So I was slightly wrong about what the weather would be like when I got here. Actually I told several people how it was going to be the hot/dry season when I arrived. (And I swear there are some out there guilty of giving me this information)
Instead there has been some rain almost every day, making it slightly cooler. But don't worry, it's still quite hot, especially compared to back home.
The Mvula (rain) will last until March, when the hot/dry season should start again.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Change of Plans
We had our staff meeting for Gracious today. We are a little short on staff. Right now, there is only the headmaster (who also teaches), three other teachers, a secretary (who is leaving for college in February), and another American, Paul Simons (but he will be assisting teachers, not teaching).
There are a lot of subjects to teach, and not a lot of people to teach them.
As a result, I will be teaching Maths (Form 1 & 2), English (Form 1), and Social Studies (Form 1 & 2)
The Soc. Studies and English should be interesting. I know this must be quite a shock to some of my former colleauges, and especially to my former students! But, I'm sure I will do my best and succeed. I'm happy not to be teaching science. (Trying to do labs in a school with little equipment scares me.)
There are a lot of subjects to teach, and not a lot of people to teach them.
As a result, I will be teaching Maths (Form 1 & 2), English (Form 1), and Social Studies (Form 1 & 2)
The Soc. Studies and English should be interesting. I know this must be quite a shock to some of my former colleauges, and especially to my former students! But, I'm sure I will do my best and succeed. I'm happy not to be teaching science. (Trying to do labs in a school with little equipment scares me.)
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Mzungu!!
The various responses of African children upon seeing a Mzungu (white person)
1. They shout out “How are you?!” repeatedly (Just like the Constant Gardner, occasionally they
will substitute “hello”)
2. They shout out Mzungu!! and laugh
3. They just stare at you (this is also the reaction of many adults)
For more interesting results, combine mzungu and children with frisbee
1. They shout out “How are you?!” repeatedly (Just like the Constant Gardner, occasionally they
will substitute “hello”)
2. They shout out Mzungu!! and laugh
3. They just stare at you (this is also the reaction of many adults)
For more interesting results, combine mzungu and children with frisbee
Mailing Address
Since I know there are hundreds of people out there that would like to send me fan mail:
(You don’t even have to mess with scary zip codes)
Conor Brady c/o
Malawi Children’s Village
Private Bag 21
Mangochi, Malawi
(You don’t even have to mess with scary zip codes)
Conor Brady c/o
Malawi Children’s Village
Private Bag 21
Mangochi, Malawi
Gerald
My first day at MCV, I spent much of my time just walking and talking with a couple older boys at MCV. Both of them had amazing stories. Their stories are the type of things you’re used to reading about in brochures and newsletters for organizations. It was really amazing to hear their stories first hand. I recounted one true, typical Malawian story below. Luckily this story has a happier ending because of MCV.
Gerald was a very good student in Primary school (which is provided free in Malawi by the government) and was selected for Secondary School because he did well on his exit exam. Then his father died, and everything changed. His family did not have enough money to send him to Secondary school, and so he spent two years sitting around his house and village. He began to lose hope, and thought that he was too old, and would never be able to go to Secondary School. He was then introduced to MCV by Ken Montgomery (an American, MCV board member). MCV offered to pay Gerald’s school fees. He did very well in school once again, and upon the completion of form 4, sat for an exam to get into a government college. Over 4,000 people sat for the exam, and only 150 were chosen to attend one of the few free government colleges. Gerald was selected! He will be starting college in a couple weeks where he plans to study education. Life is still not easy for Gerald however. His brother-in-law recently died forcing his sister to move back home with her three young children. Gerald now lives at home with 7+ people (I forget the exact number). This is in a typical small village home with no electricity or running water.
Gerald was a very good student in Primary school (which is provided free in Malawi by the government) and was selected for Secondary School because he did well on his exit exam. Then his father died, and everything changed. His family did not have enough money to send him to Secondary school, and so he spent two years sitting around his house and village. He began to lose hope, and thought that he was too old, and would never be able to go to Secondary School. He was then introduced to MCV by Ken Montgomery (an American, MCV board member). MCV offered to pay Gerald’s school fees. He did very well in school once again, and upon the completion of form 4, sat for an exam to get into a government college. Over 4,000 people sat for the exam, and only 150 were chosen to attend one of the few free government colleges. Gerald was selected! He will be starting college in a couple weeks where he plans to study education. Life is still not easy for Gerald however. His brother-in-law recently died forcing his sister to move back home with her three young children. Gerald now lives at home with 7+ people (I forget the exact number). This is in a typical small village home with no electricity or running water.
Chakudya (food)
Because Sibale is very well off by Malawian standards, (they have electricity, water, and even a TV) I get to eat a “large variety of food.”
Breakfast: bread with butter, and tea.
Lunch and dinner: rice or nsima (maize porridge type stuff)
vegetables (they appear to be like spinach & onions)
meat (either chicken or beef)
Since it is Mango season we often eat Mangos for dessert
All the food is prepared by Sibale’s girls, and they never seem to eat at the same time. Actually I haven’t been able to figure out when the older girls eat at all!! The older girls also do a lot of washing, and taking care of little Thandi as well.
Like I said, Sibale is much wealthier than the typical Malawian. Most people’s diet consists of Breakfast: Nsima
Lunch: Nsima
Dinner: Nsima
(That’s assuming that they have enough to eat three times a day, obviously this not always the case)
Sibale has been to America several times, and tells me he is always amazed that people can get any kind of fruit they want even when it is not in season.
I have heard that there is a lot of fish eaten in Malawi, so perhaps I will be adding to my variety in the future.
Breakfast: bread with butter, and tea.
Lunch and dinner: rice or nsima (maize porridge type stuff)
vegetables (they appear to be like spinach & onions)
meat (either chicken or beef)
Since it is Mango season we often eat Mangos for dessert
All the food is prepared by Sibale’s girls, and they never seem to eat at the same time. Actually I haven’t been able to figure out when the older girls eat at all!! The older girls also do a lot of washing, and taking care of little Thandi as well.
Like I said, Sibale is much wealthier than the typical Malawian. Most people’s diet consists of Breakfast: Nsima
Lunch: Nsima
Dinner: Nsima
(That’s assuming that they have enough to eat three times a day, obviously this not always the case)
Sibale has been to America several times, and tells me he is always amazed that people can get any kind of fruit they want even when it is not in season.
I have heard that there is a lot of fish eaten in Malawi, so perhaps I will be adding to my variety in the future.
Waiting
School doesn’t start until January 8th. Until then I’m just getting used to the slower pace of life in Africa. I had heard that things were slowed down here, but it’s still quite a shock coming from over stimulated America. Combine the slower pace of Africa with a holiday… let’s just say I spend a lot of time reading and playing with Sibale’s youngest girl, Thandi. She is actually an orphan from Sibale’s extended family, and can speak about as much English as I can Chewa. (Which is very sad considering she’s only 2½ , but I’m trying to learn more everyday.) A typical conversation in English with Thandi:
Thandi: How are you? (every little kid knows at least this much English, and they love to say it)
Me: I’m fine, how are you?
Thandi: How are you?
Me: I’m fine. How are you?
Thandi: How are you?
Me: I’m fine.
Thandi: I’m fine!!
(you get the picture)
We also have similar conversations in Chewa. But most of the time we just throw things back and forth and I understand nothing of what she says unless one of the older girls is around to tell me.
There are 6 girls, Thandi, Temwa, Chisomo, Nane, Sekille, & Nancy. It took me 3 days to get the names down. When all their friends come over to play, I’m hopelessly lost again.
Thandi: How are you? (every little kid knows at least this much English, and they love to say it)
Me: I’m fine, how are you?
Thandi: How are you?
Me: I’m fine. How are you?
Thandi: How are you?
Me: I’m fine.
Thandi: I’m fine!!
(you get the picture)
We also have similar conversations in Chewa. But most of the time we just throw things back and forth and I understand nothing of what she says unless one of the older girls is around to tell me.
There are 6 girls, Thandi, Temwa, Chisomo, Nane, Sekille, & Nancy. It took me 3 days to get the names down. When all their friends come over to play, I’m hopelessly lost again.
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