Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Oops....:-D

I am so absolutely terrible at journaling but it's only partially my fault! Immediately upon creating this blog, I forgot my password and the internet in the entirety of Malawi is way too slow to figure out that sort of thing. Anyway, I got it all sorted out since I've been back in America for Christmas. I sincerely apologize to all of my adoring fans (aka family, a few friends, and a couple of randos). I'll consider trying harder....
I go back to Malawi tomorrow after being in MN and TX for the last two weeks. I miss Malawi and my friends and my pets and my solitude but being in the U.S. where I so clearly fit in was very nice and comforting. I'm happy in Malawi and that is definitely where I want to be right now but.......I very obviously stick out.....like a white person living in Africa.
Things in Kasitu (my village) are going slowly. But I like it. I have found amazing friends in the Peace Corps and I have two absolutely fabulous friends in my village. I really like my village and they really like me! They all know me (only white person thing helps) and greet me and I feel safe and comfortable. I'm a first generation volunteer so starting projects has proved to be the most daunting. It's extremely difficult to know where to start and how to motivate the community but slowly slowly I believe things will fall into place, I'm pretty sure. And while they're doing that, I'm getting better and better at the language and strengthening my relationships with the community. And I count that as work also. Mostly what I've been doing so far is teaching around the country and in my village about HIV and family planning and a couple weeks ago I did healthy sexual practices at Women2Women which was soooo much fun and I got to be very frank! :-D
I'm looking forward to going back to my slow and simple life in Malawi. America moves so fast all the time. Everyone is in a hurry and if there is one thing I have learned in the last ten months it is definitely patience. But electricity is freaking fantastic and I do really miss it and all the convenience that comes with it. It's all give and take though. And now I have my solar lantern so see ya candles!!! Yessss. Any newbs reading this should get one at pisatsolar.org. It's gonna save me a lot of money so I can eat more eggs. :-)
Well computer's about to die, I really will try harder to update now that I've got this password figured out.
Love and chikhondi to my friends and family. I miss you guys.