i’m on a mission / you betta just listen ...
i arrived at the Malamulo Mission (where i will be volunteering) last night. The mission was established outside of the city of Blantyre by the Seventh Day Adventist Church more than 100 years ago (i’m still researching Seventh Day Adventism (like, what the heck happened on the seventh day? i thought god rested!) but so far i’ve figured out that they are Christian, their Sabbath is on Saturday, and they don’t dance, drink, or wear jewelry ... i’ll let you know what else is involved as i interact a bit more. ;)
it's a self-contained community out in the middle of a rural area, surrounded by rolling hills and tea plantations. it has a free hospital, a nursing college, a secondary school, a primary school, and, of course, a printing press?! i'm one of only six wuzungu (white people) in a community of thousands, so i've gotten used to being stared at everywhere i go. still, the children are very cute and always wave and shout "wuzungu!" at me as i pass .. ha!
i'll be living in a house on campus for the next two months. it's a cute little place with a large bedroom and living room, a kitchen (although my meals will be prepared for me at the 'guest house' down the street), a front terrace, and a sweet little cobblestone courtyard. this being africa, the electricity and water are intermittent so i've gotten used to doing without when necessary. i'm also used to the 'african shower', which involves crouching in a tub and splashing water over yourself as best you can.
i'm not sure exactly what my volunteering will entail, but so far i've been asked to co-write a proposal to U.S. Aid for some funding. i'm really happy about this, as i've written dozens of proposals in the past, and this one will be much more fulfilling than my previous efforts (e.g. to implement millions of dollars worth of software so that one corporation can more easily take over another)
there is no internet access at the mission, so my e-mails and blog entries will mostly be written during the week on my laptop, then sent from internet cafes in the city. i hope to do this each week. okay, i'm off now to shop for supplies for my house (coffee!!) i love hearing news from home, so please continue to write when you can. love you!
it's a self-contained community out in the middle of a rural area, surrounded by rolling hills and tea plantations. it has a free hospital, a nursing college, a secondary school, a primary school, and, of course, a printing press?! i'm one of only six wuzungu (white people) in a community of thousands, so i've gotten used to being stared at everywhere i go. still, the children are very cute and always wave and shout "wuzungu!" at me as i pass .. ha!
i'll be living in a house on campus for the next two months. it's a cute little place with a large bedroom and living room, a kitchen (although my meals will be prepared for me at the 'guest house' down the street), a front terrace, and a sweet little cobblestone courtyard. this being africa, the electricity and water are intermittent so i've gotten used to doing without when necessary. i'm also used to the 'african shower', which involves crouching in a tub and splashing water over yourself as best you can.
i'm not sure exactly what my volunteering will entail, but so far i've been asked to co-write a proposal to U.S. Aid for some funding. i'm really happy about this, as i've written dozens of proposals in the past, and this one will be much more fulfilling than my previous efforts (e.g. to implement millions of dollars worth of software so that one corporation can more easily take over another)
there is no internet access at the mission, so my e-mails and blog entries will mostly be written during the week on my laptop, then sent from internet cafes in the city. i hope to do this each week. okay, i'm off now to shop for supplies for my house (coffee!!) i love hearing news from home, so please continue to write when you can. love you!
Labels: travel
posited by hereis nowhy at 03:51
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