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.
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. Hard rainy day equals free day from work which is totally reasonable, no way to get around when it really rains. Lot of people get sick and are dependent on the help of their family at that time. There was just a few examples to give you an idea why life is so slow here. But there is no harm to live your life one day at a time and I think here it´s more easier than anywhere else I´ve ever been.
Now I am back in Lilongwe, again. I wonder if we ever going to get a normal bus trip here. This time the bus finished fuel somewhere outside Lilongwe. Luckily on a minibus route so we could catch one to get to town. And the seven hour journey included also two hour preaching from Jehovas witnesses, glad I had my mp3 player with me. We had a Knowledge Sharing meeting on Thursday and Friday which means that everyone who works under secure livelihoods were there to share experiences and listen to some presentations. Really enjoyed it and was really relieving to hear that others face the same problems as we do, just for the record, fuel was mentioned in every single presentation.
Today we were suppose to start the motorbike training to get our licenses but.. you know.. pachoko pachoko which is slowly slowly in chitumbuka. We will try again tomorrow. I am staying with the filippinos in their house, this is serious, I am adapting to two cultures at the same time, Malawian and Filippino. But I must tell you Filippinos are such a nice-crazy-happy bunch of people! I really enjoy their company, the food is absolutely marvelous and they even got me singing karaoke though I was trying to avoid it. Love them, and that´s the great thing about combining two totally different cultures together, it works out just fine!
I hope you are all good and winter is moving aside from spring in Finland. This ever-summer makes me so happy so don´t worry, I am sending a lot of sun for you!
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. Hard rainy day equals free day from work which is totally reasonable, no way to get around when it really rains. Lot of people get sick and are dependent on the help of their family at that time. There was just a few examples to give you an idea why life is so slow here. But there is no harm to live your life one day at a time and I think here it´s more easier than anywhere else I´ve ever been.
Now I am back in Lilongwe, again. I wonder if we ever going to get a normal bus trip here. This time the bus finished fuel somewhere outside Lilongwe. Luckily on a minibus route so we could catch one to get to town. And the seven hour journey included also two hour preaching from Jehovas witnesses, glad I had my mp3 player with me. We had a Knowledge Sharing meeting on Thursday and Friday which means that everyone who works under secure livelihoods were there to share experiences and listen to some presentations. Really enjoyed it and was really relieving to hear that others face the same problems as we do, just for the record, fuel was mentioned in every single presentation.
and not just about the fuel.. this is everyday picture from the car at our workplace
Today we were suppose to start the motorbike training to get our licenses but.. you know.. pachoko pachoko which is slowly slowly in chitumbuka. We will try again tomorrow. I am staying with the filippinos in their house, this is serious, I am adapting to two cultures at the same time, Malawian and Filippino. But I must tell you Filippinos are such a nice-crazy-happy bunch of people! I really enjoy their company, the food is absolutely marvelous and they even got me singing karaoke though I was trying to avoid it. Love them, and that´s the great thing about combining two totally different cultures together, it works out just fine!
I hope you are all good and winter is moving aside from spring in Finland. This ever-summer makes me so happy so don´t worry, I am sending a lot of sun for you!
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