My friend here in Malawi, Heather, reminds me that I don't post very often! This is my attempt at keeping the blog more up-to-date. It has only been a week since I last posted! This past week has been a bit bad, since I came down with malaria. Apparently I had it since last Thursday, but when I tested on Friday it came out negative. I proceeded to lay in bed for the next four days and finally decided to get another test. The Country Director of JRS Malawi, Sister Michelle, kindly drove me to the hospital on the day after Easter, and I was tested again for malaria, with a positive result this time.
My experience at the hospital was interesting. It is the public hospital in Lilongwe, and apparently quite cheap. I did not have to pay for my test or the medication that they provided me with. They have an outdoor waiting area with little doors for various ailments and tests. I went to the "pediatric malaria test" area (I can only assume it was pediatric because the children are the ones that fall ill with malaria the most often), had my finger pricked, and then waited once again, outside. Then I was sent to the pharmacy window where I proceeded to ask the man what the side effects of my medication would be, and he told me, "there are many, a whole range" and refused to expand on his response! Meanwhile, the woman waiting behind me in line is saying "too long!" and "just eat more nsima".
Once I started taking the medicine I seemed to be on the mend. I did not work much this week, although I did visit a new client in Malawian prison. The prison was not what I had expected at all. It is basically a giant field enclosed by two layers of fencing and barbed wire. Inside the fence, there are small bunkers, presumably where the prisoners sleep, and open areas where men were playing soccer and chatting with one another. I did not see any bars, there were no watch towers; I'm not even sure the guards had guns! The prisoners also did not even give me a second look, which I was surprised by since I'm both a woman and white. They were more interested in keeping an eye out for visitors whom they actually knew.
Today I went with Lindsay and my coworkers Ann and Nyssa to the spa! Really, it is a hair salon, but it is the closest thing to a spa in Malawi. I had an hour long massage for approximately $15, and then I got a manicure for about the same amount. I was pleased with both of these services. The woman who did my massage also did my nails (she's a woman of many talents) and we chatted about the ridiculousness of the Easter bunny. She says that in Malawi Easter is seen as a very religious holiday; a day for prayers and seeing your family. They do not even eat an Easter dinner.
After I went for the massage, Lindsay and I went to my co-worker's house for lunch. He kindly invited me over to meet his family and see where he lives, so I accepted. We had a nice time eating nsima and taking pictures of his daughter, Lucia. I've added some of the pictures. There is one of me stirring the nsima pot (that takes muscles!) and one of Lucia outside her home. I also got a video of her dancing, but I think that will take too long to load on my slow connection. She really loved to dance and sing. I think she takes after her father, who is a musician, in addition to his many other talents. I also added a picture of Heather and her boyfriend Alexio. He has been evacuated from Zimbabwe, where he lives and works for the Clinton Foundation, in anticipation of the elections there this weekend.
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