Hector the Puppy

...Yeah, that's right, I got a dog.

Yesterday morning I was boiling some water to French press some Mzuzu coffee (read: not very good coffee... send coffee) when I heard a knock on my door- it was a student holding a puppy, a puppy for me! I seriously freaked out in the way that Americans freak out when faced with puppies. My voice went all high, and I think I bounced a bit. Malawians don't really get the whole puppies-as-pets thing, so I tried to reign it in, but I was thrilled. I thanked my student, gave her some chocolate, and sent her to school so that I could talk to my dog in peace. BTW, if my students knew that I talked to my dog, they would know that I was crazy, right now they just suspect it.

Basically Hector the puppy is the cutest dog in Malawi, when I first got her she was all skinny, but I've been giving her powdered milk and bread, and she's been getting bigger in that cute puppy way they have where you can tell they've eaten because suddenly they have bellies. I left her at home yesterday when I was teaching, and when I came back to check in on her throughout the day, I noticed that she had claimed my Obama chitenge to sleep on- the image of my yellow dog and a democrat reminded me of my pappa, who always said he was a yellow dog democrat (meaning he didn't care if it was a yellow dog- he'd vote for it if it was a democrat. Those union guys sure did stick to their party)

As you can probably tell, I'm smitten.

The rest of my weekend was really fun, I had a lot of fun at the Mzoozoo, which is a hostel type place where Peace Corps is allowed to camp for free. I got to eat a hamburger and dance to Girl Talk, was I happy? Is the pope creepy?

The trip back from Mzuzu was fine, but I got these really bad blisters that got infected like none other, so I walked with a limp all week. My teachers kept asking 'what's wrong with you', and I had to hold back from saying something snappy like 'my momma didn't love me' (which we all know isn't true- love ya mom). The language barrier thing causes some strange moments, like when my women's group wanted to bake a cake the following day, and kept calling it 'the cake of tomorrow'- I expected the cake to be all space aged, and instead it was just cake.

The women's group is going well, they still want to sew school uniforms, but until we get some money to start with, we can't buy the fabric, which is frustrating. I told them that we would sew some bags next week out of chitenge (which I am donating) and hopefully sell them to get money for the fabric. We're just doing things slowly, but I mean, on the bright side, I have a women's group that keeps growing each week, which is a huge resource- once my group starts planning educational events and women's group meetings, my group will be good to go, its just strange because we have nothing to start with.

The library looks *awesome* (the stars are supposed to make the word look shiny, because that's how the library looks right now). My form 1 students have been using it all week creating posters for presentations that they are giving next week, and they can't keep their hands off the books in there. We don't have a ton of books, but I've tried to display them in a way that would interest the kids, and it seems to be working- I didn't notice how many nice books we had until they started pulling stuff down, and now I'm really excited to work with them, maybe starting book club groups. I loaned a book to one of my best students (shhhh... don't tell the grumpy teacher who is technically the librarian), and he seemed attracted to historical type books, like ones about Rome and stuff- he eventually chose one called 'Heroes and Saints', I hope he likes it. Books about plants, animals, history and historical figures are pretty popular, and the more pictures the better. Also, the English language primers were getting looked at a lot, but to be honest, so were the anatomy books with the pictures of STDs, so, well, you know, kids are kind of the same all over the world, genitals are funny no matter what language you speak I guess.

Also, in case you were wondering, things with Zach are great, I think that I'm probably sending him to the poor house with the amount of money he must be spending in long distance phone calls, but he doesn't complain. I'm the luckiest girl in Peace Corps because that kid sends the best packages.

All in all, things have been going well- I like my house, my puppy, my job and my friends (in and out of Peace Corps). It seems like this Peace Corps thing is going to work out after all (who knew?)

I can't wait until the new group gets here- you guys are going to love it.

First Two Months Down!!!

Hey! Also, welcome to any of the new people who are joining Peace Corps Malawi in February! I'm excited not to be the new kid any more!

So, updates on the school- I have been working on cleaning out the library and dusting off the books- we have an awful lot of books, but unfortunately, most of them are inappropriate for second language learners. I sorted the novels into sections of easy, medium, hard, and adult- so if anyone feels like sending books, easy reader novels are a good bet- also, consider the culture of the kids here, so many of the stories are out of their grasp not just because the language is too difficult, but the subject matter is too. I've been working with folk tales with my freshmen, and those seem universally understandable. I think myths, and adventure stories would make sense too, but a lot of the really great young adult literature that I love dosen't have an audience here, for instance, we have a copy of Maniac McGee, and I just know that the kids here totally wouldn't get the issues in it, because it is just too Western, so think, would this make sense to a kid living in an African farming family with no electricity and no television.

We also hooked up our computers in the library, and I have been teaching some of the teachers how to use the software. The eventual plan is for me to teach a computer class to the students, but they don't have free time on their course schedules right now. By the way, my school is crazy in that it has computers, in no way is this the norm. Anyway, if anyone can find typing software or any computer games that would work with Windows 2000, I would really appreciate some software, we have floppy disc drives, which is exciting, so if you find anything in your attic, yo.

Um... what else can I beg for? OH! My women's group is having issues getting off the ground, just because items like knitting needles, yarn and other crafty type materials are too expensive, and of poor quality, around here to really start anything. I was sent some great yarn which I distributed (thanks Zach and Kitty!), but then I found out that nobody had knitting needles, so I let them use some of mine, and I also gave out pencils to use as needles, but of course, those only get you so far. Really, anything that you can use to make clothes from is very much appreciated. We cut some sewing patterns out from newspapers so that everybody could have a copy, and the eventual plan is to buy fabric to make school uniforms to sell, but since we don't have any money to start with, we can't afford the fabric. It's a grass roots group, and I'm only partially involved, which I take to be a sign of stability, but if you can send any sewing or knitting materials, the women here can make miracles happen. The community is really supportive too, and the nearby orphan care center has offered to let us use their sewing machines, so they're making headway.

As for me, I didn't take the cat- I realized that even though I am in Malawi, I am still allergic to cats, go figure. A student is trying to sell me a puppy, but I'm not sure. Site is going well, and I'm much happier now that I'm working on the library. I am in Mzuzu right now, because the Volunteers Supporting Volunteers (VSV) organization is throwing us newbies in the North a party, so I get to see some of my friends from training, and meet new friends. I really like Mzuzu, and am excited to buy some more awesome fabric from Tanzania. I made Zach a pair of PJ pants out of it, and I must say that they rule. He may never get them, because I can't lie, I like to hang out in them, so I'll need to buy some more fabric to make my own. I got Christmas packages from Zach, and my mom, but am still waiting on mail that was sent in mid December. A few thoughts on the new season of How I Met Your Mother: awesome, slapping is still funny even in Africa, the road trip episode reminded me of my trip to NOLA with Courtney (the book on tape part). I have only seen episodes 1-9, but they were still cool. Also, the Dr. Who movie thingy on Mars scared the hell out of me- don't watch shit like that if you live alone in the middle of Africa.

ALSO, and this is super important, please PLEASE don't decalre value amount of packages to be more than 15 USD, I have to start paying duty on stuff soon, and if you say something is worth more than that, I need to pay for it, and I can't afford that. A package containing 50$ worth of stuff has a duty amount of about 10,000 MK, and that is half of my monthly pay check- so if you really want me to get your packages, DON'T write the amount as being more than 15 dollars. Also, I have a new address, if you want to use it- both will still work, but the new address will send my stuff to my site, instead of Lilongwe, and I'll get it faster:

Melissa Small
Chintheche CDSS
Box 44
Chintheche, Malawi
Central Africa

The next time I'll be online will probably be around Feb 22, if everything goes well. They moved up our IST (interum service training??? Peace Corps likes to use acrynoms), so I might be in Lilongwe for a bit. I'm excited to be with the whole education group all together again, and I can't wait to meet the new guys (hey guys!), if they (you?) are anything like me, they (you?) are getting anxious right now, and are reading a lot of blogs. My advice is to eat out a lot, because you'll lose it all without trying. The fuckit diet is definately a plus to Peace Corps.

Aright, Melissa out- I love and miss you all, I live for my weekly phone calls, and I'm sorry for all of you who have been trying but can't get through- the network has been iffy- but it is kind of a miracle that I have a phone in the first place, so let's just count our blessings.

Love love,

Beeb

The Giant Pile of Garbage

...is OFFICIALLY gone from the library!!! I am SO effing excited about it, let me tell you.

it all started earlier this week when I was visited by the country director, who checked out the school, and dropped off some mail for me (by the way, thanks Gracie, Piotr, Auntie Alison, Rica, and Patrick for mailing me!). Anyway, while he was here, Vic took some pictures of the computers in the library, and the giant pile of garbage, just for kicks. Afterward, the whole staff kept talking about the fact that he took pictures of the library, and about how really, something should be done about the giant pile of garbage. Just to be clear, it isn't really garbage- it is actually furniture and stuff like that, heaped to the ceiling of the library in the back corner- there is even a motorcycle in there- or there was, yesterday, today, it is gone. So, basically, I kinda sort of suggested that I could work on getting materials for the library, but only if it was clean first, and then today, as I was giving my form 1 students a quiz, I saw a steady stream of students slowly trucking the things out, into another storage location at the old headmaster's house. Oh, this is so exciting for me, I never thought I would be so excited about garbage.

Maybe I should explain the origins of the giant pile of stuff, for those of you who don't know, well, back in 2003, a teacher had to leave his job at the school, and left all of his stuff behind. For whatever reason, it all ended up in the library, and has been sitting there ever since. Today, at a staff meeting, one of the staff members was worried about the things being damaged in transit, because what if the man returned, and some of his things were broken? I told him he could talk to me. They all laughed, but I was serious.

Ok, last minute at the internet cafe! I love you all!

Hello 2010, how is it?

Hey guys! So I rang in the new year Malawi style, and have decided that my new year's resolution is going to be to keep living in Africa and not get sick. I think its a good resolution, but it might be a little difficult to keep, although I haven't gotten really sick thus far, knock on wood. To be honest, I have been more healthy living here than I was in the US- around this time in Michigan, I would have been rocking a pretty fierce head cold and probably a sinus infection- so I guess what I'm trying to say is Malawi is maybe more sanitary than an American High School. One thing I have been noticing is that when I bruise it takes FOREVER for the bruise to go away. I have a pretty big one on my leg that refuses to fade, and it has been a few weeks. I take the centrum the doctors give me, but it isn't enough I guess.

My house is coming together- I made a mess this week sewing myself a skirt. I think that a house becomes a home when you can get it messy, until then it just isn't yours. I don't have a sewing machine, so I do everything by hand, but I have more time than I have money for fabric, so in the end it works out. I used some really cool brown tie-dye fabric that I got from the Tanzanian market in Mzuzu while I was in there for re-supply, and the pattern that Zach sent (thanks baby!). I think it looks nice. My next plans include some Pj pants, and some tops and dresses using the other patterns he sent, the fabric was only 800MK for 4 yards, but I had to buy the whole 4 yards- ah well, it is definitely worth it to have something to do.

I have been integrating into my community slowly- the other day I was supposed to go with a neighbor in my area to see her house, which is about 2k down the road, near the lake. She showed up at my house as planned, but told me that she actually had to go to some sort of party having to do with a wedding, and that she would like to take me there instead, if I didn't mind. Party? How could I mind?

So this woman (Mrs. Banda) takes me to her friend's house, where they fussed over me, wrapped my hair in a chitenge, and then gave me one to wrap around my waist that matched so I would look more like a member of their club. I guess the party was a fund raiser for their bridal shower planning group- that's right, they are a party planning committee, and even better, they have uniforms. The uniform of the day was black skirts with chitenge wraps over their hair and gray t-shirts, only the t-shirts were obviously bought from the market, and so they all had different things screen printed on them. My neighbor's shirt had motorcycles on it, it was the best shirt by far. By the way, African markets are where t-shirts go to die. If you ever send something to good will, and then they can't sell it, it goes to Africa- I have seen Malawians wearing things from most big 10 schools, and the other day I saw a shirt from Aquinas college. Now you know.

Anyway, after all the Amayi suited up for the big to-do, and I was adequately dressed like a Malawian, they fed me, and gave me a cat. I am very allergic to cats, but I am more allergic to the fact that I have rats in my house, so now I have a cat. I decided that I would name the cat Bob, because of the real Bob's skill at killing animals, I originally was planning on getting a dog and naming it Bob, but the cat needed a name.

So now after we have eaten, we start heading to the party, where there was dancing, and a lot of other stuff that happened. When all of the Amayi in the group danced, they made me get up and do it too- I guess now I'm a full member of the group. Have you ever seen me dance? My dancing is worse in Africa, but nobody seemed to mind. The party went on for a really long time, so me and my neighbor ended up going home pretty late. On our walk, she introduced me to a lot of people, but she changed my name from Melissa Small to Melissa Banda. I asked her why, and she told me that it is because I am her daughter now, so that is my Malawian name. I told her my parents would be surprised.

Megan, Thom- that is why I wasn't able to talk to you the other night. I was at that epic party when you called, and didn't bring my phone. Please forgive me.

Otherwise, things have been going well. I feel like I reached a turning point where I am no longer so lonesome at my site, because I am starting to meet new people, and find out about PCVs in my area. My house is comfortable, and I like the teachers at the school. Also, I was talking to some PCVs who told me that the first 3 months at site are kind of rough, because you don't know anyone yet, and you can't leave, but that soon, I'll have lots of little peace corps functions to go to, and events to look forward to, and that's when the time really starts to fly. I hope so.

Word on the street is that in the next few weeks, a big dinner with the president of Malawi is going to happen, and that all PCVs are invited, so that's the next thing I have to look forward to. I'm always in for a free meal with friends, and hopefully I can pick up my mail- I know that I have a lot of mail waiting for me in Lilongwe, and I am anxious to get it. When I find out the address, I will let you guys know what the PO Box is that I can use here in the village I live in, so that I can get mail more directly over the next two years, but you can still send things to Lilongwe, I'll get it eventually.

Much love, I miss you all, and can't wait to ring in 2012 back at home with everyone. Keep in touch, and stay safe.

-Melissa Banda

Re-Supply part 2

So the reason I'm updating two days in a row is because I had to stay in Mzuzu to do my banking (note: 10,000 MK is only enough to live off of for 4 weeks), and transport is such a hassle that I ended up staying the night, because otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get home before dark after all of my chores were done. I had a really good time getting my bearings- a lot of PCVs were in the area and did a lot to help show me around, so thanks guys!

I went a little crazy buying fabric and other things for my house- when I gome home this afternoon I'm going to be sewing up a storm, sitting in my new chief's chair, admiring my bawo board, lookin' all swank. I don't plan on coming to Mzuzu all that often, because I don't like being away from site, but it is nice to know that I can come here, and know my way around. There is a great hostel that lets Peace Corps volunteers camp for free now that the transit house is gone (RIP transit houses)- the only trade is that they want you to eat and drink there, which isn't a problem, because they have delicious burgers.

Chris, if you are still planning on visiting this summer (which I hope you are), I have the coolest trip in mind, so make sure you get all of your shots, passport and travel visa stuff in order. I was walking through the market thinking about how cool it was, and how much I want to show you the stuff here- so get on it.

I love you guys, and happy 2010!

Post swear in, post move in, post christmas, Post.

Hey guys, I am writing to you using the magic of internet cafes. I'm disappointed, because I wrote a really long post that covered swearing in, my move to my house AND christmas- but unfortunately, the dang computer I'm using won't recognise my USB drive so... let me just see what I can do to condense it all:

Swearing in ceremony: Awesome. Dancers. Have video.

Move to site: Awesome. Have electricity. Am getting sick of the movies I brought.

Christmas: Awesome. Beach Bar. Nuff' said.

Alright, so, that's it... satisfied? Again, I'll try to get the long nice version of things up, but things are really unrealiable here, so I do what I can. I just wish I could say more- when I was preparing to go to Malawi, I scoured the internet for information, and would have been really frustrated to read a post like this, but what can you do?

I love and miss you all! Stay safe!

Language Intensive

Hey guys! I'm really spoiling you with all of these updates, aren't I?

Thanksgiving was fun, I ate way too much and made myself sick, what can I say? It's the American way. I bought some really cool bags from a health volunteer who is working with a women's groups, I'm trying to think of a way to send some home, but I clearly don't make enough money for that kind of mailing to happen, so I'm stuck. The ambassador was really cool, we got to swim in his pool, which was amazing.

After Thanksgiving, we headed off to language intensive, which for me, meant I headed towards the lake where they speak Chitonga. It was beautiful, seriously, I'm probably the luckiest Peace Corps volunteer ever to be able to get to live so close to the lake here. I'll try to get some pictures up, but (suprise, suprise) the internet here isn't exactly faster than a speeding bullet. I really feel like my language skills are getting better though, at least, I hope they are, seeing as our big test is coming on Friday.

So that's the news with me here. Thank you to anyone who has sent me mail, I love to hear from you all, so write letters- big long ones*.

*Carrie, get your mind out of the gutter.