Trip down South… (Nov 20)

Julia and I set out for our grand adventure around noon on Monday with some very convenient Peace Corps transport. After 6.5 hours we arrived in Thyolo (pronounced cholo) which is one of the most southernPCV sites in Malawi. Meg's site is situated in the tea fields which seem to supply Malawi and most of UK with some inexpensive product. All handpicked and running for Km upon Km it was overwhelming and exhausting to walk through and mind blowing to think of the foreign parties who are actually profiting from the whole establishment. They have left an amazing landscape however.

After a day in the green mountains, we picked a free hitch with a church group to Blantyre. They were with the Joyce Meyers campaign which preaches that believing in God will bring prosperity to all followers. Obviously, this was not a point which we agreed with but for a free ride and snacks on the bus we were temporary believers. In Blantyre we had amazing hospitality with Noel and Kaye complete with pancakes for breakfast. The city itself, on the other hand, was a bit overwhelming, and not a place I will necessarily try to return to during my service here. Bwana (boss) people driving around in cars and wearing trousers made me realize I was no longer in the village, and actually the most uncomfortable I have been since arriving. I did all the tourist things and saw what I felt I needed to see, especially a movie (District 9) and the Carlsburg tour (complete with free bottles).

Finally our tour took us to Zomba in the mountains and, next to my site, is one of the more beautiful places I have come upon in country. You can see a reminisce of the English in architecture and landscaping. Maybe I felt more comfortable there for the fact that it was almost like being in the Virginia countryside, regardless it is a place I plan to return to so that I can hike the plateau (sadly there wasn't time on this journey). In all it was a grand whirlwind tour, but I get more exhausted each day of traveling and and eager to return to Usisya…. One more week of insanity in the house with all the volunteers and shenangians.