Mid Term

Hard to believe that Term Two is halfway over already. It has been one of my busiest terms yet and filled with a lot of teaching! This term I'm teaching physical science for all forms, biology for forms two and four and my favorite class, computers studies in form three.



Now that I'm actually working with the kids in the computer lab, it's been truly enjoyable for all of us. We start every lesson by typing a few sentences of microsoft word; usually I aske them to type about themselves or their goals. Next, we open up microsoft paint to practice using the mouse by drawing pictures and writing our names. This is important becaus emy kids have never used computers before and handling the mouse has been an especially difficult skill for them to master. Nevertheless, they keep on getting better and better each week.



Girls Club has been going well, we've been meeting regularly each week. Mostly we're just singing, dancing and learning a bit about different topics the girls choose each week. So far this term we've talked about goal setting, cooperation, study skills and how to run a small business. I'd like to take them on a field trip this term and will update you once I figure out where to go.



I planted a few fruit trees in my backyard a couple of weeks ago. Pretty exciting to think that years from now whoever is living in my house will have lemons, oranges, apples whenever they want! I enlisted the help of a few students for the work. Check out the pictures below.



The housing project is progressing slowly but surely. Materials are all gathers and we are hoping to continue building once the rains have stopped a bit. Go to the link on the righthand side of this page to learn more about the project and to help us make it happen by donating.



Speaking of rains, it has been pouring this month! Absolutely, house flooding, pouring! luckily, I've been in my tin-roofed house for a long time and know exactly where to put bowls to catch the rain and towels under the door.



I guess that's all for now. This weekend I'll be taking my kids to compete in boys football and girls netball competitions within the district. I've been training all week and this year, unlike any before, I am coaching in Chichewa. We I guess it's a combination Chichewa-English. For instance, today I found myself yelling "Khalani Serious!" when one of the girls was gooding off instead of listening to the team captain during stretches. Literally khalani means "please be". Kind of a silly phrase, but it got the point across. I'll let you know how the matches go soon.



Love and Good Thoughts,

Kelly

New Years in Zanzibar

Here are some pictures from our trip to Zanzibar, an island off the coast of Tanzania!

We had a really great time on the beach and in our travels. I went with two of my Peace Corps Volunteer friends, Alyssa from my intake group and Jo, Alyssa’s site mate in the environment sector. We took so many modes of transportation including buses, taxis, an overnight train with sleeping cars, a tiny airplane, a beautiful ferry and even a bike taxi at the end of the trip! We rode through Tanzania up to Dar es Salaam passing through the National Park where we saw a few wild animals including giraffes and elephants. Zanzibar, our ultimate destination was AMAZING. The beaches were beautiful, the city was nice, and the weather was perfect. We had a great time swimming, wandering around town and eating lots of seafood. Our hotel was beautiful and had a nice view of the Indian Ocean but we chose to take a taxi up to an even more beautiful and secluded beach. On New Year’s Eve, we sat on the beach drinking red wine and eating seafood from the open market. It was a great way to ring in the New Year. On the following day we took a ferry off the island and were invited by the captain to sit at the front of the boat, taking in the beautiful view with our feet dangling off the edge.

Transport was rough at some times, but we made it and laughed along the way. Definitely an unforgettable New Years!

Enjoy the pictures!!

Alyssa and Jo on our first day of travel.

Taxi to the Malawi-Tanzania border.
The Mbeya train station where we waited for out 22 hour train which was also 5 hours late.
Woman selling bananas alongside the train at one of the stops.
Alyssa and I getting ready to board a plane!
The view from above!

The pool at our hotel. Our room was also in this building.
Our own beach (at least for the day) on Zanzibar.
Walking through historic Stone Town
Buying spices.

A cathedral where slaves used to be kept and sold.

Buying all kinds of grilled fish in the market on New Year's Eve.

Yum!

Another beautiful beach.

The view from the front of the ferry.

Arriving at Dar es Salaam, our final destination before the long trip back to Malawi.

Christmas in the Village

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Gwangwa CDSS!

This year I decided to spend my holiday in my village with my sitemates and neighbors. Of course Malawians celebrate Christmas, but it's not nearly as extravagant or exciting as it is in America. Regardless, I had a really nice time and enjoyed good food and good company throughout the day.

On Christmas morning, I listened to Christmas music on my ipod while the neighborhood kids played in my backyard. I also made pancakes and coffee for breakfast and enjoyed the sunshine out on my back porch. Later in the morning, I delivered some childrens books, which had been donated to Malawi, to the other teachers in the area. I felt a little silly and like a Santa Claus impersonator going from house to house with my bag of books, but I know that the kids and their parents certainly appreciated it.

In the afternoon, my sitemates Chris and Erin Murphy came over for a delicious Christmas meal. We cooked bean burgers, mashed potatoes and indulged ourselves with peanut m and ms and delicious brownies which Erin had made. It was so nice to have company and to have great friends to share the day with.

That evening, after the Murphys had left, I went over to my headteacher's home to drink fantas (soft-drinks) and continue enjoying the holiday. I found Mrs. Kangulu and two of the children at home and attempted to teach Prisca, my baby sister, the concept of "Cheers". It was a wonderful way to end a great day.

Today I am in Mzuzu, the largest city in Northern Malawi, preparing for a New Year's trip to Zanzibar, an island off the coast of Tanzania. I'm so excited for a vacation and will definitely keep you updated with pictures from my adventure!

I hope that you had a wonderful holiday!

Love and Good Thoughts,

Kelly Susan (Mrs. Kangulu), Prisca and me.

Prica posing for a snap!
Mike, the Kangulu's second son, and Prisca playing.
Mike and Prisca, this time with a Fanta.
Yum!

Cheers!

These are the Chaseas, my wonderful neighbors. They have three young daughters and a niece who stays with them. Occasionally my cat, Mbirizi, is a part of their family too when I'm out of town. Very glad they moved in this year!
Gule wam kulu chasing kids on Christmas.
Me and Mr. Six, the crazy old man who is usually drunk and completely harmelss. He's a favorite member of our community, well liked by students and teachers.
My favorite tree along the walk to my house.

My wonderful sitemates, Chris and Erin Murphy. They live about 8km away at a nearby school.
Coloring at Madam Kelly's house on Christmas morning.
Inside my house, notice my Christmas decorations which are scraps of old wrapping paper leftover from gifts my aunts sent me two years ago.
Mbirizi guarding the tin of homemade Christmas cookies my mom sent.

A really cool bug I found on Christmas Eve.

The Rains Have Come

Last night I awoke to one of my favorite sounds, rain pouring on my tin roof. There is nothing quite like it and it makes me feel calm and at ease throughout the night. My kitten, Mbirizi, didn’t like it as much but I think she’s becoming used to it and anyhow found comfort by cozying up in one of my blankets.

Since the rains have come, people have started making ridges in their fields and even planting their crops for the season. In fact, Mr. Kasiya’s maize has already sprouted. I’m getting a bit of a late start with my own garden, but am planning on taking time to plant and prepare my land once school is over next week.

I have found three places where my roof leaks, which is an improvement from last year. Also, I’m having some boys from school build me a new fence in order to stand up against the strong winds and force of the rain.

This morning since it was cool, rainy and above all else a Saturday, I woke up, ate a mango (I love mangoes) and laid back down to read in bed. I’m currently reading A People’s History of the United States, so I could have spent all day reading if not for the 8am visitor I received. I heard “Hello Madam. Hello Madam,” the call of one of my neighbor’s children. Reluctantly, I woke up and preparing to pass out a coloring book and bag of crayons, opened the door. Instead of wanting to play or color the little girl was telling me she wanted to start a fire. I didn’t really understand what she was asking from me, but I decided finally she was asking for matches in order to start a fire. I assumed that perhaps the matches at her house were left out in the rain the night before. So, I handed her a lighter and told her to give it to her mother.

As she left, I wondered whether or not she had ever seen a lighter or knew how to use one. After all, she certainly appeared to be surprised when I handed it to her. So, I wrapped a chitenje (cloth) around my waist to cover my pajama pants and went two houses down to see what was going on.

At the Mpandagouta home, I found five of my little neighbor friends trying to use the lighter. I realized then that their moms and dads were out, probably at their fields planting. They’d probably been there since the first break of daylight, maybe since 430am. The kids were hungry and trying to cook porridge. So I started their fire and went back about ten minutes later just to ensure that they were cooking their breakfast.

I love the rainy season, but I am reminded that its novelty will soon ware off. Life is harder when water and mud are everywhere. It is more difficult to travel, to cook and to stay healthy especially form waterborne and mosquito carried diseases.

However, despite these trials we are all very thankful that the rains have come and hope they will continue to water the fields. Those kids would not have had maize flour to make their porridge this morning, if not for the rains which watered their family’s fields at this time last year.

Here are a few photos which I’ve taken this week of Mbirizi, the boys fixing my fence, my neighbors and the girls who help me with housework.

Love and Good Thoughts.
Kelly

Goats. One the main reasons I need a new fence.
Emmanuel, a Form Four student helping to fix my fence.

Happy, also a Form Four.
Rabson (behind) and Yotamu. Rabson is the HeadBoy and reminds me a lot of my brother Bobby.

My tree, which according to Yotamu, there is a large green poisonous snake living in. Yikes.
Using pieces of my tree for the fence.
Look how fierce Mbirizi is! Look out mice!
Just kidding, most of the time she looks like this.

Neighbor kids behind my house in my yet to be planted fields.
Near my house. An oxcart carries firewood.

Harris, opne of my neighbors, climbing the tree behind my field. It has these strange little fruits, which do not taste great, but the kids chew on them like gum. Ellen.

Sharon and the twins.
This is Delia and Mtisunge, both Form Four students. Delia's parents could not afford school fees this term so she asked me for assistance. I pay her school and boarding fees (~$60) each term and in exchange she comes over with her best friend, Mtisunge to help me with housework. Here they are washing my clothes.