Everyone here LOVES Obama. The youngest kids on the street go around saying “Obama America” even though they can’t name the president of Malawi if you ask them (it’s Bingu). At the market in Chigamba there is Obama bubble gum (orange and original flavor). When we stop at the gas station, vendors come over to our car trying to sell us “Obama Rolls” (which are actually really delicious sweet breads that taste kind of like challah). The best are the Obama Shitenges, which are the long pieces of material the women here wear as wrap-around skirts or use to tie their babies to their backs. They are usually hilarious cartoons of his face printed in a circle surrounded by stars. I want to buy one but I haven’t been able to find them at the market yet….
Newest developments in my Malawian life are the following:
1) I have been eating the most delicious papayas ever. We buy HUGE, basketball-sized papayas at the market for 30 kwacha (25 cents?) and then squeeze lemon juice on them for ultimate flavor. I've never tasted anything so good. We have also been whipping up bomb guacamole from fresh avocados from the market. Believe me they taste 100% better than avocados in the USA.
2) We are planning a hiking trip this weekend to Mt.Mulanje (the 2nd tallest mountain in Africa). We will be leaving tomorrow morning at 5:30am to take the public transport bus to Blantyre, then continuing on another bus to Mulanje. We will camp tomorrow night at the bottom of the mountain, then leave early in the morning to hike up to a "forestry hut" about a 5-7 hours hike up the mountain. We will stay there Friday night and hopefully explore around the mountain a little bit...We aren't going anywhere near the summit--that would take us at least 3 or 4 days and we don't have the equipment! I'm excited to go though and we are preparing hard boiled eggs and PB and J sandwiches to bring with us..
3) I'm leaving the orphanage on SUNDAY which is crazy to me...I have mixed feelings about leaving-- I am going to miss my little friends here after I leave but I'm also looking forward to coming home and eating a huge bowl of yogurt and strawberries yummmmm!
See you all soon!
I will post many, many pictures after I'm back in the USA because the connection here is too slow for it to work
xoxo
I was in Kenya during Obama's inauguration, and all of Nairobi went wild! Fireworks and all. Kenyans were also selling Obama shitenges (I have a pic of our driver holding one up).
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your last few days and I will see you soon!
Love,
TP
Have a great time on your hike! I'm sure it will be incredible. I can't wait to see you when you get back!! I'll be in Roch the weekend of 9/4, and I'd love to see you if you'll be around. I want to see all your pictures and hear your stories. Miss you! -nena
ReplyDeleteAh, enjoy the mountain!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to Hear Your Voice.
LOVE, JULIA