Oh, my first day as a real employee rather than a volunteer! Really there’s no difference. And really the first day was very anti-climactic so I’m going to write about the second day instead :) Here in Malawi, most people don’t show up on the first day of school. In fact, many just kind of drift in over the first week, picking up whenever they come. So the first day, most of my loves were not around. Instead it was just a lot of new first-year students who I have yet to know. But the second day – oh that was lovely!! Most of my Electrical class had come so there was a whole lot of “Aahh!”s and running towards people. So many hugs and smiles, it was just wonderful. Laura kept commenting on how she wished she’d had a camera to capture the joy. I wish she did too. Although it undoubtedly would’ve been knocked from her hands too as a handful of students also scooped her up into hugs :) Oh MIRACLE students, gotta love ‘em! Equally as exciting was that the (now) 3rd year students who will be leaving for attachment also reported on the second day. It was simply fabulous because it appears that most of this year’s favorites are in that grade, although it did make me realize just how much I’m going to miss the likes of Kelvin, Mphatso, and Elijah while they are off being interned!

However, in keeping with the joyful theme, I did receive some BEYOND amazing news! MIRACLE has begun to offer a third-year of electrical, so students can receive their Grade 1 certificate…. This means that many in my all-time favorite class will be returning for another year – Georgina, Cobby, Charity, Haslon, Ganizani, Chimwemwe and hopefully the rest! Oh how happy that makes my heart :) Reunited and it feels so goooood lol. Let’s so how much work I get done now with them around. Georgina was the only one around that first day, but that was just fine with me because we got to sit out on the porch with her and chatter away just like old times. Cannot wait to see them all again.

In other news, my skin is transforming thanks to that awful sunburn. We got what Laura termed “elephant skin” aka it became all taut and wrinkly across our foreheads. A perpetual frown basically. We felt like Vitu. While her’s is still like this, mine advanced more quickly, turning a dark shade of brown and then beginning to peel off in sheets. Laura figures it’s just me turning Malawian… half black, half white :) Haha so many gems from that girl. Anyway, so yes there was at first just a white splotch of my forehead where it peeled but as the day progressed there was actually a distinct line of black and white. Awwwwesome. I tried my best not to mess with it, but let’s be honest. Also splotchy are my chin and nose and today we can add my cheeks to the mix. I’m pretty sure people must think I have a disease or something. But oh well, a few days from now it should clear up and I’ll be back to my pale self.