Miss M
Marie Broad Joined: October 4th 2007
Logged in: April 26th 2008
Logged in: April 26th 2008
Travel Blog Posts
With only five days left at the orphanage before I leave, and back to full strength, I'm keen to do as much as I can and tie up all the things I've started. Before going into the orphanage after the new year break, I need to get my 30 day permit extended at the Immigration office for my last week in the country. Like most of the office set ups I've seen - the administration system is slow and disorderly. Looking through the bars to the desks behind there are papers and files everywhere. Something I have seen in every office and large shop is piles of paper and ink stamping. Even as you leave the big superstore 'Game' you must have your receipt stamped by an attendant. As the geep bumps along through the village ... read more
As I'm getting used to solids again and tucking into my breakfast toast, I am delighted to see a lovely couple I met on my first night at the hostel. They are from the UK but work here for an NGO making education more accessible in the Mulanje district. The couple arrive wanting to see if they can book a room for the night to go out in Blantyre to celebrate new year's eve. They kindly ask if I want to join them, and as I have no plans, I quickly accept! Later that evening we meet up and head off to eat at one of the big hotels. They are well read and knowledgeable about Malawi so I enjoy finding out more, and their opinions on things. Impressively they can speak Chichewa too. Over dinner ... read more
Well it had to happen at least once! ...Sadly it was when I had booked to stay up at Lake Malawi and had to cancel the trip. They say until you visit the lake you haven't been to Malawi; I guess that means I'll have to come back! I was fortunate to speak with a med student friend from London, who was able to diagnose me on the phone and advise me what to do. I'm pretty sure it was the orphanage food that made me ill, as I noticed my health getting progressively worse after the last two meals there. I have subsequently decided not to eat at the orphanage from now on (especially as it is getting closer to the long flight home), but I'm pleased that I had the experience and privilege of ... read more
The last two UK volunteers at the orphanage before me had bought paint and created a wonderful underwater scene along the longest wall in the hall. It is on the wall opposite the entrance so as you walk in it really lifts the environment, and stimulates the children. Painted on the wall are sharks, fish, an octopus and even a mermaid. On one notable occasion I observed one of the primary school boys, called Blessings, quietly sitting by the wall and copying some fish into his exercise book. During a previous meeting with the Reverend he had said it would be good if I could do another wall, as they want to remember each volunteer. So today and tomorrow, 27 and 28 December, are set aside for painting! The Reverend's brother, who is 24 and on ... read more
Christmas Eve Early on Christmas eve a taxi takes me to the local mountain - Mount Mulanje, which is about an hour's drive out of Blantyre. As we drive away from the town and the scenery becomes more rural - I see how spaced out and separated the rural dwellings are from each other. Children play and adults sit outside at the front of their thatched houses. Life in the countryside looks isolated. The road to Mulanje is long and straight and as with every other road here, there is a constant stream of people walking on both sides. The driver hoots every now and then to ensure those walking are aware we're there and don't step out in front of us. As we approach, the mountain is draped in mist creating a very romantic scene. ... read more
I want to experience the Reverend's church service so have arranged for the orphanage driver to take me with him. The service is meant to start at 9.30am but when we arrive at 10am things are just getting going. It is raining outside (again) so we rush into the small church with its rows of plastic chairs and stage at the front. I am ushered to the third row at the front and sit there alone until other staff from the orphanage join me. Seven singers with mics are on stage with three musicians on keyboard, guitar and drums - there's a lively beat and singing belting out across the church. Some of the congregation sing and dance along in the groove. After about thirty minutes of group singing, one the pastors speaks in Chichewa and ... read more
When I arrive at the orphanage I discover that no children are here and that today is for the staff to complete things before the holiday. Communication has been tricky at times especially in regard to which days the orphanage will be fully open, closed, and half open with the feeding programme (now that the fund has paid for bags of maize). Skills for work Centre I take the opportunity of this quiet day to visit another project within the Orphan Care Malawi NGO work: a Vocational Skills Training Centre just down the road from the orphanage. As I walk down the road with one of the volunteers I walk past the King of the village who is having her breakfast outside her house and she smiles and waves as we pass by. The Vocational Centre ... read more
The project manager had written up a neatly timed programme, but I'm learning that everything here runs to its own drum beat. Just as I thought we were about to start, a bigger music system is suddenly hauled in and the men get busy setting it up and pushing bare wires into wall sockets! Two mics are positioned at the front of the now beautifully decorated hall, the primary+ children are ready in their chairs with the infants on a mat at the front, and now we can start. The project manager who was meant to introduce the day has had to make a visit elsewhere so one of the administrators stands in. A prayer is said and a few words, then the mic is passed to me. As I speak my words are translated into ... read more
Once we had finished making up the school bags with the Christmas goods. We started decorating the hall. Tinsel, balloons, crape papers twisted together, steamers and even toilet paper was strung about over string tied across the room. The primary+ kids sat on the stage area watching everything being put up. I was keen to get the children involved in the preparations, and as it's a Christian orphanage, had decided to get them to make a large picture of the nativity scene. A few days ago I had cut out some silver stars with some of the infants (although the safety scissors were a bit difficult for them to use). Some volunteers helped to stick four large sheets together and cut out shapes to make a stable. Then a group of primary boys stuck the silver ... read more
Lazy Sunday Sunday afternoon was my first feeling of being on holiday as I sat by the bright green hostel pool reading my novel and sunbathing. Yes finally a day of complete sunshine and no rain - what bliss! At the hostel there is a craft stall with beautiful wooden carvings created by a guy called Godfrey. I met him earlier on in the week when I bought a few pieces of his work. He trained for three years to learn his trade and he's very good. As I sat in the sun Godfrey mentioned he'd like to teach me to play a special Malawian game. I buy us two bottled fantas and we sit down on metal chairs by his stall with a table between us. The game is called Bawo and consists of a ... read more
