Amaizing Malawi!

We have been in Malawi now for three weeks but it feels like months!

I've attended a Malawian wedding, made Shepard's pie for my family, been Chitenje (the fabric many Malawian women wear around their waists as wrap skirts or to use as wraps for the bundles they carry on their heads) shopping, started working in primary schools with Young Voices and presented a talk to the ICS team about Diversity and Working Together with my amazing counterpart (and now best friend) Blessings. It's been a very busy, and at times highly emotional, few weeks but living in Mzuzu now just feels like normal life!

Working in a multi cultural team does throw up its difficulties as we are all from very different backgrounds and have been brought up with sometimes seemingly opposing rules and practices. Our Malawian team mates, on the whole, prefer to keep their emotions and issues to themselves whereas the UK volunteers commonly talk more often and sometimes shock the In County Volunteers with their loudness, brashness and tears! (mine included!)

Living in a host home is an amazing cultural experience. Although I live with two young guys we have really become a family and they call me their daughter or sister and we share all of the chores. Even though it does feel like home here now I'm learning new things all the time about the culture, the upcoming political elections on the 20th, primary education in Malawi and religion.

We have a day off today because it is a public holiday in remembrance of Kamuzu Banda, the first Malawian president after Malawian independence. I am going to get some things made at the tailors and try my best to e-mail long emails to all the family. Internet is slow here at best!

Love to you all! x