Learning the Culture

Quick post just as we are in between activities today and enjoying the beautiful gazebo outside.

This morning we enjoyed getting up leisurely and then ventured to town.  We were able to exchange money, go to the market, go to the grocery store.  Everything is a close walk and we are able to get to almost everything we need with just a 15-20 minute walk.  Everything except the market.  Which is good because otherwise i'd go crazy....Everything is so reasonable here!  I ate lunch today (sambousas and ice cream) for $2 total!  And I was full and it was delicious!   Sambousas are basically just fried dough with meat and vegetables inside.  No wonder we like it.  The view and weather are gorgeous as it is about 70 and clear with zero humidity.  Thankful no MN weather!

The process of everything is so unique here.  There are no addresses, no credit cards, no IDs.  Vendors are constantly trying to sell to you and get you to buy things.  We asked if it was rude simply not to answer, his response, "they are being rude to shove things in your face!"  Too funny.  Today was just a briefing and being able to see where everything was.  Before we left for the vendors we were taught that some will try to hand you a "5000" quatra but only show that it is "500" quatra.  This is the same bill that is made fake here so you always have to check to see that is is real.  We also were followed many times by people who asked for money.  And as we walk by many people shout "Azungu, Azungu" which means "white person" or "stranger".  It is not a negative term.  That is simply just their term for international person.  There are incredible wood carvings here and we were also told that some are real wood and some are made cheaper and just put shoe polish on them to make them look darker and then colored in with sharpie to get the deep lines they want.  Obviously very nice to have some experience around us.

Pictures are worth more than words.  Here are a few from our walks around Blantyre today.

Ice Cream at the "Food Court".  Gorgeous view of the mountains and city of Blantyre (p.s. Ice cream was $1!)

Sambousas - Fried dough with vegetables and meat

This lady posed for me to take a picture of her with her basket of bananas.

Caesar's Palace.  Almost like Las Vegas

Getting some produce from the market

View from the "Food Court" in Blantyre

After we got back we relaxed a while.  A couple of us read from the back deck, some took naps, etc.  It was beautiful yet again.  After this we spent some time briefing over a couple phrases we could use as greetings, going over VBS materials (which starts on Monday), and doing lots and lots of cutting and hole punching.  This of course was all done watching "When in Rome" and the TV show "Friends."  Those of you who know me know that those travel with me wherever I go.  Thankful to a wonderful boyfriend who bought me the whole ten season series :)  (He is going to be so happy he made this post).

After some cutting, we made dinner.  I think I mentioned in a previous post that it gets dark here around 5:30 which means that it seems late VERY early.  We took a break from working around 6 and we all thought it was 11 and realized we hadn't eaten dinner yet.  We decided it was time for a night on the grill.  We grilled some potatoes, chicken and vegetables.  It was delicious.  However, it started off as grilling, then took forever so we decided to lay out and star gaze.  The skies here are incredible.  Well, it's the same sky everywhere.  But the sky is so clear since there are not many lights from town, etc.  Something I SO miss from Menomonie!  Anyway, I ran inside while we were grilling and grabbed rugs, blankets, and pillows and made everyone come outside and watch stars with me.  We established none of us knew what anything was so we downloaded "Google Sky" (truly one of the most amazing apps) and were able to see all the constellations and plants.  If you don't know what it is, look it up.  It was great.  We laid outside a while and did that. Probably almost as long as this post....sorry!  Nonetheless, we got done and our chicken still was not grilled.  So we went the boring way and finished them in a frying pan on the stove with onions and carrots, and threw the potatoes into the oven.  Our meal was awesome, and still got the charcoal taste which is my favorite!

Finally, we finished some more cutting, finished some more Friends, and now we head to bed.

Goodnight from Malawi!

P.S. I am going to a Giraffe Game Park on Saturday.  I'm psyched!

Our setup for star gazing.  It doesn't look as awesome as it was. 

Trying to get the right angle. I think Saturn was where I was pointing. 

Our Feast.  Sorry for being that person that puts up pictures of their food. 

Crafting table! Needless to say we did not eat dinner here.