What I'm Doing Here

---

What I'm Doing Here

So I've realized that in my carelessness I've completely forgotten to explain in detail what I'm doing in Malawi this summer! I am extremely fortunate to kind of stumble into a great opportunity, paid by U of M research grants, to work on a field pilot survey of isolation and transportation effects of economic development. The study is put on by Michigan professors with help from some other international development organizations, which I'm not sure if I'm supposed to say so I'll leave it out.

Basically what we're trying to do is measure the impact of providing a road to rural Malawians through a proxy - a free minbus that runs on a regular schedule - as a proxy for reducing transport costs, which in theory is what road access should do.

Therefore, I spend the majority of my time off the main roads, speaking to villages that have a difficult time accessing even the most basic of services. And when I say off the main road, I don't mean over the hill - we're looking for people who walk an average of three hours to even buy milk, which is disturbingly common in many of these areas. As a quick anecdote, last weekend we visited a village named Chimtembwe, and had to walk back to Ntchisi since there was no return transport provided - a solid 19 KM through a mountainous region.

I slept well that night.

Also, don't think that I'm traveling around on a comfortable bus either. There a few standard forms of transport here, and all would be so disgusting, unsafe, and miserable as to not worthy existence in the US (which, to be perfectly honest, is why I'm loving it). Yesterday, on the trip back from Malomo to Ntchisi, I road in the back of a 'matola' - what we call a pick-up truck - that had 27 people in the bed, and 5 in the front! And this isn't an extra large truck, in fact it's pretty small.

So in an average day, I spend my time traveling around the country in the forms of transport all the guide books warn you not to trying to get a better grasp of how everything happens - I could probably devote an entire post to the immensely complex bribe system that has been worked out in the country.

While life is not that exciting here, I have been finding ways to stay entertained; I finally have gotten around to reading Les Miserables, and after 850 pages you'd think I'd be coming close to finishing, but nope, still 500 to go. It is a little weird having a guard at night, and I've even jumped when I forget and see him sitting outside, but we all find ways to get by.

I hope everyone is doing well back home and enjoying themselves, I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss it at times, but anyone who feels stupid enough to come live here is more than welcome!

Best (or love if appropriate),

Jon

---

Comments

[Dave]

Keep it up
Keep it up - I'm thrilled for you Jon!

[Farson]

Keep a journal, and write a book. Your experiences give us - with all the modern conveniences - a reason to celebrate and ponder. I am glad that I know you and look forward to more of your entries.

[Nikki Sapiro]

you're awesome.
so, i havent checked out your blog at all, cause im still in argentina. but i have a midterm tomorrow and im procrastinating studying, so i decided to check out this blog... and anyway, like 20 minutes later im still on here, just catching myself up on your amazing life starting at the beginning of your travels. you are amazing. these posts are incredible, and i absolutly cannot wait to get back to ann arbor and hear more stories about your experiences. loving checking out your pics on facebook, keep posting them. miss you, cant wait to reunite in AA in the fall. -Nikki