Osataya Mtima(Don't lose heart)

Chapter One: Village Life
I was a little unsure about my village in the beginning. They always say it takes time to intregrate into your community and for the people to get use to you. But, I replaced a volunteer, and this volunteer was well liked. I could not get the kids to stop calling me Peggy(which is suppose to be Paige but they really couldn't pronounce it) and even though I would tell them in Chichewa "Dzina Courtney osati Peggy" (My name is Courtney not Peggy) they would continue to chant it as they followed behind me. The older folks would greet my in Chitonga and when I would fumble with the words, they would shake their heads as if there was no hope for me. I was worried...really worried. I thought that "man, if I can't get these folks to like me, how can I expect them to work with me?" But, I slapped a smile on my face one day and returned to the same restaurant Jenn, Tim, Natalie and I ate at on Christmas day and decided to chat with Edith, the owner. That was probably the best decision I have made to date in Malawi. I have met so many people in my village by sitting on the porch of Edith's restaurant. People have warmed up to me significantly and now call me Courtney and not Peggy. My Chitonga has improved(there's still ways to go) and having and being a part of community has definetley boosted my mental state ten fold. I absolutely love my village now!! I like being able to leave but even now i've only been in Lilongwe since yesterday but i'm ready to go back. I am definetley happy in Kasitu and glad I was placed there. Oh, and i'm sure the lake helps with the happiness factor. Daily RoutineMany of you have written and said you're curious to know what my day is like. Well, its like any other day, pretty normal, nothing too out of the ordinary happens. I wake up somewhere around 5:30am. I heat up some water in a teapot on my paraffin stove and do the previous night's dishes or other little things around the house until the water is hot. I take a bafa around 6:15am and get ready for school. I try to be out of my house by 7 because school starts at 7:30am most days. I'm at school from 7 until 2ish and then I head home. I eat some type of snack because well, let's face it, i'm no Rachel Ray and cooking is just not my thing so I prefer to make something easy in the afternoon and save the cooking for in the evening. After I eat a snack I do various chores around the home. I have designated Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday as "fetching water from the borehole days", some days I will take my dishes down to the lake to wash if there is no collected water from the rain. I sweep my house daily, wipe everything down, and generally try to keep things clean. Sundays before church, I take my clothes down to the lake to wash them, unless it has rained because then the crocs come out(supposedly) and I decided I shouldn't find out for myself. Around 4ish I head over to Edith's restaurant and chat it up with folks. There's quite a few younger folks(think mid-20s) here, some are teachers at the private school up the road, others are just here. We all tend to gravitate towards Edith's and hangout and chat for awhile. Around 6ish, i'll head home. I take a bafa(I leave my bucket of water out in the sun all day to warm it up so I don't have to waste paraffin heating up water), begin dinner preps, and then figure out if I need to do anything for school. I do everything by candlelight and I must say that having candlelit dinners every night is quite romantic even if i'm eating alone. Around 8:30 or 9 depending on when I finish doing what i'm doing, I head to bed. I read for a bit but am usually asleep by 10pm. Right there is the typical day in the life of Courtney Wright Nyankaunda(my village Tonga name...supposedly everyone has to have one and it means 'woman' given to me by a friend).
My School
The first week of school was 4 weeks ago. I was excited, woke up with butterflies, put on my little teacher outfit and walked the 100m to the school. I was ready to teach. The only problem was there were no students! The students did not come because they were still waiting on the results from their end of term exams that determine whether they can move up to the next level or not. The government was a bit delayed on getting the results out, so technically school didn't start for another week. But I made the most of that time and did some lesson planning. The school, it's not like the schools you think of in America. My Form 1(freshman), there are 52 of them. They sit on the floor because there are no desks and the walls are scribbled with graffitti. It's hot and there are only these little circular cut outs for windows. I'm not sure how they are able to learn in that environment but for the most part they do. But all that scribble has got to be distracting. I have one english book for my form 1s so I use it as a guide and do a lot of writing on the board and flip chart paper. My form 2s(sophmores) well every teacher has a bad class..this is mine. I have 72 form 2s and most of them sit crammed, 3 to a desk. I also only have one book for that class. Many of the students are repeaters because they failed the exam, so technically I would only have 50 form 2s. My form 3s(juniors) are awesome! They have passed the exam and moved onto the next round. I have 23 but only 3 girls and there are enough desks for them to only sit 2 to a desk. My form 4s are awesome as well! 3 girls there too..but it's cool i'm determined to make sure these girls pass the MSCE(Malawi Senior Certificate Exam) and have more options available to them then just getting married and having babies. It is hard to motivate students to come to school in my community because we're right on the lake and in the lake is fish and fish is money. So easy money. Why come to school when you can go out in a dugout canoe and catch fish? Hopefully, I can motivate enough students to think differently, but then again i'm happy if I motivate just one.My fellow teachers...I refer to them as the Godfathers because i'm pretty sure they would take anyone down if they messed with me. They buy me cold sodas and cookies, invite me to their homes to eat, and generally make sure that i'm ok. I wish their own motivation in school was a bit higher but then again I can't force grown men to do something they don't want to do. I try to lead by example and it actually worked. The first day of school I showed up at 7am. School starts at 7:30a but there's an assembly at 7:15a. None of my fellow teachers were there, so I just waited. After a little bit they start showing up. Well after they found out I have been there since 7, they have made it a point to beat me to school(well most of them) so now they come in around 6:30a or a little before 7. So everything really does work out in the end...for now. Overall, school is challenging but it is a welcomed challenge and my students are more comfortable with me and my American english. My students help me a lot and like to come by and chat to work on their english. I try to have fun with them in class once a week and at first it was bit hard for them but slowly they're catching on, beginning to smile more, laugh some, and enjoy learning. I'm not a saint worker or a miracle worker but i'm quite impressed by the drive of my students and hope that I can help continue their drive even further.
Friends
Friends...how many of us have them? I do! I have some of the best friends in my village. Edith is the one i'm closest to. She teaches me Chitonga and I teach her english. I'm going to help her study for the MSCE so she can retake it and pass. I have adopted her daughter Charity...well not technically. But Edith feeds the two mentally handicapped people and the homeless man in my village for free, which causes her to lose money. I didn't want them not to eat and I didn't want Charity to miss out on nursery school because her mother was feeding people for free, so I took on the cost of her fees. For the lost price of 500 kwacha(about 4 USD) a month, you can send a Malawian child to nursery school( well, that's what the infomercial would say). It's well worth it, and really what's $4 between friends. Plus, she occassionally feeds me too. So it really works out for everyone. Then there's Hassan. He really reminds me of my twin. His love for music and sense of humor definetley make me think of you Nick(and you better be writing me a letter or I will replace you with Hassan..haha). Hassan has given me a tour of the village, taken me to the hotspring, helps me with my Chitonga, and is the chairman of the HIV/AIDS awareness group in this area which i'm now advising. He speaks good english and is pretty cool to hangout with. The Stokes family...by far the most giving people I have met. And there's a whole story behind this so get ready to read.... One day I was sitting on Edith's porch chatting away when some soccer players approached. They were getting ready to head back to Dwangwa as the game just ended and stopped by Edith's. I had my water bottle and they asked for some water, so I shared and didn't think too much of it. We chat, they catch transport and head back. Well, later that week I head to Dwangwa to do some shopping and run into George. George was one of the soccer players I shared some water with. Well, he tells me I must meet his family because I was nice to him and his family lives close so it won't be too long. A Malawian's close is not really close as this was a good 20 min bike taxi ride away. I get to his family's home expecting some thatched roof hut only to be surprised that it's a house! A house with electricity!! His father is a farm manager with Illovo Sugar Company and his mother does wholesale stuff. Pretty well off indeed. They welcomed me into their home, gave me cold cokes, fed me rice, chicken, and green beans and we all hung out and watched movies. Not bad and all that from simply being nice. They invite me over all the time now, and when I can find some time i'll take up the offers. I have definitely found that I enjoy being around my friends from the village much more than some of my fellow volunteers. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to be around an American, but it seems like now after living in a village, I have more in common with my village friends because we can talk about the different things that are happening in our lives in the village whereas with other Americans, well, we have being American in common and after being out of America the common becomes a little more distant...but being an American does count for something. Don't get me wrong, I do have some friends from the Peace Corps(who I enjoy immensely and if these were the only english speakers in country I would have no problem with it and that includes you Jenn) but i'm realizing more and more that I have to make this an experience for myself and really can't make the experience fulfilling for others so I have quit trying to make others happy and began focusing on my own happiness and that, my friend, is key. I'm totally content being in my own world as long as i'm happy and it's worked so far so i'm going to continue doing it.

Anyways, life in Kasitu aka Tongaland is definitely great and I can't complain about anything. Malawi is a pretty great place to be as a volunteer and I hope that it continues to go well from here until the time I leave.

It's all about making life work for you and so far it's working pretty well for me.

Heading back to the village tomorrow, back in Lilo in a month or so....so until then

Love and hugs from the Warm Heart of Africa!

Happy New Year!

Just want to wish everyone a blessed, stress-free, happy, healthy, and safe New Year!!! I'm heading back to my village tomorrow so if you want to get in contact with me use the #. Otherwise, i'll be back in a month or so to update you on the happenings in Tongaland.

Much love,
Courtney

Happy Anniversary!

Today marks 3 months in country. Wow! some days it really feels like i've been here a lot longer and other days it feels like I just stepped off the plane. I thought I would use this email to share with you some of the lessons that I have learned so far that I know will carry me through the rest of my life. Hopefully, they may be beneficial to you as the new year approaches. Probably the most important lesson I have learned so far and the one I have learned most recently. As I stated in a previous email my friend Jenn was in a car accident. Well, she had to have surgery to have her spleen removed, a breathing tube put in because a few of her broken ribs pierced her lungs, and will have a long road to recovery ahead and most likely will prevent her from coming back to serve as a volunteer(but I still have hope and my own selfish reasons that she will have a speedy recovery so she can come back and join me in the warm heart of africa). I received an email from her father and was told that despite everything that happened she is still in good spirits and the doctors have told them she is smiling. She smiling because she is alive. As gruesome as this seems it was a reality check for myself. I have been afforded the opportunity to do something that many others are not, and even though some days are harder then others, i'm still breathing, i'm still doing what I want to do, and that in itself is something to smile about. I have settled with the idea that i'm going to allow myself to be sad, angry, etc..but at the end of the day i'm going to allow myself to smile as well because I made it through yet another day. I realize that it's ok to experience a range of emotions that's life, but I must never forget to count the blessings I have. Everyday here I have a constant reminder of the privledge I have as an American. Despite what the conditions are in the states at this present time, there are social support systems in place to help those that need it. Here there is not. Malawi is underdeveloped not because the people choose to be but because the people need to focus on survival before they can even think about focusing on development. Although people in the states have to focus on survival, there are places where meals can be given, and even though a meal may seem small that is one less thing you have to worry about for that moment. Never take advantage of all that you have because there is someone out there that has less then you. Trust me, I see it everyday.Patience is a virtue...so true! I have became use to waiting. Not so much because I want to, but because I have to. Things aren't quick here and sometimes you have to wait to get things done. I have met some pretty cool people while waiting. But there is also a story behind this is well. Natalie and I were going into Dwangwa, local larger market, to do some shopping. Well, instead of waiting on the 9am AXA bus we hop on the back of a matola. The only thing it was raining and Dwangwa is 30k. So, we're riding on the back of the matola(pick up truck) in the rain when we could have just waiting 30 more min for the bus. Our first thoughts are "I wonder how long it will be before we get sick for doing that?" When we finally got to Dwangwa we were drenched and looked like sad lost dogs. We headed over to a little restaurant for tea to warm up and wait out the rain. This was the first week at site and we were starving so we decided to order breakfast. While waiting the woman who took our orders saw that we were cold so she grabbed a chitenje and wrapped me in it and grapped a knit sweater for Natalie. The kindness of the people here is not something that you will find in the states...moving along to my next point.Being nice is not hard! A smile can go a long way and being pleasant doesn't hurt either. I can't count the amount times my mood has been lifted because of the kindness of a stranger. They know i'm not from here, they don't know why I came, they don't know long I will be here, but they are still nice to me. I'm an easy target at times as a person to take advantage of but people generally care. Just simply that, they care. It doesn't take much effort to care, it doesn't take much time, and really it makes you feel just as good. Living in poverty here is not like living in poverty in the states. But I realize of how little I can live off and how happy I can be. I have no electricity, no running water, no computer, no tv, but I still have moments of enjoyment just as I would have in the states. The moments of enjoyment are not coming from mindless objects but from people. No one can ever replace my family or friends back home, I have adjusted to the idea that I'm not here to make bestfriends, if I find a few good friends that's awesome, but the conversations that I have had with people both Peace Corps and non-Peace Corps have been more enjoying then some of the activities that require such luxuries as electricity. So I guess my point here is really take advantage of having conversation. Take the time to talk to people, your neighbor, co worker, a person in line. You may be surprised what you get from it. Plus, there's nothing like having solid relationships with those you love, so why not take advantage of having a conversation and spending time with them instead of watching tv. Last but certainly not least(i'm sure there will be more to come) never, ever, take advantage of having family and friends surrounding you. I have had little contact besides letters here and there with loved ones and it has been rough. But it has also made me grow in appreciation for those relationships. You never realize what you have until its gone, and technically you all aren't gone but it's a close to gone as I ever want to experience. I have been blessed in having a great, supportive, and loving family and group of friends. No one can ever replace you all, trust me I try to throw extra folks in the mix but the history is just not there. That history is what makes our relationships so unique. We all have interlocking stories that have created me into who I am now. I can never take or change that, but because of it I'm forever grateful. I know there are times where people just don't feel like being bothered, hell, I like having some me time every once in awhile, but after this experience so far I have realized how lucky I am to have such a good group of people surrounding me. And knowing and learning this will be something that I hope not to take for granted in the future. There are people out there with no one, or maybe just one, I have been lucky enough to have a plethora of people with all different experiences that I can learn from, instead of looking at a person and trying to figure out what their flaws are look at them and figure what gift they are giving to the world. Enjoy the people around you because of who they are, as an individual, and not who you expect them to be. I have been blessed and continue to be blessed to have all you. I'm looking forward to hearing all the stories you all will have in this upcoming new year.

Keepin it movin....

Greetings and timoneni from Lilongwe!!! I have been at site for about 2 1/2 weeks and taking a break to restock and to grab books to help prepare me for my school term. Since I didn't leave site for Christmas, i'm allowed to hang out in Lilongwe for the week, which is nice! I love my site, it's gorgeous, the people are friendly, and i'm looking forward to teaching english to all four forms(about 200 students) but coming to Lilongwe gives me a chance to refuel, get mail, check email, update this blog, and regain some sanity(haha). A lot of people believe that homestay is the hardest part of service....I may say that this is true in some cases. Homestay provides a big security net-meals provided, surrounded by Peace Corps training staff, and other volunteers. Although, it is difficult adjusting to life in a new country, homestay is comforting but tough. I don't think it's so tough it will make you reconsider the reasons why you decided to join the Peace Corps but I guess it's all in the attitude you take as well. Moving to site has been a lot harder then homestay. You have to prepare your own meals, you have to plan your own schedule, you no longer have the comforting, security net from homestay but the upside is you finally get to begin your service(The reason why I came). Being away from home for the holidays was a bit rough. This is not my first holiday away from home but the lack of communication and time difference makes it hard to have lengthy phonecalls, especially after being on village time. I'm not going to lie, I had some serious doubts about being able to complete service but everyone does. It comes with the territory, it's how you learn to cope and make most of your situation that really matters. I look around me, sure the village was here before me and will be here after me, but the simple interactons I have with children, the women or men of the village can't happen without me(or another volunteer). I didn't come to Malawi to tell folks how to live their lives, I came to help them figure out ways to make their lives easier. To help provide them with more choices then what they had before, even if it's just one more choice because that's one more then they had. I have already gained so much from my interaction that I feel what I have contributed thus far and plan to contribute in my next 2 years can't even compare. There are ups and downs to everything, but remembering the reason, the purpose, and all that you did to get this far, is a good enough reminder to keep it movin. I'm enjoying my time here in Malawi, I am getting to know some awesome folks both Peace Corps and non-Peace Corps. Anyways, if I think of more to write before I leave Lilongwe but until then- peace, love, and hugs from the warm heart of africa!

Pictures...

To access pictures from my time in Malawi thus far follow these steps:

go to: www.snapfish.com
login: courtneycwright@gmail.com
password: malawi

the album is entitled "Warm Heart of Africa"

Enjoy!



Heading off to site tomorrow and will be back in Lilongwe some time after the new year so expect a more detailed update then...

xoxo
Happy Holidays!
Court

Greetings from a new Peace Corps volunteer!

Whoa! What a ride these past two months have been! I'm am excited, anxious, and ready to get to site and begin my life as a volunteer. For the past two months, I have been in training to prepare myself for 2 years of service and I must say that training has made all the difference. From the language and technical training to homestay, I can't complain about anything. But then again it depends on your approach. I have taken a pretty relaxed, go with the flow attitude which has made everything easier. Some times I think people forget that we are living in one of the poorest countries in the world and that less than 7% of the population has electricity. Things happen, people are late, but really what do you have to do that is so pressing that you can't wait? I do nothing in a rush and really just try to take it moment by moment. Each day brings new surprises and new experiences that I appreciate more and more. I'm not going to lie, that first week in homestay I was questioning whether or not this is the right place for me. But, that has quickly changed as I have gotten to know more Malawians, formed closer relationships with a few people in my group, and of course chatting with the Peace Corps training staff helps. :)
Anyways, I will have time tomorrow to upload some pics and spill out more details.

xoxoxoxoxox

Almost there...

Just a quick update:

As of 12pm tomorrow, I will officially be a Peace Corps volunteer!!!
I plan on updating this with more information once I have some time in the next couple of days...

Love, Peace, and Laughter~
Court
CoCo
or Cornaley(my malawian name hahaha)