Sending Love from Malawi

Firstly, I'd like to apologise for the fact that this is my first blog post... even though I'm nearly 3 months in! But I am so excited to have a blog finally up and running, thanks to the lovely Liem.

There have been days of amazing highs, and days of absolute rock bottom lows. But overall, volunteering in Malawi has been an incredible, and life changing experience so far. In my project, Bolera Palms School, I am teaching Standard 2. I break up several fights a day and lose my voice at least twice a week, but in the 7 weeks I have been teaching here, I have already seen a massive improvement in their behaviour. The teaching is a challenge, but it is good to have the support from all the other volunteers working here with me. I currently live with 5 other girls in a spacious bungalow next door to the school. The power is usually off for at least 12 hours a day and we often have to use a bucket for a shower, but it is comfy and now a place I call home. Luckily for us, we don't actually have to do the washing up, or the cleaning, or wash our clothes because we have the incredible, Margaret. Margaret is our housekeeper/best friend/'Malawian Mother', and we absolutely love her.

Recently we have had time to travel more of Malawi. Last week, Steph, Charly and I, made the 7-hour journey up north to the chilled town of Nhkata Bay. Here we spent time relaxing by the rocky but beautiful beach, and shopping in an actual supermarket (this was, of course, the highlight of the week, #hellocheese). As a group, we have also spent some time in the city of Blantyre. Blantyre is known as the 'commercial capital' of Malawi, however, the most exciting thing here is by far the KFC (best KFC of my life). It takes roughly 3/4 hours to get to Blantyre, however, the journey is certainly an experience. The drivers usually manage to fit around 25 people into an 11 seater... So as you can imagine it is rather squashed and extremely hot. The drivers also sometimes like to stop on the side of a road for a 'quick' (half an hour at least) leg stretch. However the constant stopping means you'll never go hungry with the continuous supply of samosas and mandazis, and now mangoes because it is eventually mango season.

Most days after school or on weekends when we can't afford to travel, we go into our local village, Bolera. Here we are greeted by lots of smiling faces and a dozen gorgeous children all wanting a hand to hold. I have had the pleasure of being invited into several of the villagers' houses for a traditional Malawian meal of Nsima (pronounced 'seema') and relish, which is usually tomatoes, onions and sometimes pumpkin leaves or eggs. I love going into the village as it allows me to immerse myself in the Malawian culture and really see how the people live and work.

There's lots more to update you all on, but I am currently sat under my mosquito net terrified that the weird looking bug I just saw was a scorpion, there is also a thunder storm... How dramatic. So I will leave it there for today but I will update you all as often as I can.

Many thanks for all your support! Sending love from Malawi.

Lydia

#LydiaHogg #Malawi #SendingLoveFromMalawi #ProjectTrust