A Day in the Life

Today was a great day. One of those days in the village that makes you never want to leave. For about the past 2-3 months I have been traveling a lot and this past weekend was one of the first times in a long time I just spent in the village doing different tasks and chores. 

One of those tasks was to prepare for a program I was facilitating today. Where I live in Malawi it is very flat, dusty, and hot. About 7km from my house is the huge Shire River stemming from Lake Malawi. Just the kind of place where you would expect to see elephants, crocodiles, impala, warthogs, hippos, etc. It is known as Liwonde National Park. At the end of the long, dusty street I live on you find a wilderness safari camp where people from all over the world come to stay and see animals. But since I live and volunteer here I regurarly get to visit the park for free. So any average Monday can easily turn terrific!

Today I biked the 7km from my house into Liwonde National Park. When I reached the river in the park my friend Thoko, who works for the safari camp called Mvuu, radioed for a boat to take me across the river to their lodge. I do this routine because one day a month I meet with a women's group comprised of about 15 female staff from Mvuu Camp and we discuss different topics. I also occasionally go to the lodge to relax, chat with friends, or as part of my health center's mobile clinic. 

On my boat ride across the Shire today the park was in full swing with at least 30 hippos out and about, 1 elephant along the water bank, 4 crocs basking in the sun, cranes flying overhead, monkeys swinging from trees, and warthogs and impala out in the distance. They all come to the river for water. Occasionally some monkeys and cranes can make thier way the 7km to my village and hang out around there too. And in the past, even elephants have made that 7km and ended meandering up around. You never know what could happen living just outside the park! It's easy to get use to it so I have to remind myself how special these things are. 

When I get across the river to the lodge, I set up for our activities which today were all about Malaria! A topic I've been focusing on a lot lately. The ladies were enthusiastic and we completed a giant Malaria Crossword Puzzle together and chatted/demonstrated about bed net care and repair. I always enjoy my time with these smart, wonderful women who are open to discussion and learning more about a topic that can sometimes be boring. Next up we will be having a session on inner and outer beauty (hair, skin, nails, etc.) with a guest facilitaitor who is a fellow Peace Corps Volunteer! After we finished our session today, around 4pm I got back on the boat and crossed the river to bike the 7km back home all the while to a gorgeous Malawian sunset.

Upon arriving home I was greeted by my neighbor Saidi with a plate full of goat meat! Muslim Aid Malawi has been giving out goats to people in the villages the past 2 days and thankfully my neighbors as always ensured I wasn't left out. What a treat!

So as I sit here typing and boiling my goat I'm thankful for my ordinary day that when I take the time to really think about, was extraordinary! I'm thankful for the extraordinary people around me. I am so blessed.