best day ever

link to best day ever and soccer photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/105226841757151966002/AfricaJuly11?authkey=Gv1sRgCOfW2YbFlvqEoQE&feat=directlink

Woke up and grabbed a quick bite to eat, made an outdoor clothesline to dry some of our stuff that never seems to lose that damp feel, it is very sunny today.
Some ventured back to the curios to do some more purchasing others had a bit of a rest and Barb and I headed down to the pools (smaller versions of the waterfalls) to read and catch some rays. Ironically enough the spot we chose had a tree stand on either side of the river that looked a lot like a lifeguard chair but both of us agreed that being on an emergency flight home from Malawi due to falling out of a tree stand for a photo opp would not be a great thing.

At one point I caught myself gazing into the trees looking for monkeys and Barb looked over and it was so bizarre to hear the words 'don't mind me just looking for monkey's' come out of my mouth! Cannot believe that I was lying on rocks the size of my backyard beside a waterfall suntanning and hoping for a monkey sitting in the middle of Africa. Packed 5 books and am still only part way through the first one - too many things to do - today when I had the chance to read I preferred to lie and take in the mountains, trees, streams and then suddenly 3 young boys holding necklaces they wanted to sell. Neither of us had a single kwacha on us but one boy offered Barb one in exchange for her pen - score!
In no time we were back at the lodge boarding the van for the big game (see other post). The community if very near to Juma, we arrived around lunch time and discovered the students were eating lunch so we took a tour of a couple of the Habitat houses that Tadeo had coordinated the builds for in February. The one area had only women and children - not a single guy - Tadeo said it is sadly common for the men to run away.
We were also able to take a small tour of the exterior of the school buildings and peak in the windows and view their timetable, saw a great poster on one wall -
Girls wait to get married - get an education first!

Then it was game time!
The ride home was quieter than most only because people were either totally bagged or were chowing down on the oranges that Nancy had individually wrapped and sent along with Kevin for us. Spirits were very high nonetheless.
Back at the lodge, some showered, others headed to the pools, Barb and I did a bit of laundry in the sink and as I was hanging it on our newly hung clothesline I could hear some rustling in the trees and sure enough my first monkey siting overhead. (Ken, Sue and Meag saw some yesterday). I was so excited I couldn't leave my spot, once I was certain they were going to hang around for a while I grabbed Karyn from the dorm, then I got Barb from the bathroom and we spent the next 10 minutes watching 4 small baboons swing around, eat, and occasionally argue with one another, by this time Marleen, Lisa and Vera were back to the room and they got to see them too!
Supper was a wonderful casserole -spaghetti, green beans, carrots and ground beef with a good old cheese topping - can you say seconds everybody?
Nancy also brewed some locally grown coffee - would give Tim's a run for their money for sure.
(we drove by Nancy's soon to be restaurant on the way back from Namulenga - she just got her loan approved - it is very beautiful and has potted plants and a landscaped yard)
xo

Game On!

While the rest of the World was tuned into Spain vs Netherlands, via satellite and cable TV, battle it out in South Africa, the village of Namulanga was watching Canada vs Africa LIVE. 

Who know our opposition would show up with soccer uniforms (and one player in soccer cleats)? Tadeo said our jerseys were better and pointed to our white arms :)

Daunting as the full uniforms were, we knew that we were in trouble when the coach strolled across the field with a notebook in his hand.

The score at water break (or possibly half time) was a very comfortable 1-0 in favor of Team Africa.

Freshly hydrated, Team Canada returned to the pitch and were most grateful that in addition to our 'imports' Tadeo and Limbani, several other onlookers had become team Canada members. Every few minutes another body would join the field and once again smiles and laughter require no translators. Soon, their coach was even playing with us.

At one point, I was not certain what the peals of laughter and squeals on my sideline were a result of and then out of the corner of my eye I noticed that random girls were being subbed into the game as I caught sight of a girl handing off her jersey.

It was a game I will not soon forget.

Post game we asked the coach (he is one of their teachers) if we could shake hands. He called his team over and then invited everyone to form a circle and join hands so we could speak to one another. He invited Kevin to speak first and he thanked our host team for the opportunity to get some exercise and enjoy the glorious weather. I thanked to players who joined our side and allowed us to maintain a most respectable 2-0 loss. 

Their coach then shared with us that this was the first ever organized game his school girls (and a few boys) had ever played and he hope it was a sign of many future ones that would begin a tradition of girls football. He then invited us to return again to Africa to play again, adding with a giggle that next time we should bring better players!

We then shook hands one by one all the way around the circle - was really neat.

The boy and girl holding my hand were very anxious to talk to me and exchanged names and the boy said, 'it is evident you have played before' I was most flattered. They then asked my age and looked very shocked and made me repeat it and I am quite certain that the 'holy sheesh' out of his mouth sounded a lot like 'holy shit' - thinking I'll take that as a compliment too.

I asked Kevin if I could leave the Canada frisbee that I had brought along with the coach and Marleen also left one, as we drove away in the van they were already once again airborn.

good times !!  

Climbing Mount Mulanje

link to photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/105226841757151966002/AfricaDay5July10?authkey=Gv1sRgCLL9kN7VoqCTHg&feat=directlink

We were up bright and early even though it was our day off, as the kitchen was going to be busy preparing for the big race.
Then, we strolled down to the Curio Shops to purchase some souvenirs, pretty sure everyone would agree that it was quite an experience.
There were a pile of people milling around as the racers would soon be down the mountain - unbelievable to see them running to the finish line in bare feet - their race was 25 km in total but through unbelievable terrain and a very large incline.

After we were done spending all our Kwacha (and for Sue trading off clothing for goods!) we were ready for lunch and our trip up to the waterfall.
Taylor was still in the process of having her hair braided so not all of the group made the hike. Turns out it was not your typical hike and our respect for the porters that raced in earlier in the day rose exponentially. The terrain was pretty steep, we crossed small streams, required several rest stops and the view along the way was breathtaking! The waterfalls were stunning and every huff and puff to reach them was well worth it. Kevin jumped into the water and pretty soon the words 'hey Barb if you go in I will' slipped out of my mouth and Barb stripped down to her swimsuit and dove in, I was close behind her and the water was sooooo cold but I forced her to wait in with me until we could get a photo. Crazy to be treading water halfway up a mountain in Africa, Meag and Karyn were hot on our heels with full clothes on and in no time Sue K joined us too. We took an alternate route back to the lodge that was equally beautiful but much less treacherous - I made Barb pose so that it looked as though she were swinging off a vine and as she passed Lisa she said 'excuse me while I go swing off that vine', Lisa's response was no way can I let you do that!
good times!
Total trip - 1 hour up - 45 minutes down
tomorrow up at 6 so we can be to Church by 8 am in Juma - after Church we will have a soccer match versus some of our new friends - thankfully Tadeo and Limbani will play on our team so we may not get slaughtered so badly!! ;)
xo
Congratulations Tim and Laura - hope your Wedding Day is awesome!!

Friday in Mulanje District

link to photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/105226841757151966002/AfricaDay4July9?authkey=Gv1sRgCJL49qHcttGlfg&feat=directlink

Today is market trading day and so Chitikale was hopping. People everywhere selling their goods off of blankets spread on the ground, we stopped and purchased a couple live chickens to transport to Juma with us - a few were disturbed to learn they would become todays' lunch. There were several 'Lion- pig' jokes along the ride, surprisingly enough the first one was made by Tadeo and directed at Barb - his sense of humour has come a long way in 4 days!
He has mentioned we may watch the World Cup final game tomorrow - the group is split between Spain and Belgium.
The work site was different today as Robin was sick at home and both Tadeo and Babie had to leave to attend meetings and do office work so we had a new leader named Jahn and no translators - we did very well with hand signals.
Turns out that Jahn also knew more English than we thought he did.
Work was slow though as several teenage boys also appeared today to help out so we had way more hands than jobs to do.
This allowed for opportunities to play with the kids, walk around the community and visit. The soccer balls that Taylor and Deb brought were big hits as was the skipping rope once again.
Grandma's wound got redressed and it is uncertain as to whether or not Marleen felt there was improvement but it has only been one day.
By day's end the interior walls were nearly as high as the exterior ones are and so Babie will drive to Blantyre tomorrow to purchase the timbers (used for the roof)
The only glitch we have if you can even call it one is that there is rarely hot water for showers, they are solar powered and the other group staying at the lodge gets in earlier than us and so the hot has run out by the time we get to it. We have improvised very well using water bottles and the sink to wash our hair - boy is it very dirty - the water turns rather orange in color, all the dust from the bricks.
Not gonna lie passed on the chicken for lunch - definitely not because they travelled in the van with us or I happened to stumble across the man that killed them as he was doing it but mostly because they were cooked in the same pot as their heads and feet - yup I wussed out on it...the rice and cooked veggies were fantastic though!
Tadeo arrived for supper a tad late and was most concerned because he could not make you tube work and so I am to help him out with it later.
Many members of the trip have cam corders here and so we have told both he and Nancy that we will film them and post it onto YouTube when we get home and I will send them each an email so they can watch it - they are stoked - now I will need a lesson on how one posts to YouTube!! :) pretty sure all of my SCI students could do it.
Tomorrow is the annual race up Mount Mulanje and the hike that normally takes about 5 hours will be done in about 2 by the winner - we are hoping to catch them at the finish line. The lodge is preparing lunch for 450 participants!!

full day at site

link to photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/105226841757151966002/AfricaDay3July8?authkey=Gv1sRgCNLr7L3i0rmRfQ&feat=directlink

this is what I would have posted last night - didn't get to it:
today we made huge progress, the walls are all between 5 and 6 feet high, 2 doors and 3 windows have been positioned in place.
The morning, on site, began emotionally as Marleen sterilized and wrapped Grandma's hand. Shorai's translation told Grandma that Marleen would continue to change the dressing while we are here and they all had some happy tears.
Today Vera and I were prep cooks and had an opportunity to visit more with Babie, he has a college degree in construction engineering with plans to continue University engineering. His wife has just finished a college program in nutrition. They have a 14 year old and 10 year old that they want to send to college and they are saving. His habitat salary is 2000 Kwacha/month with a living allowance of 1000 Kwacha (yes that is about $27 total). University cost 6000 Kwacha per term...I felt pretty crappy knowing I had just spent 2500 Kwacha on a kettle on the day previous. Also makes me ill knowing I still have 15500 Kwacha for souvenirs.
He also told us that Grandma is essentially the grandma of most of the children we see as we build. The 6 houses in the immediate vicinity of hers were her 6 children's. Tadeo's office chose her and the 3 kids for the home because they lost both parents to AIDS, the other 5 children of hers died to AIDS but have living spouses to parent. Juma's wife died 3 months ago.
Relaying this info to Barb made her think of her friend Stacy who teaches a book to her grade 9's called "the Heaven Shop" it is written by a Canadian about an orphanage in a town at the base of the Mulanje and about a family that owned a coffin shop. There are several coffin shops that we have seen and Barb took a photo for Stacy to use with the novel study. It is almost as if we have found the setting of the book.
Barb brought a skipping rope to work today and it is apparent that smiles, belly laughs and playing are universal languages!!
We are finding the on site staff and community very at ease with our presence.
Did not send the blog last night as I used my online time showing Tadeo 'bears' on google. On the bus ride home they were described as a 'cross between a pig and Lion' he was intrigued (and pretty confused - good descriptor, eh?)
that led to you tube video of a bear attacking a caribou, which led to googling caribou, moose, deer, then Nancy joined us and we went back to you tube and she was thrilled with the Bob Marley music we listened too. She also was intrigued by the bears, antelope etc. We spent about an hour searching and watching and Tadeo copied and pasted the sites to his 'yahoo' mail account. I also wrote out 'you tube' for him - I think he will be a fan.
He said he hasn't used a computer much since getting this job in November, his government job had him on one a lot, now he is on his cellphone and texting mostly. There are cell phones and everywhere (several ipods too). Africa skipped the land line infrastructure and are into wireless communications.
Lisa stayed back today as she has had some stomach issues and did not want to push it, everyone else is doing well.

A hodge podge of information

link to photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/105226841757151966002/AfricaDay2July7?authkey=Gv1sRgCPPz2e29nOTnrAE&feat=directlink

Our wonderful Habitat staff includes:
Shorai - I now know how to spell her name - she is the Malawi HFH contact and our key leader
Tadeo - field officer for OVC (0rphans and other vulnerable children) - he beat out 400 other applicants for the job.
Robin - he is our master mason - he inspects every row we build before we can proceed.
Juma- the village chief - the village is named after him - his father, grandfather etc were previous chiefs
Laxon - a local contractor
Limbani - drives our mini van filled with 15 people to and from the site everyday
Nancy - the Likhubula house director
Babie - he is the HFH contractor for our job (Bobby)
our HFH family - grandma and Thandizo (14), Margarite (10) and Grace (8) lost their parents 4 years ago to AIDS.


other Cliff Claven like tidbits:
6 am - most amazing sunrise reflects off of Mount Mulanje onto our site
6 pm - sunset and almost immediate drop of 10 degrees in temperature
daytime - mid 20's Celsius
night time - see your breathe cold!
we have 3 showers and 3 toilets for 11 ladies and we are managing expertly
they have termite hills rather than ant hills that are up to 3 feet high
This Saturday is the annual race up Mount Mulanje and people come from surrounding countries to participate
Without a voltage converter it is possible to FRY your coffeepot on the first day of making coffee :(
goat meat is super chewy and rather like beef jerky - you could chew it forever
fuel cost $1.60 / litre
Juma's population is roughly 400 people
coffee is instant
Habitat has built 20 houses in this district in the last 9 months
Coca - Cola is everywhere!! seriously even in Juma!
tea is grown locally
Barb excels at brushing off signals (third base coach - like)
churches seen so far - Anglican, Lutheran, Islamic, Catholic
the highway is new and named after the president of Zimbabwe
the only vehicle owners are business people or government employees
our own HFH mason slogan is: total mortar combat (oops I mean coverage)
slip up of the day - nearly diving over the seat when the van begins t0 roll away after Shorai and Tadeo hopped out only to realize the driver was sitting on the right side and actually driving the van down the hill - nearly as bad as hopping into the driver's seat of the van in London thinking it was the passenger seat.
k-8 education is free but a very large number of children do not attend.
Quote of the day: "Tadeo you lay bricks like a girl"


Happy Birthday Chrissy!

first night

link to photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/105226841757151966002/AfricaDay1July6?authkey=Gv1sRgCOPHsfq97LqMJA&feat=directlink

wow - what a day! We pulled out of the hotel around 11 am to head to our build location, with stops for petro and water (stopped at at BP station - they are everywhere) and surprisingly enough downtown Blantyre resembled any small Canadian city - everything is in English (including the giant Carlsberg beer billboard - they have a plant here). There are grocery stores, pharmacies, supermarkets, banks etc. Our money exchange had to occur in the back seat of the minivan as the banks are closed for their national Independence day celebration.
We pulled into our community around noon. First stop was the Habitat office, then off to the work site. It is very surreal to travel in the minivan as children run to the roadside so that they can wave to us - we feel strangely famous.

When we arrived at the worksite we met the grandma and children that will live in the home that we build. We also toured their current home and my emotions could barely stay under control. The grandma cannot walk and so needs assistance to get to and from the house and I believe at times crawls to get where she needs to be. Her oldest grandson is going to help us with the build he is about 12 years old and lovingly welcomed us and thanked us for coming. The new home will have one of the most stunning views you can imagine - the Mulanje mountain and a brilliant blue sky face it.

We were able to participate in building a brick wall for a couple hours, they are hand made bricks and mortar and they keep everything very precise with a level and string (much like when my dad builds a fence!), several members of the group posed for photos with many of the children (some had the day off of school-others do not attend) and then we packed up to head to our lodging. We stopped at a recently built habitat house to see what ours should look like by next week and met the grandma that lives there with her 2 grandchildren. She spoke English very well and was very thankful of the Habitat program. They have a hand made sign in the window that said "thanks to Habitat".

By the time we drove by the Habitat office on the way out of town, word had spread we were there and the children swarmed our vehicle. Again it is very hard to describe the emotions of them all smiling and trying to fight for front row views of us. One adorable toddler (2 years at best) reached up to my window and when I touched his hand his eyes popped so wide and then he pulled back and stared at it total awe, then quickly reached out again to touch my hand once more again in total fascination - again I was grateful for my sunglasses so I could hide the tears that had pooled up.

The drive to Lithubuka lodge was slow but very interesting. The road had a continuum of foot and bicycle traffic - bicycles are expensive - they save similar to how we would for a car but there are many of them. Barb had the front seat and learned much from our male leader - Tadeo. At one point he mentioned that the displays in the roadside vendor were actually mice on sticks and that they are very tasty, he said we will let her taste one before we leave - she said 'maybe'. He also mentioned that if he can get some black market elephant meat he will bring it for us to try - some parts (legs) taste like chicken, shoulders like pork and the rear is like beef.

He is very informative and showed us his house on the way to our lodge, he has worked for habitat for 9 months since he left college.

When we arrived, Shaori introduced us to the lodge administrator Nancy and we got settled into the dorm. Had a bite to eat, it rained while we were eating, showered of the days brick dust and here I type. (There is a group from Scotland here too).

Cannot believe how much I typed - sorry!