Dinner with the chief and Malawi village life
Trip Start
Jul 25, 2006
1
12
23
Trip End
Sep 30, 2006
Llongwe,
Malawi
Friday, August 11, 2006
Last Thursday (i'm writing this on monday), i had an interesting day. Group of 10 of us went on a walk around local malawi village. As soon as we left the camp site we were overwhelmed with 3 'tour guides' each and more children than u have hands to accompany you around the village. We went to the chiefs house, school, health clinic (saw a new born child minutes after the birth, felt like a horrible tourist...was weird) and generally spoke to and met about 1000people all who want sweets, pens, paper or want to sell u the usual variety of curios. It was an interesting morning, very overwhelming at first, going around all the mud huts was surreal- I have decided and realised what a contrast Africa can be, from Cape Town last year which is more like the rest of the world with an African twist to the rest of Africa where people really do live with very little electricity/running water etc. The village we went to actually was not badly off, mainly because of the tourists visting- enough money had been raised for 3 water pumps so now people are no longer dying from malnuitrition and the primary school, 1500kids for 9teachers gets much better than average results, which is good even though the walk around was an odd experience. The women in the village have to do all the work in the fields, care for the family, build the fine, chop the firewood, pump and carry the water (on the head) you name it the mother does it-the men do nothing!! Am so glad i was born and lucky enough to have opportunities beyond this sort of life.
The walk was also great because meeting the people always make you like a place more. The tour guides went from people who hassle you all day for money and to buy something to friends. Later in the day i went and sat with the guides, helping them in their workshop....Stu made you something...actually you will be relieved to hear they did most of thw work and i did some sanding! Was fun and so interesting to see how they make stuff-no health and safety and use home made tools. The end results are amazing considering!
In the evening the whole group, we went for dinner at the Chiefs House followed by dancing and drumming with the children in the village and ending with us teaching half the village the hokey kokey- yep definately sharing the best of Western culture. The kids loved it though and we must have done it about 10times, with african drum accompaniment. Definately a memorable evening.
