Site Visit: (July 20-23)

I along with two other volunteers boarded the bus in Mzuzu at 10am for Nkhata Bay. The idea was to go there and meet our DHO (District Health Officer) and then go on to our sites from there. We arrived in a drizzle of rain at around noon and found the DHO to be in Blantyre (a city in the South). We would achieve our second task though as I was promised an ambulance ride to Usisya at 4. We then went into the boma (trading center) for lunch which consisted of chippies and chicken fried rice. We flagged down another ambulance and returned to the hospital for the game of waiting. My ride left the hospital at 3:30- went to the boma for supplies- then went to the house of a fellow passenger to pick more thing- I left Nkhata Bay at 6pm. From there we went to Mzuzu (where I had been earlier that day) to get more supplies and dinner- But do to a city blackout we were a bit delayed and headed out of the city at 8pm.I then proceeded into the absolute middle of nowhere on a road that I would have questioned ever even taking Tom (My old jeep) on. I have a new found respect for land rovers, however, as we made it two hours later to what I was told would be my new home. But since I could see nothing that was not illuminated by the headlights- I just trusted my groups as we pulled to the clinic.

My house was not ready because it was still occupied by a family who promised that they would be out by the next day. So I was making a young couple homeless… sweet! After helping a young boy with a very bad case of Malaria we searched for a resthouse with adequate facilities- by 11:30 I was given a bed in a place that I could not find on a map if I had to.

My house is two bed rooms and a sitting room. The only furniture is an old hospital bed and two stools on either side of an awkwardly large wooden desk. Out the back door is a brick bafa (bathing room), Chimbuzi (pit latrine), faucet (that was not working while I was there), and kitchini complete with a chimney. I have tons of room for gardening and a nice view of the mountains behind me and the lake which sits less than a km down the hill. It may be terribly isolated- but the view will make it difficult to leave. I look forward to daily swims to cool off and working with the community who has already been very welcoming. I have a list of projects rolling in my head and names of people who I must remember to search out when I return in a week. I can't wait to get started!!

Now i am in Lilongwe thanks to the help of an education volunteer (Enrique) as we hitched with a South African truck driver this morning.. one more week with the group then off to my solo adventure

Love to all back home… peace