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Published: June 24th 2008
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The first picture this week? That would be me on top of Mt Msololo, the highest mountain in the Dzalanyama range. I mentioned these mountains in my last entry. Back then, I was on outreach, seeing them in the distance. What can I say? I had to go there! I spent last weekend in Dzalanyama forest reserve with my two new housemates (Irish medical students). The scenery was absolutely stunning as I'm sure you will agree after looking at my photos. We had a nice, relaxing time when we were in the lodge, huddled around the fire in the evenings (I'm not going to lie I found it bloody freezing and came back with a cold), with candles and gas lanterns for lighting, eating incredible meals that our cook Lucius made. Hats off to him for managing to do amazing things with the food that we took. This was no easy task when you consider the fact that we pretty much took one of everything from the big market in Lilongwe. We tried a lot of things that were relatively foreign to us, including banana and pumpkin leaves, the fruit of the baobab tree, beans of all colours of the rainbow
View from the top of Mt Msololo
(The highest mountain in the Dzalanyama range) and some seriously hot chillis.
I can't say that the time we spent outside the lodge was particularly relaxing. We hiked up Mt Msololo on Saturday and then got up at 5 a.m. on Sunday to watch the sunrise before doing an 18 mile hike to a waterfall (which we quickly jumped in). The reactions I got from hospital staff on Monday morning when I told them about all this walking were mostly like that of Hilda. Hilda shook her head (for a long time) and said, very seriously, that we were crazy. Most Africans have to walk everywhere. They can't understand why anyone would walk just for the sake of walking. We generally get crazy looks and comments (and sometimes rounds of applause) even walking the couple of miles to our nearest 'town'. Why would a white person walk when they can afford to pay for a bike taxi??!!
Anyway, do you see the big mountain in the distance? That one is in Mozambique and, when Lucius told us on Saturday that we could climb that one, we decided that we would do just that on Sunday morning. However, our plans had to be changed as we
Sunrise
....over the stream that ran behind the lodge we stayed in (Dzalanyama Forest Reserve). found out that Mozambiqan soldiers are right now patrolling the mountains, trying to stop Malawians from going over to get maize. Due to a short rainy season this year, harvests have been poor here in Malawi and there is a major shortage. Maize is the primary diet for many people and come October/November there are going to be big problems in the villages. It could be a disaster. Sister Justina is expecting the hospital nutrition rehabilitation unit to be overflowing. The NGO that funds St Gabriel's provides funds for food. The hospital also receives some help from the World Food Programme but apparently there has been talk of them 'moving out' of Malawi.
You know, earlier this week, I didn't know exactly what I was going to write about here as most of my time recently has been spent doing paperwork which (correct me if I'm wrong) wouldn't be overly exciting for you to read about. It's all required for the World Bank before we can receive the next part of our grant. I was there this morning and had really quite a productive meeting so I'm happy. I've also been working on a validation of our project database
Sunrise
Is this the picture that springs to your mind when you think of Malawi?! (which we will be using to store all our patient information, results etc.). Where was I? Oh yes - I was meaning to say that me not knowing what I'm going to write about has happened before but it seems that every time it does, I suddenly learn new, interesting things that I can write about.
Even today, in Lilongwe, I met a man who had been mugged. Before you worry, he was not a completely random stranger but actually a guy who I've met before, in Cape Maclear. He was telling me that Lilongwe (which is the capital of Malawi for those of you unfamiliar with it) has become more dangerous recently as the Malawians returning from South Africa (with horrific stories) are unemployed and turning to crime. I hadn't thought about that. He also said 'but Malawians are kind. We won't fight back'. Personally, I'm impressed. I think it would be perfectly understandable if they did.
Enough of me rambling for this time (that really was quite the ramble wasn't it?)! I hope you like my photos. I thought I'd give you a little tour of St Gabriels.
Take care of yourselves,
Joanna x
Lucius, Micheal & Marguerite
....ridiculously early on Sunday morning, thinking 'this waterfall had better be good'. p.s. I'm writing more having just looked through the pictures myself. They kind of show the contrast of my life right now! Living 100 metres from the entrance, during the week my life is the hospital, and the work that I do on the project. At the weekends, my life is exploring a beautiful country and meeting lovely people.
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Christina
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Great pix!
The photos are wonderful Joanna. What a country, with such contrasts. keep writing. Ta.