Kwathu ndi ku Malawi

A little cartoon that went "mini-viral" on Facebook. It claims to help people gain perspective but from what I see, the cartoon is a typical how Americans view Africans- misinformed, outdated.  To begin, these children are all seen with no shirts on and somewhat tribal looking bottoms. Not all kids in Africa, actually most, do not look like or live like this picture suggests. They don't roam naked in tribes in the jungle all day.  Secondly, most children in Africa DO sit in school for hours of the day as well just like North American children. Except there is no aircon, normally no posters on the wall, no toys, no crayons, not enough desks, not enough teachers, not enough classrooms. Oh yes, African children sit in class all day but they sweat, its 90 degrees, cram 4 into a desk for 1, have 50 students per classroom. And maybe kids in America are overdosed, but kids here, they can die from not having access to drugs. Kids in America take m...

The Things She Carried Some of the best, most invaluable things I packed for Malawi were : My 32L Northface hiking pack My JanSport small daypack Chacos A tent that can sleep 2 My Colombia fleece jacket Unlocked iPhone 3GS Apple iPod with headphones Pens and markers Nalgene water bottle  Some reliable headlamps Deodorant Things maybe I could have done without: Socks Long underwear  Winter gloves Too many pocket knives Hiking boots (Chacos win at everything) Nook e-reader (paper books are abundant from Peace Corps and other volunteers. Plus I can't download new books because I don't have wifi) Ponchos Solio solar charger (not worth the $$) Things that were sent to me that have been super nice: Battery operated fan Spices for food and cooking Foldable organization baskets Seeds Folders and notebooks Pictures Sewing kits Things I acquired here that I am thoroughly enjoying: Trek Bike Zitenj...

So what do I do here? Well, a little and also a lot. Because trying to do anything sometimes feels like a lot! Projects and progress and change are slow but also sure.  When I first came to Malawi, I knew I wanted to teach. I love it- it's a passion. So I became connected to the local Secondary School or High School in my area and I started teaching Life Skills which is a class that teaches students about everything from HIV to globalization to conflict resolution to setting goals and having healthy habits. Basically, skills you need to really excel and love in life. I very much enjoy teaching this class. I teach 2 different grades each having about 50 students in the class. This takes up about 2 days a week.  This past year I've also started an after school club with a fellow teacher called AIDS TOTO Club meaning "the refusal to get AIDS." We focus on discussions, lessons, songs, dance, poems and role-play to learn. We are hoping to take our talents out...

Cooking. [laugh] Never will I ever! Well, you know what they say, "never say never." I left the United States with a stomach full of the sweetest coffee and I think a pastry I bought in the airport. My diet before village life in Malawi? Mountain Dew, Coffee, an occasional apple, random fast-food, grilled cheese, doughnuts. It wasn't a weight issue at just under 110 lbs (I don't know how this was possible but its true). It was a health issue though. I couldn't cook. Confirm this with my mother. 24 years old and I could not even make my own grilled cheese. I didn't even want to try and cook. Now, let me explain a little. I graduated a semester early from UGA to start my first "real job." And the week I was promoted to full-time was the same week I started graduate school. Almost 2 years of no sleep, no food, papers, work, deadlines, research, performance reviews and just that precious Mountain Dew and coffee.  So, I join Peace Corps and move t...