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Showing posts from March, 2012

Pachoko pachoko.. slowly slowly

Things happen slowly in Malawi, very slowly. We are slowly getting more to the field but not nearly as much that we should be going there. Last week we managed to see some cows. Our field team got a new volunteer from Canada offering veterinarian services. That was great! So at this time we are working on a proper database of all the farmers who are members of MDFA. The information is bit and bits there and there so it´s going to take some time but slowly getting there. Me and Abdullae on the field Just using the word slowly a lot now to make you understand the reality we live in. No point to get frustrated about it, just need to live with it. And anyway we are left with lot of other things to do so might as well enjoy the slowness. I can never talk enough about fuel and diesel, there might be some but you need to be really lucky to get it. There are days when even the black market runs out of fuel. The political situation is very unstable and we basicly living under alert all the time

No tractors around

Time goes by and it´s been already a month in Malawi. Life isn’t too bad here. The usual African culture takes a bit of time to adapt but I think I´m getting there quite well. I really like Mzuzu, people are friendly and helpful. Everyday basics, shopping and going around in town is not that stressful at all, no one really bothers us and the sellers in the market don´t try to cheat you too much. Am sure there´s a little “rich white people” extra added to the prices in the market but it can be solved fast after some chitumbuka greetings and mention about volunteering. Last week was the first full week of work. We went around to get introduced to a lot of people we are going to work with. There´s a lot of activities going on with the farmers and I am getting to understand that we just need to motivate the farmer´s enough to care for their animals and understand the good profit that can be achieved with good farming. On Wednesday I went to see silage (fodder) making at Lunyangwa research