A Day in Ntchisi

My day begins around 4:30am, I crawl out of bed around 5:00 and greet my watchman who's been up for who knows how long sweeping, splitting firewood, rolling himself cigarettes, etc.

I start a fire for a breakfast of tea and rice or maybe peanut butter and banana sandwiches. After doing so, I make a trip to fill a water bucket for the day which now, I am proud to say, I am carrying back on my head every time, completely full.

Now that school's begun, I leave my house a few minutes before 7:00 to greet my neighbors and head to school. The classes I teach vary from day to day but usually I have 4-5, 40 minute periods throughout. The students are expected to be at school at 7:15 as classes begin at 7:30.

When I'm not in class, I'm either in the library or the staffroom chatting and writing lesson plans. I'm getting to know the other teachers quite well. They're all very nice and many are very dedicated, good teachers who really care about their students. Most of them live on or near the school grounds, but a few travel to work by bike or matola (minibus).

The school day ends at 2:00pm, but I usually stay until 5:00 or so watching them play sports, answering questions on a variety of topics (both school related and not), helping them in the library or checking on the girls who stay at the school.

When I leave for the day I'm greeted by my circle of primary school friends to dance, sing, color, and learn. As they leave I begin to make my dinner, usually consisting of pasta, rice or nsima and vegetables and/or beans. (I try and make sure to cook enough food to feed my watchman as well, who shows up around 5:30pm every evening.)

While dinner is cooking, I spend some time chatting with my neighbors, the primary school teachers who live nearby and most days head for another bucket of water as well.

After a warm bucket bath, I light a candle, settle into my mosquito net and either write letters or read until going to sleep, sometime after 8:00pm.

As far as the weekends go, my activities have definitely been variable. Sometimes I'm in one of the villages getting to know the women and children, chatting and discovering how they work and live. Some days I walk to the market by myself or with some of the younger teachers to buy vegetables or just to socialize.

Often times I find my coloring circle friends smiling at my door ready to play and draw pictures. Other times, I find myself at the school as students have shown up to use the library, to study, etc. On Sunday mornings, I attend church with my head teacher's wife and sons.

I also use my weekends to make time for household chores like laundry, mopping my house, etc. After doing so, I make time to take a nice bike ride or go for a good long walk. My absolute favorite weekend activity has been sitting under the big tree in my backyard, book in hand and ipod on.

I hope that helps in giving you a better sense of what it's been like living in Malawi. My days are simple and sometimes challenging, but always rewarding and full of smiling faces and good conversation.

Kuno ku Malawi. Here in Malawi.

My After School Coloring Circle

Upon returning home from school each day, I'm greeted by a dozen or so of the other teachers' children waiting at my door. They're all wonderfully mannered and eagerly waiting to color, play, learn, sing songs and dance with Miss Kelly.

Their ages range widely from 1 and a half (Arnold) to 12 (Harisi). I give them each a piece of paper and spread out crayons to be shared on a mat outside my house or inside if it's raining. We draw pictures of ourselves, objects outside in the yard, etc. The younger children practice writing their names, numbers, and ABCs from templates I've written, while the older ones copy the simple English sentences I give them.

They're terribly sweet and want to help me practice my Chichewa as much as I want to help them practice their English! They stay until it begins to get dark and refuse to leave until I've checked each of their papers with my red pen and have written "VERY GOOD" at the top.

Sometimes they offer to sweep my house, fetch my water, and bring me vegetables and leaves from their gardens. In return, I like to treat them with small candies that either I've bought in town or have received from home like Life Savers, Jolly Ranchers, etc.

I've uploaded a few pictures of them, so you can get a better idea of how I spend my late afternoons.

Responsibilities at School

The Malawian school year's officially started. I've begun teaching and all of my other responsibilities at the school. I'm most definitely going to be busy this year, but if you know me, you know I wouldn't have it any other way.

Here's what I'm teaching:

Physical Science - Form 1
Biology - Form 2
Biology - Form 3
English - Form 3
Life Skills - Forms 1-4

The other responsibilities I've been given:

• Librarian - I have the keys to the library and keep record of what books are taken by teachers and students. I'm also cleaning it up and keeping it open for students to read and study 3 days a week after school.
• Laboratory Master - I have the keys to the lab and need to figure out how to best organize and use it.
• Sports Master- Along with one of the other teachers, I'm running netball (girls) and football (boys soccer) games two days a week after school.
• Boarding Master - Again one of two teachers, in charge of making sure the girls who are staying in the empty classroom buildings at the school are doing well and finding access to the things they need.
• I'm on a few school committees as well such as those which make the timetable, schedule, etc.

More Pictures

Pictures of My House and School!

My Box of Letters

I spent last night reading everyone's Christmas letters. I just had to write again to say how much I truly loved them.

Best Christmas present I've ever received.

In the note on top my mom wrote "I was trying to think of what you'd want for Christmas and the only thing I could come up with was us!!! (who wouldn't)"

I can't think of a truer statement.

Merry Christmas and lots of love!

Merry Christmas from Malawi!

Merry Christmas!

I cannot believe it's December, let alone Christmas time already! This year's gone by so quickly and my time here is going by even faster.

I'm in Lilongwe for the day to meet with some friends from my training group for the holidays. Tomorrow morning we'll be heading to Senga Bay to spend Christmas camping on the beach!

I was able to pick up my mail today and received the box of letters my mom gathered from everyone in my family. I was so absolutely overwhelmed and so happy! I can't even describe it! It's so nice to hear from everyone at home, I love and miss you all. Thanks for thinking of me!

And thank you to everyone who's been sending me emails, letters, packages, etc. I know it's a pain that they take so long to get here and even longer for me to respond, but every letter or good thought from home that comes my way means the world!

Enjoy the holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love and Good Thoughts!

Kelly

A Few Reactions toward Me in My First Few Days

• Small children who scream, cry, and run away in fear upon seeing me
• Small children who are so incredibly happy to see me that the follow me, reach for my hands, and smile from ear to ear especially when I ask them their names
• A handful of people who upon my greeting them and asking how they are say “I am not well, I am hungry” or “Please give me food, I have nothing”
• People who tell me I should stay for more than two years and that Malawi is now my home
• A woman who asked if I was here to take pictures
• Many smiling, welcoming faces, when in Chichewa I introduce myself and say that I will be teaching here for the next two years