its half term at dedza primary so we've come to zambia for the holiday. had to get a bus at like 5 in the morning from lilongwe [STRESSFUL] which took like 15 hours to get to lusaka, in zambia, then we decided on the spur of the moment to get a night bus to livingstone so we didnt have to spend an extra day travelling. i slept on the floor of the bus, not fun.
our hotel is really close to vic falls so on our second day here we went out to do a gorge swing, flying fox over the gorge and abseiling. since im horrifically afraid of heights i was too scared to do any of the above, but none of it looked at all appealing so i dont regret not doing it :] but i watched, and it looked insanely scary. the gorge swing is a 4 second free fall then you just go swinging across the gorge. we got videos and its very disturbing.
the next day we went white water rafting down the zambezi river, supposed to be the best rafting in the world. annoyingly you had to climb down the gorge to get to your raft. literally the worst half hour of my life, its a steep as anything climb and they've made a proper shady ladder which is just bits of wood nailed together, half of them broken. the guy had to hold my hand the entire way down.
our boat was the funniest group ever, we named ourselves team seabiscuit [after some inside joke from the day before] and i was laughing so much all day that my stomach hurt. the rapids are INSANE, but so much fun. our boat managed to hang in there until rapid number 20, the terminator. our boat flipped [our guide flipped it on purpose] and we got thrown out, literally like a wall of water coming at you, so crazy. i managed to grab the boat again but we were gonna be pushed under while they flipped it so i stupidly let go and floated ages downstream, had to be pulled back in.
was overall just such a funny day, i want to go back and do it all over again even though im now a walking bruise and my legs are in constant extreme pain.
today most people did a bungi jump, but because im a wimp i stayed at the hotel and got a massage :]
really need to go now because we're getting up at half 4 to catch a bus to south luwanga national park. i'll try and post more often, and still sorry about lack of pictures. we got professionally done ones from the rafting and a dvd [including our flip] much love.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
petes birthday
sorry for the stupidly long length between posts, lack of internet and my own laziness.
last saturday we were invited to lilongwe [accomodation and food paid for :O] by our new friends Prosper and Blessing, who are literally african gangsters who own a BMW. they're lovely though. we'd been invited to their friend pete's birthday party, i'd met pete the week before, one of the nicest guys ever [also owns a lot of businesses and orphanages]. so us girls hit mr price first, mr price is the urban outfitters of africa. they sell river island/new look style clothes. we went MAD.
later we went to a bbq with prosper and blessing, but the bbq was pretty rubbish, then we headed to mamma-mias for petes meal. it was the 6 of us from dedza house, pete, prosper, blessing, then their friend saleem who is also lovely and max who's malawian but lives in london. no jokes he IS dizee rascal, he can freestyle rap so well its insane.
dinner was amazing and just a really good atmosphere and blessing paid for everyones food [thank god.] then we went out to a club called oasis and had some banter.
amaaaaazing night, its good to be making friends here and these guys are even helping the boys get sponsorship from one of the big phone companies here for their football tournament theyre setting up.
the day after the party was hectic as anything, jessy had gotten really sick so me and her had to stay in lilongwe an extra night, then rush back to dedza on sunday to pack for half term [which i promise i'll write about while im on this computer!]
iv also decided im not leaving africa, dont want to come home anymore!
last saturday we were invited to lilongwe [accomodation and food paid for :O] by our new friends Prosper and Blessing, who are literally african gangsters who own a BMW. they're lovely though. we'd been invited to their friend pete's birthday party, i'd met pete the week before, one of the nicest guys ever [also owns a lot of businesses and orphanages]. so us girls hit mr price first, mr price is the urban outfitters of africa. they sell river island/new look style clothes. we went MAD.
later we went to a bbq with prosper and blessing, but the bbq was pretty rubbish, then we headed to mamma-mias for petes meal. it was the 6 of us from dedza house, pete, prosper, blessing, then their friend saleem who is also lovely and max who's malawian but lives in london. no jokes he IS dizee rascal, he can freestyle rap so well its insane.
dinner was amazing and just a really good atmosphere and blessing paid for everyones food [thank god.] then we went out to a club called oasis and had some banter.
amaaaaazing night, its good to be making friends here and these guys are even helping the boys get sponsorship from one of the big phone companies here for their football tournament theyre setting up.
the day after the party was hectic as anything, jessy had gotten really sick so me and her had to stay in lilongwe an extra night, then rush back to dedza on sunday to pack for half term [which i promise i'll write about while im on this computer!]
iv also decided im not leaving africa, dont want to come home anymore!
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
lilongwe continued.
after the major disaster of thursday night, we went out again on friday. after our house spending a ridiculous amount of time laughing at sunglasses on a pineapple... [easily amused] and only just renewing our visas before immigration shut, dedza are a happy house because we have no sense of urgency.
we went out to a club called shack which had a volleyball pitch and a dancefloor and bar. there was much dancing on speakers and failing at volleyball. we then got a ride to another club called twiga, in the back of a pick-up truck [i missed out and got a car instead, gutted.]
when we got back to our hotel, dedza house went a little mad and george decided to throw water at us and break alisons mozzie net. fun all round.
lilongwe was a mad, mad weekend. i went out again on saturday night with sabine which was goooood. met 2 people from aberdeen, you have no idea how happy i was to hear a PROPER scottish accent, almost cried. and they live in dedza too so im no longer gonna be deprived of real scottish slang.
we got back on sunday and found out our house had been broken into by 2 kids, they'd stolen ipods and bread [and before this they'd stolen my twix, ragin.] and other stuff. but our watchman petey managed to catch them.
this was like peteys moment of glory because his job was basically gone after turning up to our house, drunk out of his mind. Then shouting at us, rolling in some rubbish and had to be walked home by me and George. so he definitely wasnt in our good books. he is now though, keeps showing up to work in hawain [there is no excuse for my spelling] shirts and cutting all the grass and getting us buckets of water. iv forgiven him, but he's always had a special place in my heart.
oh and there was a snake in our long drop, scary as anything. its not dead, just gone missing so there's a constant snake threat now.
anyway i realise big bursts of writing are quite boring so im gonna stop now :]
we went out to a club called shack which had a volleyball pitch and a dancefloor and bar. there was much dancing on speakers and failing at volleyball. we then got a ride to another club called twiga, in the back of a pick-up truck [i missed out and got a car instead, gutted.]
when we got back to our hotel, dedza house went a little mad and george decided to throw water at us and break alisons mozzie net. fun all round.
lilongwe was a mad, mad weekend. i went out again on saturday night with sabine which was goooood. met 2 people from aberdeen, you have no idea how happy i was to hear a PROPER scottish accent, almost cried. and they live in dedza too so im no longer gonna be deprived of real scottish slang.
we got back on sunday and found out our house had been broken into by 2 kids, they'd stolen ipods and bread [and before this they'd stolen my twix, ragin.] and other stuff. but our watchman petey managed to catch them.
this was like peteys moment of glory because his job was basically gone after turning up to our house, drunk out of his mind. Then shouting at us, rolling in some rubbish and had to be walked home by me and George. so he definitely wasnt in our good books. he is now though, keeps showing up to work in hawain [there is no excuse for my spelling] shirts and cutting all the grass and getting us buckets of water. iv forgiven him, but he's always had a special place in my heart.
oh and there was a snake in our long drop, scary as anything. its not dead, just gone missing so there's a constant snake threat now.
anyway i realise big bursts of writing are quite boring so im gonna stop now :]
Friday, 5 February 2010
t.i.a.
i realise its been about 6 weeks since i lastposted anything, i actually am still alive, though only barely.
since 'this is africa' i doubt im ever gonna be able to get pictures up on this while im here. every internet cafe we find is dial up and i already have about 300 pitures so there's no hope. might try and send a disc home though. so sorrrrry but its pretty impossible to get pictures up.
ANYWAY, i'm still doing alright here in dedza [though im currently in lilongwe renewing my visa]. iv literally had about every disease i could get: a blister bug that was living in my sleeping bag. it bites you and that causes blisters which, when they burst, spread and make more blisters. also got bitten by bed bugs on my first few nights at the HOTEL which were really horrifically painful. then i got an eye infection. followed by some bites on my hand that have made it all swollen. and along the way iv had a sore stomach the entire time from all the carbs we have to eat here. but im a tank and iv survived it all.
our watchman, peter [a.k.a. petey, my future husband.] had to be fired the other day. he's a funny guy and has always seemed drunk, but took the biscuit the other day when he came to the house at midday, wrecked out his face and lying in our doorway asking for money. later on he was rolling in rubbish so me and george had to take him home. he came back 2 hours later to do his 'watchman duties'. so he got fired and my little heart is now broken. i made him a card though, with all his favourite things on [a machete, his cup, some sobo which is like orange juice, a pancake and a smelly rabies dog that he likes throwing stones at]. arthur made him a card too that said 'sorry you got pissed and we had to fire you' but we gave him my card instead...
schools going fine, im a rubbish teacher and mostly just make them draw. though the other day we got them all to dance and sing, most insane thing iv ever seen. they're so so confident.
we're in lilongwe for the weekend to renew our visas, and went out last night for jenni's [the former AV who was here building a library] leaving night. we got a 40 minute taxi to a club that was closed, like to mention the the taxi door was being held on by one of the guys, and i was sitting on the inside engine. then 18 of us were shoved in a CAR that broke down every 2 seconds, until we got to a police block. we slowly rolled backwards away from the police block and got out the car, only to have the policeman come over and ask if we'd all been in that car 2 seconds before. we were like "...no" the car then abandoned us in the middle of nowhere [in a prime raping spot] but luckily we caught a bus.
when we got back to the hotel we met a dutch jesus. most insane night of my life.
even i cant handle reading long shpeels of writing so im gonna stop now. and HOPEFULLY i'll be able to send pictures home soon to be put up.
away to get my eyebrows waxed [SERIOUSLY! IN MALAWI.] and then try and scout out a twix in shoprite, iv only ever found twixes in zomba which is 6 hours away from dedza :[ and the one i bought got stolen.
i'll try and update more, sorry for lack of pictures!
since 'this is africa' i doubt im ever gonna be able to get pictures up on this while im here. every internet cafe we find is dial up and i already have about 300 pitures so there's no hope. might try and send a disc home though. so sorrrrry but its pretty impossible to get pictures up.
ANYWAY, i'm still doing alright here in dedza [though im currently in lilongwe renewing my visa]. iv literally had about every disease i could get: a blister bug that was living in my sleeping bag. it bites you and that causes blisters which, when they burst, spread and make more blisters. also got bitten by bed bugs on my first few nights at the HOTEL which were really horrifically painful. then i got an eye infection. followed by some bites on my hand that have made it all swollen. and along the way iv had a sore stomach the entire time from all the carbs we have to eat here. but im a tank and iv survived it all.
our watchman, peter [a.k.a. petey, my future husband.] had to be fired the other day. he's a funny guy and has always seemed drunk, but took the biscuit the other day when he came to the house at midday, wrecked out his face and lying in our doorway asking for money. later on he was rolling in rubbish so me and george had to take him home. he came back 2 hours later to do his 'watchman duties'. so he got fired and my little heart is now broken. i made him a card though, with all his favourite things on [a machete, his cup, some sobo which is like orange juice, a pancake and a smelly rabies dog that he likes throwing stones at]. arthur made him a card too that said 'sorry you got pissed and we had to fire you' but we gave him my card instead...
schools going fine, im a rubbish teacher and mostly just make them draw. though the other day we got them all to dance and sing, most insane thing iv ever seen. they're so so confident.
we're in lilongwe for the weekend to renew our visas, and went out last night for jenni's [the former AV who was here building a library] leaving night. we got a 40 minute taxi to a club that was closed, like to mention the the taxi door was being held on by one of the guys, and i was sitting on the inside engine. then 18 of us were shoved in a CAR that broke down every 2 seconds, until we got to a police block. we slowly rolled backwards away from the police block and got out the car, only to have the policeman come over and ask if we'd all been in that car 2 seconds before. we were like "...no" the car then abandoned us in the middle of nowhere [in a prime raping spot] but luckily we caught a bus.
when we got back to the hotel we met a dutch jesus. most insane night of my life.
even i cant handle reading long shpeels of writing so im gonna stop now. and HOPEFULLY i'll be able to send pictures home soon to be put up.
away to get my eyebrows waxed [SERIOUSLY! IN MALAWI.] and then try and scout out a twix in shoprite, iv only ever found twixes in zomba which is 6 hours away from dedza :[ and the one i bought got stolen.
i'll try and update more, sorry for lack of pictures!
Friday, 15 January 2010
aliveee
im alive and doing good in dedza. the computers here are soo slow so no pictures until next week when i go to lilongwe.
so i'll make this quick.
our house is lovely except no floor so ants everywhere, cold buckets of water are our shower and the long drop makes me want to spew everytime i go near it.
but the kids in our wee square are lovely, coming round to play almost an annoying amount. i have a video of them dancing to the 50 cent song 'In Da Club' which is the funniest thing i've ever seen.
The school is nice, but sooo many kids, there's about 90 in my class. and if you offer to mark anything then you get every child wanting all of their work marked, and they crowd around you until you've finished. scary stuff.
still missing home a bit but starting to love it here, everyone is so friendly and happy and we've been making good friends.
i have literally hundreds of pictures, and amazing funny ones of the kids so i'll try and post them next week!
xx
so i'll make this quick.
our house is lovely except no floor so ants everywhere, cold buckets of water are our shower and the long drop makes me want to spew everytime i go near it.
but the kids in our wee square are lovely, coming round to play almost an annoying amount. i have a video of them dancing to the 50 cent song 'In Da Club' which is the funniest thing i've ever seen.
The school is nice, but sooo many kids, there's about 90 in my class. and if you offer to mark anything then you get every child wanting all of their work marked, and they crowd around you until you've finished. scary stuff.
still missing home a bit but starting to love it here, everyone is so friendly and happy and we've been making good friends.
i have literally hundreds of pictures, and amazing funny ones of the kids so i'll try and post them next week!
xx
Sunday, 10 January 2010
shoprite
the other day was hatty's birthday, they served her a surprise cake at lunchtime, which she skillfully managed to split between 24 of us.
here's the bronze rooms. actual guinea pig hutch. and inside they look like cells.
then we took our first ever trip to shoprite, which is like the malawi asda. big mistake. im horrific in supermarkets, literally try to buy everything. as you'd know if you were with me when shopping for sweden or any halloween event.
this is me looking like a tool, walking to shoprite. we got heckled all the way. and wee kids come up to you to beg for money so its quite upsetting. i dont look upset because id only just left the hotel :] all smiles.
left to right, alison, mhairi, hatty
shoprite yaaaay. i have no pictures from outside because there were SOOO many hecklers and people and i felt like a tourist. this is some dried fish. all my shoprite pictures are like this.
the brand of coffee is named coffee, this had me laughing for hours. think im heatstroked.
THEY SELL CHICKENS FEET
this is our torrential rain, soooo heavy. and we always leave it too late to run back to our rooms so end up getting drenched. not funny.
we had a free afternoon yesterday so played in the pool. my SKILLED photography caught this bad boy shot [after about 60 tries]. this is rob jumping in the pool and catching the little rocket thing at the same time. im terrible at explaining.
anyhow, im leaving for dedza any minute now and have to go grab all my stuff. slept in as usual and had to rush my last proper shower. won't be able to post a blog until i go to lilongwe on a weekend, the internet in dedza is meant to be painfully slow and you have to pay per minute, so i doubt its happening. i have no patience.
if these pictures have gone stupidly big again then im sorry, i tried to fix them! i'll try and sort it out next time.
here's the only chichewa words i can remember after our extensive lessons:
moni bambo! [hello to a boy.] im going to succeed in dedza clearly.
miss you's all [some people here have never heard the word 'yous' before, i was like 'but what do you do if you're speaking to more than one person?" and then received an english lesson. advanced higher english obviously never registered in my head.] xx
sick of korea
think iv figured out how to fix my photos but im not posting any until i can get to a faster computer, cause this is doing my head in!
im leaving for dedza tomorrow at 8, so have to get up at like 6 to have my last proper shower, gutting. i have photos of our shopping trip the other day and the rain here, which is straight up and down rain and insane.
i'll post something when i can, and gonna try and send out some letters too.
excited to get to dedza though and paint our house, and im sick of the korean food we're getting in our hotel, i've had the same meal every night almost, and they give you mountains of it so you have to feel rude when you hand back a plate that looks full.
the staff here are lovely though, really friendly and smiley.
actual shattered and gonna go sit by the pool with everyone else. i'll try and post more photos soon!
miss home so much! x
im leaving for dedza tomorrow at 8, so have to get up at like 6 to have my last proper shower, gutting. i have photos of our shopping trip the other day and the rain here, which is straight up and down rain and insane.
i'll post something when i can, and gonna try and send out some letters too.
excited to get to dedza though and paint our house, and im sick of the korean food we're getting in our hotel, i've had the same meal every night almost, and they give you mountains of it so you have to feel rude when you hand back a plate that looks full.
the staff here are lovely though, really friendly and smiley.
actual shattered and gonna go sit by the pool with everyone else. i'll try and post more photos soon!
miss home so much! x
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