Customs went pretty smoothly and we only waited for about half an
hour. From there we went to a hotel for the night. It was about 4:30
pm local time when we landed, but it felt like mid-morning. After a
great sleep in the hotel, we got back on a plane and took the two and
a half hour flight to Lilongwe, Malawi. Once we got out of the
airport, it really started to feel like Africa.
Today, Monday (July 7), we started our orientation. We went to a village to watch the college group go through their day. Thursday will be our first day of camp by our selves. On the drive to the village, almost everybody waved. Everybody here is so happy and outgoing. Yesterday, while we were in the grocery store, I met another Isaac. The people here have nothing, but I would bet that they are happier than a lot of the people in the U.S.
Now that our first camp is over, I feel much better about the next few camps. I know how things run, what makes the kids laugh, what makes the translators laugh, and how to keep high energy in the classroom. Friday night (July 11), before our homestay, there was a soccer game between the Kaphumphe School team and some of the World Camp teachers. We lost miserably, but it was a lot of fun. When we arrived at the village, they had organized a traditional dance, costumes and all, to welcome us. After that, we went back to our respective families. But that didn’t last very long. Before long, everybody was outside singing and dancing. I spoke a little bit of Chechewa, and some of them spoke a bit of English. Even though my accommodations were almost comfortable, I got very little sleep. Everybody was up by 6:30 cooking breakfast. Some of the Malawian women taught some of the World Camp girls how to fetch and carry water on their heads. Before we left the school on the third day, the students, helped by us, put on a short skit or song that demonstrated different points about HIV/AIDS, the environment, or malaria. Then we presented the school with certificates for completing some workshops of their own. We are all very tired, but are looking forward to the next camp. Tomorrow, (the 13th) on our rest day, we will be climbing a mountain. Not exactly restful, but it will be fun. The internet is a bit funny, but I'll try to get another email out in a week.
13 July hike (click on the photo to enlarge it)
