This week has been sort of weird. I think the honeymoon is over a bit. Mostly, it started with Tuesday, which was cold and rainy, neither of which makes for a good day on a motorbike. I got back to the inn cold to the bone and just needed to take a hot shower, get in bed, and watch Grey's Anatomy that I borrowed while getting warm. I just needed to forget I was in Malawi for a while. I worked some on Wednesday but the power kept going out, so it was a wash of a day. Yesterday I went into Lilongwe, which was a good day, although unusual from any sort of normal routine I have. Now today's independence day and it's a quiet day around. This week has been rather like the white-boy-shuffle--I can't seem to find the rhythm.
Yesterday was a good day, though. I went into town with someone else from kayesa, so we chatted the whole bus ride in. Not two minutes off the bus and I run into someone from HSPH (who I knew was in town, but didn't expect to bump into). We catch up; he'll be in Mchinji next week, which will be good. Then we walk over to where Sahra (the person I came in with) was staying in Lilongwe to pick up her passport, and on the way out, we bump into the person who gave me a ride out to Mchinji the previous weekend. This whole country is like a small town, I swear. Then Sahra went grocery shopping while I had lunch with Emily and Heather, two of the Penn crew. The place was like The Official Ex-pat Lunch Destination; I think the owner was white. I can see why: I had sesame chicken, which was absolutely delicious.
From lunch, we went to extend our visas. It didn't occur to me until I was at immigration office and in line what a luxury it is not to have to worry about my legal status when I'm home. The officer was a bit of a jerk and could get away with it. But the whole scene was just so tense and uncomfortable. He clearly got slipped some money by one woman, and I was getting a little worried that's how it was going to have to go. They gave Sahra a hard time because she got only 10 days at entry (you're supposed to get 30) and were claiming that she had wanted to overstay. The officer called over the guy who had stamped her at the airport, who basically said, "are you calling me a liar? that's my stamp. I only gave you 10 days. you must have misunderstood." Fortunately, they relented and gave her the stamp. I had no problems, besides the guy questioning that my picture with long hair and hemp necklaces from 1998 was actually me, but I tried to make a joke about it, he laughed, I got my stamp and we got he hell out of there.
The minibus ride back was a trip. 2/3rd of the van was packed with indiscernible goods (like soap and salt, I think), and they packed between 8-10 of us in the front two benches, facing each other. There was one big pack of clothes that kept falling onto someone's head when we slowed down. I am assuming they were brining it all to mchinji to sell, but I don't know. I rode the whole way backwards. I got my $2.50's worth for sure.
Yesterday was a good day, though. I went into town with someone else from kayesa, so we chatted the whole bus ride in. Not two minutes off the bus and I run into someone from HSPH (who I knew was in town, but didn't expect to bump into). We catch up; he'll be in Mchinji next week, which will be good. Then we walk over to where Sahra (the person I came in with) was staying in Lilongwe to pick up her passport, and on the way out, we bump into the person who gave me a ride out to Mchinji the previous weekend. This whole country is like a small town, I swear. Then Sahra went grocery shopping while I had lunch with Emily and Heather, two of the Penn crew. The place was like The Official Ex-pat Lunch Destination; I think the owner was white. I can see why: I had sesame chicken, which was absolutely delicious.
From lunch, we went to extend our visas. It didn't occur to me until I was at immigration office and in line what a luxury it is not to have to worry about my legal status when I'm home. The officer was a bit of a jerk and could get away with it. But the whole scene was just so tense and uncomfortable. He clearly got slipped some money by one woman, and I was getting a little worried that's how it was going to have to go. They gave Sahra a hard time because she got only 10 days at entry (you're supposed to get 30) and were claiming that she had wanted to overstay. The officer called over the guy who had stamped her at the airport, who basically said, "are you calling me a liar? that's my stamp. I only gave you 10 days. you must have misunderstood." Fortunately, they relented and gave her the stamp. I had no problems, besides the guy questioning that my picture with long hair and hemp necklaces from 1998 was actually me, but I tried to make a joke about it, he laughed, I got my stamp and we got he hell out of there.
The minibus ride back was a trip. 2/3rd of the van was packed with indiscernible goods (like soap and salt, I think), and they packed between 8-10 of us in the front two benches, facing each other. There was one big pack of clothes that kept falling onto someone's head when we slowed down. I am assuming they were brining it all to mchinji to sell, but I don't know. I rode the whole way backwards. I got my $2.50's worth for sure.
why is no one commenting on your blog? i mean, i know of several people who are reading it, but none of us are giving you the praise you deserve. on behalf of all your readers, thank you for teaching us all new words and telling us funny stories about animals and mishaps.
you are loved.
True dat. :) What Katie said, I mean.
I have to say, I am thoroughly enjoying the blog... the image of you on a motorbike is pretty rewarding, I must say. Can you please post a picture?
Lots of love to you from NYC!