Oh Sunday, how you make me smile
Sundays are always my favourite day of the week. I know that I probably should prefer Friday or Saturday. All “whoot whoot”, “yay it’s the weekend” type sentiments, but as a server those nights just mean long and hard work. My appreciation for Sunday probably developed when I was living in England and was treated to many a Sunday Lunch. ..Wake up, prep the veg, start roasting the chicken, family comes over, talk talk talk, sit down to eat, talk more, family leaves, go for a walk in the late-afternoon sun, come back home, Sunday movie on television, fall asleep. Brilliant.
Today we are off to Kande Beach, which has quickly (and easily) become one of our favourite places here in Chintheche. The water is gorgeous and the hammocks are comfortable. But before we head off I wanted to update the blog about the last two days…
Friday morning we returned to one of the boreholes that we had visited on our Study Tour. It was the one where we had taken that long and arduous walk down the steep incline to see where the community had previously been collecting water from. We went back to that particular site to collect more in-depth information for one of our article assignments about how clean water can save lives. The committee members were happy to meet with us again and we got some really great information and quotes for our report.
One the way back to the office we stopped off at Makuzi Beach for lunch. Another one of the many beautiful beaches that line the coast of Lake Malawi and full of great opportunities for picture-taking. See below 
My new friend
Eric giving in to the jumping-picture fad
Friday was also an exciting day for another reason. That morning the power had been shut off across the northern region of Malawi. We have been accustomed to random blackouts and it is generally more of an inconvenience rather than a problem.
EXCEPTION: FIFA WORLD CUP.
As such the late afternoon was spent attempting to find a place that had both a television AND a generator that was powering it. We eventually made our way to the campsite at nearby Chintheche Inn that seemed to have sacrificed all the lights in the campground to send what power they could to the television. Success!
Saturday, and thus yesterday, we were privy to a cooking lesson that would have made Julia Child proud. Get ready Winnipeg… Jillian, Eric and I are soon returning armed with Malawian cooking techniques. We wanted to learn to make some the traditional dishes we have been eating over the past few weeks and yesterday was the day. Thanks to Maria, Elizabeth and Agnes (friends of a friend who helped show us the ropes) we were peeling and stirring and boiling, and ultimately eating, in no time.
before...
Eric helping with the fire
Peeling sweet potatoes
All in all it has been a pretty awesome weekend to say the least. The next few days will have us busy finishing up communications training with the staff here in Chintheche and then it will be back to Lilongwe for the wrap-up. One week from today and the on-the-ground-here-in-Malawi part of Ntchito Yabwino will be officially o-v-e-r-.
Anyone know the word in Chichewa for “Crazy!” ?!?
-Lauren
The final product
Your nsima looks great , we’ll have to compare recipes when you get home. NB..corn flour can be a bit hard to find in the wheat centric great white north. Thanks for the assessments. Have a great trip home!
Dwight