So today is a week since I arrived in Nkhata Bay, Malawi and yet it seems like I’ve been here a month. I’ve met a lot of real cool people from volunteers and locals to backpackers passing through on their way south. I’m getting really stuck in to the ‘job’ and I already seem to have a ‘normal’ daily routine even though it’s far from normal! Heres a few random snaps... Chilling with the dogs on the beach, an interesting night out in a local club and playing games on the beach. So every day at 5.30 the massive glowing orange ball that is the sun peeps over the horizon across the lake and straight into the shack. It’s a pretty natural way to wake up; no alarms here. Going to the toilet constitutes of peeing against a tree in the dry season – you have to find a new spot every day though, but it certainly beats the hole in the ground where flies try to get you at every orifice. Then I go down to the beach for a wash in the lake and generally find myself just sitting there on a rock watching the sun rise and pondering in this far away land. After that I do some work for school and come for breakfast about 7:00 with the other volunteers. Eggs are the normal favourite for breakfast but I’ve taken to banana sandwiches the last few days. School then runs from about 7.30 until 12.00 (I’ll update you on the school and get some obligatory photos posing with the kids later this week) and then it’s time for lunch and a catch up with the gang. Lunch is usually Nsema based which basically looks like packet smash potato with the consistency of elastic bands and the ‘flavour’ of boiled rice. You eat it with your hands too which is concerning because I’ve barely washed my hands with soap since I’ve been here. Anyway, throw some lake fish on it and some chilli sauce and Nsema’s not so bad. After lunch it’s time for the beach; swimming, sunbathing, reading – in that order. Then comes bath time about 4 o’clock which I’ve taken to doing in the lake too. Usually I do a bit more work on creating a curriculum / syllabus for school then until dinner time at 7.30. Almost every night after the sun goes down (6pm ish) everyone comes together for dinner. There’s only ever one choice of food for dinner so it’s lucky I’m not fussy. Last night was pretty good; fish and potato pie with a cabbage salad. Food isn’t too crazy here (it’s usually rice based with some sort of meat of fish) but I am still awaiting ‘lake fly cake’ – these huge swarms drift across the lake on the winds and you can see them from miles out. Locals catch them with a net and then compact them into a solid block and voila: they’re ready to eat :/ We all sit around until about 10; chatting, playing games, planning etc and then go to bed. The shack has become quite homely – the waves have become rather soothing and the lizards have picked their favourite spots so I leave them to it. I’ve given up on soap. I’ve given up on washing my hands. I’ve given up on getting stones out from between my feet and my flip flops. I’ve given up on batting flies off my body, face and food. I’ve given up wiping the sweat off my face and I’ve not washed my hair with soap for about a week. I’ve given up on taking clean, drinkable water for granted, and I’ve especially given up on taking the availability of water altogether for granted. I bathe myself and my clothes whilst sitting on a rock in the lake. I brush my teeth without water, poop without paper and dry without a towel. I no longer take a towel to the beach to lie on and I’ve not looked in the mirror for over a week. I’ve found that if I give up on so many things that I know, then I can accept and learn so many new things. Better things even. Life’s easier here when you adopt this way of life. Peace out x
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 09:57:40 +0000