Malawi now and then

I safely arrived in Lilongwe. I was so glad to see a familiar face waiting for me at the airport. Freddy, a fellow volunteer from Indonesia who happens to work at VSO Malawi office waved his hands to get my attention. by that time I knew that I will be alright. The travel to the town where my hotel is wasn’t that long. It was a dry yet beautiful view on the way to the town. I had to keep reminding myself that I am in a different world and shouldn’t expect to see tall buildings, mega apartments, and fancy shopping malls. But truly, I never expect to see what I saw.

in one of the Market

As soon as I arrived at the riverside hotel, the only thing I wanted to do is taking shower. Reggie and Herman, the other VSO volunteers were already in the hotel. Poor them, they have to delay having Easter lunch because of waiting for me. Again, I knew that I will be alright. At the first hours of my life in Africa, there are people who welcome and concern about me. The support keeps coming. I don’t feel that I am a new comer except that I don’t know how to get to one place without someone taking me. Apart from that, I feel comfortable already they treat me as I am part of them. They show me around, took me to the city center, invite me for dinner, talk easily about stuffs. They make my coping with the new situation so much easier.

At this stage, i don’t want to complain about anything even though I feel some weird things happen in the office. i will not work in this office anyways. My employer is in Karonga, and I am looking forward to see and meet them next Wednesday. I believe there will be another headache later on dealing with them which I don’t want to think about at the moment.

The City of Lilongwe

It comes to my surprise that my house in Karonga is not yet ready while they were pushing me to come as early as possible. It means that I will stay in a lodge for another week and buying my own furnitures for the house once i get there next Wednesday. Well, I hope my settling in grants will be enough to buy them all. BUT I cant wait to be there and settle up. I am tired staying in hotels where I can’t fix my own food (oh I lost 2 kg already as I am still adapting with the taste) and be comfortable at my couch, start planting some veggies in my yard, or even play with the kids in my neighborhood.