Cute boyband and bad receptionists.....
This week end we all went to Cape Maclear. It was supposed to be extremely beautiful. And yes, it was- but still, I love senga bay much more. Cape Maclear was not as relaxed. The curio sellers on the beach where disturbing, they wher to much ”in your face” for my taste. They folloowed you along the beach, tried to convince you to buy some shit.. There where also a lot of party places.. It was for sure very nice, fun bars and everytthing, but for me, it took away a little bit of the magic i combine wiht lake malawi. This place more resembled beach resorts in greece oer spain... A lot of party, a lot of things happening... What I found most beautiful with Lake Malawi is that it is so untuched by man, so... genuine. But at cape maclear... Off course, still breath taking beautiful, but to... What is it called? Tourist-like? Fake...?
But I had one great experience! Me and a american guy, Samuel, rented a doubble kayak, and we took a long tour. We paddled around a big island, away from the cape.. And it was amazing! We found a little beach hidden in a lagoon, to narrow for big boats to find. And it was... Enchanting! Black and golden sand mixed together, giant rocks and mango trees surrounding it all... I could have stayed at that beach forever (But preferably with Chrsitian).
When we came back, we saw our friends out in the water. Isabelle (Luxemburgish optician) thought it was an excellent idea to play hippo, and what do hippos do? Yes, correct, they tip boats over. So we got tipped over.... Twice.... ;) hehe. But it was actually very nice, I was very sweaty and warm after all paddling. And luckily, I had borrowed Jessies camera, which was waterproof (took some really cool under water pictures!).
At the beach, we met a little band! ”The Happy Band!” Four little boys, between 6 and 10 years old, hade made their own instruments of thing they had found on the beach. Drums of old and rusty frying pans and tin cans, a guitarr of and old water container and fish net.... And one of the boys danced! He was the smallest one, so extremmely cute! Adn he danced really good, he did some real Michael Jackson moves! =D I must say, those little boys where talented! They made their instrument sound good, and they had some different songs... So cute!!!! =D I filmed them with my videocamera, I'll bring it home so you can see =)
On saturday evening, we went to a little bay. The sign outside said ”THE SHUT UP PARTY. DARRENS PASSING OUT PARADE”. Darren was a man in his late 60's, adn the owner of the bar. The main purpose: To get him to pass out. He was complketely drunk whhen we came there around 10. And he was still completely drunk when we left at 3. And he was STILL completely srunk at 10 am the next day, when he came wandering in to our lodge, cause he had run out of booze in his own bar.. Haha... He was so funny. And we had some friends in common! =D He was best friends with GJ:s father Jan! The guy who took me and Jenny to Liwonde.
And i also met a lot of rasta guys at the bar, that I met earlier at Mabuya camp in Lilongwe! =D
You know you have been a while in a country when people starts knowing your name everywhere you go! =D
Yep, the world is a small place and so Is malawi! =D
Today, I went to Lilongwe to go to the hospital. My IUD have been causing some problems, so I wanted it removed. It went very well, not painfull at all. But after asking ofr the doctor, I had to wait outside in reception for about 4 hours, because the guy in reception did not understand that I was a patient. After three hours of waiting, and starting to recognize people walking in and out.. I aksed the guy in reception If I was really in the correct line. Then he said ”You have to wait until he goes for a break, when he is finished seeing patients”. ”BUT I AM A PATIENT!!!! for God's sake....”
Well, he apologised, and put me in the right line. Gaaaa..... Anyway, he was very service minded and friendly, so some comfort points for that!
Now I am back home in Nkhoma. Link had to work alone today in OPD, cause the nurse she was supposed to work with, didn't feel for working and never showed up. I actually met her this moring before I went to lilongwe. She was not dressed in uniform, and also on her way in to town. I told her that she couldn't do like that when she was supposed to work.. But your friend is working” ”Yeah, Link is working today, but she can't be all alone, she is supposed to go home at 4 today, and what about lunch??” ”aa no.. I don't want to work. Not enough money”. Linn ended up working til 7 pm, cause that little ***** never showed up... I MEAN COME OOON!!!! These guys.... If that would happen at home, that kind of behavior....It would get serious consequences. Very serious. Anyway, Linn spoke to the matronn about it, so I hope she takes care of it.
Now time for posting this on internet...
zikomo! =D
Nkhoma in November
School boys playing with bicycle wheels
Lady at the market, selling sugar canesRainy!
The rains have as I mentioned earlier started... The malaria is increasing, more and more mosquitos are coming... I am on no prophylaxis, have not been since beginning of July. I got so sick from the medication. But I heard a doctor who said that people without antigenes on their red bloodcells very rarely get Malaria.. And I am 0 neg,, so I am absolutely antigen free... So I go for that, adn one tonic water per day! =) Have you ever heard the "myth" that a gin & tonic a day prevents you from getting malaria? I believe that, cause in the tonic water there is quinine, wich is the strongest drug we have against malaria! =) So 0 neg & tonic it is" =)
Yesterday, I fell in the mud... Mud mud mud everywhere, i mean, Why not take a swim? ;) Had to walk back from the market, in the rain, covered with mud (wearing my white uniform!!). Mud in my hair and face... Looked like a drownded rabbit... Everyone laughed at me, and when passing the school, the kids had just quit for the day... So about 100 kids gathered around me and laughed... hehe... Well, I gave back. Started hugging them so they got all dirty, so they ran away! =) hehe.
Have you ever heard the term "Norweigian scabies"?? (Norsk skabb) We now have two kids with it! It is horrible, imagine having herpes sores covering all your body.... Face, arms, abdomen, legs... Horrible!! These Norweigins I tell you... ;) Must be Link who brought it here.... ;)
What else? Did I tell you we got in a guy who got bitten by a crocodile in a river close by last week? Cool! The croc had bitten his leg and his arm. But he survived, the luccky guy!! These crocs here are seriously BIG!!!
More.. Yeah, off course! The ER is working very well! =) It is very intresting, the emrgency care feels much more for real now. And the staff is taking it more serious. That is great!! I will soon post before and after pictures, you will not believe your eyes! =D And we also have a little trolly for children, made by a wheel chair and a wooden box! =D
I belong to you <3
This one is for us, Christian
""See the pyramids around the Nile
Watch the sun rise
From the tropic isle
Just remember darling
All the while
You belong to me
See the market place
In old Algiers
Send me photographs and souvenirs
Just remember
When a dream appears
You belong to me
And I'll be so alone without you
Maybe you'll be lonesome too
Fly the ocean
In a silver plane
See the jungle
When it's wet with rain
Just remember till
You're home again
You belong to me
Oh I'll be so alone without you
Maybe you'll be lonesome too
Fly the ocean
In a silver plane
See the jungle
When it's wet with rain
Just remember till
You're home again
You belong to me""
Jason Wade, "Shrek"
Ndi li bwino! =)
I am getting good in Chichewa! =) I can understand a lot, and speak a little. I don't really write it, but at least these things I (almost) know how to spell:
Muli bwanji?
A, Ndi li bwino, kaya ino?
A Ndilibwino!
Zikomo!
Zikomo! =)
Wu ku pita kuti?
Ndi li kupita ku nyumba! =)
zikomo!
A, ku nyumba, a li bwanji?
A a li bwino. Zikomo!
Dszina lanu Nndani?
Dine maria, ndi li Nambwino ndi chipatala Nkhoma! =)
*** How are you? I am fine, and you? I am fine,! Thank you! Thank you. Where are you going? To my house, thank you (for asking)! A, how is you home? It is fine, thank you. what is you'r name? I am maria, and I am a nurse at Nkhoma Hospital! =)
***
Mwana, a li bwanji? = How is the baby doing? a li bwino Pangono = He/she is fine a little bit (means: he is not fine) A li be malongo? = Does he/she have malaria? A li be kuthenta thupi? = Is he/she having fever? Sequla mimba = Diarrhea? Muko sansa? = vomitting? Wawa? = Pain *** Amai, lowani! = Mother*, come in! Amai, tie! = Mother, let's go! Abambo, kalani apa = Father** sit down here Agogo, dikilani umo = Grandmother**, wait over there Pepani, amai, a li amourira = I am sorry mother, he/she is dead. Mogono bwino! = Good night! Pepani= I am sorry.
*Amai. means mother, but you call every adult women amai. **Abambo. Same thing, means father, but you call every man abambo. ***Agogo. A lady that is really, really old, who is wrinkled, you call agogo. It meand old lady, or grandmother. But you can also call really old men this.
OSSADANDAULA, PALIBE MAVUTO! =) = NO WORRIES, THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS. =)
Just another manic monday....=(
she had a heart attack and died.
The mother and the grandmother started screaming, and crying, and singing... I felt I was so close to tears... But I was very stressed, cause before that girl died, we got in a little girl of 2 years who was hardly reacting to anything, also anemic and had a hard time breathing. We gave her oxygen and started working with her at the same time. So for a while, we had two severely sick patients, both close to death. Then in the middle of it all, I think about just five minutes before the older girl died, the oxygen machine connected to the 2 year old, burst into flames. it started burning, jsut like that! An oxygen concentrator!! How good is that, may i ask?? Anyway, I tried to call our electritian at the same time I was taking a blood sample of the little girl, and the moment I hung up the phone and turned to the older girl, she was dead.
What makes me so completely pissed off, is that that girl died, because she had been poisoned. She had been taken to a witch doctor before she came to the hospital, and he had given her a potion of unknown contents. After taking this potion, she had gotten way worse. And her symptoms and the way she died, was a typical reaction to intoxication. It makes me so angry. These horrible witch doctors... They are killing people. It makes me wanna cry. and what is EVEN more annoying is that the hospital and the doctors and nurses get the blame for it, cause from the guardians point of view, she died in the hospital, while being treated with hospital drugs. She didn't die when she was at the witch doctor. So it was our medicine that killed her. And I tell you.... That is the worst part. Those beilefs are killing people. I mean, the patient died at the hospital, BEACUSE she came TO LATE. And because she had gone to a fake wizard that poisoned her! Aaaaa..... I have never experienced something more horrible in my life than these witch doctors.. I wish they could be forbidden, thrown out of the country, or something... Sent to jail, lifetime sentence.... Treated like any other murderer would be. They are horrible, and I despise them. If i could my hands on one of them.... aaa.... Today I had to pull a trolly with a dead 16 year old through the hospital becasue of them. A 16 year old is not supposed to die!!!
Now, i am home for lunch. There is no electricity today. either. So I am eating some olives and a dry piece of bread with peanut butter. yummi. not.
Soon back to work.
Homesick... =(
And I am tired...Menatlly. I feel that I work so hard with the prject. I am in OPD every single day... encouragning people to do the triage properly... It works, but as soon as some new clinician starts working down there, it all collapses again. Cause no one informs the new staff about what we are doing. I tell them to, but noo... Aaaa!
Sometimes I have to be nice, sometimes i have to be firm... Some are doing a great job... But I always have to remind them... If i stop reminding them, they stop doing it. Like last week. every patient had the wrong colour. Infants with 40 degrees in fever came in with a green tag, and planned patients coming for a simple procedure, liek removing stitchesm came in with red tags. Me and Florence talked to the staff in reception, A LOT. We talked, argued, we bought fanta, had nice chats... It is a long way to go to get someone do their job properly here... Anyway, now they are doing it great again.. But that is what is so frustratinng. the CAN do it. They KNOW how to do it. So why do they just sometimes stop it, and just randomly pick a colour.... Aarrghh I don't know. I don't know...
And the worst thing is, that everyone is asking for money. It si so annoying I want to cry. I really DONT mind when it is really poor people, cause i understand them. But colleagues??? All the patient attendants have asked me.. And one lady, the forst time i spoke to her, she said "Hi! My name is ******. Are you my friend?"
"Ee. Yes.. Sure, I can be your friend" I answered. "Ok! Good! Then I will give you my account number" she said. I mean WTF????????
STOP IT!!!!!!!! AaAAAA!!!!! And two days ago, a patient attendant i really liked, started asking me for huge amounts of money. It makes me so sad. I had another malawian friend, a student girl. I spent some time with her, we were like friends, and sometimes I bought little thing for her. Like peanut butter och shampoo. And then she started to ask about more things adter A while. And i said t her that "No, i am sorry, I don't have money for those things now". And then, I didn't hear from her again. Now she never calls me, never invites me.
It is just so sad. You want too interact with the locals, and be firends wiht them and learn their culture.. But all they want is your money. I talked to the other "muzungus" here, and they aall agree. They all tried in the begining, but then considered it to be to difficult with the money issue.
Anyway, I have a shitty day. I want to go home to Christian and have a normal life. I miss him so much.... shit.
Maybe this is what they call culture shock...... =(
small things thats makes your life golden!
*Sharing your food with vervet monkeys and baboons
*Fall asleep listening to the song of the hyenas
*Snorkel among beautiful ciclids, and then eat the same fish from the same water the same evening
*Watching the sun go down over Lake Malawi
*Discussing life and death with people you never met before, and most likely never will meet againg
*Fall in love with something new every single day
*Sleep on the beach, under the stars, no need for even a blanket- The warm, black sand on Malawi protecs you from the wind.
*Water so warm that you will be start sweating while moving to much in it
*Drinking and bathing in fresh ground water from a waterfall on 2000 metres altitude
*The smell of burned wood
*All the smiling, beatiful faces
*Children spontaneously hugging you on the street
*Discover your true strengthes and weaknesses.
*Sweet, malawian grils tuching your hair beacause they love the softness
*Watching the mothers care for their babies, and for each other...
*Creating something.
In Malawi, no one is alone. You have always someone caring for you. The mothers comfort and protects each other. If a baby dies, they all share the sorrow. If someone is in pain, everyone does what they can to help...If you are sick, everyone takes care of you...
But the best thing.. Is to get to know yourself... To find out what YOU are made for, what your purpose in life is... Or to find out that there is no purpose, there is only you, and you are free.
A friend told me something interesting.. I tolk him that since I was born I had been in a constant stage of confusion.. and he said that "Confusion is the only true stage of freedom". And I agree--- It is true. When being confused, you never know what will happen. You never know what decisions you will make, and which way you will go.. There are so many roads, and you are free to choose any one you like! Isn't that a nice thought? Confusion is freedom. I like it.
OH and I almost forget... The Thing that makes everything perfect, that makes life good.. Is to have someone waiting for you at home. Someone to share dreams with, to plan a future with. I think my stay here would have been soo much harder, without Christian, waiting for me at home. And tomorrow is his birthday.. I wish so hard I could be there with you, darling... Elsker deg.... <3
Now it is time to sleep.... I am so tired I almost feel high... crazy. worked 7 am til 7 pm today... but a lot of things happend at work at 6.50 pm---- Gaah. I couldn't go home until 7.30. aa well. Have had worse days, but aa.. Had a really sick diabetes patient.. Don't like that. Diabetes is a bit scary, I am a nazi when it comes to blood sugars! I check it so often I almost gets annoyed wiht my self... But I have seen to many times what can happen If you check it to seldom.... :S Here they just give insulin without checking the sugar before... Madness. Complete madness, If I can say so.... Aa well... T.I.A, This Is Africa. It is beautiful. But it is a bit wierd.
GOOD NIGHT!!!
(And baby, we can have forever.)
Nyathipa and Bertha is back!! =D
Also, for the last two days i have been writing a report on what we have done sp far in the project. It ended up with 10 pages!! Crazy.... It is stuck in my spine how to make reports now, I even made abstract and all that shit... Just like when doing a report for school, like the bachelor! god, it took ages! And now... Poof! A report! Wohoo!! It was actually nice to do something else than working, so I am not complaining. But so nice to know that it is not going to be judged, as in school.... =) Hihi.
And I have made a small summary text and some pictures for the Nkhoma hospital homepage... It will look somehow like this:
Norweigian emergency care project
We are two nurses from Norway. My name is Maria Svensson, and my colleague's' name in Linn-Kristin Hatlebrekke. We where chosen to go to Nkhoma Hospital, Malawi, to introduce and improve emergency care. This project is a cooperation between three parties, a) Nkhoma hospital, Malawi, b) Our hospital, Haraldsplass Deaconal hospital, Norway and c) ”FK”, fredskorpset, i.e the norweigian peace core. This project is an exchange programme between the two hospitals with two participants from each hospital going to the other, and it is sponsored economically by the FK.
The length of this project is one year, from may 2010 to may 2011.
The aim from FK is as follows:
"Improved quality of emergency care 2010"
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Lead Partner: Haraldsplass Deconal Hospital
-
Countries: Malawi, Norway
-
Status: Active project
""The aim of the project is to improve the emergency care and to establish two emergency units at Nkhoma Hospital; one for adults and one for children. In addition the project is aiming at improving the quality of the high risk care provided in the maternity, surgical and general wards, and in this way reduce mortality among critically ill patients, mothers giving birth and children being born. The project should also promote internationalisation of Haraldsplass Deaconal Hospital.
// Fredskorpset, Postboks 8055 Dep, 0031""
What have we done so far?
-
We have introduced and established an easy and understandable triage system, using colour tags. Red for emergency, Yellow for priority and Green for queue. Before we came, the patients where assorted after what time they came to the hospital, which resulted in a lot of unnecessary deaths in line outside the hospital.
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We have trained patient attendants, nurses, medical assistants, security guards and ward attendents in recognizing severely sick patients, and we have explained the new triage system to everyone at the hospital.
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We have made protocols over how to do the triage, and put them up on visible places around OPD.
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We have planned the renovation and furnituring of an emergency room for children in OPD. The room is now finished and we will start using it this week.
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The area outside OPD is going through a lot of changes. Our intention is to build a floor, a roof and benches outside OPD before the rainy season starts. The benches will be painted in red, yellow and green, and the patients will be informed to sit on the bench that matches the colour tag in their passport.
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We had a problem with patients not understanding what the colour tags where for, and this caused some confusion outside OPD when suddenly some pateints were brought forward in line (red patients), and the others not understanding why. But we have with help from our chichewa-speaking colleags solved this problem by a) every day explaining to the line of people what the colour tags mean, b) bringing the information about the triage system to the villages, using the deacons in the churches and the staff working in the clinics and health centers.
Things are going very well with the project. Before we started the triage, several patiens, babies in particular, died in line outside. Since we started the triage, no one has died in line. Every staff member in OPD have been working very hard, and everyone is doing their best. Every nurse, clinician and patient attendent in OPD have had a role to play in this project, and we are very thankful for all the support and help we have gotten from our fellow colleagues down here. Me and Linn-Kristin have now five months left here in Nkhoma, and we intend to keep improving the emergency care, and to make it strong from the very foundation so that it will be kept up even when we leave in april 2011.
NB; We would love to show some statistics over our progress here, but unfortunately there where no statistics from before, and we have not yet managed to get a system working for making statistics. We are now hoping to get a column in the computerized registration system, where we can document what triage colour the patient had when coming in to the hospital and in that way create statistics.
Many thanks!
Maria Svensson,
reg. nurse.
Pics =)
Me looking at mountain crystals
Zomba
Mitt hus
Jenny giving blood! =)
From Jenny with love! =)
From jenny Nordberg:
"My thoughts rush trough my mind. How can I verbalise and put down in words what lies just beyond my reach? My trip to Malawi has been so full of contrasts. Malawi is called “the warm heart of Africa”, I would say that you in Malawi can find all the feelings and thoughts that is typical to all humans, not only a warm heart. I have seen hope and hopelessness, joy, happiness and sorrow, materialistic shallowness and philosophical depths, understanding, loyalty and helpfulness, egoism, lies, bigotry and narrow-minded people. I’ve seen some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen but also some of the most horrible. I’ve seen poverty and luxury, clean and filthy, eagerness and indifference. I will not ever in my life fully grasp it all. I’m grateful for that. It means that I will never know everything, I hope that never, ever will. I want to be surprised, blown away and filled up with new insights, both wonderful and devastating.
I’m so glad that I went there. I’m so glad that I came to visit you Maria. I’m so proud of you and what you’re doing. I’m impressed by your patience when you need it, by your efficiency, by your professionalism and compassion. I now know what the hospital smells like, I know what the corridors look like, I know where you by your Fanta and I wait with excitement for the travellers guide “100 ways to open a Fanta”! So, what have we done besides been to the hospital? We found out that I was anaemic, that was a surprise...not!
First we went to Lilongwe and met these two wonderful guys, Jelmer and GJ and had a lovely time, talking, laughing, great guys really! And we can’t forget Drooley (the dog). After that we went to the beach, to Senga Bay by Salima, to Safari Beach Lodge (everyone needs to come here!). We took the bus to Salima and rented a truck from there out to Senga Bay. The bus trip was hot as hell and the driver played music so fucking loud I seriously thought that my head was going to explode! But...it was totally worth it =)! We had a wonderful weekend! Bathing, some canoeing, snorkelling, watching sunsets, lying in the sand in the dark watching the stars and “The Belgium Highway”, monkeys in the trees, birds by the pool, trees covered by flowers, lizards glistening of every colour of the rainbow, a beach with black sand, proud fisheagles and making new friends.
After a couple of days back in Nkhoma, days filled with hospitalduty, a visit out to a village close by, dinnergatherings, wonderful people and a visit to a local school we went off again. This time headed for Liwonde National Park and Zomba Plateau! The night in some slumarea of Liwonde was...yes, awful but....once again, so totally worth it! We left early from that hideous motel and took a minibus to...Olongwe (not sure about how you spell that). One thing is for sure, I WONT miss the smell of sweat and dried fish...At least not yet, maybe when I start to get desperate I will miss that aswell ;). The bicycletaxi in to the National park was an experience! I loved it! So cool! Our drivers became somewhat nervous when we entered the park...elephants close by! So fucking cool! Matthews or Mr Wilderness, one of the guides picked us up by boat and took us to camp (very luxurious camp). Tom made us breakfast although it actually was too late for that. He was so, so sweet! That was probably one of the best meals ever! Matthews and Patrick took us for a gamedrive in the Rhinosanctuary where we among other things saw a very dead elephant! The gamedrive in the afternoon and evening was wonderful, the animals, the nature, the sunset, once again I’m hung up on the stars, the sunsets and the moon. One of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen was when Matthews turned of the car and the lights, it was completely dark and the fireflies glistened in the grass and the heavens were filled with stars...it was extraordinary. I felt at peace with the world and with myself. Filled with the wonder of how beautiful the world can be. Once again...maybe you need the contrasts to really appreciate what you see and what you experience? I think so.
There is so much to tell. We went up to Zomba, smelled almost like Sweden. All green and covered with forests. Pine and palms together, some of the most delicious berries I’ve tasted and wonderful views! We went for a ride, yes, on horses, only for an hour but...oh my! That place is so beautiful! After all this we went back to Nkhoma again. For me it was time to pack. I could hardly believe it! I had just arrived? I felt the panic rise. I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to return to Sweden. I wanted to stay there, in the sun, see the rains that’s coming soon, sitting by the lake and watch the thunder and se how everything explodes from water and warmth and becomes green...Any way...
we went in to Lilongwe on Monday, I bought some coffee and spirits at Shoprite and some stuff at the woodmarket. We went to Jelmer and GJ again to spend the night at their house, easier to get to the airport from there. We had the most amazing night! We went off to this local bar, it was filled with these awesome people, playing music, singing, talking...wonderful really! I really, really, really didn’t want to leave the next day. We filled the night with emotional and philosophical questions and conversations. I loved it. I still love it. The departure felt so unnecessary. I’ve made some wonderful new friends here. Malawi can rest assure that this one will come back!"
Typical shower routine.... ;)
"Hmm.. No. But i did it two days ago"
"Ok.. And I showered at least one day before you..So 3 days.. Maybe should do it now"
.....
....
....
Fuck! No water!
well, waits a little while...
2 hours later... still no water. Fuck.
Ok. Goes to sleep, can shower tomorrow morning.
*Sleeeeeeeeping*
Beep beep! fuck! Late! Need to go to work. work from 7 am til 7 pm.
Dinner at guest house.
Home at 10 pm. Sleep.
Morning. Awake. But no water. well well. try again to take a shower tonight.
Crisis at work. Late home. Exhausted. Shower..?? What is that? asch, no need.
Sleep.
Next day. Wash most necessary things with wet towel. Not enough water for more. And honestely doesn't care anymore.
Work. Fuck, gets a lot of blood on my leg. really should remove that..
hmmm....
Try to take a shower maybe! hmmm when was last time.. fuck 5 days ago! Ick!!! I have become an object of my own contempt... Groose!!!
Shit. No water.
Aa well.. Osadandaula!! =D
;) /Maria
Wondeful, Wonderful People!! =D
I don't know how to describe the feeling im haviing right now.
It is just amazing.. It is like my whole world has been turned up side down and in side out one hundred times during a few weeks. It all started with the dutch man Piet Lake of Stars. We had such a wonderful connection and the talks we had really made me reconsider a lot of things in life... And now I have met these wondeful guys in lilongwe! Jelmer and Gerrit-Jan. They are just so.. Adorable! Me and Jenny spent a few days with them, and they are two really interesting persons and we had so much to talk about.. And when talking with and meeting people like this, your worlds turns around so much cause you see and meet so much other perspectives and ways of living.... One thing that was particulary interesting (Okej this might sound very stoned and crazy, but it is not) was to meet my self, in a male version. Gerrit-Jan. I can't explain it, but also Jenny said that ”the two of you are so similar it is scary!” And we had all the same problems... And ok, wise from past experiences when telling in my blog that I like a male human being; No one have to worry, there will never be anything else then a very good friendship, none of us would want that cause both of us have our hearts given to other people, so no worries! =) And also, I would never stand to be involved with someone that much alike myself.. I would hate to be my own girldfriend! Hehe. But, back to subject, I saw a reflection my self and my own feelings and problems and visions and dreams in another person, and it was really really cool... And it was really good for me, and maybe for him as well, to see this reflection in a way... You learn a lot about yourself in that way... Anyway, Jelmer and G-J, I Love you so much guys, you are incredible!! See you soon for paint ball!!
And that is the absolutely best part with this whole thing, without competition, to meet all these amazing people.. Also here in Nkhoma.. All the wonderful people passing or staying.. Liz and Becka... Hannah and Clair.... Floor and Kim...=) Hendrika... Marlieka... Gervim.... ! And those who are here just as long as we (or longer).. Isabelle, Rhona, Jessie.... Dorothy.... Ngari.. All such amazing and interesting persons, I love them all so much, and I will have all this wonderful memories of them and our time together here... I am a bit sad about this though, cause Rhona and Jessie and Dorothy is leaving in december.. =( I dont know what will happen at female ward without Rhona... But I will keep an eye on it for her =)
And Jenny has now, unfortunatelyand after at least 25 wedding proposals, left the country. It was so incredibly nice to have her here, a little breeze from home!! And we had a great time, going to the lake, to Liwonde and to the beautiful, beautiful Zomba plateau... =) She is really a great friend, and I love her so much!!! =D I have asked her to make a blog entry here, and she will do that when she comes home! =) So then you can read and see her experience of the time she spent here.
And Christian, you wonderful wonderful man... Thank you for existing, being there for me anytime I need you... you mean the world to me.. I tell you, this guy is just the best of the best.. I've never met anyone that loyal or that loving and carirng as him... Christian, I love you so much!!!! =D
Life is GOOD!!!!!
//Maria
Zomba!
Finally i am at Zomba Plateau! It is ca 2100 metres high, and the beauty is no less than breath taking! According to the locals, J.R.R Tolkien got inspired by Zomba before he wrote "The Hobbit", and i can tell you, I see why... The natur is magnificent! Pine trees mixed with palm rees, amazing flowers in every colour you can imagine, and delicious berries, berries, berries everywhere! Black straw berries, little yellow "mulunguzi" berries, black berries.... Aaa it is wonderful! The air is clean, and the smell is undescribeble! It somehow reminds me of Sweden, of the mountans near my home town. I think it is the pine trees, It is a wonderful smell, and it makes me feel sa at home... I think I could stay at Zomba Plateau forever!! =D
****
Sunday
Today we went for a horse ride around the mountain. Amazingly beautiful horses, in an amazingly beautiful landscape! Then we walked to the mandala waterfalls! Completely stunning! I obviously lacks survival instinct, and
decided to swim, shower an climb in the falls. It was magnificent! The water was cold, almost as cold as home! And it tasted fresh and metal! We stayed by the falls for quite a while, eating wild berries and enjoying the water and the view. we also wanted to visit "chingues hole", where they in the olden days used to sacrifice humans to the ancestral spirits that are supposed to live here... But we don't have time. I will deffinately do iit next time!!!
I will soon come back here again!! A friend of mine in Lilongwe has promised me that we will go camping here soon, that will be just magic!! =D
Uff, I really have a problem. I love Malawi to much. I love the work, the people, the nature... I could seriously stay here for ever... But then I would need a lot of breaks to be able to go home, and I would need everyone to coome here to visit.... And I would miss everyone so much... Just like now. Even though I love it here, off course I miss my home, my friends and family... But the more I see of this country, the more attached I get... Aaa I can't leave malawi!!!
Mulunguzi berriesAdventures
So we went to bed hungry, woke up hungry, and sat on a minibus to Ulongwe, and then from ulongwe to mvuu camp in the national park by bicycle taxi. Like coming to heaven!!! Wonderful service, breakfast, frinks, shower.... mmmmm!!!! Only bad thing: I forgot my toothbrush at home!! Uff.
We found a dead elephant! Pictures will come later. He had been drained of fless by hyenas, but all the skin was intact. His feet had been ripped loose and emptied of flesh, so you could try then on like shoes... Kind of morbid, but had to try... Very big shoes!!! ;) But i will not recommend it; the smell of dead elephant will never leave my nose.... Horrible!!!
Now time for finner. Good night!! =)
Soundtrack of Malawi
First:
U2 - Bad
Rolling stones -Faraway eyes
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
These three songs makes me happy and relaxed, and reminds me of wonderful nights by the lake, and about some very special people I have met down here..
Neo - Human frontier
I know, a little bit silly, but I heard this song the same day I found out that I was going to Malawi! So it really means a lot.
Best of the best - Warm heart of Africa
Shakira - Waka waka
Malawi in a nutshell! Warm heart of Africa, wonderful song and really catches Malawi in a nutshell! And being in Africa during the worldcup, gave waka waka a very special feeling for me.
Johnny Cash - ring of fire
Train - Hey soul sister
Don't really know why, but damn good are they! =)
And Off course;
The reggaes! =)
Morgan Heritage
and
Bob Marley
When going to the lake, it is all about reggae. Just so amazing realxing! =)
***
And as ALWAYS, My favorite song in the entire world and actually quite a good soundtrack for my entire life... :
Queen - To much love will kill you
The text goes straight to my heart... It always comes to my mind. No matter where I am or waht I do. Love it.
Malawi, always beatiful..... =)
Life in Malawi
And the best thing; I meet so much nice people! =) Last week Jenny came to visit me (she is still here, living, breathing. So noone has to worry! =)). On thursday we went to lilongwe to stay with two friends I made at the lake of stars festival. Jelmer and GJ! Jelmer is from Holland and GJ from Malawi, but he is a muzungo. They live in a BIG house, with a big garden. It was so beautiful! Lilongwe in general is quite ugly, and very scattered and noisy.. But this place was lika an oasis! So quiet, so beautiful, and wonderful company! Me and GJ sat up talking all night, about everything between heaven and earth, and i though the clock was around midnight, but suddenly it was 4 am! So we decided to stay up until me and jenny had to leave. Also Jenny was up all night watching the stars. We had a campfire in the garden and some rooibos tea... It was an incredibly nice night!! =)
Then on saturday me and Jenny took a minibus to Salima, and the a truck to senga bay! This time to safari beach lodge. AWESOME place!!!! We lived in little stone chalets up on a hill, somehow in the jungle, with baboons coming to visit you, rock rabbits, thusands of birds adn a wonderful wiev of the lake!!! The beach was privat, and the water was warmer than ever!! I tell you all, you cannot die without visiting Lake Malawi.
I am seriously thinking of staying here for another year... That possibility is there, and i am really considering it. I love Malawi... I love the lake, the people, the everything!! Most of all the lake. They tell you to not swim in lake malawi before you come here.. but when you see it.... I mean....! Eva and tree. You just have to, it is so wonderful! =) and if you just take the prophylaxis drugs for bilharzia 3 months after, you'll be perfectly fine.
So everyone, be prepared to come down to visit me next summer!!!! =)
Hoy.
Malawi =)
"A place so scattered,
yet Whole
So Wet
yet so dry.
You walk alone
being close to your soul.
listening to
the Hyenas cry
Colour and laughter,
green leaves on the trees.
Purple spot people,
cry for relief
Singing their pain,
embracing their grief.
a short short moment,
until by singing released.
Beautiful country,
So happy, so sad.
I love your sorrow,
though it hurts me so bad.
Under the sun of Malawi
kissed by waves from the sweetest sea,
Have I finally found,
the true place to be...?"
