Gerald Gama

Last night before sunset I went with Elaine to the family living next to Maggie's.  Elaine is leaving on Wednesday and needed to make space in her luggage so she decided to give the widowed mother and her three children some clothes.  I still need my clothes….so I cannot do that yet!  I did snatch my blanket I was given on Ethiopian Air as I knew someone here could use it so I brought that along with me to give away.  The children and mother were so happy.  They all stuck out their hands and thanked us in english and chichewa.  The mother said a longer statement in chichewa but we had no idea what she said….if only Gerald was with us!

On our walk back to the guesthouse Elaine began to cry.  She said it finally hit her.  We began talking about the little things that so many of us take for granted.  Most of the time you give clothes away and don't know who they even go to but doing this and seeing the smiling faces as the family ran into the hut so excited was eye opening.  We were touched!

This morning I was up early for breakfast and had to be out of the guesthouse by 8:00 as I was meeting Gerald at MicroLoan HQ at 8:30!   Him and I have a meeting on Monday in Lilongwe so we both decided to take the bus in together as that was something I did not feel quite comfortable doing by myself and it was my first time!

We took bike taxis into Kasungu center and headed to the bus depot.  No this is not like the Philadelphia Bus Depot!  There were people everywhere and people selling popcorn, eggs, lollypops, milk, water, fritters, even chickens!

Ran into Nina at the Bus Station!

We boarded the bus and waited for more than an hour as Gerald was telling me they don't leave till the bus is completely full.  He wasn't joking!  Full means every seat is taken and the isles are full of people standing.  The conductor came onto the bus and had all those standing move as far as they could to make more room for travelers.  It looked as if some passengers packed up camp and were moving across the country.  They had bags with all their pots and pans, crops, and lanterns!  They had their entire family with them as well.  The family sitting across from Gerald and I had three children and they were all crammed together in the two eats they were given.  Their young girl stood the entire ride!

A Bus Filled to Max Capacity

Young Boy Selling Water Outside Bus Station

Oh I forgot to mention the chickens….people brought live chickens with them too.  They would tie their legs up and the mothers or children would hold their necks the entire ride to keep the noise level down…as if the noise level was not already bad enough.  

At first I was saying in my head I would never do this again but as the ride continued I was able to see the enjoyment.  I learned a lot more about Gerald and his life and got a view of Malawi a bit higher from the road.  The bus did have sliding windows so I was able to have both open to get fresh air when needed and snap a few videos/pictures along the way.

Beautiful African Landscape

Gerald and I began talking about our families.  He told me he had eight siblings.  He is 25 and is the fourth child.  His oldest sister is 30 and his youngest brother is 11!  He told me his father died when he was young so he lived a very hard life.  His mother had to raise all her children by herself and the family members were raised to support one another.

Gerald had just started school as he did not have enough money when he was eligible for college.  He actually won 60,000MWK ($390USD) in an essay contest through BP Malawi!  With the money, Gerald was able to afford college and pay for his older brothers university fees as well.  He is such a great person and someone I will always call a friend.  He looked out for me the whole trip and made sure no Malawians took advantage of a 'muzungu' and try to over charge me on certain things. 

He asked me what America was like.  What the cities were like.  Why it was like at my university.  Why and how America was so innovative.  How I managed to find MicroLoan.  And so many more questions.

He expressed great appreciation of MicroLoan as he has been with the organization for about a month now.  The job he previously held had 80 employees and soon went down to 8 as the boss was very rude and did not treat any of his coworkers and himself with respect so they all left.  He said he loves having 'white people' at MicroLoan as he learns about their lives and gains a better grasp on his english!

Gerald and I arrived in Lilongwe after a four hour wait/bus ride and then he brought me to a mini bus where we headed to the lodge I would be staying at for the weekend.  We did our handshake, I thanked him, and he was on his way to his place.  He is moving all his belongs from Lilongwe to Kasungu as he is now based at MicroLoan HQ so he had to do some packing before our meeting we have with Paolo and another organization early Monday morning!

Mabuya Lodge in Lilongwe!

                                    

                                                Chalet 4 (My Room) at Mabuya Lodge!

Relaxing by the Pool!

Enjoy the weekend!

Will be video chatting the family and friends at my brothers graduation party tomorrow!

Congratulations Connor!  Holy Cross Class of 2015!  Love you and miss you!

Jimmy

YouTube Active

Just set up a YouTube account.  Check out the videos!  Enjoy

Check Out My YouTube Account!

AIMC Farm (Alfred, Ian, Martha, Cara)

Hi

Yesterday evening was quite the experience and one that I know I will never see again unless I come back to Malawi.  

I will start off by saying this country amazes me the people, the environment, MicroLoan…the list goes on!

I have managed to inhabit the tight space of Alfred and Hlupe's office here at the MicroLoan headquarters.  They both dedicate their work on the MicroVentures Program here is Malawi!  

Elaine, the designer from the UK mentioned to me that Alfred had a farm of his own that him and his wife started and were managing.  She really waned to see it and I did too!  Yesterday I asked Alfred if he would not mind taking us at 3:00 PM to the establishment.  Little did we know..we were the first from MicroLoan to see his project!

Alfred has started a venture with a past board member of MicroLoan Foundation UK, Ian Marshall.  He has joined with Alfred and his wife, Martha to help them begin their large scale farming project.  Martha worked for the Malawi Ministry of Agriculture for ten years and then held Director of Operations at MicroLoan Foundation here in Malawi for five years before she retired to the farm.  Alfred currently works at MicroLoan in their MicroVentures program and has used the skills he has learned and best practice to start a venture of his own. 

Alfred, Elaine, and I hopped in the truck and headed to his house down the road from the office to pick up Martha!  We did not know we would be pulling up to the supplier of maize seed to Malawi Seed Co.!  Their were women and children employed to de-seed the maize that would be sold to Malawi Seed Co. The pile was enormous.  Martha explained that they have signed a contract with Malawi Seed Co. and the seeds they would sell to them would be sold across the country as next years maize crop.  Martha said they employ more than 100 women who are in need of collateral to help support their children and different fees associated with living.  

Maize Pile at Alfred and Martha's House

Local Women Working to Earn Living 

The Children Help Too

This already is a great venture and I had not even seen the farm!  After some small talk with villagers (Alfred translating) we jumped into the car with Martha for a journey only few will experience in Malawi!

The farm was down a dirt path with scattered houses along the roads edge.  It was about 10 miles from their house and the ride was a lot of fun.  We learned so much about their lives.  One thing that touched me was Martha and Alfred had five children but I soon learned their daughter was killed in a mini bus accident just weeks before I had arrived so they were both still coping.  That as very sad but we quickly jumped to another topic and before you know it we had arrived at the farm!

Alfred and Martha

We were instantly greeted by the farm manager and Alfred and Martha hopped out to begin their tour of their chili and paprika crop!  Alfred explained how they have signed contracts with two large companies but did not disclose the names.  He then explained how they have 22 permanent employees who are paid a monthly salary of 6,000MWK ($39USD) which is above Malawi's minimum wage and the three managers receive 10,000MWK ($66USD) a month!  Their employees are given permission to move their entire families on the farm so their are a bunch of huts located in a designated area of the land where the women, men, and children stay.  Alfred said they plan on constructing permeant houses like the one pictured below once they have more funds.  They have currently erected 4!  Martha told me each family is given their own plot of land to also grow their own crops to support their family.  If they so happen to grown chillies or paprika they will buy them off of them, allowing them to make more money than their normal salary which is quite nice.

Chilies an Employee Grew to Sell Back to Farm for Extra Money for their Family

Permanent House for Full Time Employee

Martha and Alfred showed us the drying station where all the chillies were.  She explained how each is sorted following the drying process.  The chillies are sorted into grade A, B, or C depending on their color.  The more red color the chili has the more desirable the crop.  We were also able to see some paprika but the entire crop was not ready for harvest yet.

Martha

Chili Drying Stations

Grade A, B, C

Following, Alfred brought us through the fields.  He explained how when they cleared the land they left large tress as when the leaves fall they add nitrogen to the soil, enhancing the crop!  They also had a few sections of peanuts, sugar cane, and pigeon peas growing.  I tried the sugar cane and it was awesome.  Now I know what the green stick coming out of children's mouths are!  He then brought us over a hill where the reservoir was located.  They invested a lot of money in this so they had ample water for production.  He said during the rainy season (November-March) the reservoir fills up and will provide enough water supply for crop growth during the dry season.  He also mentioned that there have been hyena, leopards and antelopes spotted at the site.  He told me that Kasungu National Park was about 10 kilometers away!  I am currently planning a day visit with Gerald their in a few weeks!

Chili Plants

Alfred Giving Elaine and I Sugar Cane

Paprika Plants

The Reservoir  

Tree Left in Middle of Field for Nitrogen Enhancement to Soil

On our walk back to the village we were greeted by the village children.  Martha explained that they were all going to school which was very good.  They loved taking pictures with Elaine and I.  After every snap shot we would bend down and show them and they would all giggle and scream, it was such a great site.  They showed their houses, toys, dogs, chickens, and brothers and sisters.  Martha had said three of the employees are without husbands as they were ditched for other women.  She pointed out a boy holding his baby sister and explained how the father had just left them.  She also said the boys mother had just given birth to twins, one is the girl in white on her brothers back below.  She felt awful for them, as did we, because she knows it is going to be very hard for her, as she has to manage work while raising her family all alone.  

The Boy in Center With One of His Twin Sisters.  His Father Left Him and His Family for Another Woman!

JD Memorial!  Now Accepting Applications!

Before leaving Alfred gave us a bag of dried chillies that Elaine and I shared with Maggie who plans to incorporate them into our upcoming meals at the guesthouse.  Martha also had the children sing a song for us.  It was about a rabbit that runs away and the children need to work together to find it!  I have posted in my youtube account.  See for yourself!  Children Singing Rabbit Song on AIMC Farm

We left just before sunset and showered up when we returned.  We celebrated Peters return to the UK last night!  He left this morning and Nina and Elaine will part in the coming days.  Maggie made a special meal of rice, beans, and vegetables.  I am so used to the food now and am really liking it….a lot.  I know I will miss it….but that statement may be too early to make!  Everything is locally sourced if not produced right in the garden of Maggie's back yard.  Cannot get any fresher than that!  John purchased a nice bottle of red and white wine for the celebration and MGT's (Malawi Gin & Tonics) were had by all!

When I awoke this morning I purchased some fabric at the market with Elaine.  Some of the women in the MicroVentures school are making me a pair shorts and a shirt!  Cannot wait to see the final product!

I am headed to Lilongwe on Saturday morning with Gerald as we have a meeting early Monday with an organization doing an assessment of our clients doing ago growing.  I will be staying at the lodge and will not have to worry about internet anymore as Alfred is picking up a sim card stick at the airport today!  The stick can be used to get wireless internet all across Malawi and it is very inexpensive!

TIA! (This is Africa)

Stay tuned!

Jimmy

Malawi

Hello Again

The mornings and evenings here in Malawi seem to be my favorite.  The sun casts its shadow on and off Mt. Kasungu and it is a beautiful sight.  I am plan on hiking/climbing it at some point, I just need to find a companion willing to do it with me.  Paolo has done it and said it is quite spectacular!

View of Mt. Kasungu from guesthouse room!

The sounds and sights of morning and night resonate in my head throughout the day.  As dusk approaches, you hear crickets in the field chipping and tree frogs gulping.  You soon hear dogs everywhere barking as they come across packs of others.  You see men walking or riding bikes back home to their families, children playing with friends, and women retiring home after a day at the market.  When you awake you hear birds singing their melodies as the sun beams through your window.  You see men heading off to work, women tending their fires, and children walking to school.

Well I left work yesterday and walked back alone because Peter had left earlier in the day and the others were in Lilongwe renewing their visas as you are required to do every additional 30 days you stay in county.  I thought I knew the way back…..not quite.  I knew I was close to the guesthouse but did not know how close.  I had only done the walk twice so far and combined with my awful sense of direction, you may know where this is going.  It seemed as if all the dirt paths began to look the same and it was as if I had to choose one.  Well I did and soon realized I was wrong.  I started walking through peoples land and now I can even say I looked like a "mzungu!" I found a nice woman breastfeeding as her others played in the dirt.  I asked her where Maggie lived, assuming she knew the owner of the guesthouse, not the case at all.  I then said where is the guesthouse and she pointed me through a path that lead through her garden of chillies, beans and pumpkin and around her corn field.  I soon was on a path I recognized and began looking for the little boy that calls out "Hey!  Give me money."  He was nowhere in sight until a pack of girls soon showed me the way.  Everyone here is so happy to help!

Tobacco trucks at a site as I walked home from work yesterday!

Women walking from town as I managed to get lost!

I returned just before sunset, changed into running shorts, and worked out.  I started on Monday and hope to continue until my return home.  The work out consists of push ups, an ab circuit, and a squat circuit.  When I have more time on the weekends, I would also like to begin running again.  Their is a brook down the road from Maggie's and I have been told it is very nice.  I guess I need to check it out!

Clothes perfectly ironed and folded when I return from work!  Thanks Maggie!

After a nice refreshing shower, I laid on the couch and opened my book.  I brought a bunch of books with me as I knew there would be lots of time to read.  I have to say the book I just started is amazing and I would highly recommend it to anyone.  I purchased it in Washington D.C. this semester at a conference on women empowerment!  The book is titled "Black is the New Orange" and is a memoir about Piper Kerman, a communications executive convicted of drug smuggling and money laundering in 2003 for a scheme she got tangled up in 10 years earlier when she had just graduated from Smith College.  She tells the story of her life behind bars, the lessons she learns, and the people she meets!  Should be finished this weekend!

Had a great breakfast this morning and walked to work with the team.  Quite cloudy and very windy in Malawi today.  Did the tornado warnings in MA head over seas?

I am going to finish imputing our staff on the eSoko software today and hopefully we will soon be connected and allowed to use SMS to notify, buy, and sell crops across Malawi!

This afternoon I am visiting one of the MicroLoan staff members farms!  I will have some great pictures tomorrow!  

We are having a goodbye dinner tonight for Peter, Nina's boyfriend.  He is working with the staff on IT training.  He heads back to the UK on Friday!  We are having a special dinner and plan on having MGT's (Malawi Gin & Tonics) with some of the fresh lemons the girls picked up on the side of the road the other day!  Should be a fun night!

Jimmy

First Night in My New Home

Good Morning

Had a wonderful first night in the guest house.  

Last night I had dinner with the five others from MicroLoan that are staying here as well.  Following we watched some football (soccer), news, and I introduced them to the Jersey Shore.  It was great when Nina said, "what is this garbage."  

All my clothes were washed and ironed perfectly and were waiting outside my door when I awoke.  Elaine and John told me breakfast was at 7:30 but when I walked outside my room that was not the case.  They had all finished.  They must have given me the wrong time.  I had a small breakfast of tea, cornflakes, and coconut biscuits and was off for work.  Elaine waited for me and we walked to work together.  The walk consists of small paths for bikes, mopeds, and walking by foot.  It goes right through the backyards of some living in the area so it was great seeing the children's faces as they saw "mzungu" walking through their yard.  This little boy, who we also saw yesterday, followed us and screamed "hello, give me money!"  I may give the boy one of the notebook pads I brought along with me from my dads company but I don't want to walk back tomorrow and have him expecting something else or even worse, have the entire village children waiting for something as well.  I'll need to think about this one.

Elaine and I stopped in at the hardware store in the center of town before heading to MicroLoan HQ.  She is a designer in the UK that has done projects all over Africa, India and China.  Currently she is consulting for MicroLoan and working with our MicroVentures clients on sewing training.  She needed glue for the notebooks she was teaching the clients how to make today!  

Well off to continue work on registering myself, Paolo, Gerald, our three Regional Managers and all our 21 Brach Mangers on the Esoko software.

MIss you all!

Enjoy your day!

Jimmy

Back in Kasungu

Hello

Arrived in Kasungu this morning!  Just posted pictures!

Feeling so much better!  Will continue to take the antibiotics for two more days as prescribed by my doctor.

Also, if you go to the posts in 5/22-5/22 I have put up some pictures of my site visits with clients!

Enjoy

Jimmy

Madonna's Failed School In Malawi

I had to wait to post this as I wanted to include the picture I snapped and did not have enough internet access while I was at the lodge to upload.

As we were driving to Lilongwe on Thursday we passed the site of Madonna's school in Africa.  As you can see, there is not much there.  They began clearing the spot of land but nothing else.  Read the article below!

Madonna's Malawi Failure

Day 5 Sickness into Day 6

Sunday, May 29th, 2011

Well I have finally got sick!

I don't know if it was  my body adjusting to the country and food but I got pretty sick.

I was in bed all day yesterday and am hoping that today I will start to feel a bit better.

I have been drinking a lot of water and even took the antibiotics for diarrhea that the travel clinic prescribed me.

Hope this all helps.

Cross you fingers.

Jimmy

Oh What A Night…

Saturday, May 28th, 2011

Well last night was nothing I ever expected to do in while in Malawi!

I was sitting in the lobby/bar of the lodge just reading a book, Organic Inc.  It was a gift from one of my professors at school.  As I was reading I over head some of the Europeans talking about a club that was opening tonight and how they wanted to go and check it out.  Sounded interesting but I knew that was not for me.  Well I was wrong!

As I sat reading three Malawians and a girl from the UK walked in together.  They got drinks from the bartender and sat down near me.  One of the Malawians, Joseph put his hand out and immediately introduced himself.  I even used some of the Chichewa I have been learning and said, "Moni!  Muli banjo?" (Hello!  How are you?) and he replied instantly even though I had no idea what he said.  He then went on to introduce me to the three girls he came in with, Hanna (UK) , Winnie (Malawi), and Fiskan (Malawi).  I began talking to them and asked Hanna why she was in Malawi and I learned she studies Animal Biology and is doing our equivalence of an internship out here to complete her graduation requirements.  She happens to work down the road at the Animal Rescue Park: Lilongwe and works with injured animals in rehabilitation.  I was hoping to get their this weekend to check it out prior to our introduction so she said I could hitch a ride with her on Saturday or Sunday!  Then Winnie and Fiskan told me how they were in college but they mentioned something about all schools being closed across the nation but I failed to make out the reason why.  I did get their emails though so I will be able to write them and get an answer that does not factor in my very bad hearing and their broken english.

Following they asked what I did and why I was in Malawi.  I shared and then they asked me to come out with them tonight.  They said this club Zanzibar had just opened and they said I would really like it.  Well that was the club those Europeans were talking about at the bar!  Hannah said we would also be stopping at a friend from works house prior to leaving.  I was very hesitant about going, I was in my clothes for bed and it was 10 PM and I was tired!  Well I said sure but can I change and they said no your fine in that.  Winnie had a side conversation with Joseph in Chichewa and she came back and said you have five minutes to change.  Well I ran to my chalet, threw on a pair of shots, a shirt, and shoes and then ran to the bathroom and washed my legs and arms of the mosquito spray I had applied minutes before they arrived!  I was ready, I hopped in the car and drove to Hannah's friends house.  There were about 12 people from the UK all drinking around a fire pit and eating food being cooked from the grill.  We were each offered a skewer of chicken and I have to say it was great!  It was like I had just flown back home for a meal!

Then Hannah said she wanted to stay at the house longer but the others wanted to go to the club so I left with Joseph, Fiskan, and Winnie and went to the club.  We would see Hannah and her friends later on.  The club was beautiful and had a great vibe.  The people were so warming and nice.  I was the only white person for about two hours but then a bunch of the Europeans showed up.  My dancing face was on, it was like boat cruise all over again!  Me and Winnie were the only ones on the dance floor and after about an hour or staring and embarrassment, the entire club was up and dancing amongst us!  

Malawians have a specials word for white person, "mzungu" and if your a white person that says that they laugh!  I had so much fun, the club had nine DJs, three dance floors and amazing people that I am so happy I had the chance to meet.  I brought my camera and took lots of pictures with everyone.  Malawians love having their picture taken and love seeing themselves after.  We had so much fun passing my camera around and laughing at the pictures of ourselves.

Last night was a great example of how much fun this country is, whether your in the poor villages or the club, you are always welcomed and accepted with a smiling face.  I wish the USA was like this.  We seem to grown up in a world full of shelters and walls and we need to recognize we are all one race!  

Tonight they have the Champion League Final Live at 8 PM with a BBQ, 1/2 price beers, after party, music, and big screens!  Maybe I should check it out…..

Oh what a night!

Peace

Jimmy

Me, Joseph, and the owner of Club Zanzibar!

Joseph, Winnie, Hanna, and I

Joseph, Fiskan, Me, and Winnie