I’m sure you all may be thinking that…. I apologize for it being so long between blog entries. Fortunately the few people who read these are close family/friends thus knowing I haven’t been swallowed by a python or have fallen down the chimbudzi (pit latrine). I wish I could say “I’ve been having so much fun that I haven’t had a chance to blog!” however, unfortunately, that’s not quite the case.

While in high school I developed a unique soft spot for animals. I felt more passionate about animal rights compared to human rights simply based on the fact that animals don’t have a voice - they can’t tell us when things are wrong or when they need help. Coming to Malawi and seeing how animals are treated initially struck me as very sad and I had a strong desire to do whatever I could to help

Of the many things I’ve learned being in Peace Corps Malawi a new one added to the list is humility. I used to think this was a negative atribute, being that I saw it as a person not possessing a certan degree of confidence. Instead, I’ve now come to see it as an element of confidence in the sense of being able to admit you are wrong.All of you know about my garden and how much pride and sweat I

....which is what I wish the little kids here would ask me. Instead, they say "give me my money!" The "my" is not a typo; they do, indeed, ask you to give them their money... Embarking on my second year of Peace Corps, I’m formulating ideas of projects I would like to do or work with. It’s a tough balance, though, determining what is best for the village and what they want to do compared to

Sometime in mid January I mentally decided I needed a vacation...to Germany. A little background information might make help you to understand why Germany and not the United States for a break…My mother transfered airline bases in summer of 2009. Having applied to Peace Corps in June and still waiting for a hopeful reply in the fall, I decided September was a good time to depart from the states

We did it! With the help of my counterpart, over two dozen Village Headmen, and my community in Bwanje, we successfully distributed 500 mosquito nets before my vacation to Germany (but I’ll talk about that in another blog!). The project in all was frustrating, exciting, hectic, but most importantly humbling and entirely worth all the stress.Distributing nets was the first project I had knowing a

With some quick internet connection, I had an opportunity to upload some videos to share! Enjoy :) Tour of my house Puppies!

In honor of my one year mark of having arrived in Malawi on Feburary 28, 2010, I thought it would be fun to give you all an idea of some of the things I have come to appreciate and those that, well, I have yet to get used to.  In no particular order… ….I can’t believe I live here!The stunning sunsets full of vibrant oranges, pinks, and purples When you’re in a hitch and the driver gives you a

Also in honor of my one year mark of coming to Malawi, I thought I would update all of you on the essentials for the survival of being Peace Corps Volunteer. All who have sent packages already, thank you so much! They absolutely make my week!Mayonnaise packets Dried fruit (cranberries, blueberries, cherries, etc) Mac and cheese, even just the cheese packets (no Ramen soup, I can get the

My holiday vacation was a good break from the village. Minus the malaria (of which I’m pretty well recovered now), it was a great time with friends at the lake. But too much time in the city leaves me yearning to return to my quiet village, my Malawian friends, and of course my boys. Once I felt well enough to travel (trust me, there are circumstances that make an automatic no-travel day), I left

….of living in Africa, of course.  Oh, and the holidays too.  It’s been a crazy few weeks so I’ll do my best to do a somewhat decent recap.  But, as you could probably assume, there is no such thing as a quick recap with my life here.  Too much to write a fun adventure for all of them, but I assure you I will in the future!December has been an interesting and exciting month, to say the least.  It

After I posted the proud photo of me busting my guns in my garden, some people somehow thought I was electively digging a trench (*achem* Guillermo, *achem* Jon). ;)  I finally got the garden area dug up (while getting mental offers from others to visit insane asylum, I'm sure) and split into beds.  All in all, I have planted onions, carrots, corn, tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, pumpkin, cauliflower

If any of you recall, I wrote a blog a while back titled (you guessed it!) Cupcake Days.  I outlined my need for sweet satisfaction as a response to days that royally kick me in the rear.  Seeing as these come by a little bit more often than occasionally, I reckoned I’d better figure out how to make cake for such days.  Seeing that I’m a baker back home I didn’t think it could be that hard.  I’ve

I can safely say that I’ve never worked as hard in my life before coming to Peace Corps.  Sure, learning Chichewa is a struggle sometimes and is an ongoing challenge.  Scheduling meetings and having people a) not show, b) attend a funeral, c) stay home to escape the rain...is just part of learning the culture and patience.  But mostly I have not worked as hard as I do in my garden.Malawian’s

Transport within Malawi is quite an adventure. You basically have four options: 1) Large coach buses, 2) Mini bus, 3) Matola, 4) Hitch. All seem like doable options; of course I’m assuming you say except the hitching. Large buses are a pain in the rear. They are typically over crowded, make lots of stops at police check points, and rarely have enough seats for everyone who as purchased a ticket

I love Malawi. I really do. But hot season? Man alive, this is another beast entirely! I was absent from Bwanje for about four weeks of travel, training, and the Game Count in Liwonde National Park. Upon my arrival back home I was immediately (whether I wanted to be or not) enlightened that indeed, hot season had arrived. If I’ve learned anything yet about Peace Corps and living in Africa is

I’ll be honest to say there are not many things from home that I miss. Malawi has become my home and all the good and bad along with it is simply life. Sure there are times where I have a burning desire for sushi but it passes pretty quickly knowing that there is no way that I’ll be getting it any time soon. Same goes for grocery store cupcakes… I can safely say the one thing I miss most is a

When I think of Africa I think of elephants. Giant creatures, which are rumored to be the only mammal that can’t jump but move with grace, trunks swaying and feeling for tasty treats. There is something about their nature that is extremely intriguing and has resulted in my being my favorite animal…next to bunnies, of course. Ever since being a child I have wanted to see elephants. Okay, nix

*Disclaimer: If you are horrified of snakes I would advise not reading this post.  I’ve tried to be conservative on the photos on my mothers behalf ;)My evening routine of washing up for bed includes brushing my teeth in my backyard and spitting somewhere in the dirt.  I enjoy it, really, because I’ll shut of my headlamp when I am scrubbing away and look up at the stars and constellations,

I recently read on Facebook Jason Mraz (a musical artist) encouraging people to help in the efforts to stop malaria because “11% of children in Kenya miss school each year due to [the pandemic].”  As malaria is obviously an issue in this area of the world, I took interest in reading what people’s responses were.  I’ll be honest to say I was shocked at how many had the attitude of something to the

When I signed up for Peace Corps I can honestly say that I wasn’t not quite sure all that I was getting myself into.  I did know that I’d be living waaaay out seemingly in the middle of nowhere doing my best to help improve the lives of villagers.  No where had I read “Hanging out with the U.S. Ambassador” or “Meeting the President of the country.”  Well, I’ve done both (and a lot more not in my

There are not many books or movies that come along that stop me in my tracks to make me feel truly inspired.  The last time that happened was when I watched Into the Wild where I followed Christopher McCandless selfishly, (to some) and bravely (to others) venture out to experience what his soul desired.  As a result I wrote a transcript that was shortly later into a song that expressed my

As of today I have been at my site, Bwanje, for exactly 3 months.  5 months ago yesterday I arrived in Malawi.  Before coming I did as much reading as I could about what sorts of things Malawians eat.  Not that food was a selling or breaking point into coming to Malawi, but curiosity got the best of me.  “Nsima” was something I could not grasp a concept of, let alone figure out how to pronounce.

In my two months prior to departing for Malawi, I read every Peace Corps blog I could get my hands on.  Living in Germany at this time, I woud often read snippets to my mom as we listened to CNN on the TV at her apartment, or enjoyed warming up our toes in a hotel in Brugges, Belgium.  Regardless of the environment, they always made for good stories and insight into what I would soon be

I have grown to appreciate the village life for its simplicity.  It is not concerned with what kind of car you own or what name brand clothes you wear.  The village takes pleasure in person to person relationships, cooking nsima, in simply existing and living every day.  I value this simplicity in a way that I did not while living in the midwest during college, which now is seemingly floating

Well, life is moving along here, as usual, as it is everywhere else.  By they day I am trying new cooking recipes.    Gosh, if I had known how easy and fun cooking was I would have started years ago!Wednesday is my usual market day.  Yes yes, the one I love to hate sometimes.  Peter was a trooper and came with me, on chain of course.  I still get a kick out of how people ask me “galu?!”  Of

Per suggestion of my mother, I have decided to write a blog on what I requests I may have for packages.  Please do not take this as an expectation that all of you will be sending me weekly packages, that’s merely a day dream.  At any rate, she has a good point.  I loooove chocolate but it's not usually around very long :pOn a serious note, though, thank you to all of you who have sent packages or

The most exciting game I’ve seen in the mud brick, tin roof, wood door, dirt floor shack has been Brazil vs. North Korea.  I’m always excited to watch Brazil because, well, they’ve attended every World Cup since it started in 1930 and lets be honest, who doesn’t want to watch one of the top ranked teams?!Blessing my neighbor (she’s awesome, and totally into soccer) and I head to town thinking the

For WORLD CUP!  Yes yes, I am like a child who has discovered ice cream and sprinkles after 4 years of absence.  I mean, you can have a bowl of ice cream with rainbow sprinkles any time, but they never taste as good as they do when it’s the World Cup!  I played soccer for at least 12 years growing up and it’s in my blood.  It’s the only sport I can watch on TV, besides college football, and be

Yeah, can't beat that, can ya?!  Mozambique out there My homestay family (Amayi, Thandi, Esau, Abambo) Chickens in the trees at my homestay...I'd NEVER seen that before!  A lot of "firsts" here Yep, not The Onion...this is for real The kids in Chikanda doing Kung Fu moves (check out "This, my friends, is a day in Malawi" blog for related visual)

Today was a day deemed worthy a self-proclaimed “Cupcake Day.” Let me explain. Back in the States my secret vice was sweets (it still would be if I had the access, I’m sure). I could mix up a good batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies and eat a ¼ of the dough before the oven was even warm...same goes for brownies. However, I never kept all the ingredients around my house on a regular basis for

 There is nothing like a home cooked meal. Without stating the obvious, that’s not exactly possible out here in Bwanje, Malawi. So what to do on those days where you don’t want rice with ndiwo (“relish” or side dish) or soya pieces with noodles? Today was one of those days where even having peanut butter on bread with banana’s for breakfast didn’t hit the spot. What to do… My 11am “time to get

Hello newbies!!  So you’re most likely doing what I was doing before coming to Malawi...blog stalking.  Some of my biggest questions was what I should bring.  So I’m sharing my list with you all, and giving you reasons as to why I would bring or not bring something.  If someone gives me a reason for something it makes more sense, so I hope this helps.  Huge suggestion:  I went to REI and shopped

I wrote this in my journal 5 May 2010 and thought I could not do this day justice by paraphrasing my entry.  Therefore I will transcribe it for all of you to marvel in.  Any needed additions will be indicated by [ ] Enjoy :)-------To my fellow readers, you are about to embark on how ridiculously shi**y and awesome a day can be here in Malawi.  Writing by candle light in Bwanje, Malawi, Africa, I

I hope this gives you guys a little idea of what my place is like now. More pictures in the future :)

My new house!

My bedroom, mosquito net included

Looking out into my living room

Living room! Guest room through there, storage room now though

Back door is through the hallway (notice world map?! Maping my world travels now :))

My washing machine

Aaaand my drying machine

Delicious homemade pasta (I'm becoming quite a chef, I must tell you! If you visit, I ensure a gourmet meal!)

...everything CAN be fried. This is one thing I've learned during my first 2 weeks at my new site. Within the last few days I have fried potatoes, potato skins, pumpkin seeds (be careful, those pop like popcorn!), and bananas. I'm sure there is a lot more I will learn that can be fried here, but I've got to start somewhere. Mom always hated frying things in the house when I was younger, but this is my house, and it's my turn to shine! Okay, maybe that's just the popped hot oil on my skin, but here, when the coals are hot you sit and think "what else can I make?" and crazy ideas like fried bananas with dusted sugar and cinnamon crosses your mind. That tries to satisfy a burning desire for something sweet back home like ice cream, candy bars, grocery store cupcakes, a bowl of cereal, and more... Whoever figures out how to FedEx ice cream and it arrive in a solid form will win something, my choice!

These last two weeks have been a ride, let me tell you. On April 28, 2010 the original 21 of us who departed Philadelphia on February 28th officially swore in at the U.S. Ambassadors house as Peace Corps Volunteers. For me, it felt like graduation! Another milestone in my life, not customarily on many people’s short list of things. Heck, as I think of it, two years ago yesterday (May 10th) was the day I graduated college. Who would have guessed I would be sitting at my house in Bwanje, Malawi two years later?! That’s right...the doves outside my back door. They knew. I can see it in their eye..s, depending on which way they are facing ;) But really, it was such an awesome experience and I seriously could not quit smiling through it all. I had completed my first two months of Pre-Service Training and was getting ready to have my leash cut….off I go!After the ceremony we ate tons of food that made our bellies hurt...and then proceeded to the Country Director’s house for a feast that quite closely made our bellies explode. I never thought I’d be so excited for macaroni and cheese as I did this day...and then I spent two months in the middle of Malawi. Not quite sure how it’s going to feel after 2 years though! Doesn’t hurt that mac and cheese is my all time favorite meal! Yep, your tummy starts craving foods you never thought you would miss before...like quiche, it was there too. Thank you, everyone, for the amazing feast!That night, the (now second year) Environment Volunteers put together a fun gathering for the 21 of us *new* PCVs (that’s right, when you send letters and packages ;), you can now use PCV instead of PCT) when we returned from Lilongwe. It was such an awesome feeling having the support of the second year volunteers while having an opportunity to share in the excitement and anticipation of the next two years to come. Wrapped up in the fun, for an evening we forgot that the next morning we would pack up our belongings and be dropped off at our sites. That entire day, night, celebration, everything will forever be marked as one of the best of my life to date. Morning of April 29th, we all somberly rolled out of bed, showered for the last time until who-knows-when, and threw the last remaining odds and ends into whatever space we had left. PC transport arrived with enough vehicles to take all of us, 2-3 to a car. Our original bags from the US were thrown into the back or inside of trucks, stacked with our new mattresses and *shiny* new mountain bikes as well as other odds and ends (including the brick bag of PC books we accumulated over the past 2 months as well as 14,000 kwacha worth of goodies to start us off at our new homes). The man that packed Justine and my stuff was so rushed and high strung that at one point I had to tell him to chill out. Stressful enough for both of us (all of us new PCVs, really), that the last thing either Justine or I needed was someone telling us how the day was going to roll. Some tears rolled as people said good-bye and cars drove away. Near the middle of the pack, Justine and I bounced into the back of our truck and off we went. Down windey roads we took the Eastern route to our sites, down towards Salima, which was a new one for both of us. It still blows my mind how quick the landscape changes here in Malawi. You can have your view blocked by trees and mountains to one side, and the next moment be able to see miles and miles off into the distance. It’s unbelievable, and at times it still hits me “holy cow, I live in Africa!” However I’m partially sad to say that those moments become less and less as this once foreign country is now becoming my home, but more excited that this is my home. Justine was dropped off first in Sharpvale, just north of my village. The three of us (driver included) helped to quickly unload all of her possessions. I had a brief chance to see her house, meet the dog that she didn’t know she had (that’s what happens when COS (Completion of Service) Volunteers don’t leave detailed notes for the replacing PCV...surprise!,and try to front a rooster that wouldn’t stop roosting. She has some 10+ roosters in her backyard, and still to this day I’m unsure of how she lives with them. I’d, for one, go absolutely nuts. The one at my house is enough in the morning! I specifically keep rocks on my window sill to throw in his direction when he decides 5.30am is time for me to get up. Sometimes I want to hit him...buuuut then I’d have to buy my neighbors a new one and that’s just too much hassleA 5-10 minute drive to Bwanje was much shorter than I had anticipated, but was nice realizing that Justine and I are a shorter distance than I first thought. About a 30 minute bike ride would get me there and due time! Now the two of us threw everything quick in my house and on the front porch and the driver was off. “Yoouuuuuu’ve just won a two year stay in Malawi!!! What are you going to do now?!” The reality sets in very quick once you can’t hear the sound of a car anymore, and you look around at faces you hardly know but who have just become your new Malawian family.Giving a day-to-day play of my life here would, honestly, bore many of you back in the big city. Things here are not exciting in the same ways they are back in the states. But with that disclaimer I will give you an idea of how my days play out. Peace Corps has us all at our sites for the first 3 months simply settling in and not starting any projects. I hadn’t fully appreciated this (and quite honestly was mentally fighting the first 3 months) until I had an opportunity to really live it here. It’s challenging trying to get settled in my daily routines, as it takes a while to see what works and what doesn't; what needs to be done with what frequency and also what doesn’t; what I can put off until tomorrow (ha, which wont ever change, I’m sure). In all seriousness, I’ve simply had to learn how to live again. Without running water and electricity, things take much much longer. Yes, dad, I’m beginning to understand “systems” for things!So here we go…. Typically I wake up around 5.30am, but if I’m lucky I manage to sleep in until 6ish (thank you, rooster!). I’m too stubborn to get out of bed this early so I usually turn on my iPod and watch an episode and a half of Battlestar Galactica (yes, I’m still geeking out…Season 4 now!). Around 7am I crawl out from my mosquito net, and begin my first decided chore: to sweep the house out of the dirt from the day before as well as the bugs (and ants devouring them) from the night before. I’ve actually come to be fascinated watching ants eat bugs...yes, one of the many things I would not have had patience for back in the States but is my new hobby here. Next I hand wash all my dishes from the day before if I didn’t have time to do them before sleeping. It’s meditating, really, and so I enjoy the morning dishes while I smile and greet my neighbors. Around 7.45-8 I go retrieve some water from the well in my back yard (literally I throw a bucket down a brick well and crank it back out full of water), lift the 20 liter full bucket to my head and walk back to my bafa to kusamba (bathe). With a pail in hand I simply rinse off which is a great start to my day. The really good days are the ones where I get to wash my hair ;) Once I feel presentable for the day, I lift my bike out of my back storage room, wrap a chitenje (“1001 uses for a 1 meter cut of fabric” is what it should be called) around my waist, and ride into town to buy food items for the day (typically: 2 scones (aka. bread rolls), 2 eggs, a pile of tomatoes (about 4-5 in each), some onions, and 6+ bananas (they’re much smaller here!)). I’ve found that dividing up a scone and spreading peanut butter and slicing bananas to put on top are a delightful way to begin my day, as it’s the closest thing to an “American Breakfast” as I can muster without having to start a fire. Up until lunch time I fill my day with anything from laundry (which is an entire day activity), reading, hand sewing new curtains to adorn my window frames, taking a nap, listening to music, finding new places for my belongings (yes, George, every‘thing’ has its place, I know), chatting with my neighbors, and more. Within the last few days I have found that cooking a meal for lunch (and possibly having leftovers for dinner time) suits me just fine. So when I feel ready to tackle building a fire, I head out back, pile some charcoal (yes, I know I should know be using this, I am in need of getting some new parafin and a stove that wont blow up in my face; see last blog!) on my mboula, and spend the next 15 minutes lighting paper, blowing, and fanning a plate to try and get the charcoal to catch fire. I refuse to use plastic bags, and somehow this makes me feel a little bit more proud when I successfully start my fire with just paper.I cook anything from rice, soya, eggs, nsima (working on the perfection of this...long way to go!), tomatoes, onions, lentils, and add any sort of spices to make it all taste like some great culinary creation. Gosh, cooking school would have done wonders for me out here! Alas, I’m here to fend for myself ;) Back in the states I’m a baker, not a cook, but I suppose there is time for everyone to learn! The entire process of making a fire and cooking takes me at least 1-2 hours depending on what I’m cooking. Ha, if I feel like having fun making mashed potatoes, later frying the skins, and making a curry with soya pieces it can easily be a 2 hour task. But it’s satisfying, especially when I have a delicious meal to enjoy. As said in my last whitty post, I’m eating it regardless of what it’s like but it sure is a delight when it turns out well :) If I am in the mood for tea I throw on some water and enjoy it out of a handmade cup that was given as a housewarming gift...elephants and Baobob trees on the sides with an African colored sunset. I’ve seen Baobobs and sunsets, just need to mark those elephants off my list...The afternoons are filled with much of the same as the mornings: continuing work on my curtains (it takes a day and a half to hand sew one, I have found), reading my book (currently a switch between The Time Travelers Wife and The Lost: The Search for Six of Six Million, depending on my mood) on my front porch as the sunsets. My favorite time of day is around 4.30-5, as the sun and the shadows are absolutely stunning. About this time I take the remaining water in my bucket and do a quick rinse off in my bafa and hang out in my chitenje (aka. towel, purse, skirt, everything you can imagine...but this one is just for the bafa) until I’m dry. As 6pm comes closer, I break out my headlamp and light a candle for my last minute chores around the house before crawling under my mosquito net, journaling about fun things that I accomplished in my day or new realizations about myself that I have discovered. I close my day with an episode of Battlestar Galactica, or if I need a break I watch one of the 6 movies I have on my iPod (said favorite is Lord of the Rings, of course). Nothing compared to the big screen of movie theaters back home, but it has become comfortable and I enjoy it. I listen to the dogs outside, the kids playing, and my neighbors eating dinner, and cockroaches bouncing around. My American eyes have not yet adjusted to the dark like Malawians can, and thus I don’t wander around outside unless its close to a full moon, which then is simply like the Universe’s personal flashlight for the land. Some PCVs have said that being under a mosquito net makes you feel like you are invincible. Yes, yes, this is true. Once I’m under it I am quite confident no cockroaches, mosquitos, scorpions, snakes, or spiders (of considerable size, at least) will be able to penetrate through the net. It’s nice :) I like it. And when I’m too tired to keep my eyes open, which comes around 8pm, I power down my iPod and put it on the upper right corner of my bed, waiting there to greet me in the morning when the rooster outside decides its time for me to wake up.---------I’ve come to realize quickly that it can be quite exhausting to simply live. This is not something I appreciated back in the USA, as I’ll be honest to say I had it quite easy. Doing laundry was a side task while reading or doing homework: here, it needs my full dedication or it simply does not get done. Making food in the states could be as simple as pulling out a bowl and a box of cereal, milk from the fridge, sugar from the cabinet: here, I have to begin a fire to make anything, as everything as to be cooked, and I have to plan my meal because leftovers hardly keep a day without a fridge. There are some days I go to bed and my body simply sighs with relief of not having to use muscles anymore. And I quite enjoy this way of living, to be honest. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it can be exhausting and I would love the option of pulling a tub of ice cream out of the freezer, but it’s given me such a great appreciation for how hard people work here, and how hard our ancestors used to work before all the modern technology. It can be a lot to take in and process at times, but I don’t have another option. It can be overwhelming, and quite honestly some mornings I groan at the work I know is ahead of me. Some nights I have been too tired to cook dinner, and those nights I went hungry...no other option. But I wouldn’t trade it. I know what it’s like back in the states, but here I have to and get to create mine each day.I have more I want to write, as usual, but I think this entry is enough at the moment. It is the time of day where I am getting ready to turn on a head lamp and escape the buzzing mosquitos around my computer. Next time I’ll tell you more about my village, neighbors, and some people I’ve met thus far.Also, one last thing. When the 21 of us were still together during PST, some people said family and friends had found my blog and were reading it. It thrilled me! It’s so nice to know I’m not writing for empty space out there. Some said their parents didn’t want to make me feel weird by having unknown people “following” my blog. But I would be more than delighted to know all of you out there who are reading. So please, it would make me happy to have you not follow anonymously :) but rather have joy to know that I have people out there reading. Thank you! Comments are welcome from anyone, about anything :) I’ll be honest to say I journal about just about everything here and my blog is for all of you at home, so that I am able to share my experience from afar. I would love to know who all is enjoying this cross cultural experience :) Until next time, try to fry some things back where you’re from and give me any tips you might find helpful ;) Especially all of you in the south ;)

Yes yes! It is time for another unexpected update! I hope this entry still finds you all well, and you are doing your best to enjoy ice cream and homemade macaroni and cheese for yours truly ;) Life in Malawi is still awesome, and every day I wake up I can hardly believe I live here!

So I survived Lilongwe and was so thrilled to get back to my homestay village. I gave my amayi a huge hug upon my return, which I'm sure freaked her out. I didn't realize I would be so happy to get back out into the country and out of the city...all things considered being a city girl. In the week I arrived back we learned about bee keeping and tree nurseries. The tree nurseries got me exceptionally excited and is something I would like to do at my site. Deforestation is a HUGE huge problem here in Malawi and most of Africa and I would love to do work with building back up the forests. So that was an exciting lesson!

The rest of homestay was pretty low key. The last week or two you could hear all of us chatting/complaining/ujeni (Chichewa for whatchamacallit!) about how we were so ready to depart homestay and for learning our new sites, which were announced on April 7th. Now, I will tell you, this was so nerve wrecking for me! If you think about it, it's a bit like waiting for a college acceptance letter. However, in this case we were waiting for someone else to determine our future! I had a hard time sleeping and eating a few days before (yeah, silly, but couldn't help it! I had good reason, I assure you!) when all I could do was wait. So back at the college we all gathered outside the classroom to hear where we were all going, and more importantly the locations that the staff had taken such consideration to place us. We had a big map of Malawi with sticky notes covering our faces pointing to where were going to go. One by one, Brian and Lu' (PC staff) read off details about the location and what the site had to offer (which typically matched up with little requests we'd made during out placement interview). Slowly the sticky notes were pulled off and more of our faces dotted the poster. Okay, okay, I'll get to it...my site placement for the next two years is Bwanje in the Ntcheu district! I was so thrilled when Brian read off some of the opportunities: mushroom farming, women's groups, tree nurseries!, and more. Ha, so those butterflies ended, and new ones were born in the anticipation of seeing my site.

A little about my site: Justine and I are considered site mates, being that we are a short 30 minute minibus ride away from each other (she's in Sharpvale)...which cracks us both up since we clicked well right off the bat. I'm not sure that anyone else in our crew is as close together as we are. Bwanje is located about half way between Lilongwe and Blantyre and is considered to be in the south central region. Look it up on a map ;) It was such a relief to be able to put a name to the place that I will be calling home, and the name that all of you will be putting on those glorious packages once I get a mailbox!

Our village farewell in Mzengereza was amazing and a bit surreal. I've never really felt like I'm leaving somewhere until I'm already gone...does that make sense? Now I sit thinking of all the meals my amayi cooked, playing with my siblings, and watching the sunset on my beloved rock, wishing a little bit I was still there. But, I'm not....rest assured my current status is much more exciting ;). The ceremony was a mix of English, Chichewa, and Chitimbuka and felt much like a college graduation! We welcomed the Gule Wamkulu dancers which was absolutely amazing. I couldn't believe how creative their costumes were out of some of the most basic materials (left over chitenje fabric, spoons, and more). Here is an example of the dance, it was awesome!

My last night in homestay was bittersweet, to say the least, and was concluded with sitting up on the rock that I enjoyed so much during my 5 week stay. You would not believe the sunsets here! I will try to upload pictures at some point, however they don't do it justice. The pinks and blues are unbelievable. I also sat and had a 45+ minute conversation with my abambo in a mix of Chichewa and English and felt so comfortable and welcomed. I felt a bit sad that I didn't hit that comfort point with my family until about week 3, but all things in due time, I suppose ;) We sat outside the house under the amazing stars that I am so privileged to see nightly. Dinner by candle light with my oldest sister, Tandi, as we laughed at each other missing our mouths with spoonfuls of rice. I do miss homestay, it was a wonderful experience.

We had the 9th to chill out, trade music and movies, do laundry, and relax at the college. Probably most exciting for me was wearing pants! Attire here is skirts all the time and it was refreshing to be back in my customary outfit. What a pleasure to have them not fit like saran wrap! Early morning April 10th we all departed from the college for our site visits. Bye buddies :( We're always giving hugs and saying "see you soon!" to our friends... Justine and I headed off to our sites together being that we're close in distance. We flagged down a minibus, bargained our price, and piled in.

Heading to site visit was the first time that it had hit me "holy cow, I'm in Malawi!" Not sure exactly why that point, but it finally felt like I was on my own and having to find my way somewhere instead of being taken around by PC transport. The minibus would fill up, let people off, let more people on...for about 2+ hours down south to Ntcheu. You should have seen the look on both of our faces when a man walked in with a HUGE bag of fish. Yeah...delicious...the smell is nauseating. We counted 23 people in the minibus, and I'm sure we'll push that record here in the near future. Packin 'em in like sardines!

I met my shadow PCV in Bilila, about 20 minute ride from Bwanje. Dannelle is awesome! She was a fantastic hostess and we had a great time together. I got my first taste of having to come up with food ideas with limited resources and ingredients. It's amazing how creative one can become! We bounced around the area for this past week, going to the Ntcheu boma (main market of my district) and doing sporadic clothes shopping (HEY! All you gals with cute clothes! Donate them so they can be shipped to Africa!); visiting Balaka boma (since we have two to choose from this is the other one); and most importantly seeing my site and new house!

So my first impression of the house was "holy cow...this will take some work." But now I'm really really excited for it and for some new changes. I live a 15 minute walk off of the main road in a compound setting with a family of 4 (and maybe more? Not sure who lives there permanently yet...). They are tobacco farmers and it is harvest season so they are busy busy! My house is a mud brick with tin roof and has a bedroom, living room, guest room, and kitchen area. I have a porch out front surrounded by potted plants (i have no identified them all quite yet), which is ideal for hanging the hammock I brought to Malawi! Out back I have my bafa ("shower" = a square of bricks where I bring my bucket of water to dump on me) and chimbudzi (toilet = hole in the ground). I'm extremely fortunate to have a water well in my backyard where I can get my H2O, opposed to having to go to a water tap that is a long walk from my place. Spiders, cockroaches, and lizards currently inhabit my house, but I hope in due time I will be able to move in as the primary resident. The family in my compound, Flag (the father) and Blessings (the mother) both speak English but approach me with Chichewa first. They have two little girls who are absolutely freaked out of me. But I'll capture them soon with my "Tiwonana-na-na-na" song (to the tune of "Getting Jiggy with It" haha). I can foresee picking up Chichewa even faster here in a few weeks! Last night I slept at my house for the first time (the other nights I was with Dannelle, having fun chats and making delicious food) and was able to begin grasping all the noises. The bugs do, indeed, come out at night. I will tell you, sandals make a great bug squasher! (Along with sports bras being the new purse, great to carry things in, and dirt being natures *free* Brillo pad to scrub pots and pans). It felt like I was camping, hanging out under my mosquito net watching Battle Star Galactica episodes on my iPod...geeking out and loving every minute of it! The nights here are relaxed and the mornings are as well. Malawian time is amazing :)

So this all brings me to Blantyre, where I am currently staying the night at a lodge with Justine. Blantyre is the city where we will most likely stock up on our food goods and we thought it would be a good fun time to head down here to check it out. Also, we have to be in Thyolo by tomorrow sometime to begin out Language Intensive week...basically we get slammed with LOADS of languages lessons in hopes to hammer more Chichewa into our brains. It will take time to absorb it all, but this time will be nice. In a week we have our final language test (I'm always nervous for tests!) and this week will help us to prepare for it. Overall Chichewa is coming a long for me, and I know I will pick it up more once I get back to Bwanje after swearing-in.

The next exciting date is April 28th, our Swearing-In ceremony in Lilongwe at the U.S. Ambassadors house. I'm excited to then become a PCV (volunteer) instead of a PCT (trainee)! It will be an exciting time for us all! Then on April 29th we will all be driven to our sites with all the baggage we thought we might want during our 2 year stay in Malawi. We will stand on our porch (ok, I have a porch, but not sure about anyone else) only to watch as the Peace Corps transport tires roll away. The dust will settle and it will inevitably hit me "holy cow, I'm in Africa."

Until then, be well everyone! And just so you know...I'm having more fun than you ;) Feel free to visit anytime to see what Malawi is all about!

P.S.

This one is for mama. So the gal I replaced left a paraffin stove so I tested it out yesterday. I was making some rice concoction for lunch and BOOM! FIREBALL! I still have my eyebrows and my house is still intact. Don't worry, I'll be buying a new one :)

A view from my house (no I don't have a photo of my house, but will at some point)At the top of one of our hikes. Mozambique is off in the distance to the right

Well hello everyone. You may be thinking “I thought I wouldn’t hear great things from Mary for about 2 months?!” Indeed you are right, as this was the supposed plan. However I came down with some illness/virus that wasn’t improving so the doctor had me transported up to Lilongwe so that he could monitor me and put me on some different medication. The Peace Corps staff here in Malawi excellent and they take out health and safety very seriously. I’m doing much better now and will hopefully be able to head back to Chikanda tonight or tomorrow morning. Obviously there is internet at the lodge here and I thought I would give you all an update while I have the opportunity. So much to tell!

I’ll start from the beginning. The 21 of us all arrived in Philly by midnight the Saturday we were to leave. Due to the snow storm, it wasn’t clear if everyone would make it. But we did, and we were off! A sad good-bye to mama and papa, who woke up super early to see us off. A guy in our group come to me a few days later and said that my parents being there were a little bit like his were there too…so quite a few people appreciated their presence, I’m sure! Plus they still talk about mom and dad…ha, they thought you two were totally awesome. So off we went on a charter bus to JFK airport, where we were to catch our plane to Africa! Phil and I were “group leaders” and were in charge of getting bags checked, getting boarding passes, dishing out passports, and ensuring everyone made it to the flight (at least those who wanted to go ;)). Some had a last meal of McDonald’s (I did, and remembered about 20 minutes later why I don’t like to eat fast food) and worked our way through the Duty Free shops and finally through security.

Everything went smoothly and we all got our seats on the 10.20am flight bound for Johannesburg, South Africa. Some of us were lucky enough to be put in a row with 4 seats with only two of us sitting there (I was a lucky one!). I zonked out pretty quick (having not slept the night before, being bummed about leaving mama and papa, and the excitement of my destination) and slept for at least 12 hours of the 15 hour flight. Sure helps being raised on an airplane! We were told at staging that we would stay the night in Jo-burg, but found out right before leaving Philly hat it was just a layover. A quick walk through the airport and a change into our “arrival clothes” (skirts for gals, dress pants for dudes) we piled onto the airplane bound for Lilongwe, Malawi.

I think it started to hit me once we started our decent into Lilongwe that I had actually arrived. Months of wondering where I would go with the Peace Corps, and it was actually happening. Having been on planes all my life, they aren’t necessarily an indication of where I’m going but rather are simply an indication that I’m going somewhere. The landscape of Malawi was simply breathtaking, and I don’t think any of us could wipe the grins off our faces…I think I could feel my teeth drying out ;) After we landed and were taxing we noticed a Peace Corps flag hanging from the balcony of the airport…and then a lot of arms waving…and then A LOT of people waving and cheering. I was laughing so hard, I couldn’t believe the welcome committee we had! I would guess to say 75+ volunteers were at the airport to welcome us…so loud we could hear their cheers when they opened the doors. You would have thought we were celebrities! I remember meeting Vick, the country director, along with other staff but it was so overwhelming that I couldn’t tell you who. I could hardly believe so many people were that excited for our arrival.

We gathered all of our bags, minus two that didn’t arrive. Justine and Colin had to wait until the middle of the week for half of their stuff to arrive. Both of mine arrived in mostly one piece, but my smaller black bag had a busted zipper. Fortunately someone along the way put one of those colorful belts around it so I didn’t lose anything (at least that I know of). Later I saw the note that TSA had gone through it and had done a pretty crappy job of packing it back up. But I was happy to find everything in place, and managed to mend the zipper that night so my bag is functional again. Plus, I scored an awesome suitcase belt and didn’t have to pay for it…how cool!

After a quick meet and greet with all the current PCV’s that showed up in Lilongwe…after gifts of pineapple and a mango…after dishing out all the candy I’d brought for current volunteers…and after meeting some of the PCV that I’d corresponded with through facebook before departing the states, we were packed into a van and driven an hour south to the Dedza district. Tired, hungry, and stinky, some of us slept while others enjoyed the first glimpses of the Malawi countryside. It is absolutely stunning here.

For the first week in country we were housed dorm style at the College of Wildlife and Forestry. Since we have an odd number of volunteers, one person got their own room…and that was me. Ha, at first I was like “no no no!” being that I had just arrived in a country I didn’t know and around people I hardly knew I had a momentary freak out. Then realized I could spread my stuff out as much as I wanted and watch Lord of the Rings on my iPod as late or as early as I wanted to. It turned out to be great :) Running showers and electricity were a delight (and was not appreciated until it was no longer available).

Classes for the first week consisted of medical training, language training, a lot of cultural skits of what to expect in the coming weeks, and much more. Malaria medication, vaccine shots and first aid kits were dished out whether or not we wanted them ;) A big thing I realized quick in the first week was this: EVERYONE in Peace Corps wants all of us newbie’s to succeed. Be it medical safety, emotional support, appropriate site placement…in everything they are there to support us and to help us along the way. It is such a fantastic feeling to have such support when you are so far from what you know as familiar. And also, I couldn’t believe how happy Malawians are when they first wake up. Sam, Tommy (in a room together), and I were staying in the staff dorm and I’d be woken up by singing and laughter. Truly, the Warm Heart of Africa ;)

First week was great to get to know everyone as well. I feel like we all click pretty well, and I could sit down and chat with anybody at any point. We’re all here for relatively the same reasons, and having that commonality is fantastic. Toward the end of the week we took a hike up the hill that the college sits at the base of to get a better view of Malawi. It was absolutely amazing! Once we got to the very top you could turn around 360° and see everything. Off in the distance was Mozambique, which I hope to travel to at some point. When I can get pictures uploaded I’m looking forward to sharing them. It was great to have that time to spend with “buddies” as I call the 21 of us. When mom and I were shopping at REI before I left, I tried on some hiking boots but didn’t want to get them because of the price. But mom goes “you’ll be happy you have them!” Yes, it is true everyone…mama does know best! Those have been my most prized purchase to date. Thank you :) Oh, and the rain jacket I thought I brought turned out to be a windbreaker…or a really awful rain jacket. Note to self: always test rain coats in the shower before taking them for practical use.

Toward the end of our stay at the college we were informed of what language we were going to be learning and what village we would be at for our ~5 week homestay. 15 of us, including myself, were assigned to learn Chichewa. It is most widely spoken throughout Malawi, and mostly in the central and southern regions. 6 others were chosen to learn Chitimbuka, spoken in the northern region. Language decisions don’t give us any indication of where our future sites will be except for general region, but we’ll find out soon enough. For homestay we were split into two villages: 11 of us are at Chikanda, and the other 10 buddies are at Mzengareza. It’s a bummer to be split up since we all get along well, but soon we’ll be on our own so we might as well just get used to it ;) There is a nice sized hill that splits our villages and we would like to meet up there at some point, so we’re not too far away.

We departure from the college on March 6th to our villages and to meet our homestay families. Yeah, try having two days of a language under your belt and then being thrown into a household who hardly speaks English and you hardly understand Chichewa. First night there involved a lot of staring, laughing, and feeling absolutely awkward. Not sure I’ve felt that uncomfortable for that long of time in my entire life. At any rate, it’s gotten much better since I’ve been there for 2 weeks…the Chichewa is picking up and I’m catching on. I live with the Mandala family of 7, which can be crazy but a lot of fun: Matthews (abambo, or father/sir), Mercy (amayi, or mother/madam), Thandi (12 year old achemwene, sister), Brighton (achemwali, brother), Chisangalalo (achemwali), Polina (achemwene), and Eysoo (6 month old achemwali). I get stared at quite a bit and so to make them laugh I will do stupid dances (you can call it my Swing dancing skills, but I just say its my white kid dance), surprise them with my hopscotch skills, and make funny faces. I’m (refreshingly) better with kids than I thought I would be. Babies I still have to work on…

I have a room to myself in the house, where most other volunteers have their own house separate from the family (even though the “house” isn’t the size of half my room at home). The upside is that I get a bed frame in my room, which to my knowledge no one else has. The house is a mud brick construction and a tin roof, which gets super warm during the day but doesn’t leak. There are pluses and minuses to everything here :) My morning consists of a bucket bath, using water warmed over an open fire. I’ve realized how little water I need to bathe, although I probably never get completely clean :p Breakfast is simple: a slice of bread and some tea (Malawians LOVE sugar in their tea, and think I’m crazy for not putting any in mine). My amayi packs me a snack for mid morning break, which can be any combination of a banana, bread, peanuts, egg, mandazi (fried bread, kind of like a doughnut), chipies (fried potato slices). It’s fun to compare what we get when we have snack break! Lunch and dinner are relatively the same. Starches include potatoes, rice, and nsima. Now, when I first got to Malawi I thought nsima was not very appetizing, but it’s funny how things grow on you! It’s a corn meal based product and is served in a patty. All these you eat with your hands with the veggie or protein. Proteins can be chicken, cow, goat, beans, or eggs (and you wouldn’t believe it, but the chickens at my house sit in trees all day! I’ve never seen anything like it). I’m not a huge fan of goat, but they have a ton of them here. The baby goats are especially adorable (don’t worry mom, I’ll have some pet goats for you once I get to my site). Greens/veggies are a huge range from pumpkin leaves, kasava, and cabbage usually cooked with onions or tomatoes of available. The food grows on you here, and I’ve found myself thrilled for nsima and beans for lunch. Peanut butter is widely available here, which is keeping me sane on the days that I want something else. And I’m doing my best to make my private stash of Ritter Sport chocolates last a while ;) A little taste of home every once in a while!

5½ days a week we all have class, which consists of at least 3 hours of language and the remaining filled with technical training. So far we’ve learned composting, mud stove construction, and permagardening. This week the schedule shows bee keeping, and in the coming weeks I look forward to learning soap making. It’s awesome to be learning such things that I wouldn’t anywhere else in the world. I have some basic ideas of what I might like to do once I’m at site, which would include starting a sewing club for women and children and also doing some farming/gardening. But most importantly I have to see what my village is wanting/needing since they are the reason I’m here.

This entry turned out to be waaaaay longer than I had even anticipated (gosh, I cant imagine how much my letters would cost if I wrote this much in all of them!) but I hope it gives you all a better idea of what’s up my way. I have no idea how long letters take to get to your destinations, but I have sent some and have another round ready to send out this week. So you may be getting old news once you read my letter…too bad ;) This illness has been an unexpected bump in the road, but I’d better get used to dealing and sorting through them as this is sure to not be the only kind of bump. Overall I am overjoyed to be in Malawi. The people here are fantastic and PC has done an amazing job in welcoming us and helping us to feel settled.

How do you sum up 3+ weeks of your life, with new experiences every day? As I wrap up my letters I always find there is more I wanted to say so I apologize in advance for all that I know I’ve left out. Like the other hike we did where I found a caterpillar and took some photos, only later to realize that it was a poisonous one (woohoo, go Mary! “But it looked so cool!!”)…and the market visits we’ve done where people laugh and open up once they realize you speak some Chichewa. There’s never enough time nor space to tell you everything, but I hope I’ve done a decent job. In short, I wear skirts every day (yes, many of you haven’t ever seen me in anything other than pants…get ready for pictures at some point). Make-up is no longer applied daily, and my tan has come on faster than I ever anticipated. I had a flip flop tan in the first week, in the rainiest and cloudiest district of Malawi. Limited variety of food has aided in my clothes fitting a bit looser, and my hair is a frizzy fro in the African humidity after my morning bucket bath or heavy rains.

I have received 2 letters (thank you Leo!) and a package from mama (those waterproof bags are super handy) thus far. I’m sure more are on their way, and thank you all in advance ;) You have no idea how exciting it is and how much it brightens one’s day to receive a letter and news from home. Keep ‘em coming, everyone! And consider contributing to the “project” in my last post, of sending charms/pendants that say something about you :) Will write you all again whenever I’m at a computer next!

Tiwonana! (See you!)

Well everyone, I'm off to Malawi here in a few hours. Staging was quite a fun time, especially meeting al the great people that I'll be going to Africa with. It looks like we have a fun mix of people from across the states and from different backgrounds. I look forward to getting to know everyone more!

Last supper with mom and dad included crab, clams, and oysters. What a delight! Such a great time to be able to spend with them. I'm so fortunate to have the option to have them out here to see me off. It means so much that they have made the effort, and have been able to meet other volunteers I will be spending my next 2+ years with. As people say, 80% of life is showing up! Making an effort means a lot :)

I wont have internet access for at least two months, so written letters will be so much appreciated. I will definitely write you back, IF you make your return address legible. I don't have everyones address, so please help me out with that :) Also, I thought of a fun "game" that might be fun for some of you (it may not be everyone's style, thus I say "some of you" ;)). I collected charms as a child but haven't been so diligent about it over the years in college. Thus I ask you all to send me a charm (i.e. that you can put on a chain necklace/bracelet) of something that represents you (hobby, the state you live in, etc.). This way I can have a little piece of all of you back home with me in Malawi :}

My best to you all. Thank you, everyone, for all of your support. Please know that my blog is an update for everyone, as emailing people individually may be next to impossible while I am there. But please know that at some point I will retrieve all your emails and will be so happy to be thought of. Again, thank you all. Here I go, Into The....Warm Heart of Africa.

Crew, minus 2 that didn't arrive due to weather

....yep, we're normal!

Wow, it's really here isn't it? I arrived in Philadelphia today for staging, which starts tomorrow. Why is it always that when you're preparing for a big trip THAT is when TSA thinks they need to check everything and be stingy? Who knows...but it's always those times where I'm not quite in the mood for dealing with it all that they decide to enforce the "3oz containers." If it fits in a quart size bag, shouldn't it be fine? All of Europe thinks so...Denver, eh, not so much. Needless to say mom, dad, and I made it to Philly in one piece (with mom's famously delicious tuna fish sandwiches for lunch...I bet our seat neighbors loved us for that one!). Phil (one of the other volunteers in our group) and I were scheduled to fly out of Denver on the same flight, so it was great to meet up again. Arrived in one piece with all my bags, so first leg of trip successfully completed!

Went to have a delicious Philly Cheese Steak with "Wiz" for dinner with mom and dad. I'm really "stocking up" for my arrival in Malawi with the food change. "No, this isn't baby fat. It is, indeed, my layer of fat to buffer me for a few months in Africa, thank you very much!" But dinner was great, and a lot of fun to spend more time with mom and dad. Dad has helped me quite a bit getting the more legal/financial stuff sorted out for me before I leave. He's extremely knowledgeable in that arena, especially when I'm looking at a sheet I'm supposed to fill out and thinking "now where do I color?" Without his help, I'd have turned all my important papers into airplanes. Thanks papa! Couldn't have done it without you :)

Hopefully in the morning the three of us will head out and see the Liberty Bell and wander around the city before meeting up with some volunteers and family for lunch before the PC stuff starts. My staging schedule for tomorrow is as follows:

1.00 - Registration2.00 - 7.00 - Briefings and informationWe had a few people not arrive today in Philly due to the snow, so we'll see how that plays out with the briefings and information tomorrow. It's funny though, because the snow wasn't bad (practically nonexistent) in the city when we arrived yet majority of the flights were canceled. At any rate, ha, I hope this isn't one of those "hey! We want your autograph!" which turns into signing my life away ;) What an adventure that lies before me! Starting to buckle the seat belt for this roller coaster that's about to depart. Hands in the air, woohoo!

I know it sounds corny when people say "I can't believe it's already here!" or "How did time go by so fast?!" But I cant help but think and feel a combination of these and everything else right now. Two full days await me here in Denver before I head out to Philly for PC staging and it's unbelievable to try and wrap my brain around it. I'm not sure when it all will hit me, but I can rest assured I will have tissues or a sleeve to blow my nose into.

Last minute packing has gotten me a bit overwhelmed. But thank goodness my mother had been on me day after day for weeks to buy all the things I need/want, try packing my bags, testing out the solar charger, and more. Without her push, I'd probably be sitting here pulling my hair out and going nuts. She is so much more mentally organized that I am and I've so appreciated her help. Her help allowed me to have most of my things ready two weeks before my departure (see my previous post...this was mentally confusing!) which allowed me to visit both of my grandmothers on the west coast, a wonderful close to my time in the states. If you ever have a chance to meet my mother, consider yourself lucky.

I have been officially presented the "Hang on! Life is an adventure!" card for these next days, weeks, months, and years. I am, of course, in control of my attitude towards my time as well as volunteering while in Malawi. Struggles are inevitable, and I hope I have the strength and courage to continue to see the positive that will come out of every situation. Through my travels this fall/winter I discovered something extremely enlightening, and encouraging in the same breath: when things are getting tough and you think you can't push yourself any further...keep pushing, because the biggest reward is right over the hill. I've found right when I feel like giving up, if I try just a bit harder then I am handsomely rewarded. Life's greatest rewards do not come without great struggles. Bring it on, universe!

I'm sitting at 2 weeks to the day that I hop on a plane to head out to Philly for staging. I'm pretty well finished putting things together that I think I might want for the next 27 months of my life. Being this organized this ahead of time doesn't happen for me very often. Thanks to my mother asking every day "so what's on your 'to do' list today?" Yes, sometimes I want to just spend the day looking at the beautiful Colorado Rockies, but it sure is nice to feel like I have this much accomplished more than 2 days before my departure. (Yes yes...thanks mom).

In the past week or so I've felt extremely confident and ready to dive in to Malawi. I know it'll be quite a wake up call once I arrive there and more challenging than anything I'm anticipating. I'll be honest to say I've gone through cycles of "woooohoooo!!" and "holy crap, am I crazy?!" And quite glad to say I have embraced them all and moved through the emotions. (Ha, how do you avoid them when you don't sleep through the nights and it shows when mom comes in in the morning and my blanket is half off the bed and I'm sleeping diagonal?!) Now I'm ready!

I'm doing my best not to adopt the whole "can't wait to leave!" attitude. From past experience I have found that doing so causes me to miss out on time spent with people as well as fun and new experiences. February 25th will come eventually, regardless of how much or little I want it to. In the mean time I will do my best to enjoy the following (and already do!): Watching my friends dance Blues and Lindy Hop while smiling inside to see the joy it brings them; unlimited sushi (when mom and dad pay, of course); warm running water; driving to places I want to go at my leisure; freezer for ice cream; grocery stores with lots of varieties; birthday cake; macaroni and cheese... Ok, I'm going to stop now because I'm getting hungry. But you get the point. The 25th will come soon enough!

I am assuming all of my fans will be wanting to send me lots of letters and packages full of yummy goodies, right?! I sure hope so ;) I've done some reading on other peoples' bogs about sending letters/packages and thought it'd be best to share it with all of you.

Be sure to write "Air Mail" or "Par Avion" on the letter/packageLetters ($0.98) take 2-3 weeks; packages 6-9 weeks (for airmail)When sending letters, please date and number them. Sometimes things do get lost in the mail and it would be nice to know if I have missed one of your lettersIt is best to put letters and packages in padded envelopes, as envelopes then are treated more like lettersSuper important! If you do send a package please do not declare anything more than 15 USD. Otherwise I have to pay a hefty duty tax on the value (and sometimes the contents), and I don't get paid much :)For important or valuable items, you might want to consider sending with DHL or FedEx. If you choose DHL (and I'm assuming the same for FedEx) you must address the package to:

Mary Kuhlke, PCVc/o U.S. Peace Corps MalawiArea 4 Plot 70Across from Oilcom DepotLilongweMalawi, AFRICA

You will also need to include the Peace Corps/Malawi phone number on the package, 265-1-757-157

Any and all letters, packages, cheese packets, spices, beef jerky, and anything else you can imagine me enjoying will be most appreciated. I will respond as much as possible :) Thank you every for your support!

Being that all of this information about Malawi is new to me, I thought I would post it so you all have a little bit of an idea of where I will be living for the next 27 months. Enjoy!

GeographyLand size of Malawi is about equal to that of Pennsylvania (seems appropriate our staging is there then!)Lake Malawi (aka. Lake Nyasa) is about the size of VermontClimate is subtropical (rainy season November-May, dry season May-November)Terrain consists of plateaus, highlands, and valleysCurrent environmental issues: deforestation, land degradation, water pollution from agricultural runoff, siltation of spawning grounds (endangers fish population)Population15,028,757Life expectancy for males and females is right around 50 years old11.9% adults living with HIV/AIDSNationality: MalwiansReligion: 79.9% Christian, 12.8% MuslimGovernmentMultiparty DemocracyCapital is Lilongwe (centrally located in the country)Time difference is UTC+2, or 9 hours ahead of Mountain timeDeclared independence on July 6, 1964EconomyAgricultural products: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum (a type of grain), pulses (a type of seed rich in protein), groundnuts, macadamia nuts, cattle, goatsIndustry: tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goodsTransportation32 airports, 6 with paved runways (ha! No excuses to not come and visit!)Railways: 797kmRoadways: 15,451km (lots of hitch hiking to be done)Ports: Chipoka, Monkey Bay (this sounds fun), Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, ChilumbaSo there ya go! Some quick info for you all about Malawi and where yours truly will be spending quite a bit of time these next few years. You can also go here to learn even more than you ever wanted to know about Malawi ;)

Time keeps ticking, and it's officially 3 weeks before I am on a plane to Philly for my staging. I'm definitely excited, but feeling a bit spread thin between packing, seeing family and friends, and giving myself some of my own "bubble" time. So I'm feeling a bit warn out at the moment, but trying to keep things moving a long and not get behind on stuff I want to get done. It always seems there's just another thing to add to the list! I'm beginning to wonder if I'm over stressing myself or simply trying to prepare as best I can (in that case I'd be happy once I got to Malawi and did all of this stuff). As one of my brothers said "It's as if you are preparing yourself for a 2 year camping trip." Ha, and with that, how do you not over think things? Ahhh well, doing what I can. Most definitely excited to go, but I wish I had everything packed already so I didn't have to worry about it all anymore!

Well, I'm beginning to feel like I have a pretty good handle on purchasing things for Malawi. Most fun and ridiculous purchase so far is a huge hard suitcase. Figured this option would be best to protect my goodies I will bring as well as eventually serving as a piece of furniture for my future home. I had the choice of pink, gold, some ridiculous color that only has a name when pared with colors like "macaroni and cheese," and silver. I opted for the silver one, of course (sorry for those of you who wanted to see me lug a big pink Pepto Bismol suitcase through Africa), with a brand name Jeep (I've never heard of it besides the brand of a car). Kind of fun I can put on my pack list "Jeep - Check." Mom wanted to test it out by standing on it...told her "you break it, you buy it!" and decided instead to keep her money.

Amongst some of the obvious things like shirts, pants, socks, makeup, and underwear (mom always told me to bring extra pairs!) I'll write a brief list of some of the top notch things I'm investing in or finding around the house:

Camera/travel tripod

Solar charger

Leatherman

Lamp (hand crank)

Head lamp

Rain suit

Sleeping Bag

Hammock

Bungee cords

Short wave radio (not sure yet?)

Tent

Flashlight

Sleeping pad

Water bottles

Eye drops (for potential eye infection)

Vitamins

Hiking boots

Mirror

Sunglasses

Sewing Kit

Writing paper

Journals

Calendar

Computer (still debating this one...)

Spices

Seeds

Pressure cooker

Cutting board

Constellation book

Dictionary

Field guide

GRE study material

Of course more miscellaneous stuff, but I wont bore you with things like umbrella, bed sheets, and cold medicine. I sure hope I can fit it all! Still needing to buy some comfort foods I know I will enjoy, like a jar of peanut butter and another one of Nutella.

It is quite a challenge to figure out what is most important to bring and what things I will be able to pick up once I arrive there. Some of what can be so nerve wrecking are the unknowns, and the things that no one can answer for me until I experience Malawi. Simply through this process of applying for the Peace Corps I am learning about patience, how to organize and prepare myself for the unknowns, how to decide things for myself regardless of others opinions, and (maybe most important) to trust my instincts. Seeing as I've learned this much so far, I can only imagine what awaits me in Malawi.

At any rate, 26 days left in Denver and I'm doing my best to make the most of them, see all the friends and family I possibly can, eat all the yummy foods I know I wont get in Africa, enjoy warm showers and running water at my disposal, speak English with anyone who is willing, and enjoying the snow. Sushi, ice cream, movie theaters, here I come!

With each day, all of this is becoming even more of a reality. I received my staging information yesterday and called PC today to book my flight to Philadelphia on February 25th. It's a little bit weird to have definite date set of when I will leave Denver. At times, it hardly seems real that this is all happening... Mom and dad may come out to Philly to see me off, and possibly have some chances to meet other PCV (Peace Corps Volunteers) and maybe parents.

A few weeks ago I was stressing myself out, and I feel like I'm doing it again. Last time was about all the unknowns of what I will be doing, people I will be going with, what to bring, etc. This time I'm stressing about making sure I get everything I need/want to bring with me to Malawi. It seems like there is so much to do between packing and meeting up with friends and family. Amdist the stress, I'm also doing my best to appreciate and enjoy where I am and what I have right now. Presumed comparisons of USA:Malawi - Warm shower : cold bucket of water; electricity at my fingertips : candles; food with flavor : food with dirt (maybe some fried ants too); email : snailmail; refrigerator : block of ice....er, puddle of water? I'm doing my best, but it is quite weird how with just about everything I do, every place I go, all the comforts I have....I cant help but think "Enjoy it! You wont have it for a while."

This is all an adventure I have electively signed up for, and I am looking so forward to serving! Although somedays I do ask myself if I am crazy and how I ever came up with this idea! It will be an experience of a lifetime! So bring it on, big man.

Hello to everyone who is following my blog :) I am heading off to Malawi, Africa in about 38 days (but who's counting?) First I have to conclude my 4 month Europe and SE/Asia tour, leaving Wiesbaden, Germany next week. It's been a great ride here and I am sad to leave, but thrilled for my next adventure in Africa.

"Wow, big decision to join the Peace Corps!" some of you may be asking, thus I would love to share with you my reasoning. It may seem all over the place, so bear with me. I graduated from the University of North Dakota in May 2008 and worked miscellaneous jobs for the year following (cake decorating is at the top of the "fun" meter, along with interior design/construction work). I did not have much direction (what do you do with a degree in History and minor in Visual Arts?!) and continually became unsettled about what I wasn't doing with my life. In college I developed a deep love for the environment and animals and desire to make some sort of impact on our planet. I joke I had a "mid-twenties crisis" with trying to figure out what to do with my life. My brother Scott graduated from graduate school in May 2009, and through him I met and chatted with some of his classmates who had spent time in the Peace Corps. I had a lot of questions but was intrigued with the idea of spending extended time in a foreign country. I read through a blog of one PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer) who served in Morocco while doing some research on my own, still not totally sure if this was a fit for me. But i thought “if I don’t apply, I don’t even have the option!”

June 6, 2009 my application was submitted, and thus began the extensive process discovering if I qualified (those of you who have applied or served know what I'm talking about!). I received packets of information I had to fill out and send back...had an interview at the end of June nominating me for Africa in Agricultural Science program (both my first choices...I was lucky!)...received my medical packet for medical tests, appointments, doctors notes, and more... With each step I thought "they sure are not making this easy!" And in each stage the effort I was asked to put forth (i.e. all the money spent on medical tests as well as time writing and filling out paperwork), became increasingly challenging. But the more I went through this all, the more I felt that serving in the Peace Corps was fitting for me.

In mid September I departed to Europe for a 4 month tour around Europe and SE/Asia...and to wait to hear anything from the PC on my placement. I had a blast expanding my horizon and learning more about myself than I ever imagined. Visiting Cambodia was probably the most eye opening, it being the furthest from my comfort level and a taste of what I might see in Africa. Mid December, surprise! More paperwork to fill out and send back to determine whether or not I was qualified for the position in which I was nominated. December 17, 2009 I received an email offering me a position in Malawi for the Environmental program. I was thrilled! I'd waited all this time to find out where I was going....and I'll be honest to say I had to look it up on a map. It's such a weird feeling receiving news you've been waiting 3 months for, only to sit there and say "do I really want this?" I sat with the butterflies in my stomach for a few days, and officially accepted my position on my 25th birthday.

I cannot be more excited and thrilled for this experience of a lifetime. It's been quite a ride, and although I had doubts and questions through the process, I feel more at ease and comfortable each day. Being a tourist all my life with traveling (thank you United!) I look so forward to immersing myself in a beautiful culture, teaching others while allowing them to teach me. I have wanted to travel to Africa since I was a child and having this opportunity to live there is absolutely unreal and exciting.

I will do my best to keep a blog of my experience for those of you who are interested. I cannot make any promises of how often it will be updated, seeing as having internet access is about as slim as having running water there. So letters will always be appreciated, and will be responded to :) Thank you to all who have been so supportive along this process, and to my family for not thinking I was too out of my mind! Let the journey begin :)

Applying for the Peace Corps is pretty extensive! Lots of waiting, usually in anticipation.

June 6, 2009 - Application submitted online

June 18 - Received financial packet (i.e. how to take care of loans, finances, etc.)

June 24 - Packet returned to PC

June 30 - Phone interview; nominated for Agricultural Science program (somewhere) in Africa!

July 9 - Received medical packet

August 7 - Medical packet completed and returned to PC

August 25 - Medical cleared!

September-November - Lots of waiting while traveling overseas....checking website to see if there was a status change....emails to dad weekly if anything had arrived in Denver from PC....

December 10 - Received more paperwork to fill out in regards to my Agricultural experience

December 17 - a.m. Paperwork emailed back; p.m. Received email inviting me to Malawi!!

December 22 - Official acceptance of invitation (Happy Birthday to me!)

January 12 - Went to U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany to apply for a PC passport

----------

February 24 - Staging in Philadelphia

February 27 - Depart the U.S. to Malawi