MALAWI!

Where to begin? It’s only been a few days but I feel like I could write an entire novel about it…

First and foremost, I have arrived safely in Lilongwe, Malawi. Our flight out of Cape Town was at 6:20 AM, and a few hours later after a frustrating time at the Jo-burg airport we took off for Lilongwe. I was more ready than ever to say SO LONG to South Africa. Done. Finished. Finito. Closed chapter. Closed.

The view from the plane as we were arriving in Lilongwe was breathtaking. Red earth, green pastures, piercing blue sky…. Vibrant colors everywhere. Andrew and I were totally stoked. Customs where a breeze and we had a fellow Fulbrighter, Sieglinde, pick us up at the airport. WHAT AN ANGEL she has been. She is in her 40’s and has been in Malawi many times before so she totally knows the ropes. She and her partner of 20 years, Vicky, have 2 daughters she adopted in Malawi back in the early 90’s who are now teenagers. She helped us with out bags, fed us, got us a place for the night….. whew. She has been such a tremendous help, and all of that was just on the first day!

The first night Andrew and I stayed at a somewhat charming little place called Mabuya camp, definitely a backpacking camping type place. LOTS of mosquitos- HELLO MALARONE! We had a great dinner and were then picked up by our new house-mate.

YALL. I CANT EXPLAIN WHAT A DREAM THIS ALL IS. SERIOUSLY.

This all seems too good to be true. Let me explain.

So about 2 weeks ago when we were still in Cape Town we joined Lilongwe Chat, a Google group and put up post about housing. Within 5 hours we got a response that seemed too good to be true. A 32 year old Canadian ex-pat and her Italian/Malawian husband have a 4 bedroom house in which they only use 1 room, so 3 rooms are free. Oh, and they happen to have an 18 month old adopted Malawian daughter. I don’t even know where to begin with all of the perks of this place so I’ll just list them as they come to mind:

1) This couple is SO NICE and helpful and welcoming.
2) Their daughter is definitely one of the cutest kids I have ever met, not to mention one of the most well-behaved. An absolute joy.
3) The husband  is fluent in Italian, Chichewa (the language of Malawi) and English
4) Oh…. And he is also a mechanic (we will be getting a car soon…)
5) The wife was raised in rural Thailand, has been all over the world, is an agriculture expert and nutritionist, writes children books…..super super cool.
6) The house is GORGEOUS and is in a nice, safe part of town
7) Safety perks:
a. 2 guards, including a night guard who stays up all night watching the place
b. coiled barbed wire surrounding the high walls of the entire property
c. 2 Rottwielers (that are big and sweet and way cool but also a little scary)
d. SO MANY LOCKS its unreal
8) A house-helper who does our laundry everyday and cleans the whole house (WHAT??)
9) We have a private room (big ol bed) and private bathroom with HOT WATER
10) The tap water is chlorinated and apparently safe to drink, though I’m going to stick with my Steripen for the first week or so
11) Fully furnished everything – all the kitchen supplies we’d ever need etc. etc. etc. And all utilities are included in the rent
12) We are a 15 minute walk from the Embassy
13) ……plus lots of other things

…All of this and the rent is less than what many people pay in Carrboro… WOW.

Sounds pretty great, right!?!?! Needless to say got the place, we are PUMPED and already feel at home here. The only big downers are spotty internet and phone service, but oh well. This is a dream, a DREAM.

I am so blessed and grateful to be where I am right now and to have had the best 2009 I could have ever asked for. I will be updating when I can and have so much to look forward to in 2010.

Here we go!!!!
Happy New Year, everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Much love from a very happy Kaitlin