Culture & Language Training - Salima, Lake Malawi

Yesterday, we returned from a week of culture and language training at the Carolina Beach Resort on Lake Malawi in the Salima District. Monday and Tuesday were culture training from 8 am to 4 pm while Thursday and Friday consisted of the language training. We were given an hour and a half for lunch everyday to spend time on the beach but we were generally swarmed by Malawians trying to sell their crafts - for example, jewellery, wood carvings, paintings, etc.

Bargaining here is like nothing I've ever experienced. It's actually quite sad because instead of them seeing us as volunteers here to help, they only see a dollar sign and increase their prices by 4x what a Malawian would be charged. The funny thing is that when I ask how much something costs and then how much they would charge a Malawian they don't hesitate to tell me the difference. They'd also pick-up our names and then go to the front desk of the lodge and request to see us... just to try to sell.... it was so weird, definitely no privacy. Anyway in the end I feel like the deals we made were fair for both parties and I think everyone will be happy with what I bring back.

Anyway back to the training, the culture days were somewhat redundant to what we had already learned and as a class of all women (accept for one male) some of the conversations became pretty heated in terms of gender issues. Even the facilitator had very sexist views.... when we discussed changing names upon marriage his words were - "a woman who doesn't change her last name to her husbands will be seen as not being full committed to her husband" - and when asked about men changing their names he said "never, it is our identity" - it was just funny in that it implied that women's last names are not their identity. You can't take offense when it is part of the culture, I just find it interesting and having been brought up in the western world, kind of funny. Oh on a side note there were 10 Canadians in the training, two Malawians, and one Tanzianian, all volunteers of WUSC. Wednesday was also culture based as we got to go to a cultural centre in the village of Mau to see traditional dances and visit a museum. It was very interesting learning about all the different tribes in Malawi and the speicifics of each throughout all the stages of life. The dances also varried among the tribes but told the most incredible stories. I filmed a couple of them so hopefully they'll work when I get back to Canada.

Thursday and Friday were spent learning Chichewa - the 2nd official language of Malawi, the first being English. We learned many nouns and verbs as well as tenses and conjugations. It was incredible how much we picked up in just two days, although it will be interesting to see how much we retain when forced to communicate in Chichewa in the villages. Tomorrow we'll be back at work with our partner organizations. Shannon and I must create our summer work plan (which is really only for 5 weeks) as well as a budget request to WUSC to get funding for some of their programs. I think we'd like to continue paying for the porridge provided to OSHI Kids (a program last year's team started) where kids come to play futball on Saturdays (soccer to Canadians) and then get a meal of porridge afterwards. Tokho (our direct supervisor) told us for some this is their only full meal in a week so they try to ration it. They also don't have a ball right now so we want to provide them enough to last them until next summer when OSHI 2009 comes.

We booked our safari last week, and although we wanted it for the end of July, as something to look forward to, the last weekend available was from July 3rd to 6th, so that's when we have to go. The 6th of July is Malawi's Independence Day so we don't have to work on Monday either, but then starting Tuesday we'll be there for the rest of our time in Malawi. I think we're all looking forward to getting into our work, since that is what motivated us to come here, although WUSC puts the most importance on a culutural exchange between both Northern and Southern partners.

I'm going to try to write a blog entry after the Canada Day festivities here in Malawi as we've been invited by a consultant from CIDA to a Canada Day party! I will do my best, although there may not be another entry until we return from safari. If you're interested in reading about it now here is the link... http://www.kiboko-safaris.com/framesafaris.html
We are doing the "4 Days South Luangwa NP Experience" in Zambia, and I'm so excited. I think I am most excited to see giraffes and elephants - especially since they won't be behind fences like in the zoos.

Feel free to leave a comment anytime - I love hearing from home!

HAPPY CANADA DAY EVERYONE! I truly believe that we live in the best nation in the world!

xo Michelle