Blogs from Malawi, Africa - page 67

Christmas in Malawi (Monday 24th Dec - present) My christmas in Malawi - 8pm Christmas Eve - 4am Christmas Day - Venice Beach, Malawi (yes, you heard me right!). We drank Kuche Kuche and once again tried to dance to Malawian music. Christmas Morning - I opened my present (thanks mum and dad), with the help of the 3 other volunteers (we were sharing the love). I followed this up with a wee dip in Lake Malawi where I ended up playing ball games with some of the local kids. They sang a little Christmas song to us afterwards. I have no idea what they were saying but it sounded nice. Christmas Lunch - Fried Chicken and chips (I know you’re jealous) followed by a Mars bar that I have been saving for a special day. ... read more

The journey continued and was somewhat relieved to leave Tanz after a couple of crap nights in Mbeya (don't ever go there!!) Made it to Malawi and have had a slight break from the hectic life of a traveller and pretty much just relaxed and partied with a load of other backpackers for a few weeks. Malawi is amazing though and definitely recommend it as a holiday for anyone. The beaches are amazing and the people are kind and generous. There are still street sellers and people generally trying to make money but they are less pushy and really friendly. Loved it sooooooooo much, although helped that i was so relieved to see some other western people after the last couple of days in Tanzania...funny how you come away because you want to absorb other cultures ... 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

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