15 July, 2010- playing around

So the last two weeks have been out of site for Peace Corps functions. While I don't particularly enjoy being out of site for an extended period of time, it has been interesting and productive somewhat. To begin the grand adventure I spent two days trying to get out of site for the 4th of July. It was a struggle because of late rains and the usual lack of transport, but thanks to my village community I found a ride which got me in Lilongwe by 1am the night before the Independence Day celebration. The following days was a random on-again-off-again party with volunteers hanging around Lilongwe and feasting at the house of the Ambassador. The food was not as good as I remembered it being last year, but desserts were present and drinks were free.

The morning of the 4th we even got a chance to meet the 37 new Peace Corps kids who arrived in country the previous night. We all gathered at the office for a group photo, and some meet and greet awkwardness. They seem like s good group, and while most of them I wont ever get to know, it's good to see who will be helping in the country.

For the next week I hung around Lilongwe at Mufasa's Lodge and spent two nights at Duncan's (a fellow PCV) site; because I had to be in Dedza in a week to help with the PCT (Peace Corps Training). In that week I got a lot of internet time, stocked up on my meat and dairy intake, over-explored the market, and had a lot of downtime. I also got to attend Independence Day celebrations for Malawi (July 6th) and found it to be less interesting than our typical barbeques and fireworks. In fact, it was a bit too much as the stadium filled and people rushed the door trying to get in like a hungry mod. The police then put on camouflage (bushes which were ridiculous for the urban setting) and people fled at the mere site of them. We got in with 'mzunugu' status, but choose to not stay long as there wasn't much to see other than traditional dances (and you've seen one you've seen them all).

Following that I spent a week back in the village home-stay helping the new volunteers adjust, answering questions, teaching Chitumbuka, and living back in the basic lifestyle. It's funny how the training villages have a lot less of the niceties which I actually ended up having at site. I have solar (well had, my last few weeks as site have been without power), freedom to eat as I like, ability to come and go without a schedule, and a much larger living space. I suppose that if you can survive the worst, then the site will be a breeze.

Well, now I am just waiting around (hurry up and wait) for the next event which is keeping me out of site. Bing wa Muthalika (the President of Malawi) has invited all the Peace Corps Volunteers in country to the State House for lunch on Wednesday the 21st of July. So I, along with the other PCVs of the Week, are in a weird limbo waiting to go to the event. The time is not long enough to go back to site, and don't particularly want to go hang out in Lilongwe which would result in spending money.

Waiting for three days in LIMBO at the training site (college of forestry)…

24 July, 2010- Dinner with the President

Finally, back in Usisya J it's good to be home, but at the same time I am very glad to not have missed the big event with the President. I thought briefly about just skipping it, but I took the advice of my colleagues and stayed around.

So, the day before the event I rushed to the market searching for anything second hand that was presentable. Jeremy came with and actually found a decent dress which was a basic blue and fell a bit above the ankles but would do just fine. We saw tons of other volunteers roaming around as well as we all needed stuff with a bit more class than we wear in the village. In the end it all worked out and we all actually didn't look like the scrappy volunteers we usually are.

Dressed, hair straightened, and a touch of make-up (thanks to some fellow PCV ladies) made me look classier than I have in a year… we got into buses and headed to the state house which is set on the outskirts of Lilongwe. We dined in a massive white tent on the state house lawn which was made fancy by chandeliers and two bands ready to entertain. In true 'African leader' fashion there were zebras in the nearby yard which we sadly could not get captured on film due to a 'no camera' rule imposed before we arrived. For lunch we had every variety of meet the country had to offer and bottomless drinks. There were speeches from the Country Director, a fellow volunteer (Sarah) who's been here wince 2008 which allowed her to give the whole thing in Chichewa, and Bingu himself. We wrapped up the day with a dance (to locally popular music) and a group photo out front.

We dined and danced and left a bit tipsy. It was a great event which I am very thankful to have had. While there is the possibility that it was all for show, I know that it is something very few people will ever have in their Peace Corps experience. It was nice to be recognized by such an authority and with that I appreciate all the work that went into getting us all there. Also, it made me even more of a local celebrity as people in my village heard me on the radio (and a few even caught the report on the news). For one day I felt pretty, appreciated, and full J