November 17, 2008

The lavender jacarandas have lost their blooms and been replaced by the brilliant fiery red of the flamboyant variety. And as the rains become more frequent we are beginning to see more green as well. Not that there has been a lot of rain so far, but there have been some good downpours, particularly at night. That fresh smell after the rain is wonderful indeed. However, this does leave the daytime temperatures fairly high and on the humid side. Needless to say, the fans are working overtime in the classroom and at home.

As some of you know I experienced my first, and hopefully last, bout of malaria a couple of weeks ago. My symptoms were quite mild, and not particularly classic, but the wise folks at school insisted I get tested, and sure enough, malaria it was. The standard three-day treatment worked quite well and I only needed to miss one day of classes, which is very good since we don’t really have substitute teachers and there have been a number of interruptions in the regular schedule lately.

International Day was one of those worthy interruptions. Last Thursday the regular schedule was set aside as we celebrated the cultural diversity of the school. After a school-wide parade of nations, we split into smaller groups for different role play activities and discussions related to the theme of sustainable development. Although it appeared quite chaotic at times, there was some really profound learning going on and, overall, a highly successful experience. The day finished off with an evening celebration of dance, fashion and food organized by several teachers and the PTA.

This past weekend will, however, remain a highlight of our experience here, I am sure. With our birthdays being so close together we decided to treat ourselves to a visit to a new lodge that has opened in Lake Malawi National Park.

Often advertising builds expectations that aren’t met. Not so in this case. The reality of Pumulani Lodge is better than the brochures. Setting, comfort, food, hospitality: impeccable! Although we did avail ourselves of the complimentary kayaks and snorkeling equipment, just hanging out in the hammock chairs at the beach, reading a book and watching the baboons help themselves to the mangoes was entertainment enough. The staff kindly helped us improve our proficiency in the bao game, and refrained from laughing at our ineptitude. And what can I say about a sundowner cruise in the dhow? The bar is open, the appies are tasty and you can just jump overboard into the warm waters of Lake Malawi whenever the spirit moves you. Delightful!

November also seems to be arts and crafts month in Lilongwe. I guess it all leads up to the Christmas rush, although I am still having trouble envisioning Christmas as it continues to get hotter here. A couple of weeks ago we had the IWAM (International Women’s Assoc. of Malawi) fair. It was held on our campus and was a fine display of crafts and food booths with some music and local dance. This weekend will be Arts Fest sponsored by the Wildlife Association. There will be artists from around the country displaying and selling their work. Should be interesting. Speaking of artists we were delighted to have the chief chairs and small table we commissioned finally arrive. As you can see from the pictures there are some talented wood carvers in this country.

Well that about wraps it up for now. We are still undecided about the upcoming holidays and happily anticipating the baby news from Canada. With one grandchild due at the end of this month and the other shortly thereafter it will be an exciting time.

Best wishes and do keep in touch.