Sunday was a mostly relaxing day. I slept until I woke up 😉 no particular time up was needed, but I still got up at around 6:30. Felt nice to have nothing really to do until 1pm. I walked up to the lodge to write and post the final blog for the teachers trip . I sat and enjoyed a cup of coffee and called home to talk for a while. Then I came back to the village and just hung around until 11. Then I figured I should take a shower and make myself look as presentable as possible for my next visitor. Gordon’s flight was landing at 2 so the car came at 1 to get me. We drove the 30min. to the airport and I shuffled in to wait and watch the plane land. In the mean time I had a coke and purchased 30min. of wifi time. The wifi was being funny and would only work if I was downstairs in the airport….so I went up, came back down, went up again and then again came back down. I guess I figured I could make it work if I signed in downstairs and the went back up. No luck. Downstairs isn’t any fun because you can’t see the planes land. On one of my trips back downstairs I ran into my driver Peter who informed me that the flight would be delayed by 2 hours. This was bad news since I knew I would have to stay at the airport and would have little to do. No worries though I was able to find an alternative wifi that would work up top so I payed $8 and got set up in a nice chair in the sun and prepared to wait. Almost 2 hours later exactly the plan was in sight. I’m not sure why it’s so different here, but at home I would never think watching a plane fly in was very interesting. Here though since there is a wide open sky and no big buildings seeing the plane appear out of the distance and slowly approach the airport is kind of fun to watch. Simple pleasures I guess. About the time the plane was landing I was also getting word that the teachers had landed in the USA. I was missing them already and had been wondering how the long journey had been. They sent me a picture so I got to see all their smiling faces safe and well back home. Seems fitting to get that news just as my next volunteer was landing. New responsibility and a new project happening.
After the plan landed and I watched everyone get off and board the shuttle to the terminal I went downstairs to wait outside the baggage area. Gordon had been traveling for about 24 hours since he had left the Congo. He had just spent 2 weeks there working on a similar project. Knowing he would be tired I went and bought a nice cold bottle of water for him and prepared to greet a tired traveler. Gordon and I had never met, but since I had seen a picture I was confidant I would be able to pick him out when he came from the baggage area. This was in fact the case and as soon as he rounded the corner I knew it was him. He was happy, but a worn out traveler for sure. We got in the car and chatted the entire way back to the village. We arrived about 5:30 so it had started to get dark. It’s to bad he couldn’t see the village for the first time in the light of day. He seemed very surprised at the set up. As we gave him the short tour he just couldn’t believe how neat it all was. We sat down shortly after he arrived to a candle lit dinner (no generator) and the band which had been playing all day was still strumming away on their instruments. Gordon kept smiling and saying “I’ve landed in Shangrala!” (Sp) He just couldn’t believe how nice everything was. I think the 2 weeks he had just spent in the Congo had been very productive, but a little tough. He seemed so happy to have landed in such a beautiful peaceful place. He was in awe of the bright night sky and kept taking about just how quiet it was here. I supposed after a while you forget what a peaceful place you are in because it becomes your normal. It’s fun to see someone experience Malawi and the village for the first time.
We both went to bed early and planned to get up around 7am and start the day. For some reason I had a hard time sleeping. I was up around 3am and never really felt like I got back to sleep. At 6am I gave up and emerged from my hut to find Gordon outside taking pictures and doing a little journaling via a recorder. He was enjoying the morning sounds and the sunrise. I on the other hand was freezing and tired and in need of coffee.
Eventually we both made our way up and had coffee and breakfast and planned out the day. First stop was the lodge because I needed to exchange some money to take to Adziwa and Gordon wanted to use the wifi to check in with his wife. Before going up Jess came down and introduced herself to Gordon and officially welcomed him. Then we walked up the path for the lodge. We must have spent about an hour just checking emails and chatting as well as me introducing him to some of the main players here on the farm.
Scott came and picked us up and we drove to Adziwa. I wanted Gordon to see where we would be performing the vision screenings and let us know what exactly he might need for the next few days. We toured and he was able to see all of our projects that we had completed and get a good lay of the land. Scott had few errands to run and Gordon and I needed to buy some card stock so we popped into town and got those things done. Then it was back to the village for lunch. After lunch we just relaxed a bit. I was so sleepy so I had a good strong cup of coffee and then went and got Gordon.
While I dank my coffee I got to watch all the staff here at the village dive up the clothing and personal items my last team had left for them. Might not sound like a fun thing, but it was really cool to see. They defiantly have their own way of doing things here and have a system for this type of thing. Each item had been carefully logged into a book and one of the staff members named Jess was reading off each item. Stanley would them grab that item from the grass mat they had laid everything out on and give it to the person they had decided would get it. I’m not sure how these decisions are made, but it’s obvious there is a system in place. When particular items were read off and the name was called of the person who would receive it sometimes there would be cheers from the entire staff. This meeting was all done in Chechewa (local language) so I couldn’t understand most of what was being said. It was fantastic to watch though and I know the team would be happy to know just how thrilled everyone was to get the things they had donated.
Gordon wanted to tour the permaculture center and I (after my coffee) was up for a nice hike so off we went. He really seemed to enjoy learning about permaculture and seeing what is here on the property. Getting back to the village I took a quick shower and now I’m up at the main area having a MGT (Malawi gin & tonic) and writing this blog. I know if I get behind on these ill never get caught back up!
Tomorrow we begin screening the kids and caregivers at Adziwa. I’ll be working the check in table and Gordon will be doing the screenings and training 2 locals.
Love again to you all. I am missing home and defiantly looking forward to my own bed.
On a side note I saw the biggest spider I’ve ever seen in Malawi today…..hope that won’t stop me from sleeping tonight……it was orange kind of and had a body the size of 2 grapes…it’s legs and body would have covered the palm of my hand….it was yucky looking!