Trash or Treasure

Like many Americans (and others), I've been blessed to always have more than I need.  Not more than I want necessarily, but more than I need.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't born with the proverbial silver spoon.  As an adult I've had times when I've contemplated an empty cupboard and a day or two of "popcorn diet".

But I've never experienced real need.  I've always had a buffer.  I knew that if push comes to shove I have family and friends who would come through for me.

Living in Samoa and now Malawi, my eyes have been opened wider  about what it's like to live with very little.  I told a friend in the USA about a Malawian friend who lives on about $10 week.  My USA friend responded with shock and dismay, indicating that he is hard pressed to live on $1,000 a week.

Part of the difference is in pricing.  Prices in Malawi, relative to US prices are very low.  I am not going to be happy being back to paying full freight after my time here.  I'll also be very conscious about how I spend money.  My dad, who some would call frugal and others cheap, would approve.

Part of the difference is also in expectations and "needs".  Electricity - is it a need or a want?  Same with running water.  Food is about eating to live, not living to eat.  Do you really need to spend a quarter for the minibus?  Walking may take longer, but it is free.

For most of my life I have been guilty of wasting food.  Buying too many fruits and vegetables for example, and having to discard them as they start to go bad.  I quickly learned here that things I was ready to trash were of value to others.  Glass bottles (not deposit) could be sold or reused.  Fruit and vegetables that I deemed too far gone, were still good when other's looked at them.

I've been dividing my trash.  The "real" trash (egg shells, potato skins, etc.) goes in the trash bag.  Plastic and glass bottles are placed next to the trash.  Any food that might be deemed still usable is placed in a bag separately.  A quarter loaf of bread, for example, that is 2 days old, but since I was leaving for a couple of days and wouldn't be eating it,  went into the "have at it" bag.  Sometimes I just leave a note "Help yourself to the XYZ in the refrigerator."

Today, I put 3 oranges in the "have at it" bag.  I knew that I wouldn't be eating them before I left and rather than letting them go to waste, I put them in "the bag".

Today was a holiday.  I was working anyway, so not in my apartment.  I wasn't surprised when I got home to discover that my apartment hadn't been serviced.  Everybody deserves a holiday.

I had to laugh, though, when I realized the oranges I'd put out in "the bag" this morning were gone.  I'm glad they've gone on to a good home.

Music and Leaving

The last few days I've had a several songs that have been a mental soundtrack to my life.  "Leaving on a jet plane"  "Last dance"  "And now you're gone, gone gone".  The music world abounds with songs about leave takings.  Saying goodbye to someone you love.  Saying goodbye to something you love.  Saying goodbye to a finished chapter in your life.

I'm not good at goodbyes.  And I hate extended goodbyes.  That was hard in Samoa.  It was like pulling off a band-aid, one millimeter at a time.  It was slow and painful.

Leaving Malawi is easier.  I've been here three months, not 26 months.  I like the friends I've made here and hope to stay in touch, but I haven't had time to learn to love them and for them to have become woven into my life.

And leaving is coming so quickly.  I'm pooped because of the level of work and activities the last few weeks and am ready for a vacation, but it's also been a good distraction.  I suspect it won't really hit me until I'm cooling my heels in the Lilongwe airport, waiting to take the bus out to the plane.

There was a moment last Saturday, when I said goodbye to Paul's family.  Luckily, his kids didn't really understand that it was the last time we'll probably be together.  To them, it was just "see you later" as they hugged and kissed me.

I should be packing right now.  I hate packing. It's not really that hard nor that time consuming, but I build it to epic proportions in my head.  I've actually already done the tough part of packing - in my head.  My big suitcase will carry souvenirs, gifts and the clothes I brought and never wore (it does NOT get cold enough in Malawi for winter clothes).  One roll aboard bag will hold the clothes/gifts for my visit to Armenia.

The other roll aboard will carry my computer, a change of clothes, toiletries/drugs and my airplane necessities.  They include a small down throw which was a Christmas gift years ago (thank you, G &V!) and is great on chilly planes.  Mr. Kindle, of course, to keep me amused with reading and games during layovers.  Noise cancelling head phones which make a HUGE difference.  After going through two sets of Bose (expensive) head phones, I found a pair for this trip which were $79 and very close to Bose performance.  They're made by AblePlanet.  I'll also have my sleep mask, hand lotion and saline nasal spray.  Yes, I've got this flying thing down to a science.

I don't want to leave Malawi.  I really like it here.  But I'm ready to be home for a bit, spend time with friends and make some money.

If you know of a job for a "young at heart" woman with consulting, teaching and volunteer experience, keep me in mind.  Currently I'm eyeing an open position for assistant manager at the Taco Bell in Lake Mary.  Close to home, not the head honcho and I'm guessing I'd get all the free tacos I could eat.  Could be a dream job.

Busy!

I just responded to a friend's email.  He asked the simple question:  "When will you be back in Orlando?"  Instead of just saying "May 24", I gave him my schedule for the next few weeks.  I thought I'd share it with you.

It's a busy, busy time - filled with good stuff.

May 6-7- interviewing new consultant candidates.  16 of them.  Grueling for them and me!

  

Wed/May 8 - Skype with Scotland (parent agency) and travel to Lilongwe - five hour drive); 

Thurs May 9 - facilitate meeting with government, donors, business owners and a new govt agency to help them focus on their direction;

 Fri May 10 - 5 hour drive back to Blantyre.  

Sat, May 11 - spend the day with Paul and his family.

  

Sun May 12 - Pack and prepare for the training the next week.

 Mon- Tues- Wed May 13 - 15 - teach Consulting Diploma course for consultant trainees

Thurs May 16 - 6:00 a.m. bus to Lilongwe, relax for evening in hotel

Fri May 17 - leave for airport at 6:00 a.m.

Sat. May 18 - arrive in Yerevan Armenia at 8:30 p.m. after visiting Zambia, Kenya, Amsterdam, Paris

Sun. May 19 - Thurs. May 23 - enjoy time with Denise, Otis and Irie and explore Armenia!

Fri. - May 24 - Depart Yerevan at 6:00 a.m.  Visit Paris, Detroit and arrive in Orlando at 8:30 p.m.  In Lake Mary at 10:30.  In shower at 11:00.  In bed at 11:30.  In a coma at 11:31.

Sat. May 25 - Grocery shop, clean the house and be at airport at 8:30 pm. to greet friends arriving from Michigan and New Jersey - also PCVs/Samoa

Sun. May 26 - hosting barbecue/pot luck/pool party for 12 friends

Sat. June 1 - 7:00 a.m.  friends depart.

Sat. June 8 - 1:00 hosting barbecue/potluck for about a dozen RPCVs from Central Florida - it's a group that just formed when I was leaving so am anxious to connect and make some new friends.  Ages range from 20's to 50's.  Mix of male/female/married/single.  

Mon. June 10 - get serious about job search, if I haven't gotten a call from Cape Town by then.  My fingers are still crossed!

Time to Leave Malawi

One of the many monkeys hanging around at the Sanctuary Lodge in Lilongwe where I facilitated a Team Building Workshop recently for a group of scientist who provide vaccines in East Africa for cattle

It's been too long since I've posted.  I've been busy, traveling for work and then just chilling when I have free time.  I've also been busy looking for work via the internet and doing the stuff needed to make sure my transition home will be as smooth as possible.

Overall, I can't believe that in less than two weeks I'll be leaving Malawi.  Sounds trite but it does seem as if I just arrived.  But there are small things that make me realize I've been here for awhile.  Some of the vegetable vendors call me by name now.  The guys who sell bananas at the corner near my apartment wave and smile when I drive by.  I am comfortable driving in Blantyre, a task which was anxiety inducing for the first few weeks.  I feel as if I've gotten the hang of the balance of defensive and aggressive driving needed to survive in Malawian traffic.

I can tell you where to get the best/least expensive local food (NJamba - 750 MK for rice, pasta, potatoes or nsima; 1 meat; two veg); best vegetarian Indian (Veg Delight on Glyn Jones road - try the Dhal Puri - unique and awesome); best bakery (Gelato Carnival); etc, etc, etc.

I've made friends, which will make it harder to leave.  The other day at work, my work neighbor at the next desk asked if I was excited about leaving.  I told him the truth.  I'm looking forward to seeing friends in Armenia and being home but will be sad to leave Malawi.

I'm equally excited and terrified by going through another door in my life.  Entering a new phase is always stress-inducing and exciting.  While I would like having something firm lined up for work, the current situation gives me an opportunity to consider what I really want to do.  How I can best contribute.  What adventures are available to me.

Because I've had the privilege so many times to leave one phase and enter a new one, I'm confident that something good is around the corner.  At those moments (which usually occur at 3:00 a.m.) when I worry about  financial security for my elder years, I'm comforted by the moment I had at Lewonde National Park.  It was early on a Sunday morning.

I was on a driving game safari on a cool, clear morning with the game guide and another couple of tourists.  We were all quiet and content to slowly drive through the bush, spotting herds of impalas, troops of baboons and the occasional wart hog.  We'd just spent a few minutes watching the sun coming up over the Shire river, watching and listening as the hippos strolled into the water and started swimming and bathing.

I felt such a complete sense of peace and contentment while at the same time knowing with absolute certainty that something amazing and wonderful and possibly totally unexpected will come next.  That feeling and belief has stayed with me.

Yes, preparing to leave Malawi is bittersweet.  But I'll be too busy with work my last days here to have much time to fret.  And next week, my last weekend, my friend Paul, along with his wife and kids, will join me for another fun day of jungle gym and junk food at Gelato Carnival.

Then I'll deliver some final training and start the 56 hour trip to Armenia where I'll have five days with wonderful, fun friends I met in Samoa.  After another 20+ hour trip, I'll be home in Florida.  Ready to settle in and look for the next adventure.

My room at the Sanctuary Lodge.  I've had all the creature comforts I could ask for in Malawi.

One of the team building participants - if a team member "faulted" in one exercise, they had to dance as a penalty.  A good time was had by all.

A cloudy ride on the bus heading back to Blantyre.  There are always people by the side of the road for the entire 300+ km trip.

Malaria

I got a lot of mosquito bites in Samoa. At least a dozen a day.  The good news is that I gradually became desensitized - they hurt and itched, but not for long.

In Samoa, the mosquitoes were really, really annoying but not dangerous.  In Malawi, the mosquitoes carry malaria.

I know very little about malaria.  I know enough that every Tuesday morning I take a pill to help me avoid it. It's not 100% but supposed to be good.  And, for my age and coloring, a good choice.  I take Mefloquine.  It has quite a history of side effects, which made me question why the "travel nurse" suggested it as my best option.

First, I only have to take it once a week rather than daily.  Second, because I am fair skinned and because other options tend to cause sensitivity to the sun, it seemed a better option.  Especially after issues I experienced in Samoa due to sun exposure.

I was warned of a number of side effects.  Paranoia.  Depression.  Confusion. Unusual aches and pains.  Bruising.  Stomach upset.  Disturbing dreams.  Weight loss.

Ok, so I've been having some side effects.  Not severe, but noticeable.  Why the hell couldn't it be weight loss?  No, I get stomach upset (or bad street food?), night sweats and disturbing dreams.

I've always had vivid dreams. I've kind of enjoyed them.  Sort of like having George Lucas direct my dreams every night.  These are a bit more intense.  Last night was interesting.  I got home from Malawi and was driving the car I purchased after getting home from Samoa.   There were a lot of rats in the car.  Eating lizards.  Hmmm.  I had a lot of rats in Samoa and a lot of lizards in both Samoa and Florida.

Then the dream morphed into me missing the final exam for a college class.  Wait just a minute.  That's not psychosis.  Or side effects.  That's just stupid anxiety that I've had dreams about since...college.  But why was that guy with the knife there?

I've been on the meds for over two months now and the side effects aren't so bad.  Hopefully, the drug is protecting me from malaria.  People living in Malawi, for the most part, don't take preventative drugs.  Some use mosquito nets to sleep under.  Unfortunately, the mosquitoes don't wait until bedtime to bite.

What I Struggle With

In the last post, I described my day with Paul's family.  It was an honor for me to have him take me into his home and introduce me to his family.

What I struggle with is how to help.  Sustainability is not what today was about.  It was about showing a few little kids a great time.  Is that a good thing or a bad thing?  Paul and I talked about the dilemma that the kids will now want to do this again.  Is that so different than kids worldwide seeing a wider world on the internet and television?  As for Paul - his view is that "this will be a story for our family to remember."

There was an article recently in the Malawi paper about Madonna, who was apparently here last week.  Can't testify to that, since she didn't give me a call, even though her cousin was my admin ass't. back in the day in Michigan.

Anyway, the article was about celebrity do-gooders - and are they really doing good or causing more harm than good.  The article was leaning toward "more harm than good."

There's no doubt that what I did today was as much (or more) for me than it was for Paul and the kids.  The same is true for Peace Corps service.  Did I want to contribute?  Absolutely.  Did I?  Yes, at some level.  Did I do harm?  In Peace Corps or today?  Or by coming to Malawi?

Unlike the experience today, my goals for Peace Corps in Samoa and for Challenges Worldwide in Malawi were to contribute toward sustainable growth.  Teaching others new skills so they can improve their lives.

Does a detour to pizza and a jungle gym have a negative effect?  Or does the work that USAID and others provide cause more harm than good?  Read "Dead Aid".  It will make you think.

Fundamentally, I try (not always successfully) to adhere to a few things.  Be present in the moment.  Make one person smile.  Pay it forward.  Learn.

I'm a Grandma!

From left - King, Memory, Queenie, Annie, Paul and baby Favour

Learning the peace symbol

"She's taking a picture of ME!"

First, let me apologize for the continuing sporadic posts.  I can't decide which is a greater challenge - time but no internet or no time but access to WIFI.  I think it's the later.

But on to the Grandma business.  Those who know me know that I have no children, sadly.  Luckily, some of my friends kids have adopted me as a second mom...or at least a kinda aunt.  It's also why I loved teaching in Faga so much - all that love from all those kids.

I've missed then more than I can say.  I'd give anything for a huge group hug from teachers and kids alike.  I haven't had as many opportunities here to just grab a kid and start hugging or tickling.  People are so funny about that.  Especially in airports.  And really funny about it in US airports.  Kidding, of course - I learned a long time ago to keep my mitts of strange American kids.  I still think the Samoan habit of handing a baby to anyone willing to hold it is great.

I'd been talking to my colleague and friend, Paul, about teaching his kids (and him!) to swim.  Unfortunately, I haven't found a local pool with enough of a shallow end to make it safe.  As an alternative, I suggested a day at Gelato Carnival.  doesn't the name say it all?  Creamy frozen treats and a carnival.

Let's be honest, the carnival is mostly a trampoline and big plastic jungle gym.  But to these three kids (8, 5, and 3) it was as good as Disney World.

After a quick stop at the house so I could meet Paul's wife and new baby (they couldn't come today but will join us next time, I hope) to take family photos, we headed to the Carnival.

Our departure caused a small stir because clearly, not a lot of camera totin' white women roll through the neighborhood.  Once again I was ever so slightly a minor celebrity as kids called to their friends to come and see the mzungu (which means "someone who wanders around" and has come to mean white people).  I asked Paul about taking photos and he said it was fine.  He translated that one girl was screaming "Look, she's taking a picture of ME!"

Adults smiled back and waved and I got a few calls of "Mama" which is what women my age are typically called and a couple "Mama Mzungu", which I kind of like.  I'm thinking I should open a beach dive called Mama Mzungu's, where the house drink will be a Bahama Mama Malamalama.  We could serve a blend of Caribbean,  Samoan and African food.  What do you think?

Back to the story.  We drove the 15 minutes or so to Gelato Carnival and mid way through the drive the baby, Annie, asked to go home.  She missed her mom.  Queenie, the 8 year old, who was under the weather with a flair up of malaria, was hanging in.  She'd been looking forward to this.  King, the 5 year old boy seemed neutral.

Once we arrived and they saw the colorful jungle gym they were interested but not sure how things worked. The staff welcomed us warmly and said the kids could play for free.  I assured them we'd order lunch a bit later.

Loving the trampoline

How fast can I get back up the steps to do it again??

The train hasn't left the station and Annie wasn't loving it.

Queenie and King climbed up and headed for the slide, encouraged by Paul.  Annie was hanging on to me (we bonded quickly) until I put her on the trampoline.  She thought that was kind of cool but wanted to be with the big kids.  Paul put her on the smallest slide.  She slid.  She grinned.  She climbed the stairs and slid again.  Repeat, repeat, repeat - for about an hour.

The kids caught on quickly and when they were joined by a few other kids, it just made it more fun.  After riding the kind of rides you see outside grocery stores (which they thought were awesome), we had a healthy lunch.  Ok, it so wasn't, but I wanted the kids to sample a variety of junk food.  Pizza, spaghetti, french fries, hot dogs.  Due to not feeling well, Queenie didn't eat much, but the other two made up for it.  And they insisted on using forks, including the 3 year old.

After lunch, they played on the slides and trampoline some more while we waited for 2:00 p.m. when the "rides" opened.  First, the train.  Typical, little kids ride - a small train that the kids could sit in, going slowly in a circle.  Two kids, our baby and another young boy, were not excited at the process.  The other boy's father said "They're crying now but in 30 seconds they are going to love it."

He knew his kid, who was beaming by the end of the ride, but not Annie, who screamed in terror the entire way.  I felt horrible but Paul was just laughing and taking photos.

I asked the older kids if they wanted to do the train again but they declined.  Instead, we headed for the "Ferries Wheel".  A little kids version of a Ferris wheel, but one I thought would scare the bejeebers out of Annie.  Actually, no.  The train was terrifying, but apparently either Annie has no fear of heights or was just resigned that the mzungu planned to kill her today.  King, on the other hand, was not a fan and happy to get off.  They all enjoyed watching it go around again after they got.

After a bit more time on the slides and trampoline, we headed to the area to get ice cream cones for the ride home.  Sun shining, kids smiling, eating ice cream, wind in our hair.  What could be better?

Spoiling kids, leaving them dirty and exhausted on a sugar high with mom and dad.  I felt like a Grandma today.

Annie and I bonded.  

Teaching them bad eating habits.

The train scared them but this was ok??