The first week!

I have survived my first week in Malawi! The great news is that we have signed a lease for a house on Friday. It has lifted a huge weight from us.

I can finally feel more or less normal, so that I am in a state of mind to write more.

Frankly speaking, there are many challenges both professionally and personally, which could be quite daunting at times. My transition here is much harder than what I have experienced in Guyana. I felt like I would be more than happy to just go back to Canada. Although I could still go home (I know I won’t), I feel a bit better. I am keeping optimistic and hoping that it will get easier as I spend more time getting acquainted to the environment, the people and the culture.

The most difficult thing for me was and still is a communication issue. I initially did not have a regular internet access, and even when I did, the net was either down or extremely slow. What is more, phoning home is ridiculously expensive. It costs about 2 to 3$ a minute to call Canada!! I will for sure spend the money when it is deemed necessary for my mental health. Now I have more access to the net at work, and I got a new cell phone (cute Motorola phone for about $50.) You could call me if you like. From Canada 5$ calling card will give approximately 25 minutes. There are cards for calling Africa. The connection is not very reliable, but I hope it will get better when I have a landline in the house. My two Canadian colleagues and I will be moving in on the 1st of September (my birthday!!)

Other challenges are the transportation and accommodation, which are linked together. Lilongwe is the administrative center of the country, and it has developed in a sort of non-city way. Buildings are scattered and there is an un-walkable distance to get to one area to another. It is hard to get around without a reliable and safe transportation, which is not always guaranteed. This has limited our options for places to live in the housing market that is already limited.

I should list some positive things as well. People are nice and friendly. I have hot water, which I thought I would be deprived of for the entire eight months. It relaxes me when I can sit in a bathtub to take hot shower, singing. J The roads are better than Guyana. I haven’t had any stomach problems (I mean diarrhea.) Touch wood! There is one Japanese man, who is the education advisor on a same floor at the Ministry of Education, and I am happy to chat in Japanese once in a while. Generally, bathrooms are clean and flushable with an acceptable amount of water. I plan to come up with more things that I like soon.

Despite everything, I think I am coping quite well with my easy-going attitude and naïve optimism. It is the first step to recognize that it is normal that things are hard and I am going through some culture shock and adjustment.

Please send me e-mail or leave a comment on this site. Hearing from you means so much and it will certainly brighten my day!!