Random Acts of Malawi

It's been a while since I posted so I figured I'd just review some of what's been happening so far in life in Malawi 2012.

Fuel Lines

Bumper Cars

Fuel queues are something that have been an ever-present part of life in Malawi.  I've mentioned them before, but since the ongoing fuel shortage continues to play such a prominent role in our everyday lives and at times largely dictates both our work and personal lives I thought it was worth updating.  These photos show what can become complete chaos when a station receives fuel as cars will line up for kilometers waiting more than 8 hours for fuel (over half the cars in a line will generally not get fuel before the station runs out).  At the pumps there is very little keeping the situation from falling apart as cars pack in like I never thought possible as people jostle for any fuel available, often bribing attendants to get them to the pumps or to get more liters in their vehicles.

Soccer Matches

I'm on the far left in the yellow uniform.

The Baylor staff (mostly GRS coaches, along with other staff) after our match against African Bible College

At the Braii after the Kuche Kuche international match

I am still playing on most Sundays with the local Social Soccer Team, Kuche Kuche.  Additionally, there have been a couple of exhibition matches with staff from Baylor Clinic (where Grassroot Soccer is based out of in Malawi) against other teams.  The top picture is from an international exhibition match that Kuche Kuche had against a team from Zambia which we won 4-3.  After the match both teams went to a pub owned by one of our players where we had a big braii and all had a good time.

Taking Care of Business

Picture used in our ad for computer training lessons

Working as a volunteer in GRS Malawi can mean a lot of things.  Sometimes it's working on the computer creating flyers for events, managing tournament budgets, compiling testing and participant data, or giving computer lessons to our Malawian Staff.  The photo of Mel and I on computers was used in our computer lesson advertisement for the Grassroot Soccer Malawi newsletter (also made on computer).  As of now we have started lessons with 10 of our staff members all at various levels of proficiency and on different topics.

I mean look at that thing, it's adorable!

At other times, trips into the field might include visiting adorable kittens while picking up drinks for a graduation as is the case in this kitty picture.

Braiding head bands for Goals 4 Girls Event

And sometimes it's staying up late, under my mosquito net, braiding head bands for a girl's event the next day with no company but Nitin and Shane (photo on the wall on the left).  Basically I'm learning lots of new skills on the job.

Neighborhood Kids

Neighborhood kids dancing to Kamwile

There are always kids hanging around pretty much anywhere you go in Lilongwe (and Malawi in general).  These kids, from our neighborhood, frequently come over for mpira wa miendo (soccer) where we've started having impromptu coaching sessions with them.  Also, all children will break into immediate dancing upon hearing the hit song Kamwile which is what they're pictured doing here, just outside our car.