things to think about

The following is a link to my friend Jackie Stenson's blog. I met her here in Malawi in January. She has been traveling in Africa overland for over a year now and has seen and done so many things. Talking with her for hours and keeping up with her blog has been really eye-opening for me. I encourage whoever reads my blog to read hers as well, especially her "doing it right" segments:

Doing it Right

Reading her blog got me really interested in other people who write about similar issues. I stumbled across this site and have found some really interesting articles. Check out the one on "One Million Shirts For Africa":

Aid Thoughts

My thoughts on aid and development have done a 180 since last year. This started because of this book:

Dead Aid

and continued throughout discussion with people here in Lilongwe who do development work. I am not an economist and dont claim to know anything about the complexities of aid, but I definitely learned a lot reading this book and think everyone should read it.
This article is a pretty good synopsis:

Wall St. Journal Article

Around the same time I came across this site:

What are we doing here?

I havent seen the film but I did explore the website and watch the trailer. I really want to see the whole film.

I was going to write a whole big ol entry about my thoughts on aid and development, but it looks like so many others have already beaten me to the punch. I'll let them do the explaining.

.......just some things to think about. 

Round 2- Here We Go!!!

Greetings from beautiful Malawi!!
After a month and a half at home and 5 wonderful days in London I have arrived safely in Lilongwe. It is much cooler, much drier, and I feel much MUCH better being here now than I did in March.
I realized many things when I was at home, and to explain them all would take way too long. However, the most important thing I've realized is that I don't have to live in fear here. For many reasons I can see now that I was living in fear during Malawi Round 1. This had a lot to do with coming here straight after South Africa, a lot to do with the owners of the house Finn and I lived with, a lot to do with a lot of things. Having gone home and shed this, having dissolved the knot that lived in my chest for so long, I can say now that I am genuinely happy to be back and sleep peacefully now, not with one eye opened like I used to. Safety is still a concern, but the possibility of danger doesn't rule my life now.
My dear friend Hadley told me while I was home to never underestimate the unknown. I really like this idea and, because of my trip home, am able to implement this in my life now. I feel much more positive, much more focused, and much more myself.
Ohhhh what a little trip home can do!!!
So much to write about already, and so much to look forward to!!!
More later
~Kaitlin