The counsellors at Peace Corps' Camp Women 2 Women - a girls' empowerment camp. The camp was a week long in December. It was held at a school in Mzimba - a district in the northern region of Malawi.

My group of Women 2 Women campers - the "Cool Cats."

all the Women to Women campers

I spent Christmas in Lilongwe with 12 other Peace Corps Volunteers. This was our Christmas tree with "Dirty Santa" gifts.

Christmas wreath made by my niece on our door.

Sean and Carolyn. Sean did most of the cooking and we all helped with chopping and cleaning.

Christmas breakfast - oatmeal cinnamin pancakes and fruit salad!

chopping avocados for guacamole

more PCV friends preparing for Christmas dinner

Nala! She's my baby. Here is her song:I love my Nala, oh yes I do.I love my Nala 'cause she's so cute.She's the cutest doggie in Kamsonga. I'm right about that; I am not wronga.She's the cutest doggie in the region.If I could feed them I'd have a legion.She's the cutest doggie in Malawi. When people see her they say, "Oh, wowie!"She's the cutest doggie in Africa.Her cuteness is real; It's not a tricka.

Nala resting on the grasses for my fence.

From November 8 to 14 I went to a natural medicine training in Dedza. This is the training center where it was held.

fig leaf tea and artemesia tea

Medicinal tinctures, oils, and ointments!

Fellow PCV, Carolyn, is excited about tumeric. :)

Ginger

Thank god for coffee!

This is Elijah. I pay him to clean my house and work in the garden.

This is Garrett, a Peace Corps Malawi 2010 EducationVolunteer, sitting on one of his kitchen tables. He lives in the southern tip of Malawi in a district called Thyolo. I visited him in early October and taught his students about responsibility in sexual decision making.

Camp Sky - a Peace Corps Education Camp. I taught HIV transmission and prevention at this camp.

Lilongwe Wildlife Refuge Center

Fellow Peace Corps Volunteer and Ntchisi resident, Sara Lane's, garden and kitchen.

Sara's house

Sara's living room

egg salad! tomatoes! lettace!

Ntchisi Forest

Ntchisi Forest

Ntchisi Forest Lodge

rice with greens, onions and peanut flour

Malawi Entreprenuership Development Institute (MEDI) where Peace Corps Volunteers ran the week-long Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) camp. I taught four sessions: "Career Counseling," "Starting a Business," "Healthy Sexual Relationships" and "Healthy Sexual Practices."

MEDI

GLOW campers and Peace Corps Volunteers. I made the poster :)

The Queen Bees

The Clovers

Team 6-cess

Ndingathe! (I can do it!)

Ladies of Various Ethnicities (LOVE)

Precious Ambitious Girls (PAG)

Yes We Can! Yes We Will!

Performance by a drama group

GLOW resources

First Aid and Penises (the wooden penises are for condom demonstrations)

GLOWing breakfast

num num

The First Lady of Malawi - Madame Callista Mutharika - gave a motivational address at Camp GLOW.

people milling around after the First Lady's address

a break at mid-service conference in Dedza

gold shoes!

a Scrabble game with friends







A family friend sent me some money to buy six soccer balls. I gave one of them to the maternity ward.



pregnant women playing with the soccer ball

Youth club with donated soccer ball and books. A group of girls and a group of boys from the group also wrote"daily activity schedules,"which we used to talk about gendered division of labor and also the best time to have future meetings.

girls working on their daily activity schedule

boys working on their daily activity schedule

A soccer team with their new ball

youth playing with their new soccer ball

Nala and Mtima sleeping on my bed

teenage boys' map of their village

teenage girls' map of their village

world map on my wall

50th Anniversary Poster

papaya tree in my yard

William, a youth from the health center youth club, cooking peanuts (called ground nuts here). A fellow Peace Corps Volunteer, Scheller, and I taught them to make "Ground Nut Sweeties" to sell as an income generating activity. 

Maria with the finished product.

cute baby

coffee and Harry Potter

Nala with a dead mouse in my backyard. I'm not sure if she killed it or just found it.

Tattoo on my calf of a phoenix. I got this right before I left for Malawi.

a Rasta selling crafts at a market in Lilongwe















Here are some Form 3 students in their classroom. 

Robert, who works at my favorite tea shop at Kamsonga Trading Center

cooking pea soup on my coal stove

Me with my friend Scheller's two dogs - Sahara and Sophie.

My cat, Mtima, with a milk goatee.

Me and my sisters - Anna and Meredith

Youth from the Health Center Youth Club in front of their new bookshelf. Thanks, Anna!!! 

From April 10 - 15 I participated in Camp STAR: Scientific Thinking Achieving Results at Gwangwa Community Day Secondary School in Ntchisi. There were about 70 Form Four students participating, including two girls (Maria and Maggie) and two boys (Victor and John) from the secondary school in Kamsonga where I teach Life Skills. The point of the camp was to expand student's interest in the science subjects and also to prepare them for their national examinations. Gwangwa CDSS has a full science laboratory with things like microscopes, skeleton models, lots of chemicals, beakers, burners and the like. Most CDSSes in Malawi do not have science labs. Gwangwa CDSS also has a computer lab with about 12 computers. Morning and afternoon classes included: electricity lab, titration lab, career planning and CV writing, coordination, HIV/reproduction, biology practicals, pendulum practicals, organic chemistry, computers, mathematics, and genetics. I taught Reproduction and HIV. Afternoon activities included: tree grafting, goat dissection, and environmental science. Evening activities included: a film, a jeopardy game, a talent show and a disco. The camp was very well organized and run by Peace Corps Education Volunteers Kelly Petrowski and Jen Ludvigson. It was an inspiring and enjoyable experience for both the students and the Peace Corps Volunteers (who taught the classes and activities).

Goat dissection at Camp STAR.

The teacher's lounge at Gwangwa CDSS.

Kelly's backyard. Peace Corps Volunteer teachers at Camp STAR slept in her back yard and in her house. It was mighty crowded!





bike repair

my library

cooking nsima, the staple food, made with corn flour

little boy in a suit

my friend Rasheed eating green beans with salt

a shop keeper in his shop

a tailer in his shop

This student and many others want a pen pal. Please let me know if you are interested!

This student also wants a pen pal. Please let me know if you are interested!

tying tobacco









One of the shop keepers at my trading center outside his shop with his baby.

Selling "chips."

Youth selling meat.

A woman selling pastries called "mandazis."

A man selling small fish called "usipa."

Clothing and fabric for sale

My friend Rasheed. I just taught him how to play chess.

Youth from the youth club at the health center playing a dancing game. They're happy because we just got donated books for a library and decorated the room with health posters. Next step - table, chairs/benches, and a bookshelf!

Some of the form 4 students.

Nala with a new friend.













Me with my cat, Mtima, and dog, Nala.

Mua Mission in Dedza

Mua Mission

My friend Scheller, who I spent Christmas with. Here she is in her garden with her dog, Sophie.

Nala and Mtima

Two of the teachers at the secondary school where I teach "Life Skills."

Beans with tomatoes, onions, garlic and green beans.

The room at the health center designated for youth reproductive health but is currently not being used. I have big plans for this room. Just got a bunch of books donated to create a library there. Next step - furniture. I started a youth club at the Health Center with my counterpart. Right now we're focusing on HIV / AIDS but we plan to expand to cover other youth health issues.

This is Elijah and Davis. They help me with cleaning the house and with my vegetable garden.

Nala!







Some patients at the health center.

My friend Noel, the Medical Assistant at the health center, in his office. 

This room at the health center is currently not being used. I hope to remedy that by starting a youth health program (ages 10 - 25).

I'm helping Noel put drugs into dosage bags.

My cat named Mtima (meaning "heart" in Chichewa).

Mtima yawning.

Mtima on my lap.

Mtima sleeping on the window ledge.

Ntchisi hospital. My site, Kamsonga, is in the district of Ntchisi.

Kamsonga hill, which my house and the health center are next to.

Some of the students in the Form 3 Life Skills class that I teach at Kamsonga's secondary school. This term we discussed topics such as: physical, mental and emotional changes during puberty; moral dilemmas; roles of leaders and citizens in a democratic society; stress and anxiety management; self-esteem; and self awareness.

Stove-top popcorn.

My friend and fellow Peace Corps Volunteer, Sally's, house in Salima.

Inside Sally's house.

Cooking vegetable dumplings - yum!

Lake Malawi! We went there for Sally's birthday.

Sally with her birthday cake.

Monkey by the lake shore.















This is Edward Masite, my counterpart, who is helping me to get to know Kamsonga. He's a Health Survaillance Assistant. I will continue to work with him throughout my service in the Peace Corps. He is smart, hard working, has vision, and his English is very good. I am lucky to have him as a counterpart.

This is the health center. Right now I am not doing work there but I suspect that my main project will be sex education for youth ages 10 - 25 at the health center. There is a room for youth health activities at the health center but right now it is not being used.

This is my boyfriend, George Yamikani Phiri. He's an Intern Medical Assistant (a position somewhere between a nurse and a doctor) at the Health Center. In November he will have a vacation and then start working as a Medical Assistant at another site in the central region... so, regardless of where he goes next he won't be terribly far from me. We've been dating for two months.

This is the secondary school where I've started teaching "Life Skills" classes to Forms 1 and 3. Life Skills is basically civic, ethical, behavior and sexuality education. A secondary school is like a high school and there are four forms so I'm teaching the equivalent of freshmen and juniors. The Form 1 students struggle to understand my English but they are getting better.

This is the primary school and "football" (soccor) field. There are games on Thursdays (market day), Saturdays and Sundays.

This is my bike. One time I rode for 34 kilometers in one day! That really pushed my physical limits and I won't be doing it again any time soon. 

These are two maps of villages I visited within Kamsonga's catchment area. The Health Survailance Assistants of those areas drew them.

This is my friend Alfred Nyasulu. He's a police officer. One of his friends just gave him this pool table!



This is the inn in Mchinji district where I stayed with eleven other volunteers for our "Language Intensive" week. After that week we took our "Language Proficiency Interviews" at the Peace Corps training site in Dedza. We had to receive a score of Intermediate-High to be sworn in as volunteers and I got Advanced-Low.

Peace Corps office in Lilongwe.

Inside the Peace Corps office

Inside the Peace Corps office

The room I stayed in at the Peace Corps Training site in Dedza.

We saw a rainbow on the drive from Dedza to Lilongwe for swearing in as Peace Corps volunteers.

My friends Sally and Talia at the US Ambassador's residence, where we swore in.

The Ambassador's residence.

Two children coloring by my door. People here loooove sliced bread.



Children borrow books on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from the little library in my house.

I just got back from a five day visit to Kamsonga - the village where I'll be living for two years! I am thrilled with the people, the environment and my house. Here are some pictures of it:

This is my house!

My living room.

Spare bedroom

I have a toilet!

This is my shower but I only get cold water so I boil some water, mix it with cold and take a bucket bath in this room.

Paraffin stove under the chimney.

My cubbard. The volunteer who I'm replacing left me spices and other supplies!

This is my bedroom. I moved a bunch of these boxes into the spare room.

The PCV I am replacing started a small library.

This is the shelf near my bed.

Supplies in the bedroom.

There is a hill behind my house that I climbed. Here's a view of the health center from it. My house is right by the health center.

This is the first time I've been able to access the internet since I've been in Malawi. Right now I'm in the Peace Corps office in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. In two days I'll visit Ntchisi for a week - the site where I will be living for two years.

I am still technically a "Peace Corps Trainee." I will be sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer on September 1 - a day before I turn 27! Our trainee group is made up of 35 future education and health Peace Corps Volunteers.

For the first month of training I lived with a Malawian family in a village called Chipazi in the district of Dedza. Eight other health trainees also lived in Chipazi and we went to language and technical sessions together. The language that I am learning is called Chichewa and it is the most widely spoken language in Malawi. In technical sessions, the other trainees and I learned about participatory community analysis tools, common health problems in Malawi and how to do simple demonstrations about things like mosquito net dipping, nutrition, water sanitation, and hygiene.

Besides this general information, it's hard to know where to begin so I'm going to let my pictures do most of the talking.

These are some of the members of my homestay family - the Jika family - posing for a picture on their property. Behind them is the dish drying rack and a shelter for animals. The woman in the front is my host mother and I call her "amayi" (mayi means "mother" and the a is for respect, like "madam"). The girl with the purple dress is my host sister ("achimwali" = sister). Her name is Talita and she's 18. The boy is my host brother ("achimwene" = brother). His name is Asaki and he's 17. I also have a host father ("abambo" = respectful term for a man and also "father"), and two other host sisters - Ana is 15 and Doro is 9.

This is Doro, my nine year old host sister, posing by the outdoor cooking fire. The main cooking fire is indoors in a mud hut.

Here is an example of a vegetarian Malawian meal. I ate this a few nights ago at the forestry college in Dedza (also the Peace Corps training site.) Rice, beans, greens, tomato sauce, and garlic hot sauce with some pineapple on the side - yum!

My host family loves this monster stuffed animal that I brought with me. They love him so much that they wrote his name on the outside of their cooking hut with a corn husk. They also often asked me questions (in Chichewa) like "How did Gumpy sleep?" and "Is Gumpy happy today?" This is my amayi (a poor picture of her) with Gumpy.

Doro stapped gumpy on her back the way women and girls strap babies.

Gumpy on the clothes line... he's my version of a "travel gnome..."

...And one more of Gumpy in the window of my homestay hut.

Here's my homestay hut's interior. It has a wooden frame, mud walls and a thatched roof.

Shoes, water filter, trash box, and pee bucket.

Paraffin (for my lantern), toiletries, medical kit, jewelery box, rain jacket.

Baby goat! Also "Irish potatoes."

Some children in the village.

More Chipazi children.

A child taking the kernels off corn with the strange orange creature my mom bought at Target on her lap.

A calf that the Jika family owns.

The Jika's cows.

The Jika's hog.

Adorable piglets resting in the sun.

My clothes on the clothesline.

The village farewell ceremony. The Chipazi women are dancing. My amayi is the one with the American flag socks on.

A dancer in the "Guliwonkulu" (big dance) in Malawi. These dancers are called "animals." They danced for our village farewell ceremony.

Another dancer.

I think this guy is supposed to be an owl.

More dancers.

This was the finale - a two person goat costume.

I may not be able to access the internet until I complete training on September 1. I will write letters and look forward to updating this blog as soon as possible.

The following excerpts are from Volunteers who currently serve or recently served in Malawi.

"In no time you'll be able to use a chimbudzi (pit latrine) with the most accurate aim, master the art of bucket-bathing, and prepare your favorite American dish over a three-stone fire." - Jake Farnum

"I remember hearing this and not believing it, but it's true: You don't need to pack a lot of clothes. You can always get things here (especially if you love the adventure of open-air thift shopping). Also pack tons of underwear, a swimsuit, and that one outfit that makes you feel 100 percent cozy and 100 percent you." - Patricia Wundrow

"The intensity that I experience here on a daily basis is much stronger than anything I could have imagined nine months ago, when I too held a Peace Corps manual in my hands and tried, somehow, to prepare. But there is a lighthearted side to all of this, also.

Malawians, as a whole, are very friendly, happy people. We are always laughing - at and with each other. Everything that I say is listened to and everything I do is observed. Everything. This is part of being a Volunteer in Malawi. Just as I laugh out loud when I pass a muscular young man wearing a frilly pink T-shirt that says 'Mom to be,' I hear people laughing at me. What am I wearing or doing that seems so humerous to these people? Have I become such an odd creature overnight? No. I am just a person from another country that is very, very foreign to my new friends and neighbors. When we discuss 'America' they shake their heads and say: 'Ah, it is a very strange place, madam!'" - Debbie Gordon

"Your life will probably be much more relaxed now. My days revolve around clean laundry and going to buy vegetables. Life is calm and happy in Malawi." - Naomi Bremer

"The people in my community have been my family; we have laughed together and we have cried together. The chiefs and the villagers around Vwaza have been my friends; we have planted maize together, harvested termites and caterpillars together (and then we ate them), and searched for shooting stars together. And the children are my entertainment; some of my best memories are sitting on the stoop outside my hut chatting with 'my Kazuni kids' under a full moon." - Stephanie Jayne

The following excerpts are from Volunteers who currently serve or recently served in Malawi.

"Think about the images that you have of Africa and where they come from. The media often gives us a very skewed and negative perspective of African life with its portrayal of wars, pestilence, disease, famine, or starvation. What we don't often see is what you will experience by living in Malawi. It is a peaceful and wonderful place to call home. The larger cities have the things that you would find in America... grocery stores, Internet services, restaurants, etc. Day-to-day living comes with its own unique circumstances, and like every country in the world, Malawi is working to address the problems it faces.

Your skills as a Peace Corps Volunteer can be a valuable contribution to the country's progress. If you are willing to avoid making opinions of life in Malalwi based on Western concepts such as material resources or money, and instead focus on the things that really matter in life, you will quickly realize that you are living in one of the richest countries in the world." - Kristof Nordin

"Your life will be very different here; face it. But that's part of the reason you're joining the Peace Corps. And you're going to go through some changes. But be yourself, read a lot of good books, write your daily thoughts frequently, take a walk, a bike ride, chat, or play cards, and don't forget why you're here or who you are." - Angie Sanders

"I am representing what people know/think about the United States, so my actions have to be carefully thought out." - Jake Farnum

"AIDS is huge. You'll see it everywhere. One of the teachers at my school died during my site visit after suffering for several months. Perhaps you should study up on HIV/AIDS before you come and be prepared to help educate your community." - Allison McGough

"As I prepared to enter the Peace Corps, I heard various stories about life in Africa for African Americans. Some positive, some negative. Well, I probably have a slightly different cut from any of the stories. I have uncovered a special sense of pride in being African American. It is now clear that though I am of African heritage, in the absence of tribal and/or country identity, that heritage doesn't mean much to anyone except me (and other Americans). But as I am more conscious that I am 100 percent American, it does not trouble me to not know the particulars about something I cannot know. Instead, perhaps it gives me a special flexibility." - Ella Lacey

"Malawi may be the 'Warm Heart of Africa' but it sure isn't for the 'Faint of Heart!'" - Patricia Wundrow

The following excerpts are from Volunteers who currently serve or recently served in Malawi. These excerpts are about the training period, which I will go through from July 3 - September 1.

"An overwheming period - new culture, new language, and new people. Living with the host family is as hands-on as it gets in order to practice everything learned. An opportunity to get to know your fellow Volunteers, because soon after, you may be a two-day mini-bus ride away from each other." - Jake Farnum

"Don't worry about the language - you'll learn it. Don't worry about the culture - you'll find a way to accept it, and it will accept you. Malawi is a wonderfully welcoming place and you'll grow to love it! It is a good idea to bring some fun things to do with your host family like Frisbee and cards, and pictures of America and your family to share." - Laura Lanwermayer

"It is important to remember that the 'Getting Started' process may seem slow by the standards that you have set for yourself. It is normal to enter your time of service with a lot of enthusiasm, energy and willingness to 'get things done.' Keep in mind, however, that you will also need to have an initial period of gaining the trust of your community, adapting to a new culture, and learning a new language. These things take time and patience, but they are essential to a successful assignment.

Your pre-service training will help you to gain the skills that will be necessary for this process. If it feels like the beginning of your service is getting off to a slow start as far as 'work' is concerned, remember that you are doing some of the hardest and most important work of your two years. When you enter your community, take the time to learn about yourself and those around you. It makes a world of difference, and eventually it can make a difference in the world." - Kristof Nordin

"Training prepared me well for life in Malawi, especially living with my host family. This is a very intense period. Before I left the States, I left self-addressed stamped envelopes with my family and friends and stressed how much mail I'd need at first. Don't expect to be in touch with people via telephone during this time." - Naomi Bremer

"Brace yourself. Training is a challenge! But...your days with your village family are a once-in-a-lifetime experience and will form some indelible memories. How will I ever forget that one evening when my village family and I playfully balanced mangoes on our heads while walking home along the dusty path in the fading colors of the day? Believe me, the challenges are well worth the journey. Just open yourself to the experience, let it happen, and you'll know what I mean." - Patricia Wundrow

Malawi is south of the equator, so the seasons are opposite of those in the United States. In June, July, and August the temperatures range from 35 degrees F in the higher elevations to 60 to 70 degrees near the shore of Lake Malawi. The hottest months are October, November and December. Temperatures range from 70 degrees F in the high elevations to around 90 to 95 degrees F in the lower elevations. The rainy season starts in November or December and lasts through April. The rest of the year is quite dry, although rain showers are possible throughout the year.

The geography of Malawi is dominated by Lake Malawi, which stretches down most of the eastern side of the country. The lake is a beautiful setting for many activities and also provides approximately 85 percent of the fresh-water tropical aquarium fish in the world.

History

Malawi is a small country in southeastern Africa and is known for its natural beauty and its warm, hard-working people. The first significant Western contact began with the arrival of David Livingstone in 1859. Fiery sunlight glittering from Lake Nyasa gave the name "Malawi" - land of flaming waters - to an ancient Bantu empire. Present-day descendants revived the name when what had once been the British Protectorate of Nyasaland became independent in 1963.

The country is considered something of a success story in African political development. In 1994, after 30 years of one-party, dictatorial rule dating back to independence from Britain, Malawi quietly and peacefully elected a new government committed to multi-party democracy. In spite of the wave of euphoria over their newly won freedom, the Malawian people continue to face the obstacles of poverty, drought, environmental degredation, hunger, disease, rising crime, and illiteracy on their path to social, political, and economic reform.

Government

Malawi has a parlimentary style of government with the president as the head of state. The president has many powers and sets the agenda for parlimentary debate. Peaceful presidential elections were held in 1999 and again in 2004, when the current president, Bingu wa Mutharika, was elected. The national government still centrally manages most issues, although strides have been made toward a decentralization of power and greater control at the local level.

Two parties currently dominate the political landscape. President Mutharika's party is the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which split off from the United Democratic Front (UDF), the party of former President Bakili Muluzi. The Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the party of power during the 30-year authoritarian rule of former President Hastings Banda, is also still very much an active player. The capital has been located in Lilongwe since the mid-1970s. Some governmental entities still remain in the southern town of Zomba, the former capital. With the move of the capital, all ministeries, embassies, and support structures for government shifted, so buildings and facilities in Lilongwe are relatively new. Lilongwe has grown tremendously following the move, with a population of roughly 500,000 people.

Malawi is one of Africa's most densely populated countries with a population of about 12 million in a land roughly the size of Indiana. The African population includes six principal tribes. Although there are distinct linguistic and cultural differences among ethnic groups, geographic region tends to be the predominant means of group identification. English is one of the official languages, though it is not commonly used outside major urban centers. More than 50 percent of people speak Chicewa, the other official language, and almost everyone understands it.

Malawi is predominantly a Christian country, but it also has a sizable Islamic population, mostly located along the southern lakeshores. Along with the major organized religions, animist beliefs are still strong in many areas of the country, and these beliefs often influence the organized religions as well. Many religions take different forms than what I may be accustomed to, as local cultures and historical beliefs influence the practice.

While living and working in this very conservative society, I will be expected to respect the culture and traditions and tolerate or adapt to the differences I may find.

The staple food in Malawi is maize (corn) prepared as a thick porridge called nsima and eaten with vegetables or beans. Many fruits and vegetables grow in Malawi, and with a little creativity, you can enjoy a widely varied diet. Most Volunteers prepare their own food, although after becoming more familiar with their site assignment, many Volunteers hire somone to help with household work, including cooking. Fruits and vegetables are available "in season," which means some things will not be available at the market year round. Meat and dairy products are available in the towns, though they can be expensive.

Trainees and Volunteers who are vegetarians will be able to eat well in Malawi after becoming familiar with local food items and their preparation. Most Malawians do not understand vegetarianism and will not normally be prepared to serve a vegetarian meal if you are a guest in their home (even if they themselves do not regularly eat meat because of the expense.) However, a sensitive explanation about your preferences will be accepted. Most vegetarian Volunteers have no difficulty once the initial adjustment is accomplished.

If you have a Netflix account, you can watch this movie on instant view.

In the African nation of Malawi, disease, poverty and famine have taken a horrible toll, especially on young people -- in a country of twelve million people, one million are orphaned children. In 2006, pop singer Madonna began studying the crisis in Malawi, and decided to use her wealth and celebrity to help; she helped finance the construction of a home for orphans, founded a relief organization called the Raising Malawi Orphan Care Initiative, and as a personal example she and her husband adopted a boy from Malawi, David Banda Mwale, whose mother had died.

Madonna wrote and produced I Am Because We Are, a documentary about Malawi that attempts to demonstrate the need for action by profiling eight children growing up without parents; these youngsters long for a better life and strive to remain optimistic about the future despite the long odds fate has set against them. I Am Because We Are also features interviews with a number of people working to alleviate the ongoing tragedy in Malawi, including Bill Clinton, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs, and leaders of a number of leading relief and charitable organizations.

This cake was made for me by a member of the First Unitarian Society of Chicago where I have been the Director of Religious Education for three years.

For the duration of the training, I will live with a Malawian family in a small village located near the college. This is one of the most vital aspects of the entire training program. The homestay is generally considered the most challenging, but also the most meaningful aspect of training by Malawi Volunteers.

The challenge lies in adapting to the rigors of Malawian village life. The living conditions are generally extremely basic despite being only a few kilometers from a main road. Some of the houses are cement block with tin roof and others are constructed of mud brick with grass thatched roofs. I will have a private room with either a bed or a mattress on the floor for sleeping. Toilet facilities consist of a pit latrine. Bathing is done in outdoor stalls under the stars - a magical experience! Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be taken with my host family.

The joy of the homestay is that I will be able to live as most Malawians live. Homestay will immerse me in Malawi food, culture, and language. The experience will expose me to the realities of the communities within which I will be serving. Many Volunteers become very close to their homestay family, and we are encouraged to do this. A family on this side of the world is a nice thing to have.

When I arrive in Malawi, Peace Corps Trainers will give me a list of competencies in language, culture, health, safety and security, and technical expertise. I will be expected to master these competencies in order to be sworn in as a Volunteer. I will be responsible for taking an active role in my learning process, evaluating my progress, and setting goals for my learning. Peace Corps Trainers will help me assess my progress and make recommendations at several points during Pre-Service Training.

In order to be sworn in, I will need to demonstrate competence in five areas. I must demonstrate:

1. A working knowledge of the local language

2. Knowledge of health risks common in Malawi and demonstrated practice of preventative health strategies

3. Interpersonal and cross-culture skills and knowledge that enable me to communicate, make friends, understand my environment, understand how Malawians perceive and interact with me, and work effectively with Malawians

4. The technical skills and knowledge essential to my work

5. An understanding of Peace Corps' philosophy of development and my project's long-term plan to see how I fit in and what I can contribute

The last week of Pre-Service Training will focus on local resources, a field trip, and office orientation. Upon successful mastery of the core competencies of training, I will be Sworn-in as a Peace Corps Volunteer on Wednesday, September 1st. As a new Peace Corps Volunteer, I will be taken to my site on the following days (Thursday or Friday).

ACCOMMODATIONS

For the first week, trainees will stay in dorm rooms at the Dedza College of Forestry, which sits at the base of the Dedza Mountain in the middle of a high altitude pine forest. The facilities are very simple but clean, with common bathrooms. The first week is designed to orient us to Malawian culture and to the main goals and objectives of Peace Corps Malawi's mission. But there is only so much we can learn about a culture from a distance, therefore after the first week, I will be placed with a Malawian host family. The people in Malawi are renowned for their hospitality, generosity and kindness and there is no better way to get to know the people of Malawi than to live with a host family. At the end of the first week, I will be moved to one of five home stay villages, which are divided by language groups in order to immerse me both linguistically and culturally. I will be provided with my own room, with simple furnishings, within a family home. Most home families do not have electricity, but I still will find my evenings full of socializing with my community members by lamp or fire light. My host family has been hand-picked by Peace Corps and has received their own cross cultural training to prepare them for their time with me. Additionally, there will be a Cultural Language Facilitator, a Technical Trainer and a second year Peace Corps Volunteer in each village to conduct our training sessions and to serve as a support team for any questions or concerns that may arise.

OVERVIEW OF TRAINING SCHEDULE

Week 1: Introduction to language, culture, and the health system of Malawi

Week 2: Community needs assessment methodologies and integration (knowing our community)

Week 3: Communicable disease prevention (water, sanitation, malaria, diarrheal diseases)

Week 4: Community Health (EPI, MCH, Family Planning) and HIV/AIDS in Malawi

Week 5: Food security and nutritional deficiencies (food availability, permaculture, malnutrition)

Week 6: Supervisor's Workshop

Week 7: Site visit

Week 8: Promote interventions for support and adoption of health behaviors such as (Life Skills, IGAs)

Week 9: Training closure and preparation for swearing-in in Lilongwe

July 1, 2010

~ 7:30am flight to Philadelphia arriving at 11:30am~ Peace Corps Orientation from 2pm to 7pm in Philadelphia

July 2, 2010~ 7am bus from Philadelphia to JFK airport in NYC~ 4pm flight from JFK to Amsterdam

July 3, 2010~ Amsterdam to Nairobi~ Arrive in Lilongwe, Malawi at 11pm after more than 24 hours of travel

My address for the first three months of service (July 1 - October 1 2010) is:

Erica Lucille WardPeace Corps P.O. Box 208Lilongwe, MalawiAFRICAAIRMAIL

It has been recommended that packages sent to Malawi be in padded envelopes, written in red ink, with various Biblical verses on the outside of the package to prevent items from theft.

You can also email me at eward06@gmail.com. However, I may have limited access to the internet.