Report writing = FINISHED!
Our final week of report writing was slightly hectic with many field visits, interviews, picture taking, formatting and proof reading. However, by 5pm Friday afternoon we all handed in our final draughts and were able to dance with sheer joy/sigh with exhaustion and relief.
Our final week of report writing was slightly hectic with many field visits, interviews, picture taking, formatting and proof reading. However, by 5pm Friday afternoon we all handed in our final draughts and were able to dance with sheer joy/sigh with exhaustion and relief.
HOLIDAYYYYY
The wonderful AGREDS staff agreed to give us a week’s holiday and so from Sat 29th March – Sat 3rd April the six of us have been chillaxing and relaxing by lake Malawi at two beautiful locations: Monkey Bay and Cape Maclear.
The wonderful AGREDS staff agreed to give us a week’s holiday and so from Sat 29th March – Sat 3rd April the six of us have been chillaxing and relaxing by lake Malawi at two beautiful locations: Monkey Bay and Cape Maclear.
Staying at a rustic backpackers lodge in Monkey Bay was a
very African experience including a few creepy crawlies, nightly bonfire on the
beach and incredible stars. The little private bay was surrounded by huge
bouldery rocks which brought out the Bear Grylls within and we spent hours
exploring the rocks and soaking in the incredible 360 view.We could see the
presidential house which was pretty impressive and swimming in the lake was an
experience especially with the extensive jokes about bilharzia, hippos and
crocs chilling in the reeds.
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| Monkey Bay providing endless rock climbing entertainment |
Cape Maclear was much more touristy than the village of
Monkey Bay, although Cape Maclear itself was a much smaller village. Our lodge,
Thumbi View, had a brilliant location overlooking Thumbi Island and the South
African owners were so lovely and made us an incredible chicken pie for dinner.
Our craving for a bit of Western life was satisfied with good coffee, an
African craft shop and Snickers bars!
On Tuesday 1st we hired 3 two-man kayaks and
rowed out to Thumbi Island, explored there and swam around the bay in our life
jackets. On exploring, there was a little trouble with Lois and David’s kayak
capsizing.. three times.
But there was no harm done and we had a really good
morning.
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| David rocking the straw hat and life jacket combo |
Wednesday we climbed about ‘The Warm Heart of Africa’ with Captain
Simon and sailed over to Otters Point for some snorkelling.
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| Honey moon worthy or what??! |
The location was
that in a honey moon brochure and the fish were so colourful! We fed them bread
out of our hands and later explored the edges of the rocks for a few hours.
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| Laurie the ultra cutie befriending the fish |
Following this, Captain Si took us to see ‘fish eagles’. He whistled very
loudly and the big eagle flew over into a nearby tree. He continued to whistle
for his attention and threw a fish into the water a few meters infront of our
boat. After a few moments consideration, the huge bird swooped down from the
tree and gracefully glided down to claw the fish from the surface. The eagle
returned to his tree and Captain Si would start whistling again and throw
another fish into the water. Several times, the eagle swooped down for the
fish: a second fish eagle joined in too, and every time was just as enchanting
as the first: absolutely incredible creatures!
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| Being a bit of a poser |
Reflection
The week has been a really good time of team bonding, out of the ordinary events (such as Lois getting stung by a scorpion!), top banter (the ‘bees knees’ is now the ‘Bens calves’) and plenty of relaxation which was greatly appreciated by all of us. This time has given us a lot of space to reflect on our past two months in Malawi: what we’ve learnt from our report writing and what we’ve learnt from the people we’ve met.
The week has been a really good time of team bonding, out of the ordinary events (such as Lois getting stung by a scorpion!), top banter (the ‘bees knees’ is now the ‘Bens calves’) and plenty of relaxation which was greatly appreciated by all of us. This time has given us a lot of space to reflect on our past two months in Malawi: what we’ve learnt from our report writing and what we’ve learnt from the people we’ve met.
As a team exercise we’ve written down examples of some of
the things that have stood out to us about the Malawian people, the way that
they live and how they have been towards us…
ŸHumble
When meeting people and shaking their hand, they often place their left hand on their right elbow and bow down slightly as a sign of great respect
AGREDS staff never expect any kind of gratitude for their work
When meeting people and shaking their hand, they often place their left hand on their right elbow and bow down slightly as a sign of great respect
AGREDS staff never expect any kind of gratitude for their work
ŸPatient
Children are very disciplined and are content with sitting patiently and not expecting to be entertained
Children are very disciplined and are content with sitting patiently and not expecting to be entertained
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| Students at the Climate Change Club listen attentively and join in the group activities (even when we're slightly unsure of what to do during the session!) |
Villagers never seem to be bored: they never groan or moan even when they’re sat on mats on the floor waiting for ages for a village meeting to start
ŸGenerous
On visiting villages we've often been thanked with roast maize to eat and they even throw a few more maize into the car boot for us to take back with us to the office
Before and after eating and after using the bathroom the villagers wash our hands with water that they've fetched from the pump
On visiting villages we've often been thanked with roast maize to eat and they even throw a few more maize into the car boot for us to take back with us to the office
Before and after eating and after using the bathroom the villagers wash our hands with water that they've fetched from the pump
ŸHospitable
We are treated like honoured guests when visiting a village: we’re given seats when all the community are sat on mats on the floor- it feels uncomfortable to accept this but this is way of showing hospitality and respect
Introductions are important here as they are very interested in who you are. They put emphasis on relationship before task
At Mchoka Lea Primary School, one of the teachers invited Lois and Jonny into her home whilst they were waiting for a lift back to the office. The teacher offered them fruit and cooked vegetables and was very happy to make the two of them comfortable in her home
We are treated like honoured guests when visiting a village: we’re given seats when all the community are sat on mats on the floor- it feels uncomfortable to accept this but this is way of showing hospitality and respect
Introductions are important here as they are very interested in who you are. They put emphasis on relationship before task
At Mchoka Lea Primary School, one of the teachers invited Lois and Jonny into her home whilst they were waiting for a lift back to the office. The teacher offered them fruit and cooked vegetables and was very happy to make the two of them comfortable in her home
ŸJoyful
When giving us maize, the villagers give willingly and joyfully with singing, cheering and dancing: it’s not a sacrifice, it’s a privilege to them
Each tree that was planted was celebrated with singing and dancing as they saw the hope these trees brought in tackling the effects of climate change
At AGREDS’ Food Security open day, the villagers wrote and performed a song thanking AGREDS for their hard work and intervention in the village
When giving us maize, the villagers give willingly and joyfully with singing, cheering and dancing: it’s not a sacrifice, it’s a privilege to them
Each tree that was planted was celebrated with singing and dancing as they saw the hope these trees brought in tackling the effects of climate change
At AGREDS’ Food Security open day, the villagers wrote and performed a song thanking AGREDS for their hard work and intervention in the village
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| Villagers at the AGREDS open day expressing their gratitude for AGREDS' work |
ŸUnited
Village communities are united in their support for their chiefs and have great respect for their leaders
The AGREDS staff support each other with work and personal life
Mothers look after each other’s children and older siblings carry their younger siblings on their backs
At an elderly persons funeral, the whole village will stop their daily activities to gather together to mourn and give thanks for that person’s life
Village communities are united in their support for their chiefs and have great respect for their leaders
The AGREDS staff support each other with work and personal life
Mothers look after each other’s children and older siblings carry their younger siblings on their backs
At an elderly persons funeral, the whole village will stop their daily activities to gather together to mourn and give thanks for that person’s life
ŸDetermined
Whilst visiting VSL (Village Savings & Loans) the members told us of their ambitious plans for the future
Members of the Adult Literacy group who had never been to school as a child due to fees, expressed how they will be literate by the end of the course and will be able to expand their business and teach their children how to read and write
Whilst visiting VSL (Village Savings & Loans) the members told us of their ambitious plans for the future
Members of the Adult Literacy group who had never been to school as a child due to fees, expressed how they will be literate by the end of the course and will be able to expand their business and teach their children how to read and write
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| The passionate ladies at adult literacy enjoying their outdoor lesson |
Children at Climate Change Clubs plan on educating other students through drama productions and song
When trees are washed away by heavy rains and floods, community members gather together to plant more trees in order to battle the effects of climate change.
The people that we've been meeting have been
teaching us so much and we’ve all been so blessed by their welcome, their
acceptance and their enthusiasm for the work that AGREDS are doing. We are now
going into the new quarter excited, expectant and ready to serve.
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| Had to end this with a SIIIIICK picture at Cape Maclear during sunset |
Much love
The slightly more tanned azungus in Salima xxxxx
