Malawi Madness

So Malawi is a bit different than expected. Work is a little frustrating but the country is GORGEOUS. So the first day I went to work, I wanted to figure out how Andrea and I could be in more control of our project. I suggested that we pause the interviews that are being done and that Andrea and I go (and Matt too of course!) to Mangochi, where the interviewers are located. The understanding was that the interviewers speak English but aren't computer literate so we would be typing up the interviews as they articulated to us. We were told that we were going to be staying in a Guesthouse at the College of Medicine. However, after driving 4 hours to Mangochi, we found that the Guesthouse was full to capacity. We had been instructed to bring EVERYTHING that we had taken to Malawi on this trip so we had a ton of stuff. Instead of that hostel, we were driven to some other place that would have been fine if I didn't have almost everything I owned with me. So then we ended up staying at some fancy hotel instead but we split a single room by three to save money. Poor Matt slept on the floor. Sweet part of the night is the hotel owner took us to all the sweet places in Mangochi!

We got up early, loaded all of our stuff into a car and moved the the College of Medicine hostel. Only problem is the Professor had not checked out yet. So we loaded up all the stuff in the front of the room and I went to work while Andrea and Matt guarded it and fixed her chair. It was a bit frustrating because I was deferred to and I didn't completely understand what was going on. Also frustrating was the fact that the interviewers didnt speak English so we still had to enlist the help of University students for the translation. Somehow I already feel so tired here.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS! We are here by the lake for a week and then 4 days in the National wildlife park and then off to Lilongwe for a conference with the rest of the team and touching base with my boss from Hopkins. Malawi is absolutely stunning and the people are fantastic. I don't feel overwhelmed to walk alone (except maybe at night because I am always assuming I am going to get mugged wherever I go). Lake Malawi is beautiful as are the villages that surround it. I could seriously see myself living here.

Sorry the update was boring today, more later...