen, right? I know, I know, awesome.) and pretty much booked it (despite the temporary monsoon) to ask a friend of mine how the meeting went. He said it went really well and people were very receptive to the entire idea of not begging from me. Evidently, everyone thought they were the only one asking me for things and when everyone got together and talked about it, that dis-illusion came out in the open. Great. We'll see what happens when I'm at my house for more than 12 hours after the meeting. Bri came home from the boma with me and crashed at my house. I brought Chuck over to the Makhuva's (she snorted the entire way, it was cute) so she won't be alone until whenever I decide to go back home. The next morning (Thursday), early, we got up and headed to the bus stage. We caught a bus to Limbe for very cheap (the driver ended up being the brother of my nightwatchman, so I felt bad after I found out because I convinced him to take us for a couple hundred kwacha less than the price). In limbe I had a meeting with the country director of an organization that helps bring feeding programs to primary school. Rejected. I'll just keep trying the organization I've been trying (the one that's waiting on the borehole, more on that later). After I finished there, we headed to Blantyre to eat lunch, meet some friends and drop our stuff off. We headed back to Limbe for the clothes market where I didn't buy a Jimi Hendrix T-shirt for 400mk (still regretting it and am planning to stop by on my return to get it) but I did get a 100% silk green (but not a real green dress, that's cruel) dress for 150mk (under 1$). I am currently wearing it, and still, obviously, excited. After the market we hung around Blantyre until night, which included going to the curios market. One of the guys at the market gave me a bracelet because I said I would bring my parents to his shop when the come. Another guy gave me a bracelet (which I tried to refuse) because I said he could marry Diana (sorry kiddo, I didn't tell you that). So, that should be fun. I'm also wearing it right now, its cute! haha. I love Malawi, in case I don't say it enough.

That night, in Blantyre, all (most) of the peace corps volunteers in the south met at doogles (a backpacker's lodge) and hung out all night as an orientation. The next morning we got up and headed to the bus depot. I learned to take my doxy with food or it makes you nautious. I threw up my doxy, then got on a bus. We got on what we were told was the express bus that would get us to Lilongwe by 10:30 (leaving at 6:30am, great timing!). We got on the bus, we got our seats, we were comfy, we were off. About 2 seconds into the ride we stopped to picked up more people, realized it wasn't, in fact, the express bus and saw the express bus pass us upon that realization. Good times. We made it to Lilongwe around noon (still good timeing but some of us get antsy when we're sitting for more than 15 minutes which I'm told often by my mom is why the Cross family never took vacations of the road-trip types. Oh well.

We made it to Lilongwe fine but on the walk to the peace corps office, one of the girls in our party tripped and fell (surprisingly not me) and fractured her ankle. We drew a crowd. We flagged down a car to help, they did. The rest of us walked. She is casted and medicated, don't worry. The Peace Corps doctors know what they're doing, and she was lucky enough to injure herself within a mile of the Peace Corps office where there is free medication and health service. I got more sunblock (you know, after the skin-cancer scare, I vowed to be more diligent).

So this is yesterday. I ran around the office getting everything I needed done, done. Receipts signed, reimbursments, borehole stuff (skip to the last paragraph if you're anxious about that), smaller scale water project stuff (like bags of cement for hand-dug wells), ect. Oh, AND I got wireless hooked up on my laptop so I can use my laptop in the Peace Corps office (awesome!). Now, I don't have to stay until Tuesday, I probably still will so I can get other stuff done, but I don't HAVE to. So that's nice. I've never appreciated obligations. Some people live for them, I don't get it.

After I finished at the office, I went to go claim a bed at the hostil I'm staying at. The guy at the hostil tried to charge us double but discounted it if we promised to always stay there (there is a hostil rivalry in Lilongwe). I dropped stuff, picked a bed, hung out a bit, then went to get ice cream (somewhere in here I ate lunch). I came back and watched arrested development on my laptop (I love electricity). After a while, I headed, with some friends, downtown, where someone picked us up and took us to a mutual friends where we ate lebenese food. AMAZING! I'm still full off of the best food I've had in country. Back to the hostil, sleep.

This morning I had breakfast and came to the office. That's EVERYTHING I've done since Wednesday afternoon, the last post. I know you're not used to this ammount of detail but the internet is fast and hardly anyone is here. Also, I'm sort of killing time until its time to go to the Ambassador's house for our Saturday Thanksgiving celebration. I have 3 hours to kill. I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I'll figure something out.

Someone, a friend, who recently returned to country from the US brought me 5 skanes of wool yarn! That is more exciting than it should be for someone under 70. I'm gonna get my knit on.

I guess that's all for now, I can't think of anything to say. You'll probably get another update tomorrow, as I'm going to lock myself, in the office and write a bunch of proposals (for an oil press, bags of cement, ect, ect). If you're lucky, I might even update on Monday but I haven't planned that far ahead of time.

Borehole: I went to check on my proposal, again, for the bajillionth time only to find out that, since I dont' have microsoft word, only notepad, the person to whom I submited it couldn't open the file until yesterday when I had it converted. I'm frustrated so won't go into more detail but it should be passed on this week. I hear rumors of people thinking that it won't happen. I still fully intend on having this drilled this year. That is fully depended, however, on how quickly this proposal can be run through the Peace Corps ranks. Sorry for dragging you all on for so long, I am more frustrated that you know. My village, in the mean time, finished raising their 25% of the cost 4 days ago so we are litteraly waiting on administrated hoops that need to be jumped through. Still trying but, family, if you want to draw names, I understand. My intentions, however, are to get a deep borehole dug as soon as I get the money. I have been informed that it is still ok to drill even in the rainy season as long as the driller is aware of the depth of the water table and the situation, all things which I am capable of explaining in both chichewa and english. So that is that. I'm annoyed and impatient too.

Ready or not , the rain is here

2010-11-24T04:51:00.000-08:00

Because this is Mulanje...I'm told.

The rain is coming...at least once a day there is a mini-monsoon. It scares Chuck...who is growing like a little annoying weed. Things are coming along here. I found a new house that I might move to where I don't have a landlord I am at war with. Instead, I would have dairy cows next door (that seems interesting). The house is beautiful, close to water, and farther away from the main road. These are good things. I cleaned out the water tank that the rain water from my roof drains into. Two weeks ago I ate the fish that were in there and now I can use the water for dishes and laundry (after removing about a foot of mud that I put in my garden (or what will one day be my garden if I ever get around to sticking seeds i n the ground). My excuse of waiting on the rain has run dry, or rather been washed out but the rain. Now I tell people that my hands are week like a babies and I don't deal well with pain. They tell me that I'm not that much of a wuss...most people who respond that way because I've beat them in a bicycle race.

Today, right now actually (which is why I'm in the boma instead of at my house even though I'm going to town tomorrow) my chief is holding a village-wide meeting to tell people that I'm a volunteer and they have to stop asking me for money or food or I will go away and find a different village to help (my words). I'm sort of nervous about the outcome but I've been told now to worry and that it will be nothing but helpful. We'll see upon my return, I suppose.

Tomorrow morning I have a meeting with a big muckity muck in Limbe about a feeding program at the primary school in my village so I have to get up with the sun to try to get a free ride before I cut myself off to take a bus so I'm not late. After the meeting, its on to Blantyre where a bunch of peace Corps Volunteers are meeting from the southern region for an orientation for the new kids. Then, Friday morning, we're all headed up to Lilongwe for Thanksgiving, Peace Corps style. I can tell I've been in country a while because when I say Peace Corps, even when I say it in my head while type, I say Peace CorPS. Bad habit I tried to not allow but it has infiltrated. Oh well, there are worse habits, like saying soda and listening to country music. That's right, I said it. I found a spot on my arm yesterday that I thought was a new mole it was weird colored, weird shaped, and new, so of course I freaked out (I lived with hypochondriacs for too long, you know who you are) and convinced myself that it was skin cancer. It was mud from cleaning out the water tank. Haha.

I hear that a lot of people read this. I don't believe it. If you have a google account you should comment so I know. In the mean time. HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I hear there's snow, someone please whitewash Diana for me and throw a snowball at my Dad and Brother. Don't mess with my Mom, you don't know what she's capable of. Also, if you see my dad wearing his giant snow-suit-onesey...make fun of him. Also, hey Lake Stevens!

Today is pie-night at Ebenezer. Eat the lemon meringue for me. Yum. I'm going to have avacado for dinner, because the rainy season is here and I can. It came from my site-mate's tree. Be jealous.

That's all for now. Happy Turkey Day! Enjoy the leftovers.

Kwanu Kwaja Bwino?

2010-11-18T05:27:00.000-08:00

"Did the darkness leave your house well?" (typical morning greeting)

I'm still waiting on a lot of administrative paperwork for the borehole but I did make an important contact for the feeding program today. I'm still running in circles but that's ok. Next week, its off to Lilongwe for Thanksgiving. Hope everyone at home is sleeping on sidewalks for big sales and eating pie in my absence. The internet was down at MMCT today so small post, will say more when I can.

I hear people read this (according to my Dad) so that's nice. Thanks.

I got de-wormer for Chuck today. That should help things.

The Hot season, the hungry season

2010-11-12T02:43:00.000-08:00

Times are frustrating. Its hot, my neighbors are hungry, everyone is preparing their fields for when the rains come so everything seems to be moving in slow-motion. I've involved myself in a bunch of projects around the local area but they all seem to be held up by one thing or another. For the bore hole I'm waiting for the schools to collect the 25% community contribution and for Peace Corps to process paperwork. On the school feeding program, my contacts said they would come back and look after the borehole was in. On the greenbelt proposal (I guess I haven't explained this one. I am helping a man, who works for the tea research foundation in my area, write a proposal to plant a nitrogen-fixing creeping grass along the sides of the roads and rivers to prevent soil erosion, especially during the raining season), the proposal has been distributed, as of this week, to all the important nobodies (eg, district commissioner, agrocultural minister, murea NGO, EPM, Roads authority, police, Mulanje Conservation trust,tea estates, ect) and are waiting to hear back. Today, actually, on the proposal, some volunteers are putting together a test area where they're pulling up all the weeds that are currently slashed or burnt into submission every so often and preparing the soil for when rain comes so they can plant Mimosa Pintoi, the desired type of grass, donated by the tea estates....since it will actually benefit them most.

Waiting...waiting...waiting...

While I've become a lot more patient since coming to country, I'm tired of waiting. On the bright side, I've gotten back into making my way through the stacks of books at my house, I am going to paint my house...really, and am reconnecting with some of my friends in the village who complain that I'm never around anymore.

I've also found time to work with a women's group in my village who have been making peanut butter weekly and selling it for a profit so they can buy chickens and sell the eggs for even MORE profit, then put that money into a village savings and loan and make MORE profit...they've got Moxy. They told me it was MY duty to ride my bike to the boma today...when I asked why, they said I had to because they're all old women with kids and such and I'm just a girl....they also added "Njinga yako ili ngati ndege"..."or, your bike is like an airplane" I can't deny it. So here I am, in the boma. I didnt find the bottles, which means, I'm going to have to go to Limbuli today, which is another 15 Km each way, where I know they are.....stupid youth and awesome airplane-bike. Actually, I don't mind it. I like the ride. I might have to bike around when I go back to the states.

Speaking of waiting, I'm waiting on the time now. I'm waiting on my laptop and ipod to charge so I can listen to Jimi and watch episodes of Arrested Development even in my village (what a hard life I lead). I'm waiting for the lunch hour to be over so I can go to the education office about a favor I'm doing for a friend in my village (trying to get their son a transfer from private to secondary school so they can pay less school fees) and I'm waiting on the road authority minister to get back to the office so I can follow up on the previously mentioned proposal, because Maxwell, said man with whom I am writing the proposal, could only take 2 hours off of work today to follow up with the tea estates. I like this Maxwell man, today, he asked me what I think about trash pits so people don't liter, not something on the typical Malawians mind. He also said that his favorite musician is Kenny Rogers....he, like the women's group, has moxy.

Feelin Hot Hot Hot!

2010-11-02T05:09:00.000-07:00

the heat, not that it was SO TERRIBLE to begin with, is starting to settle down . I'm back home as of a few days ago. Yesterday, I took my counterpart's whife (one of my closest friends in the village) to Bri (my site mate haha)'s house to see her counterpart's whife. We figured they should know each other. That was fun. On the way back from their house we got a hitch back in a car that took us all the way to my house in my village. She thought it was hilarious seeing as how I think she thinks I'm making this whole hitchhiking thing up and that no, I don't really get free rides. She said I should make him nsima to thank him...I explained that that's not how things work. I let her borrow my shoes too. I was a weird day for her, I'm sure. Pretty normal for me, though.

Everyone in my village LOVES the name Chuck...they think its adorable...because it is.

IRMA! I got your birthday package! You're amazing! Thanks!

That's all for now, I need to head back to a meeting that theoretically started at 2:00 so when I get there in a half hour, I'll still be early and have to sit around and wait. Such is life in Malawi. I like it though. Its going to be difficult to re-adjust to the reality of American's and their over-punctuality....Mom. <3

That's all for now. Friday I'm going to teach two old men (who are seriously like those two old men from the muppet show) who sell salt at my market and sit high up on a table and laugh at people ( I normally go and sit with them for about an hour) to make candy with peanuts and sugar....that should be interesting.

Things are going well here! Tomorrow, my boss comes and brings me doxycicline and lime so I can be on different anti-malarials and paint my walls! I'm going to mix the lime with water based paint and have a yellow house inside....Yes, you should have seen that coming.

Dzina lake ndi Chuck

2010-10-30T03:04:00.000-07:00

Her name is Chuck. The puppy, that is. Thanks to Kristen for the name! Also, people in my village, mostly my counter-parts daughter-in-law named her Bridget after she explained that she should just have two names. I will call her chuck and people in my village will call her Bridget....or Chuck. Done.

The puppy is doing well, despite the fact that she spends the nights making noise. On the bride side, I'm learning all kinds of new chichewa verbs, like to make noise (Kusokosera) and to stare (Kukang'ana). Thanks puppy for helping me communicate more thoroughly with my community....except for the fact that she keeps me up all night so I'm tired and incompentant during the day. She'll learn. Pong'ono pong'ono, as they manage to say here (little by little) in every sentence.

Check out the new picture up top, I figured I should have one of Malawi. This was my first view of Mt. Mulanje before coming to site. A big thanks to Diana for bothering to do it for me! Anyway, I'm in town for Halloween hanging out with some other peace corps volunteers from the south who didn't want to travel for three days to make it to chitipa (next year). The usual antics have occured and will continue to because we attract interesting people.....who like to hang out with us. Its cool. We're kind of a big deal, peace corps, that is.....or peace corPS, as they say here (they're over-pronouncers in this country). Gotta love it.

Yesterday I hit the Limbe market, which is a MASSIVE clothes market wtih giant piles and piles and piles of clothes to look through. I love it, I don't know how I'll ever go back to shopping in the states, everythign is too convenient there. I would take pictures of it but that would cause CHAOS! Because people LOVE to have their pictures taken here. I got some much needed clothes yesterday, a cool summer dress (so I don't die of heat) and some other things.

I got a tip from a friend today that there might be funding available in my area for a women's beekeeping group so I'm going to try to talk a group of women in my village into working on that. We'll see how that goes.

All is well here! Wednesday I go off of Mefloquin (because of how crazy it made me) and I go on to Doxycycline, which I will have to manage, somehow, to take every day...so that should be interesting. Don't worry, Mom, I won't get Malaria. I hear it sucks. I've officially been at site for 6 months...half a year. That blows my mind. I love this country. I got a ride into Blantyre yesterday with a man who spent the entire 2 hour car ride telling me I should just get citizenship and move here because I already speak the language, and I said it was a beautiful country, what is stopping me? Don't worry, I told him I would miss my family. He said I should be more independent. Sure.

Okeedokey, that's all I have. I'm just too excited about the chicken cheeseburger I'm going to have for lunch to post anymore. You know why? Because I found a restaurant with HEINZ KETCHUP! Yes. You read that correctly. Delicious. I love the city.....for a bit...then I get sick of it and just want to go back to my village.

Nsima ya nthandaza

2010-10-26T03:15:00.000-07:00

I forgot. Yesterday, my counterpart's neighbor had me come to her house to learn to make nsima from cassava. It was sticky, difficult and like glue. I was stirring it and the pot kept slipping off the fire making her have to grab the scolding hot pot (still sitting on the fire) to keep it from flying. I drew a crowd. It was hilarious.

Galu.

2010-10-26T02:58:00.000-07:00

'dog'

I GOT A PUPPY! She was just weaned and is about he size of my chaco sandal. We have the same color hair. She has no name but does have fleas. I tried to fix that situation today but nobody can come up with a good name...try through comments or facebook....I will announce the name when I pick one.....and the vet in the boma told me they only sell de-wormer and do flea dips on Fridays. Its an ABOMINATION!!! Oh well. Other than that, things are just putting along as usual. Sunday, a US-based organization called Africare came and held a village-wide meeting. I got to sit up front with all the chiefs....everyone things its normal to have the crazy foreigner sit up front with all the dignified chiefs but it cracks me up every time.

Before the meeting my group village headman (see bottom for chief-hierarchy) told me I should go say hello to all the women. I did. They told me I should marry the chief. When I reminded them that he already has a wife, I was reminded that polygamy is TOTALLY acceptable here. They said I can be his second wife. Goodie! (this was his sister, note, making the suggestion) Anyway, to wiggle myself out of the situation I told them that I can't be a second wife because I plan on having two husbands and that would be just too many people. They said I can't because I'm a women. I said tough bananas that's how its going to be. BAM...gender empowerment. Consider yourself developed Malawi. Anyway, since turning 24, every women in my village has decided to inform me of every single man they know and asking me if they should bring him to my house for me to look at an approve or deny. I politely decline. It's they're mission to get me to marry a man in my village and stay there forever....which is sweet in a way. They really do like me!

Chief Hierarchy:

President

upper-level governmental dignitaries (eg. Members of parliament act as go-between between the government and the district assembly but they are also part of the district assembly, this is sort of messy because Malawi is still currently attempting a decentralization process)

District Commissioner (they closes thing we have to a governor from what I can tell...only he/she has a lot of influence but no REAL direct power)

District Assembly (all the important people assemble in the district...go figure)

Traditional Authority (TA Mabukha, mine, has about 8 Group Village headman under him with about the same amount of villages under them. There are about 5 Traditional authorities per district)

Group Village Headman/woman (My GVH has 8 villages under him) My GVH is Chief Duswa.

Village Headman/woman (in charge of 1 village) My Village headman and GVH happen to be the same person because each GVH is also a VH. Its rectangles and squares, not all rectangles are squares but all squares are rectangles...if that helps.

Sub-chief

Villagers.

I'm on the same rung as the villagers.

Anyway, give me dog names. She's a girl.

Internet connection

2010-10-22T01:28:00.001-07:00

for me, is now free. Thanks MMCT.

Today, I received my birthday package from my parents. Thanks Mom and Dad for all the pictures! and the battery charger....and the GRE prep book..I forgot I asked for that and was stressing about where I was going to find one so I can get my study on and they maybe someday in the future get my grad-school on. Yeah!

I'm still waiting to hear back from PCPP about borehole donation, i the mean time, its making me crazy. To dull my craziness, I have officially biked over 100 km in the last 5 days. I went to the boma and back Monday, to the market on Tuesday. To the boma and back again on Wednesday, then to Bris village that evening, back home Thursday and boma (and I will go back this afternoon) today. That's three trips to the boma at 18 km each way. Plus a trip to the market (maybe 10km round trip and a trip to and from Bri's place for a grand total of 150ish km (the distance to andfrom Bri's place is an estimate). That sounds like a lot. According to my phone that's 93+ miles! Lets just say I'm preparing for the STP....2 years ahead of time. :). My bike is like a lambourgini. Anyway...

I finally got hooked up to the internet at the Mulanje Conservation trust, thanks to my other site-mate john so here I am. I'm not promising more posts, but I can at least promise longer ones.

While I'm waiting for borehole stuff to go through (which is frustratingly slow) I'm writting a grant for an oilpress so a women's group in my village can make peanut oil and sell it (rather than selling it as it is important from Mozambique)...besides...they're peanut farmers, it only makes sense. We'll see if that works out.

I called the doctor this week and went off of Mefloquin, the anti-Malarial medication I have been on since coming to contry. Not only did I get crazy dreams (even weirder and MORE lifelike that the ones I always had....I didnt think it was possible either) but I will, hopefully, no longer have these crazy mood swings that I've been having (not normal). Next week my boss comes from Lilongwe to do a site visit and with her she's bringing Doxycycline...a daily anti-Malarial pill instead of the weekly, Mefloquin. We'll see if I can remember to take it....

We had a crazy rain storm yesterday afternoon with HAIL! I never ever thought to see hail in Africa but it was there. Little kids collected the hailstones with peices of cloth (so the water drained) and had themselves some frosty beverages in this humid tropical paradise....awesome. They thought I was crazy because I didn't...I just watched. I did, however figure out that I need to clean my gutters and that my roof leakes more than I remembered. Maybe I'll try to patch it with nsima haha.

I got a visit from a grad student doing research in Mulanje (ex-Peace Corps Volunteer) yesterday. Other than having to tell everyone in my village that no, he's not my husdband or my boyfriend, we had a good time hanging out, playing bananagrams and watching the rainstorm...it was almost like being back in 'merika.

You know what I'm going to miss upon returning to the states? When I'm riding my bike and someone passes me going the other direction (because I don't let people pass me going the same direction...that means race!) and they point at me and say "'MERICAN!!!" I find it enduring, for no particular reason.

Because of the rainstorm, the water tap started working for a bit but not long enough for me to get water so its still a bike ride away.....I need to take a day and make a ton of trips for water. Its silly of the world to make water the hardest to find when people need it the most...when its hot andsticky and bathing and drinking is necessary. I broke down and washed all my neglected dishes today. I had been putting it off because I didn't want to waste the water on them but it was getting pretty bad...and smelly. Its done now. Next water-intensive chore that I've been neglecting? Laundry. Maybe I can wait until the rainy season? Bad idea. So far only drinking water and bathing have been making the cut. Bathing only makes the cut because of that abscess...otherwise I'd really be saving water!

Well, that's enough for now.

What's on the agenda for next week? I'm bringing two members of the peanut butter group in Bri's village to the village next to mine to teach them to make Peanut Butter. I'm also going to teach another group in my village to make it. This is partially to help them with income generation, and largly because homeade peanut butter is tastier than store bought and I cut store-bought peanut butter from my budget to make room for other things....like ketchup! That is that.

borehole update/I'm 24

2010-10-19T23:29:00.000-07:00

For those who are out of the loop, or not so much and are just curious, here is your update:

I have submited a proposal to the Peace Corps Partnership Program to get a link on the web for people to donate to put a borehole at the primary school in my village. I'm currently waiting as the proposal jumps its way though the bureaucratic rungs that is an government operation. I'm sure I am incessantly and thoroughly annoying my superiors as I e-mail and call them all the time to see if there is any way I can speed along the process but they keep telling me that they're going as fast as they can and I will be informed when progress has been made or if there is anything I can contribute. I am trying to get the borehole dug next month before the rainy season kicks into full gear, raising the water table. I had a meeting last week with the local school committee and village development committee concerning the 25% community contribution that is both required by PCPP and necessary for local ownership of the project. It was decided that every student at both the primary and secondary school (over 3,300 students) will bring 10 Malawian Kwacha every week for 7 weeks until they reach the grand total of 70MK (about 45 cents) per student which is about 28% leaving a 3% buffer for those who either can't pay, or fail to contribute their full amount. So that is that. As soon as I hear of the proposal approval in Washington, I will call the borehole contractors and set a date for sometime around Thanksgiving.

For those who are concerned or interested in donating, keep checking my blog and asking my family because as soon as I know that the link is up, they will, then you will know. As for now, I am hoping for sometime in the next 2 weeks but expecting it before the month is over.

Thank you for those who are interested. This borehole will affect thousands of people in my area who are in dire need of safe drinking water. This will be the most important thing I do with my entire service and I am grateful for those who have shown interest in helping both me and my community here.

Also, I had an AWESOME birthday hanging out in my village. I spent the afternoon, while my phone was charging, hanging out with a friend of mine who kept insisting on singing to me and have people give me presents....which I refused...except for the peanuts. It was great. Thanks to everyone who called or tried to call! Sorry my phone battery didn't last through the day (or even though out conversation mom). I'M 24!

Oh! The internet cafe just turned on the AC! Oh what a challenged life I lead! Its actually cooled off a bit this week, it was cool enough to bike to the boma (where I am now) this morning...I should head back though before it gets too hot.

Miss you all!

Asimayi Samamva Kutentha!

2010-10-12T02:34:00.000-07:00

'Women don't feel heat'

Except for me...its HOT. I have never lived in a place where you can lay on the ground in the shade under a tree wearing a skirt and a tank top...not moving at all and still have sweat drip down you. My poor Northwest body is not used to this weather...maybe soon it will be. Its beautiful though. According to my thermometer its around 95+ but its humid. Oh well. I'll get used to it.

Last weekend I went to Liwonde national park to help with the game count. The first day, my site-mate, Bri, me, and two park gaurds (who only took a bottle of juice, a package of cookies, and a giant gun) walked from one end of the park to the other (about 14 km). We counted animals. We saw bush pigs, wart hogs, kudu, and tons of smaller animals that you only see on the discovery channel. Awesome. After we finished for the day we went back to the hostel we were staying at and watched the monkeys run around like the owned the place....it was a lot like that part of Jungle Book with the louis Armstrong monkey....awesome. They were really baboons, though. Anyway, the next day we got up early in the morning again, to finish before the hottest part of the day. We were dropped off by a water hole in the middle of a flood plane. We sat on a termite hill for 4 or 5 hours and counted more animals. We didn't see hippos or rhinos but we did see ELEPHANTS ELEPHANTS ELEPHANTS!! Also, we saw more bush pigs, wart hogs, water buffalo, ect ect. It was amazing. Yes, Dad, they were African elephants, not asian elephants.

After the game count was over, Bri, me, and Sara, another volunteer headed back to my place (we got a great hitch so we made it back before dark) where we hung out for a couple days. Sara made birthday cake for Bri and I's birthdays (Bri's is 2 days before mine). My cat stole a piece of birthday cake...then puked it up this morning on my porch. There was blue frosting. It was especially gross.

Work is the same. I met with my chief yesterday. Also, yesterday I taught a youth club how to write a proposal for a grant. Today I have a micro-lending/chicken-rearing womens group coming to my house for a meeting. Tomorrow I'm meeting with another women's group that does mushroom farming. This weekend I'm going to town to celebrate my birthday....that should be fun.

That's really all for now. Hope everyone's well.

Amy

Blantyre

2010-10-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

I'm in Blantyre. I refused to pay for a bus and cars were not jumping at the chance to give me a ride so it looks like I'm crashing here for tonight (staying the night here is still cheaper than paying for bus fare all the way to Blantyre hence, the hitchhiking). I realize this means nothing to you, reader, but I just don't like to pay for things....ask my family for verification. Anyway, I left Lilongwe early this morning (but 2 hours after I normally leave....about 5:30) . I walked from Mufasa's where I slept to the bus depot. I sat and waiting on a minibus (because they don't leave until they're full) for a couple hours (I had a lot of luggage with me because I've been gone for the last couple of weeks, so I didn't want to walk out of town). Anyway, the bus finally headed out and dropped me right outside of town where I waiting for another couple hours until finally the police took me about 2 hours outside of Blantyre. I was tired and wanted to rest, and ditch the obligation to have a conversation, so I told them I didn't speak chichewa and spent the rest of the 4 hour car ride eaves dropping on a conversation the driver and other passenger didn't think I understood. That was exciting...and educational. That ride dropped me off a couple hours outside of Blantyre where I waited for another couple hours for a ride the rest of the way (still optimistic at this point about reaching Mulanje before dusk). A nice car driven by two Ethiopian men picked me up and took me all the way into town. By the time I was dropped off in Blantyre and thinking about my next move toward my house, I realized that I didn't have time to get home before dark, and didn't want the extra stress of traveling close to dusk by myself, so I headed to a hostel where I will spend the rest of the night before I finally head back to my house in the morning....for free, hopefully.

I'm here tonight, at my house tomorrow night, Wednesday, hopefully, I have a contractor coming to my primary school in my village to give me a price for drilling a bore hole there, then Wednesday night at my house, Thursday I'm back in Blantyre meeting a friend, and Friday, off to Liwonde for the game count. I'll take pictures. After the game count is over I'm looking forward to getting some work done in my village, and not leaving until its time to come back to Lilongwe for thanksgiving at Peace Corps country director's house. For now, at least, I'm tired of wandering around...luckily its going to be awesome, but short lived and I'll have a couple months to get sick of being stagnant again. It's really a great life I'm living. I love it.

I don't really have much of anything to say but I splurged and payed for an hour of internet (instead of my typical 30 minutes) and now have so much time.

Birthday shout out (wow, I can't spell or speak anymore...Diana, you're right...is that right? It looks funny to me. Then again, I ALWAYS have trouble with the word garage) to Meredith and Kristen!!

People are speaking german around me.

So many people are switching off Mephloquine (my anti-malarial medication) because it has altered their personalities and made them crazy-ish that not I'm starting to be paranoid that I'm going crazy. Am I? Its all in my head.

Projects: I need to do some grant writing (I finally learned how...mostly). I want to get an oil press for a group in my village to starting pressing oil as an income generation activity. I want them to tie it to some sort of micro-finance organization for start up capitol and longevity purposes but I haven't quite worked out all the kinks in my head. We'll see how that turns out. I also am in the process, as many of you know, of writing a grant for a bore hole, but before I can finalize all the details I need a price, for budgeting purposes, obviously. The problem, and hold up, with that is the contractor. I have the contact information for a few different contractors, so I can price around. The issue, however, is getting them to show up. Before they will commit, or even suggest a price, they suggest a site-visit to investigate things like the water table, and the surrounding area. Its hard to get them to actually show up. Anyway, as previously mentioned, I have a meeting with a contractor on Wednesday, we'll see if he actually shows up, I'm not holding my breath.

Also, I want to do some work with perma-culture. During In service training, we had the opportunity to go to a couple's house who used to be peace corps volunteers and not live a bit outside of Lilongwe doing work with perma-culture, mostly as it relates to food security on the village level. Interesting. The point of all this rambling (and these are not even a nugget of all the ideas flying around me head, which is the entire point of IST) is that I have come back from IST engergized, revitalized, and excited to do some projects in my area.

I need to remember to buy candles before I get into my village, I forgot that I ran out of them and didn't buy anymore (I had some minor budgeting issues at the end of the last pay period).

Lastly, I have been hearing through the grapevine that some of you want to visit me (those of you who know me well, not those of you who just internet-stock, that's weird). I don't know what is stopping you. Send me an email: amymcross@gmail.com. I'd be happy to give you the low down on what awesome things there are to do in Malawi, why you should visit me, what you should bring, any logistical things, and how easily it would be to come here, even alone. Malawi is Africa for beginners. Also, I know my way around now....mostly. The point is, if you have a bit of money saved up (you know, for a plane ticket and stuff) and you've always, or even just recently, wanted to visit Africa, now is your chance. I have a guest room, and my door is always open to friends....especially friends who bring chocolate.

The hot season is here, however, its warm.

Ok, that's all for now (probably for a long while, that shouldn't surprise you). I'll try to think of something cooler to say next time other than just rambling about this and that....

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana

2010-10-03T04:27:00.001-07:00

Hey there! Woah, I just realized that its been over a year since I graduation. Way over a year. Its weird to think back to this time last year when I was just finishing up on staff at Holden and preparing to hit the road (fail) before I headed off to Malawi....in fact, tomorrow is the 1 year anniversary of the day I found out I was coming to Malawi (I'm not sure why I remember that date). Anyway, for those of you who have been faithfully (and probably bored) reading my blog since then, my how time flies.

I survived IST

2010-10-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

I just came from In service training in Dedza at the college of forestry. A few weeks ago I got a free hitch all the way to Lilongwe in a matolla carrying cement. I got to Lilongwe, stayed one night, met my friend, Katy, and headed up to Mzuzu. We stayed a night in Mzuzu, had the best hamburger I've had since I've been in Malawi, hung out with some south african men and a dutch couple who were at the same hostil, and headed to Nkhata bay the next morning. The lake is amazing. It's endless like an ocean but freshwater like a lake. It's like the wave pool in wildwaves...withouth the floating bandaids....there aren't any bandaids here.

A bunch of Peace Corps Volunteers and I hung out on the lake for a couple days then headed down to Dedza for training. We were there for a week hanging out and enjoying each others company.

The next week, our counterparts came. We learned about soap-making, jam cooking, peanut butter making, tree budding and grafting, ect, ect. It was a lot of information and now I'm ready to get back to site.

This morning Peace Corps took us a bit outside of lilongwe to learn about permaculture, then we got a ride (non-peace Corps) into the city where I am right now. I'm sticking around until Tuesday morning so I can get some things done in the office and not have to make the trip up here for a long long time.

Oh, and I finally took giardia medication after 4 months of on and off illness. YEAH!

I'll have internet for the next couple of days so I will try to think of something to say....

In the mean time, Diana put ALL of my pictures up so look at those. Thanks Diana!

Pictures from Malawi

2010-09-26T20:46:00.001-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2075466&l=a089b1f246&id=44902613

Here are the first pictures from Amy in Malawi. They took hours to upload so I am sorry that they are out of order. All the pictues of the Liberty bell were taken when Amy was in Philly right before she left. This is only the first 200 of 534 pictures. Amy will provide the descriptions when she gets internet access again.
Diana.

Pictures 200-399 are at this link
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2075484&id=44902613&l=634748c277

Pictures 400-536 at this link
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2075508&id=44902613&l=b782faf452

Mt. Mulanje

2010-09-03T04:10:00.000-07:00

I made it...I hurt, but I made it. The largest rock face in Africa. It was absolutely beautiful. A group of 6 of us made it up and down after spending three nights and 4 wonderful days up on the mountain, returning the day before last. Pictures to come in a few weeks. We climbed Sipitwa peak, the highest of all of them all in all totaling almost 10,000 feet in a few days (hence the soar muscles). It was wonderful and I definitely plan on doing it again...after I get paid. I came back to my village yesterday and spent the day walking around (slowely) making my normal rounds. today, I woke up early to head to the boma (back to work) where i have been waiting around for different meetings to happen. After all that, as soon as I sat down to check my e-mail, my flip-flop broke. Ugg. Oh well.

More details about the hike next week, for now, 30 minutes of internet doesn't leave much room for anything. Thanks everyone for the letters and packages. My Peace Corps service is really starting to pick up, I'm getting busier and busier every day. I can already see the time flying by.

Also, yes, the second turkey (the soap eater) has been slaughtered and eaten. Delicious. Now I can plant cantalope.

My turkey ate some soap

2010-08-19T04:32:00.000-07:00

I couldn't prevent it. I'm worried. Today, in the internet cafe people are arguing about Manchester United vs. Liverpool. Very important. Very relevant to everything. I don't have anything to say really. I hear the rain has officially ended (late late late) so I'm a bit frightened since water was an issue in my area back when it rained every day. My Washintonian self is worrying. Oh well. Thanks for the letters. I should devote more time to blogging if for no other reason than because when I update my blog, people call me and offer to send me stuff (Kanagopants). Does this count as an update? Oh, need to publish before the internet is gone. Thanks for reading!

Oh, mumagona mu thupwa...

2010-08-16T00:52:00.000-07:00

"Oh, you sleep in a pocket..."

I was describing to a little girl my sleeping bag (they don't exist here) when she told me that I sleep in a pocket. Upon reflection, I

've decided she's right. Last night was the coldest it has been since I've been in Malawi...it dropped below 60F. So I zipped myself up in my 40+ mummy bag put another blanket on top, put on my wool socks and read until I could feel my toes again. I'd say I've adjusted to the climate. To all of you who write me letters complaining about the summer heat and assuring me that its nothing compared to what I'm enduring, I envy you. You are warm and I can't remember what it feels like to be exessively warm, even overheated. I've been assured, however, that the hot season is coming and I will be sorry in no less than 2 weeks that I ever wished for heat. I beleive them.

I other news, a lot of meetings have been canceled because of the rain and funerals (devistatingly connected here) so I have had time on my hands. What have I done with that time? Taught some little girls how to knit and fell in love with Kurt Vonegut books....and a lot of wandering around, which has become my usual (and recognized by my neihbors) routine.

In about two weeks I will have been in Malawi for 6 months. Half a year. As that monument comes closer and closer, I can't seem to wrap my head around it. It's been 6 months since I said goodbye to friends and family and headed for the wonderful (but cold) 'Warm Heart of Africa'. Time is picking up exponentially (still) and every day (mostly) I'm absolutely beyond thrilled to have the privilage to live here.

I decided to do some cosmetic things to my house. I am going to re-lime, maybe even spring for paint. If I ever get around to it, maybe pictures will follow. I should stop promising pictures. They'll come eventually but I don't know when. You'll just have to be suprised.

Yesterday were initiations in my village. Groups of people, after church ends, leave and slowly walk (in a dancy kind of way) down the road ( I didn't figure out where because there's only so long you can go on dancing). Dancing Dancing Dancing. When I got tired of dancing (we're not big saunter-down-the-street-while-dancing-people in the US) people kept on asking me why? I told them (because being tired isn't a viable excuse) that I have shame. "Osachita Manyazi". Don't have shame. Oh, ok. Thanks for those instructions. Malawi has, however, brought out my inner dancer. I can think of a few people who will be excited to hear that.

Sorry I hadn't had an update in forever, the world was working against me in the form of a series of blackouts.

Amy, Mukuvala dresi?

2010-07-23T00:58:00.000-07:00

"Amy, you're wearing a dress?"

http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.press.view&news_id=1599

Look at the first picture. On the right is President Bingu. In the back with the brown dress (that I sowed out of a sheet last week) is ME! The President promised us he would dance so I took my opportunity and boogied close to him. When I was close enough I shook his hand. Sneak-attach presidential greeting! Anyway, the luncheon was wonderful and the entire affair was a lot of fun. There was a band so of course there was dancing (which is pretty much what happens whenever peace corps -Malawi gets together). It was a really fun trip and I'll update more when I have more than 3 minutes left on my internet. So excited!

Amy, Chifukwa??

2010-07-16T02:03:00.000-07:00

"Amy, because?" There isn't really anything interesting about this...I just hear it a bajillion times a day....so as you can see my life hasn't changed too much, Mom.

Ok, so I came upon and interesting discovery this week...mostly due to my ever-increasing chichewa skills:

I'm always, ALWAYS followed by a small (sometimes large) gaggle of children. What I didn't realize until a few weeks ago, however, is that they're not just playing in the same direction as I am going...whenever I go anywhere within my village. They're following me. I walked to the post office this week and noticed two of my little neighbour (I decided to give into the European spell check- hence the u) boys (who basically live at my house) following me closely and stopping whenever I stopped under the (false) pretence that they were playing (that's what they said when I asked them what they were doing). They were just pusing a tire around with a stick (that's what little kids do for fun...when they're not spying on me). I send some letters (yeah!) and headed back to my house only stopping a few times to talk to some friends and do this and that. Keep in mind that I walked over a mile there and back. When I got back to my house a group of maybe 15 little boys (about 8 year-olds) gathered together outside my fence and listened as the two who followed me gave a VERY detailed description of where I went, what I did, how long I was gone, who I stopped to talk to, where, what we talked about, ect. I would find it creepy or annoying if it wasn't so adorable. Since my discovery I've been more aware and I realized that of the group of 20 little kids who normally hang around, 2-5 are always sent to tale me. Weird. I don't think I'll ever get used to it. Oh well.

In other news, since there is such an issue with gender rolls here, I decided to start teaching little kids about "my culture" when they're at my house (I tell them that inside my fence, we're in America so they have to follow my culture). Whenever there are boys and girls at my house (every day) the little girls always get pushed to the ground while boys sit on my bench. I started telling them that in my culture if a woman wants to sit, out of respect, a man offers his seat and HE sits on the ground. Now I have little boys asking nicely for girls to sit on the bench and they sit on the ground or stand around. It's only funny because women aren't treated well here.

Oh yeah, and Wednesday I'm going to eat lunch at the President (of Malawi)'s house. I guess I'm headed to Lilongwe again next week. I won't promise pictures because I don't want to jinx it.

Until next time...my wrist is cramping (my typing muscles don't get a lot of use here). Also, I had another marriage proposal this morning for the driver of the car I got a hitch in, so I'm up to 20!

Tikufuna kucheza koma tikuwopa a makuketembos!

2010-07-07T00:52:00.002-07:00

"We want to chat but we're scared of the turkey's!"-some little kids peeping inside my fence.

Hello! Lilongwe was a blast but I'm happy to return to beautiful Mulanje. The trip back was significantly less exciting than the trip there. We left the hostile we were staying in right as the sun was coming up and grabbed a minibus to the big bus depot. From there we hopped on a big bus which left quickly. 5 hours later, we were in Blantyre. We stopped at the bank and to grab some food, then were on the road again. Minibus to Limbe, then another minibus to the Mulanje boma where we had to switch buses twice. Made it back Mimosa and walked the 2km to my house. Walked in right as the sun was setting. Such is traveling to my house from long distances. Sun up to Sun down...but worth it. I have the most beautiful site in all of Malawi. I made it back to my house just before dark, with barely enough time to visit some people in my village, tell them I was back and have them jump up and down (which was a really nice reception after 13 hours of travel). I slept well that night. it was really nice to see people who told me they missed me while I was gone. It was also nice to hear that a few people noticed one of my turkey's was missing and were worried...until I told them I ate it. Then they laughed at me.

Yesterday was the Malawian Independence day (but the 46ths); I spent the day restocking my water supply, watching soccer, cleaning my house, and re-settling in after being gone for a couple days, and hanging out with my neighbor (spellcheck is angry that I don't want to put a 'u' in neihbor...stupid ex-brittish colony...sorry Kristen). Today, I rode my bike to the boma to check mail. THANKS AUNT SUZIE!! You're amazing. Also, halla to Abby C. for the letter. As for the rest of the letters being held hostage in Lilongwe, maybe in a couple weeks. I'm going to return sometime this month for a large event that I will explain better when I have more details...but you should be excited for me!

In other news, I saw about 20 monkey's today riding my back in the same place I saw the one last week on the way to Lilongwe! So that's awesome!

There isn't really anything else to report but its beautiful here, I still have diarrhea and my chichewa is getting better every day. This afternoon I'll go to a women's group meeting for people who make jam...or grow mushrooms, I can't remember. There's still hope for pictures, I know I keep promising. Be patient; they're coming.

Aside from the diarrhea that just won't quit, I'm doing really well here! Thinking of you!

P.S. Cross family: don't think for a second I'm unaware of the fact that our weekly conversation was about 2 minutes long. You owe me 58 more minutes! I have SO much to tell you!

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-03T02:23:00.000-07:00

I came with the intention of putting up pictures (sorry to taunt you) but the computer at the internet cafe isn't recognizing my thumb drive so you might have to wait longer. In the mean time, please forgive me for my rediculously horrible blogging. I know- fail. On the bright side, story:

So, yesterday morning I headed out of my house at about 6am when the sun was rising. I walked to the road and caught a hitch (two in a row, actually) to my boma. From the boma I took a minibus to Limbe, then another to Blantyre where I got on a big bus headed toward Lilongwe. After being assured that the bus was leaving in the next 10 minutes (so I expected to wait a long time) I sat on the bus and waiting for an hour and a half. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Because, naturally, the bus won't pull out until its full. Finally, we pulled out. Right when we pulled out a man stands up and stars praying for a safe journey and the top of his lungs. He finished, with a hoarse voice, then started reading passages (in Chechewa) from the bible and preaching to us walking up and down the isles. Meanwhile, I'm trying to help the women next to me defend her week and a half old baby from all the luggage that was trying to fall down on them. The preacher got off the bus and we were off and running. A half hour outiside of Blantyre, the bus breaks down. The conductor refused to refund so I could try to hitch or take other transportation so I waiting another hour and a half on the side of the road with a ton of angry Malawians for a new bus to come. It did, eventually and we were on out way again. We (my cite-mate and I) arrived in Blantyre, waiting for a friend who was 20 minutes behind us on a different bus, took a taxi to the hostile we are staying in and proceeded to see and hang out with all the people we haven't seen for 2 months. Also, pizza.

Today-bagels. also, we did things like headed to the office, walked around the city, charged electronics, blah blah blah. This afternoon we'll go to the embassadors house for hamburgers and good things that represent the 4th of July. I'm not sure how long I'm sticking around here but I find myself missing my site (which I'm taking as a good sign this early in the game (2 months). I've officially been in Malawi for over 4 months!! Chichewa is coming along quickly. My counterparts whife has started telling me that its a problem that I understand so much because I shouldn't be able to know what people are saying most of the time when I've only been here 4 months. I take it as a compliment.

In other news, I received a phone call from a really good friend, it made my week (which is big since I ate pizza yesterday). I'm recovering from about 2 solid weeks of diahrea (I know you want to know-especially the Ebenezer crue) so now I have to deal with my counterpart and his whife telling me (in a very conserned way) that I'm shrinking and I need to eat more...try Amy, try (they keep saying). ha. Anyway: Major family, I like anything chocolate and most candy. Reallly, anything you wouldn't pawn off on your younger sibling after trick or treating sounds great to me!

The letters have stated to ROLL IN so a big thanks to everyone who decides to make me happy. I promise to be a better blogger!!! PROMISE! Someday you'll see pictures. Worse case scenario, I deal with the postal system and have someone there post them. We'll see what happens. Aren't you excited?

OH. I SAW A MONKEY YESTERDAY! On the way out of Mulanje, I was in the back of a pick-up truck (very safely buckled in, Mom) and my cite-mate, Bri, pointed it out. So there. I'm in Africa and I saw a monkey.

Also, on top of learning chichewa, I've picked up basic greetings in another local tribal language, Chilomwe. People think its HILARIOUS.

2 weeks ago I fell off my bike because I was looking at a bird. I scraped up my leg but its healing nicely (no thanks to the honey my counterpart insisted on smearing on the cut...that just made my leg sticky like a child).

I killed a turkey. I feel liberated as an ex-vegitarian. I cut its head off then brought it to my counterparts house to share. It was just too creapy...pooping on my floor and looking me in the eye and all. You'd do the same thing. I feel more rugged now...Bear would be so proud!

Anyway, life is great here, its frustrating at times but then I realize how rediculous some situations are and I think its funny again. I miss you all and love you lots! I think about you all the time, send more chocolate!

Amy

To make my sister Happy

2010-05-28T02:16:00.000-07:00

Almost 3 months ago I landed in beautiful Malawi on a sunny tropical day. We were received by most (probably ) of the PCV's here at 6the airport, introduced to everyone and promptly rushed off to Dedza (an hour South of Lilongwe). We spent a week in Dedza as t a college of forestry learning everything from using a chim to the offensiveness of sniffing food (that one still gets me for those of you who know about the pickle test). After week 0, we were taken to two villages close to t6he college for 5 weeks of home-stay with a family. I was in Chikanda staying with a family of 4. The 2 parents were both 30. I also had 2 younger hose brothers, a 4 year old, Dalandila, who quickly warmed up to me and by the end of my stay refused to leave my side, and a 1 year old who was as scared of me as he was of chickens. I lived in a tiny 1 room mud, thatched-roof house facing my hose families house. Every day, we went to language, culture and/or technical sessions (except Sundays). Those were some of the most interesting 5 weeks ever. I fumbled my way through Chichewa, admired the beauty of Malawi, and danced with some teenage girls every night after sunset to some songs I didn't understand. Homestay, though while it was happening felt like the longest days of my life, went by in a blur in retrospect. T the end of the 5 weeks in Chikanda, there was a going away ceremony..complete with singing, dancing, speeches and the Guli Wankuli (you already know too much).

The next morning we loaded up everything we collected from PC and were taken back to the college for a few days of administrative sessions and debriefing. We spent a few days enjoying each others company, then were dropped off at the Dedza bus stage with direct6ons to our sites and told to go....come back next week.

5.5 hour Minibus ride (bad Idea) one Rockin night in Blantyre, and another few buses later and we were in Mulanje (3 PCV's here) on ashadow visit. My site-mate and I spent a couple days at out other sit6e-mates house seeing the forestry office, boma, ect, then were on our way again to my cie , then Bris, then a Pastoral Center for a week of intensive Language classes. There ,we reconnected with the 7 people in the southern region, I had the greatest shower ever, and we ate like kings for the last time..probably. After a week of getting in trouble for not speaking in Chichewa for a week, we were taken back to the collage for a few more days. We were prepared for swearing in, cleaned up, and taken to Lilongwe where we took an oath to uncle sam and ate until it hurt. We also got to read some lovely letters from families telling (everyone else, at least) how proud they are....mine said that my room is now the sail locker (I love you too, Dad). Late night that night, then early the next morning, we packed up and were dropped at site...alone.

I've now been at site 4 weeks..as of yesterday. I'm learning Chichewa, getting my house the w3 way I want it, learning to do basic lack of electricity and running water things, and figuring out whats needed most in my area. I've made friends in my village now and am beginning to settle in though some days are still really long an d frustrating, I live in a absolutely beautiful place with wonderful people (who are thoroughly confused by the fact that there is no Nsima in the US.).

I'm learning to love the temperature,although Winter is coming and I find myself wearing long pants and a thermal when its 70F. I can bike to my site-mates house in 1 hour (door to door) which is about 15km (I also switched to SI) so that's comforting if things are frustrating (which happens when you're 7000 miles from your family, little kids think you have candy all the time and you don't speak chichewa. but I'm learning. I get about 10 hours of sleep a night and I get 12 hours of solid daylight. I have 2 turkeys whose main mission in life is to fun in my house and poop on my floor (all the time) and a cat who didn't take well to being given away...she returned. I think that's pretty much it.

Every call, letter, e-mail, facebook message, text, thought, totally makes my day.

P.S. I just tried to post pictures but it was unsucessful because of the speed of the internet...this internet situation, however, is temporary. I'll shrink them down when I'm not paying for internet and try again next week...or you can wait until I get faster internet. I'M TRYING MEGAN! haha. Miss you all!! In the mean time, you can e-mail me pictures if you shink them down a TON and e-mail them :0. Missing you!

Hello again!

2010-05-17T02:09:00.000-07:00

I promise one day soon I'll actually sit down and try to upload some pictures....someday. In the mean time, go to peace corps journals and read the blogs of the recently inducted volunteers. Thats pretty much what happened to me :). Also, you could call my mom...or ME! Its free for me to receive calls! 265991950393. I would LOVE to talk to people. I think skype is 17 cents a minute or something. I also receive texts for free so if you want to spend 20 cents to make my day...you can :). Just saying. Things are great here, just feeling out the area to figure out what there is.

Missing you all! I talk to my family all the time so if you REALLY want to know want to know hat I"m doing ask my mom.

Greetings from Mulanje!!

2010-05-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

So Wednesday morning the group of 21 of us took an oath to Uncle Sam partied with the current volunteers that night and were shipped off to our sites the very next morning. This is going to be short post because I'm paying for internet at my market as I'm still working out contacts for the free internet I keep hearing rumours of. So I'm in Mulanje now, where I'll be living for the next 2 years. I'm slowly getting to know people in my village and fumbling through enough chichewa to have small spurts of conversation. Sorry, you won't be getting those pictures today that I promised last time I had internet. Someday, you will see pictures. In the mean time, call my parents if you want information on what I'm up to past what I have the capacity to type in the next 5 minutes....I talk to them more than they want to talk to me. To my friends and family, people I've met in random places, the US government (I know you read this), and the friends of family of the other Peace Corps Volunteers here in Malawi who do almost as much blog-stalking as my family, hello. You should visit Malawi, its beautiful!! That's all I really have time to say. I cleaned all the scorpians out of my house...my turkeys are creepy and my chichewa is coming along quickly. There are SO many letters in the mail. I have a new mailing address: Amy Cross, PO Box 119, Mulanje, Malawi, Southern Africa. Mail me letters!!! or better yet, CHOCOLATE.

Thinking of you!

Amy in Mulanje.

P.S. facebook doesn't like that I'm trying to log-on from Africa so there is no facebook contact until next time I'm in my boma. Sorry Sarah.

Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like olympus over the sarangeti!!

2010-04-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

Swearing in on Wednesday. I'll post more when I get more of a chance but I'm here, its beautiful and you should visit! Send me chocolate! I'll post pictures within the next 2 weeks. That's a promise. I'm thinking of you all and love the letters and package (thanks jenni).

Amy

We finally got a letter from Amy!

2010-03-22T14:46:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone (Diana here again)
I just wanted to let everyone know that we got our first letter from Amy today!!! She wrote it on Monday March 1st, her 2nd day in Malawi. It sounds like she is having lots of fun, and is excited to really get started in the training. Here is a link to be blog of one of the people in Amy's group, and describes a lot of what is in Amy's letter.

http://intothewarmheart.blogspot.com/

We found it interesting and thought you might too. Hopefully the next update on here will be from Amy herself!

Greetings from Philadelphia!!

2010-02-26T19:53:00.001-08:00

Close-up of the pole (the next picture). Layers of rust and paint. It looked like it used to be a streetlight before electricity but who knows. Anything that close to Franklin's grave has to be important and historically significant, right? That's the problem when you're in a city older than your state, to many things to be fascinated by.

This pole didn't have a sign but I was in the historical district and it looked old so I thought I would give it some attention.

Philadelphia is so patriotic, they like to put cement blocks with amendments carved in them around the city.

Me with the Liberty Bell!

The Liberty bell with its old home in the background.

Its cracked....in case you didn't know.

Me and Susan B. Anthony, we go way back. Thanks Susan you know, for the right to vote and the whole suffrage movement thing.

China town (a few blocks away from the hotel).

Warning:This will be my last post from the United States and my last post for 8+ weeks. Try not to cry...

I arrived yesterday in the evening. I took a cab (my first cab ride) to the hotel. My cab driver was REALLY excited that I was paying cash and leaving the country: he asked me to marry him. That kind of made my day. I spent the night unpacking and repacking anxiously. This morning on the today show, they were in Vancouver B.C. showing video of Mt. Baker...there was a slight shock of how much I am going to miss the beautiful Pacific Northwest but not enough to keep my from going (sorry Grandma). I skyped my family a bit then headed out to see the liberty bell. No, I don't know what freedom taste like due to a lot of security but I did get to see it. Oh well. I snapped a few pictures, hit the gift shop for some postcards, then headed back to the hotel where I was meeting some folks from my group for lunch. I finally got my Philly Cheese steak. I think it would have been better if I appreciated steak...but I don't. Oh well, now I can say I've had one, right?

After lunch we had just enough time to come back, change, and meet for staging. 6-7 hours later, I'm an official Peace Corps Trainee (my identity for the next 8 weeks). Exciting!!!

After staging, a big group of us meet for dinner, I had sushi for the first time (I've seen the light) and then headed back here to finalize some packing decisions for the last time. I also found out that people not from Washington think people from Washington live off of sushi. Maybe some people do?

Anyway, there is a group of 21 of us (almost all here) and everyone seems pretty great. I'm excited!! I'm hearing that JFK is closed down so we'll see if we actually get to fly out tomorrow but I'm excited. Once we land in Lilongwe we'll be whisked off to training so we're all going to hit the ground running, despite the jet lag. Ready or not, here we come!!!

P.S. Note on the previous post: PLEASE if you send me something, send ukulele songs...your favorite or something I've heard. As much as I love Bob, there's only so much Dylan a girl can play on a four-stringed instrument before people want to throw rocks at her head. Thanks!

Ukulele

2010-02-25T20:30:00.000-08:00

Hello Guest blogger Diana is writing this for Amy today. Amy has taken her Ukulele with her and had a request for me to pass on. When you write her a letter, which I am sure all of you will be doing, please include Ukulele or Guitar Songs that you like, or think she should learn to play. Amy can play songs with chords or Tabs. You can find lots of songs on the internet.

All my bags are packed; I'm ready to go

2010-02-24T22:53:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow morning I leave my house at 5:am to go to the Seatac airport. My flight leaves at 8:30am and from there I'm off to staging. By mid-day Sunday I will be in Malawi starting off on the adventure of a lifetime. To say that I'm excited/nervous doesn't quite cover it. I am feeling every emotion you might imagine wrapped up in an awe of disbelief. We'll see what this adventure holds but I can only imagine how wonderful of an experience it will be.

To all of my friends and family, I would not be doing this if not for your constant support. You all mean more to me than I could ever explain.

Next time you hear from me I will have completed eight weeks of intensive language and job training.

For once, I'm at a loss for what to say out of shear anticipated exhaustion. Please write me letters and keep me updated on what is happening in your life. If you are feeling generous, send me candy (gummy things and chocolate, the darker the better). Also, send me pictures of you or us. I want to know how you are because I miss you already.

Amy Cross PCT
Peace Corps
P.O. Box 208
Lilongwe, Malawi
Africa

A Post for Packing

2010-02-09T14:10:00.001-08:00

I'm losing energy on the packing front. Last week, packing was the most calculated/planned escapade I had ever embarked on; that being said, it has turned into this...

In other news, here is am mostly complete and deeply unorganized list of everything I am bringing:

Glasses (2)
Ukulele strings (2)
Floss (5)
Toothbrush (5)
Chapstick (2)
Hair-cutting scissors
Comb
Wind-up clock
capo
Swiss armyknife
headbands (2)
Calendar
Inhaler
Harmonica
ork gloves
books
3 Musketeers
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galexy
Pride and Prejudice
The Bible
Peter Pan
Postcards for gifts (4)
Stationary (some)
Titanium spork
Netbook
External harddrive
headlamp
sleeping bag
gortex poncho
Inflatable Pillow
solar charger
ipod
knitting needles (2)
HIking boots
chacos
dressyshoes
sneakers
ukulele tuner
tape measure
cards (2)
solar charger accessories
mug
tent
sheets (full)
sewing kit
jewelry (cheap)
hair pins
kite
toothpaste
fishing line (to teach kids how to make kites)
deoderant
Colored pencils (presents)
spices (Rosmar, Basil, Cumin, cayan pepper)
Creole seasoning
nutella
chicken bullion
underwear (23)
seeds (11)
mouthwash
Shampoo/Conditioner (8 week supply of a 2 in1)
plyers
multi-head screwdriver
duct tape
ukulele
inflatable globe
Jeans (1 maybe 2 depending on space/weight)
dress pants
Tank tops (5)
T-shirts(7)
Blouses (3)
Long sleep T (1)
Bat6hingsuit
shorts (for sleeping-2)
capris spandex
long underwear
socks (2)
skirts (2)
hanky(5)
bras (8)
french press
8" cast-iron skillet
metal spatula
knife
convertable pants
towels (2 thirsty ones)
thermometer
bunjee cords (3)
razor/refills
sweatshirt
flannel
slinky

and there you have it! Things I will add: short wave radio and bananagrams. I think I'm pretty much set.

"Good Feeling" -Violent Femmes

2010-02-03T09:06:00.000-08:00

Before I begin to ramble on again talking about myself and my preparations, here is a quick note to those of you who know me: My folks are throwing a going away party for me (they're a little excited to send me away) at my house. It's an open house this Saturday from noon-4, come hang out! There's no need to bring anything but an empty stomach (we all know how much my Mom loves to feed people). Hope to see you there!

Things I'm nervous/scared for:

Since I got my invitation in October, I've been looking through a lot of blogs and facebook photo albums of current PCV's in Malawi to get a better idea of what daily life will be like for me after I arrive. This has done nothing but excite me, except for one part...I can't even count how many 'toilets' or 'chimbudzis' I've seen which is something in and of itself; however, the part that scares me the most is the fact that will all of these pictures, from oh so many people, I have yet to see a single roll of toilet paper. Call me an American, but yuck! I refuse to accept the reality of what this means. I keep telling people, "maybe they're hiding them?" That's what I'm hoping. Hmm, we'll see!

I'm scared that I'm bringing the wrong stuff. I've been making some serious packing progress (that's new) so when I get everything together I'll put a list of everything I'm bringing (for those of you who are interested in that sort of thing).

More than anything, I'm scared that I'm going to get sick of the music I'm bringing with me...you would be too!

So, in the mean time, I've been spending as much time doing things I won't be able to do once I'm gone: hanging out with my family/friends, watching movies, talking to basically everyone I know on skype/cell phone, and packing (its kind of hard to pack when you're already gone to the place you were packing for).

Soon I'm going to post my little bloggy blog on the giant list of all peace corps volunteers' blogs (exciting). This.is.real.

Just More Pre-Departure Information

2010-01-26T22:40:00.000-08:00

So, since I've been getting a lot of the same questions, I decided to take this opportunity to answer some of them. For those of you who read this often, you probably know the answers to all of these and will, therefore, find this entire post redundant. For those of you who don't read this often, you probably don't care, and will find this post pointless.

Here, my friends, is a list of (complete with answers) my FAQ's:

1. Are you nervous?

answer: Duh! Of course I'm nervous; I'm going to Africa! That being said, my excitement SERIOUSLY outweighs my nerves.

2. Can you get packages?

answer: Yes. Here is the deal on mailing me stuff, at least from what I can gather (more information will be posted when I get it). It is expensive, there is no way around it. For letters, the required postage is $0.98 and it will take 2-3 weeks to arrive to me. Make sure to write on the letter or package "Air Mail" or "Por Avion" or it will take up to 6 months to reach me. Packages: Flat rate boxes are cheapest, but it is still going to be pricey (isn't my love in return worth it?). Packages will take 5-9 weeks to reach me via airmail and 6 months for ground mail. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, I get 6 months of duty-free shipping. After that, anything that is sent to me that is valued at over $20, I will have to pay duty taxes on. (Hint: ship used goods *wink*) What are good things to ship? From what I read, it sounds like juice mixes (crystal light type things), candy, pictures of you, spice packets, ect are great. Anything that I wouldn't be able to get there that would make me happy, and ship well really. I'll put up my shipping address soon where the "about me" blurb is right now.

3. Will you have internet?

answer: Not for the first 8-10 weeks. After that, definitely every once in a while (monthly), possibly more. I will find out later in Spring.

4. Do you have a packing list?/ What are you bringing?

answer: Here is a copy of my packing list.....its overwhelming.

General Clothing

Lightweight, all-weather jacket
Hooded sweatshirt or fleece

Sleeveless dresses and shirts (note that Volunteer teachers cannot wear these in the classroom)
Swimsuit (one piece)
Bandannas or handkerchiefs
Sun hat (baseball cap)
Good-quality raincoat
Small umbrella (On principle, I refuse)
Durable, easy-to-wash pants
Shorts and other clothes like drawstring pajama pants for lounging around (doctor’s scrubs are ideal)
Women can and do wear trousers for traveling and in the cities
Teachers need lightweight dresses/skirts that go below the knee (no slits above the knee, and not tight-fitting)
Cotton slips (waist to knee and waist to ankle)
Very durable, practical clothes (not nice, dressy clothes)
Some nicer clothes for in town (dancing, restaurants)
Lots of underwear, bras, socks
Heavy-duty sports bra
Belt
Money belt
shorts (longer, knee-length shorts for women) for biking
Sturdy work gloves (if you garden)

Overall advice: do not bring a lot. Just three to four outfits for staging and beginning of training.You can find just about everything in the markets. Malawians dress very conservatively, and will espect the same from you!

Shoes

Durable shoes are an essential investment

Teva or Chaco sandals
Sneakers and/or hiking boots (Boots are handy for rainy season)
Shoes (close-toed and good to stand in all day; for anyone who teaches)
You can get flip-flops in Malawi (but according to current volunteers they're all crappy and wear out so you have to buy a new pair every month so bring a pair from home)
Dress shoes

Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items

Favorite brand of tampon
Face/hand/body lotion
Deodorant
Shampoo (just a 2-in-1 to get through training)
A few toothbrushes
Toothpaste (just one for training)
Hand sanitizer
Multivitamins
Short supply of razors and blades
Two pair eyeglasses if needed
Hair-cutting scissors
Tweezers
Lip balm
Prescription drugs (three-month supply)

Kitchen

A sharp kitchen knife
Rubber spatula
French press (if you appreciate good coffee)
Kitchen towels
Send foodstuff to yourself before leaving: specialty/herbal teas; Kraft Mac & Cheese powder; Cliff,Luna or other energy bars.

Miscellaneous But Important Items For Serious Consideration!

Sturdy water bottle (e.g., Nalgene)
Lightweight, travel, waterproof tent w/ground cloth
Leatherman/Swiss Army knife
Compact sleeping bag for cold weather
Laptop
Bungee cords or backpack straps
Fitted and flat twin sheets, or double if you need
Flashlight or headlamp with extra bulbs
Shortwave radio
Solar-powered rechargeable batteries with recharger
Duct tape
Scissors
Headlamp (very popular among PCVS!) and/or wind-up flash light
Converter and adaptors (220V here. Small multi converters/adapters work well.)
Good dictionary
U.S. stamps (so you can send letters home with travelers)
Flash drive!! We provide a 2 gig version, but you may want more of your own.
Camera
Field guide for flora and fauna of sub-Saharan Africa
Seeds for herbs and vegetables
Battery-powered alarm clock (I have a wind-up clock)
A couple of thirsty towels (this one entertained me)
English dictionary, Thesaurus
Sunglasses
Some zip-lock baggies
Watch - think cheap
Jewelry - like the watch
Personal money (you can keep it in the safe at the Peace Corps office)
Games (Scrabble, cards, chess, Frisbee, etc.)
iPod/mp3 player (Please note that erratic energy, heat, humidity, sand and dust will do a number on all electronic devices)
Musical instrument (harmonica, guitar, etc.)
A few novels (to swap after reading) I'm brining The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galexy, The Three Musketeers, Pride and Prejudice, and Peter Pan
Hobby materials like sketching pads and pencils
Day pack
Luggage (should be tough, lightweight, lockable, and easy to carry)
Hiking backpack
Sharpies
Crayons, markers, colored paper, colored pencils and cheap paint sets
Children’s books
GRE prep materials
Unbreakable French Press
Misc pictures from home and calendar showing scenes of the US

I'm not bringing everything on here, obviously. Also, I am bringing things not on here. This is just a general idea from PeaceCorps and previous/current volunteers to get an feel for what is needed. At least, because of the backpacking I've done, I already have a bunch of the basic things that would normally cost an arm and a leg (eg. Boots, backpack, sleeping bag, ect).

I guess that pretty much covers the questions I've been getting. I can't believe I have less than a month left. If you know me, and know where I live, or know me well enough to contact me and see where I live, I am having a going away party on February 6th. Stop by, eat food, hang out. I am going to try to cook some traditional Malawian dishes like nsima ....that might end badly but there will at least be an attempt.

Travel Information

2010-01-22T11:17:00.000-08:00

I just made reservations with SATO travel to fly to Philadelphia on February the 25th. I'm going to be at my pre-training staging event one day early since it takes a 6 hour flight to get to Philadelphia from Seattle and I have to be there by 1:00pm on the 26th. That means one day less to say goodbye to family and friends but one day closer to my great African adventure! I think I'm starting the stage of my excitement where sleeping is going to be rare. If you all thought I talked about Africa a lot before, I'm at a whole new level now.

I guess this means that I am going to have a ton more little updates like this until I get in gear enough to be too busy with preparations.

There is no one in the house with me right now to listen so, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!

Getting ready

2010-01-21T08:46:00.000-08:00

As you can see (maybe), I've done some tweaking with my layout. New picture, also, check out this disclaimer required if I am going to publicize my blog once I'm in Malawi ------------------>

So, as of now, I'm doing little things to get ready to leave. I'm picking up this or that at the store, staring at my suitcases trying to decide if I would rather bring more stuff or a guitar, getting student loan stuff together, avoiding packing. It sort of hit me last night that this is coming up very quickly.

Yesterday I received an e-mail from Peace Corps with my international flight and staging event information. Here is what I know:

Staging will be in Philidelphia, PA (not D.C.) and it will last for about 20 hours.

Here is my schedule:

1:00pm- check in/registration
2:00-4:25pm-Who we are and what's expected of you
break
4:45-7:00pm-What you expect, What's next, and closing

1:30am- check out of hotel
2:00am- bus arrives for loading and departure for JFK airport, NYC
10:30am- Flight departs for Malawi

As for flight information:
On United Airlines, we fly from JFK to Johannesburg, South Africa. 15 hour and 10 minute flight. We arrive in South Africa at 8:40am (Johannesburg is in the same time zone as Malawi so there is a 10 hour time difference). At 10:00am I flight from Johannesburg to Lilongwe for 2 hours and 25 minutes. I arrive in Malawi at 12:25 pm.

In short:
10:30 depart JFK, New York
8:40am arrive Johannesburg, South Africa
10:00am depart Johannesburg
12:25pm arrive in Malawi

I am finally starting to get nervous but that is only because this has been 9 months since I graduated, but really a year waiting. This time last year I has already interviewed and was waiting to hear. Exciting times.

In other news, I am going to play around with different templates and feedback would be appreciated (that doesn't seem to ever be a problem). So, let me know what you like and don't like, you're the ones who are actually looking at it.

In Motion

2010-01-14T08:34:00.000-08:00

Let me begin with a review of 2009, which proved to be a very exciting year (yes I know this is a couple weeks late). In 2009: I worked a lot of jobs (5) as usual, graduated for Pacific Lutheran University with my BA in Econ with a concentration in International Economic Analysis and a minor in Business, four days after graduation I left for Holden Village for four months, had the best summer of my life, came home, attempted a road trip, failed said roadtrip, spent time with my family, pierced my nose, and have been reconnecting with a lot of people from Holden and PLU...even a few from high school. As good as 2009 was, 2010 will be better.Late last year, Meredith, an old roommate somehow managed to scrape together a car to visit me!! It was great seeing her!

Since January 1st, I have been on 5 airplanes, 4 trains, 9 buses, and 8 different cars (none of which were my own). I have spent time in the Seatac, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Denver, and Salt Lake City airports. I am excited that my methods of transport from here on out are only going to get more interesting. That being said, my next 40 days at home are going to include a lot of home time because I have a lot to get ready here before I can leave for Malawi. Ok, that's enough, on to what I've been up to the last couple weeks, and pictures!

Just before the new year, a good friend from Holden came to stay with me for 6 days. We went sailing, hung out in Seattle, went to Ikea, soo exciting. I had a good time showing her the magic of the Pacific Northwest, and she had a grand time (being from Wisconsin) experiencing, what I would later in the week learn is, warm weather. Being that it is SO "warm" here, and actually not raining for a bit, Hannah, my Dad and I took the opportunity to go sailing! It was cold, but beautiful. Good job, January.

My father is a dignified man, as visible by the sun behind his head. It was a good day, overall. After sailing, we went down to Seattle, I'll spare you all of the pictures I foreced her to take being a tourist (with the space needle, with Pike's place, with Yoda, with Tom Hanks's picture, ect.)

The evening I took Hannah to the airport to go back home, our dryer broke so Jeff and Diana and I went to the laundromat so I could do some laundry because I was leaving for Minneapolis, MN the next morning. Somehow this happened.

Those details are a little fuzzy still. Either way, eventually, I finished my laundry, packed up and went to sleep for a few hours before I had to get up the next morning so my WONDERFUL sister could drive me to the airport at 3:00am.

The plainride went smoothly, I flew to Denver, then to Minneapolis. I got there, my friend Maren (I stayed with her) from Holden picked me up from the airport and thus my Mid-west adventure began. Everyone should note that it was 45 F when I left Seattle and I was already sleeping in long underwear. When I landed in Minneapolis it was 14 F and was emediatly informed that I was lucky it was so warm there for a change. It should also be noted that 14 was the coldest I had ever felt.

Maren: What do you want to do while you're here?
Amy: Stand on a frozen lake, drink Caribou coffee, and see the Mall of America.

Maren: No problem

Here are some things I learned right out of the gate: "You have to respect the ice."-Maren Evidently, "respecting the ice" means you have to waddle when you walk...and waddle I did. I also learned that when you first walk outside, rather than taking a deep breath to enjoy the fresh air like I am used to doing in wonderful, wonderful Washington, you have to hold your breath and then proceed to breath in slowly. Not following these simple directions will, absolutely, result in coughing and then having the locals make fun of you. This is a reflex not easily learned. I learned that if you are standing on a frozen lake and you wrap your scarf around your face for extra protection from the cold, that makes condensation on your glasses from breathing. Then, if you stand outside like that for more than a split second, your glasses freeze. Yes, I said freeze. They look like they were just foggy; take my word for it.

I also learned that Minnesotans have to put fake mountains on the walls of their Caribou Coffee's so they can pretend they have mountains. Oh Minnesota, you silly, silly folks.

Inside the Mall of America, there is a lego museam..I can't even make a lego helicopter.

There is a sculpture park, and in the middle is this 1,200 lb cherry on a spoon (famous?). I stood bye it because the pond surrounding it is frozen (frozen bodies of water stood on so far: 2). That was interesting. We didn't very thoroughly investigate the rest of the sculptures because it was soo cold that day. Even with 2 pairs of pants on, a t-shirt, long sleeve t-shirt, flannel, fleece, sweatshirt, jacket, hat, gloved, scarf, it was too cold to be out for more than 20 minutes.

I did learn that it is a bad idea, however, to try to climb the giant spoon because, that is not respecting the ice, and the ice gets angry and makes you fall on your face. I learned my lesson. Thanks for being on top of the camera, Maren.

Maren took me to a place where I got to throw peanut shells on the ground. This, really, has nothing to do with Minnesota, but I've always wanted to, so it's exciting in my book.

What's next in the random collection of things I did in Minnesota? A kite festival on a frozen lake (frozen body of water number 3). Fun fact, if you are at a kite festival, flying a kite on a frozen lake, at sun set, after the sun sets, what you once thought was unbarably cold, becomes, lets get to the car as fast as we can because I think I'm on Pluto-cold.

After the kite festival, Katy took us to a local coffee shop where she has a bunch of her FANTASTIC photos hanging from all of the places she's been. We had ice cream there because since it was -12F, there was a 25% discount to give incentive to eat it. That's right.

Another fun fact: the Mighty Ducks trilogy was filmed for the most part in Minneapolis, MN. We watched the movies, then drove past Mickey's diner (a few scenes from the movie) on our way home from the Minnesota Science Museum where we saw an exhibit on the Titanic (very interesting, go if it comes to a city near you).
That pretty much concludes my Minnesota adventure. Monday morning, Maren dropped me off at the airport on her way to work and I was on my way. I flew from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Denver, to Salt Lake City, and finally to Seatac. There I took the lightrale (train number 1) to Seattle and caught the bus to Everett where I was picked up and taken home.

The next morning I woke up early again, got a ride to the everett station, hopped on a bus to Seattle and got on a train (#2) to Vancouver to visit an old roommate, Kristen and her boyfriend Andrew (also a friend from PLU).
Seeing as I was only in the magical land of Camas for 23 hours, it was a sort of whirlwind of tours of the town, and catching up with each other. It was so good to see her, and everyone I've seen, especially keeping in mind that I won't see them for at least 2.5 years.

The next morning, Kristen and Andrew dropped me off at the train station (#3) where I took the train to Seattle. Once in Seattle I hopped on the sounder (train #4) instead of a bus because the Sounder honors Amtrak tickets (interesting). Jeff picked me up from good ol' Everett station and took me to church where I had some things to do, then someone from church took me home. I pretty much went straight to sleep, woke up this morning, and here I am. It's been an exciting couple of weeks.

Now, I am faced with all of the thousands of little things I have to do before I take off. I need to get rid of all of the things I won't want come June 2012, fill out paperwork, ect ect.

I hope this update will satisfy for a bit because I don't forsee anything exciting coming up for a bit.

40 days until I leave!

Merry (almost) Christmas

2009-12-23T23:01:00.000-08:00

So far, my luck in finding a job has been bad. I have decided that I will not find gameful employment in the two months before I leave. At best, I can still make a profit running around and picking up the loose change that falls out of my older brother's pockets and on the floor of my sisters car. I'm slowly building my fortune. When I'm not hunting for change around the Cross house, I am....well, I'm never really sure how I fill my days but I always end up doing something. The only exception to that is the past week when I have taken over the brown couch as my little illness island. Bronchitis.

After a visit to the un-sympathetic, drug-pushing doctor, I decided to tough it out and just try to cough all of the gunk out of my lungs to avoid pneumonia, normal for me (too much information? Sorry, you should be prepared for that). I feel better today than I have all week so I win in the game of Amy v. sickness. Does anyone else play that game when they're sick? I always win in the end, weird. I spent most of my couch-bound time knitting and staring off into space, reading, and watching made-for-tv movies. Grand. I'm glad that part of my life is over and feel better in thinking that the next time I'm sick, it will most likely be by some exotic tropical disease in Africa (erase that from your memory, Mom).

I got a point in the previously mentioned Amy v. sickness game, by the way, for finding the ule log channel on demand. If I was never sick, then I never would watched all of the How I Met Your Mother episodes and I never would have explored further. Again, too much unnecessary information (its a habit, I blame my sister).

So, as I am sure by now you have concluded, this post is pointless and is most definitely a waste of your life to read. Why are you still reading? Well, its interesting to read what is happening in another persons mind or in their life. As this is a completely unfiltered forum for the ramblings of my easily distracted little mind, it is vaguely interesting. Example a, you are reading this right now. If it is a waste or your life to read this then isn't it a waste of my life to write it, you ask? No. My dear, dear friend Meredith and my sister both have spent a lot of time bugging me about writing another update, even though there is (obviously) nothing exciting enough to update about. This is to satisfy them. I'm a people-pleaser.

My plans for the future (between now and leaving for Africa): Making my own flash paper out of toilet paper, a flare, boiling water, as spoon, and a match. PROJECT! I'm going to be my own supplier for flammable magic trick paraphernalia.

I apologize if this is all a bit pointless and scattered; I've been on cold medication all week.

So its Christmas time again! Lets all join hands together, sing a carol or two (though with this nasty cough, you won't want to listen to me sing) and then watch another cartoontastic twist of Dickens's most famous work. I'll bring the figgy pudding (is that really just pudding with figs in it?)!!!

Don't spend hours at the mall tomorrow, on Christmas eve, spend it with the people you love. After all, if you don't have a gift for them yet, obviously they're not important enough to get one from you. Maybe you should spend that time building your relationship instead of yelling at the slow person in the parking lot who just won't give up their awesome, should-be-a-persons with disabilities spot because its sooo close to the door-spot. If you do go somewhere tomorrow, park in back, enjoy being outside, you probably don't spend enough time outside.

That's enough, I warned you about the cold medication.

Merry Christmas!

I've been home for 2 weeks and 2 days.

2009-11-25T11:44:00.000-08:00

So, 2 weeks is too long to go without posting anything? Noted.

So far I've been spending my time job hunting for a job that will only last for a few months and is within barrowing-a-car-from-family distance. Its not happening. We'll see. Maybe I'll sell my blood? No.

A couple of days ago Diana and I took the bus to the REI in Seattle so that I could give Diana a lesson in riding the bus. Evidently, I'm a bad teacher; she's still confused.

Yesterday I went to Olympia to visit both Grandma's an Aunt and an Uncle.

Right now I'm sitting next to Jeff, my brother (Woohoo for first blog shoutout to the Jeffinator!), watching muppet parodies of genius songs (eg, Bohemian Rhapsody).

That's really all that I'm up to. I'll post some pictures when I'm on a computer that can read my 8 G memory card because my camera cord was a victem in Floyd's death.

Satisfied Meredith?

Roadtrip fail. Que Sera Sera

2009-11-12T08:32:00.000-08:00

These photos are in reverse order. Back at home, this is Lake Stevens.

Gloomy airport gate. I would much rather be on the road. Oh well.

Somewhere inbetween Santa Ana and San Fransisco.

My airplane.

The last picture I took of Floyd before the sketchy Russian man took him away.
Self-explanatory.

Diana and I in front of the castle.

Tea cups :).

Splash Mountain.

Haunted mansion.

Waiting to get into the park.

We were first in line :).

Since my exhaust system fell off of my car (you're read that later) I had to miss the walk of fame in Hollywood, so this makes up for that.

On Highway 101, you curve around a lot through the landscape. I would be driving through hills and rural areas, then the road would just open up to show the Pacific Ocean as far as you can see. Wonderful. This is the Californian Coast.

Before it opened up to the ocean.

The Redwood Forest. Those trees are pretty large and in charge.

Babe, the blue Oxe.

Paul Bunion himself

Me, Paul, and Blue.

Floyd, Paul, and Blue.
Flody and the californian Coast (its through that opening but it started to rain so you can't really see it).

Me and the Redwood forest.

Floyd and the Redwoods.

Me and a giant fyberglass T-Rex.

Floyd and the T-Rex.
I didn't post anything for the duration of my road trip because my computer started smoking and never turned on again.

Its just like Floyd to go down with flair. Aside from the general over heating, occasional smoking, and, every once in a while, refusing to move up hills (or at all)...and oh yeah, running really rich, I have no idea what was wrong with him. I will never know now. I sold him to a junk yard so I wouldn't have to be stranded in L.A. anymore. I'm pretty sure I got ripped off by the scuzziest junk yard man in the history of the world. Oh well, I'm home now.

I'm a little annoyed that my exciting road trip failed (mostly) and I'm back home, with an extra month and nothing to do (for now, 103 days until I leave for Africa, according to my Mom's count down. Is she excited? or sad? haha). on the other hand, I always sort of have trips and things planned for myself and they rarely work out. I'm just happy that this one sort worked out-I left. I was trying to figure out what I'm going to do with myself for the next 103 days. I thought about going back to Holden, but I'm trying really hard to resist the need that everyone feels to default back there when things don't necessarily move forward. Besides, I feel like I'm sort of saving my return for after Peace Corps.

Ok, so here is the story from when I posted last until Monday night:

Friday, November 6th, 2009 (Newport, Oregon, day 4):

That morning I packed up and left because I had just learned that I had to make it from Newport, OR to Santa Cruz, CA (which I knew), 14 hours of driving, about 642 miles (didn't know). I made it after being over-tired, extremely frustrated, slightly lost, and in aww over the Golden Gate Bridge (did anyone know that is a toll bridge??) That night I was staying with Carol from Holden. Carol lives up in the mountains above Santa Cruz, where there is no cell phone reception. So, I was in the woods, after dark, winding through the mountains at night, up steep roads. At this point Floyd was already having trouble rounning (because of the 642 mile drive that day). There came a spout where all of the forks in the road got so steep that I couldn't get the car to move forward any more up the hills. I had to get it off the road, so I pulled it inbetween two forks, as much off the road as I could (not very much). I picked up my pack, and started walking toward Carol's place. Eventually (after being barked at by a bunch of dogs and questioned by a bunch of owners and neihbors) a car pulled over to ask me if I was hitch hiking (I was looking pretty sketchy by this point). When I told the elderly couple in the car that I wasn't hitch hiking but that I was staying with Carol, and yes, she knew I was coming, they said, "well, oh. You're one of her Holden friends then! Get in the car, I'm her neihbor, Marsha, I can give you a lift to her driveway". After thanking her and telling her that yes, that was my car back there and I know its not that far off the road but it wouldn't move forward anymore and I was lucky it was out of the road at all, we made it to carols place (pretty far up the hill). I thanked them, a lot, and headed to Carols house, where she was waiting for me with open arms, asking me if I found it alright. Ugg. I went inside and we talked for a while about Holden and people we know, the trip I had getting there, ect. Eventually I expressed my need to go to sleep before passing out. I got to sleep in a bed for the first time in a while, that was exciting (sorry, I didn't get a picture of it).

Saturday, November 7th, 2009:
The next morning I was so anxious about my car that I couldn't sleep, so I was up before dwawn. We ate breakfast and as soon as it was light outside, I looked at the car a bit (determining that it was a faulty mass airflow sensor that I put in the car a couple weeks prior) and headed down the hill after saying goodbye to Carol and giving her the hat I knitted for her. I went to 2 different auto-parts stores and bought a new mass airflow sensor, and the cheapest socket set they had ($3) and put in the knew MAS in the parking lot with the help of a random man who saw my having trouble fitting all of the parts together (engines are pretty congested places, I've discovered). I put the knew part in and it didn't do anything. Annoyed that I just spent a bunch of money on nothing, I decided to hit the road anyway because I needed to pick up Diana from the Santa Ana airport by 9:30 at the lastest and it was already noon. 410 miles that day. The further I drove, the worse the car got. At times, I had to pull the car back to 2nd gear just so I wasn't loosing speed at a slight incline. By the time I made it to L.A. , I was sure I wouldn't make it much forther than Anaheim, I was just trying to push forward as much as I could so Diana wouldn't be stranded at the airport. L.A. traffic sucks. Stop and go traffic is especially aggrevating when every time you stop (especially on a hill) you're not confident that the car will actually move forward when you start again. So, on the freeway, I wound through Los Angeles until South L.A. when I had to pull off of the side of the road into a laundry matte parking lot because I heard a loud noise and then the sound of steel being dragged under my car. When I got under the car to look at it my exhaust pipe fell off of my car and was dragging because it was still attached to the muffler and hooked up over the rear axel. After spending a while on the phone with my Dad he told me that I had to free the exaust pipe so I could drive the car still. I grabbed the knife that I cut yarn with and my headlamp and layed down on the ground (in the world grosses parking lot) and hacked at the rubber holders that were keeping the muffler attached to the car because I had to get the (disconnected) muffler off so that I could get the exhaust pipe off the axel. After a while of messing with it it finally came off and after a further while of messing with the exhaust pipe and jacking up the car and putting it down ,ect, I finally got that out too. The exhaust pipe went in the dumpster (or close to it) and the muffler went in my trunk with my broken lap top. I hit the road again. By the time I got back onto the freeway, traffic had gotten better and I found the humor in the situation and started laughing a bit at it (probably in a crazy way). After I got lost a few times again (I have no sense in direction) I made it to the airport and found a parking lot. I was there 45 minutes before Diana's plane landed, those 45 mintues, I fully intended to sleep but bafter a few seconds of the car being off the airport/parking lot shuttle was behind me honking to see if I wanted to shuttle to the airport. I decided that 45 minutes of sleep wouldn't do much and got onto the shuttle. I got off and walked around in the airport appreciating my ability to walk around after so long in the car. I picked up Diana (who was astonished by the sounds Floyd was making without a muffler) and we headed back to the hotel we had reserved after, of course, getting lost a bit trying to find it. (Stupid McCarther Street in Santa Ana, we hate you!!!) We decided, back at the hotel, to trying to ignore the car and sleep...like that happened.

Sunday, November 8th, 2009:
Anaheim, California
DISNEYLAND!!!!

We got up early (what's a little less sleep?) and were t the park, first in line by 7:20am (opens at 8:00). We had checked out from the library at home "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland" (highly recommended). We did Disneyland (open to close) in 16 hours, one day. We saw most of what there is to see and it wasw beautiful...Even though, most of the time I was falling in and out of being really sucked into the experience and being tripped out by the truman show affect of it all. Weird. It was a great day. The ngiht ended with a lazor light show projected onto a screen of shooting up water. The last song was "When You Wish Upon a Star", perfect Disney. We couldn't have asked for a better ending. We went back to the hotel extremely tired. While we were at the park, the family was looking for a flight home (cheap for me ASAP) because I decided to junk the car and fly home. check.

My favorite ride was Peter Pan. Disneyland was everything I hoped it could be.

Monday, November 9th, 2009:
Anaheim, and Santa Ana, California

Another early morning. Diana and I got up erally early (again) and called every junk yard in the phone book to see how to get rid of Floyd (sniffle). The problem was that I recently changed the title to be in my name (in case I had to get rid of it) but it was still in the mail. Since it was an out of state title that I dont' have yet, no one would take the car, let alone buy it from me. Finally, I found the sketchiest man alive and he took Floyd away. I dropped Diana off at the airport. The junk yard man offered free towing from wherever I was so I drove Floyd to a hotel parking lot across the street from the airport (Diana's idea) and meet him there. We filled out paperwork, I took pictures of Floyd, then he took him away and I picked up all of my stuff and walked across the street to the airport. When I got the the airport, the lady at the desk was having so much trouble checking me in (it took almost an hour) that her manager gave me priority seating to make up for the wait, so I got to board with the first class folks.

I waited in the airport for 5 hours until my flight left ( Diana's was early morning but mine was evening because it was a last minute ticket). Finally I got to board. Since I was a single person flying with a last minute, one-way ticket and a lot of random luggage (and looking pretty beat down by the world) I got pulled out of line twice and frisked. That's normal for me flying though. I had a 3 hour lay-over in San Fransisco. My second flight had my next to a woman holding her obnoxious toddler who had banana all over him and kept kicking me. She was also drinking. That was a pretty long flight (even though it was only 2 hours). I got to Seattle that night, where Diana had been waiting, and my Mom picked us up. We drove home and I went to bed and didn't wake up for a long time.

At least I have a story to tell now?

Good job if you read all of this.

Newport, OR: Day 3

2009-11-05T09:34:00.000-08:00

Kaija and I with the lighthouse.

It was amazing! It looks like a postcard!

Me with the Oregon Coast!

Kaija with the Oregon Coast, her home.
Yesterday I woke up and spent a while dancing around to random traveling songs that I have on my ipond (this has become my morning ritual). I think yesterdays mix was the same as today's so it was: "Hard Road to Travel" by Jimmy Cliff , "We'll Meet Again" by Johnny Cash, "Gotta Travel On" by The Au Go-Go Singers, and "Postcards to Italy" by Beirut. Good mix!

So, yesterday, I spent most of the morning trying to figure out where I'm going to stay when I do Habitat for Humanity. There are a bunch of different options, I'm just trying to figure out which ones are still in operation. So, today, I'm not doing anything until I figure that out and reserve a spot for myself (which might prove to be difficult because, like yesterday, it is INSANELY windy here and it is messing with the internet connection. Oh well, at least I have it at all!

After messing with where I'm going to stay for a bit, I met up with a friend I met the night before and we walked over and met Kaija for lunch (Thai food). After hanging out there for a while I headed back here and Kaija and Robin headed to work. I talked on the phone with a few people, found a place ot stay in Central California, got free coffee from the front desk, and walked around the area for a while. After a while, Kaija got home (early) and we headed out to see the light house. There are two lighthouses in Newport, we went to Equina head light house. To save $7.00 we parked before the entrance and walked, maybe a mile and a half each way, to the lighthouse. I was a really great walk because you got to walk along the cliffs that sort of look over the ocean. It was beautiful. I was really windy so, naturally, we played around in the wind. By the time we turned the last corner to get to the lighthouse, it was sunset. Beautiful. We poked around the lighthoues for a while, then headed back.

We came back here, made dinner, skyped a friend from Holden and then played a game of Scrabble. Right when we finished the game of scrabble, some of Kaija's friends came over, they are doing a cleansing and wanted to go in the sauna. So we went. We sort of hopped between the jacuzzi, the pool, and the sauna. We got there 5 minutes before it closed so we had to have the night time cleaning guys let us in, they were happy to. We hung around there for a while then headed back to Kaija's place. We played another game of speed scrabble then they left and we hung out talking until we were both falling asleep.

This morning I've been doing my morning ritual of dancing around to the previously mentioned mix. I think today we might go to the other lighthouse. We'll see what happens.

Oh, and

Remember remember the Fifth of November, of GunPowder Treason and Plot. I see no reason, Why GunPowder treason, Should Ever Be Forgot.

Happy? Guy Fox Day.

Newport, OR: Day 2

2009-11-04T09:06:00.000-08:00

Who knew, Keiko lived in Newport!!!??? I didn't. This mural on the wall informed us that he did. I think this is Kaija and her friend, Robin, re-inacting Free Willy.

Kaija and I with Keiko.

Kaija and I. Evidently in Newport, they have this thing called "Aloha Tuesdays". If you wear a Hawaiian shirt and go to the local brewery (Rogue) they give you a free pint. Note: the Hawaiian shirts.

Sunset, I can't help myself.

Ripleys Beleive it or Not is here on the bayfront! Woah! I don't want to pay to go in but they have creepy music playing there all the time.

I hung out and watched the Sea Lions for a while (you can tell it was for a long time because the there are a TON of pictures of them).

Oh Beach Towns.....
When I Was taking a picture of this sign when some creepy probably 80-year-old man and I had this conversation:
man: How about that?
Me: How about what?
man: Just...How about that?
me: What??
man: I don't know, anything! How are you?
me: um...fine? [exit stage right]

So, since Kaija works like a normal human, I have the day to dink around the town and see whatever I want. I spent the day yesterday exploring all the peirs and different beaches and different stores. I got some salt water taffy, I watched the Sea Lions. The day was pretty uneventful but it was a lot of fun! I ended up talking about Peace Corps with the owner of this one store that sells a bunch of wood carvings and things like that. Good times. I like Newport!