Walking through a local store yesterday called "Shoprite" and stopped in my tracks when I noticed they had transformed one of the aisles into a Christmas goods aisle.. I couldn't believe it.. Even in Malawi the Christmas season is upon us. I doubt John Tesh has a program on the local radio stations, but there were plastic trees, ornaments, wrapping paper, even lawn ornaments that had a white santa and Mrs. Claus holding a sign that said "Merry Christmas." It is hard to escape the clutches of the Christmas season.. I do know there will be no Thanksgiving celebrations in our neighborhood.. I don't think there are even turkeys here.. The Malawian equivalent would be a guinea fowl.
When I got home from work yesterday, there was a beautiful head of lettuce that had been prepared, cleaned and ready to eat on my kitchen table.. This happens about twice a week and I just figured out that Rabina picks the lettuce from the wonderful garden her and her husband Cam tend to in our backyard.. I always thought she grabbed it out of our refrigerator and prepped it for us(subtly saying.. You fridge is full and you need to eat your greens) but i realized yesterday we had no lettuce to speak of in the fridge.. I asked Cam about it, and he said... "Free of Charge!" as he prepared to bike home. Their garden is full of tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, herbs and a variety of other things.. Cam waters each night before he leaves for the day.
Cam and Rabina and the rest of our house staff do a wonderful job of taking care of everything at home. It's one of the perks of living in Africa and one I will miss when we leave.. Not only because things are taking care of for us around the house, but it offers opportunities to converse and learn from people from this part of the world. They are happy to teach us phrases and words from Chichewa as well as fill us in on local customs, ceremonies.
Joseph and Cosmas take great care of us as well... Recently they have complained that they were getting eaten alive by mosquitoes at night when trying to sleep in the guard room near the entrance to our home.. they also said the ants were biting them as well and requested some DOOM to take care of the problem. Cosmas asked the other day for a 10$ advance on his pay of about 70$ a month because he was planning to visit his girlfriends "Auntie" and wanted to buy her something nice.... I asked what he was wanting to buy, he said "soap and a few other nice things."
It's hard to know when to help and when not to help around here.. You want to lend a hand, but you also don't want to be taken advantage of. I have grown to trust all of them and I think they feel the same way about us. I may be wrong, but I doubt we are being taken advantage of.. It's hard to say no to someone who wants a 10$ advance to pay respects to a girlfriends' relatives , or who wants an advance to chip in money to buy a tombstone for a relative who has passed away.
All is well here.... Kids (as mentioned yesterday) are doing well. Kate attend a "Young Life" youth group event that will take place each Tuesday night at a house right down the street from us. This is a great outlet for her and an opportunity for her to socialize with other ex-pat kids and Malawians as well. The weather is perfect here.. 80's in the afternoons, low 60's each night.. oh, and it is sunny again.. Probably like San Diego.
This weekend we head to a rain forest area of Malawi.. Check it out.
http://ntchisiforestlodge.com
