So one of the things about living in Malawi is that there is no curbside trash pick-up. Shocking, I know. So this means that you have to burn your trash. I know, it hurts my heart to release all of those toxins into the air, too, but there is nothing else to be done. I would like to add that this is why the roadsides are often littered with trash. I don’t want to perpetuate some stereotypical image of trash heaps in Africa with fly-covered children picking through them. That’s not the way it is in Malawi. It is, however, totally acceptable to drop any piece of trash you might have onto the ground, since there are no waste bins and no government sanitation system for trash. So yes there is a lot of trash on the ground and there are frequent piles of garbage waiting to be burned. Anyways, our outside kitchen (that we never use) had become our trash station, as we first waited for the necessary paraffin and then for Banda to come over during the daylight. As you might remember, Laura and I attempted to burn trash before and it took forever, used a whole candle, and was fairly ineffective. Banda told us later that people use paraffin to get a good fire going. But we didn’t want to set a forest fire or light ourselves on fire, so we waited for him to assist. This resulted in a huge pile in the outdoor kitchen. I was actually quite embarrassed about it as I opened the door, feeling like a hoarder. But the weekend after Laura left, Banda finally came over to assist. It was fairly terrifying to watch him douse all of the bags in paraffin and then drop them one-by-one onto the roaring bonfire. Especially when one of the bottles would explode with a bomb-like sound. And the fact that he was kicking things back into the fire and touching burning objects. Oh Malawian fingers that feel no heat.

I’ve tried to start teaching myself Chitumbuka again. I have a Peace Corps language book that I’m bringing to work now, so whenever I have free time and I’m feeling inspired, I’ve been memorizing vocabulary words. Because I think that’s really the problem – I just don’t know enough words to follow more than a few conversations. I’ve also realized that I’ll never really get it until I start thinking in Chitumbuka. Back in college when I was doing German, I was really good and actually thought in German half the time. I need to do this for Chitumbuka because it is SUCH a fast language that there’s no way I can hear the word and then translate into English to understand. By that point they’ve said 10 more words and I’m lost. So it needs to be instantaneous. God only knows how many years that would take… so I’m not stressing about it.

The student teachers are gone! Oh how sad I am that I don’t get to see Raymond every day. He was like the brother I never had lol. Seriously. I’m so grateful that they ended up staying with Banda so he basically automatically became our friend. Chaminade had a goodbye party for them so I was happy to attend. And then immediately afterwards, I escorted Raymond to the bus depot, gave him a scandalous hug goodbye and then had to run after the truck as it left me. I’m crossing my fingers that he gets posted in Karonga or else somewhere that I visit frequently so I can see him every now and then.

Cobby and Isaac got expelled from MIRACLE for stealing equipment. Stupid idiots. Although not entirely unexpected in a town where students have notoriously sticky fingers. I will miss seeing them around though.

Hurt my back again moving books. I wish there was a chiropractor in Karonga because I’m pretty sure it’s all still from the original injury. The pain has never really gone away – just abated a bit – and flares up into seriousness again the moment I lift anything heavy for an extended amount of time. It really has been messing up this library cataloging though which is frustrating to feel like I can’t do anything at work.

I figured out how to make Snickerdoodles!! They call for cream of tartar but I doubt that’s even in Malawi, so I found out you could substitute baking powder. I guess they don’t taste exactly like Snickerdoodles but they are pretty darn addicting. I regularly lose count of how many I eat in a day. Fortunately Banda is making a dent in them too so it’s not just me. And the way he says Snickerdoodle with his accent is just too adorable.

I bought a coconut from the market the other day and Banda finally cracked it open with my handy-dandy pocket knife. I was very disappointed. I thought coconut milk was supposed to be sweet?! It was salty. Maybe we let it sit for too long? Does anyone know? But then the next question would be, how on earth do you know when a coconut is ‘ripe’?? I did thoroughly enjoy Banda proposing that maybe the milk would be sweeter from one of the other holes. His rationale? That different mannered babies come from the same stomach, so maybe we’d get sweet milk from the same place that also had sour. :) And then he discovered that the coconut bounces like an out-of-control basketball. Laura, you would have loved it.

When the Hotel & Catering students have their practical lessons, they invite select teachers to eat the outcome. I’d never been invited before, so I was thrilled to join them this week. It was like being back in America! They had cereal with milk (hot milk – new but surprisingly tasty), sausage (!), a huge omelet with vegetables in it, bread and butter (forgot how much I love that), baked beans (from a can – wowee!), chips, and cocoa. Oh it was just lovely. I was very impressed since in the past, food prepared by classes tended to be subpar and we wondered what on earth they were learning in there. But the new teacher really seems to know her stuff and the students are learning a lot! Awesome. And I got a great meal :)

We went to a music concert that Ms. Kim was putting on with her voice and instrumental students. It was strange to hear them singing English songs that they could barely wrap their words around, but they pulled it off and they sounded beautiful. Ms. Kim was just brimming over with pride – as she rightly should be! I also met the other Korean lady who lives in town and works at Lusubilo. I’d only met her husband before but she was wearing a beautiful dress so that gave me a conversational in. Even better, I found out what tailor she used, so I can use my favorite chitenje cloth to get a respectable yet adorable dress made! I’m excited! Also nearly peed my pants from laughter as Beams scared the begeezes out of Banda by pretending to be upset about my moving in with him. More on that in a bit… But yes, good old Beams pulled off the fatherly role and it was fun seeing Banda lost for words for the first time in a year and a half of knowing him.

So as mentioned I’m moving in with Banda this coming weekend. I can’t stay at the Brother’s guest house anymore since they want it open for other guests, so it’s time for me to move out. It’s actually purely a practical move to join Banda. I mean I love the kid and it would definitely have ended up happening eventually, but it wouldn’t have been this soon if we weren’t in Malawi. And by that I mean that the house that I’m building won’t have power for months, maybe years. And I’m not comfortable staying alone in a house off campus that doesn’t have lights. I’m far too jumpy for that. And it just wouldn’t be safe. Hence, him moving in. But it also doesn’t make sense for him to give up his $5/month house that’s on campus and has power. So I’m moving into his house and I’ll rent my new place until power comes. Then when electricity is set, we’ll shift to the new house. I am pretty bummed that it was so stressful and costly to build that house and yet someone else will live there first :( I already love the place and was really looking forward to decorating and making it a home. Stupid power company for being so inefficient. But that day will come. And in the meantime, I’ll hopefully be able to get some rent money to make up for the costs. One of the Malawian benefits of moving in with him is that I will now be unofficially Mrs. Banda. Haha no more creepy teachers hitting on me and asking me invasive personal questions. Yessss. In Malawi, if you live together, you’re married. Regardless of my telling them that an official wedding is not happening for a while. So that’s that.

I’ve unfortunately had some problems with the house lately. Specifically with people charging money for things not done, doing subpar work to skimp and sell the ‘extras’, and even worse, outright stealing materials from our storage house and reselling them. Had a meltdown in Singuini’s office as I expressed all of my frustrations about such a small house costs twice as much as the original budget proposal set out. We’ve also come to realize that the builders have been presenting things as necessary when really they are optional. Alas it’s nearing the end so not much can be done. Having a meeting this afternoon though to address the stolen properties.

Construction-wise, it’s still trucking along. They’re plastering the walls now. It actually looks like something you could live in! The window frames are done and adorable. Doors are being made and are just waiting to be attached. And flooring. Cool beans. I’m just ready for the outflow of money to stop, that’s for sure!

Had a Facebook Chat date with Molly yesterday that was absolutely wonderful! So nice to chat with her and hear about her life. Stayed at MIRACLE until it was pitch black and the mosquitoes were eating me alive. Totally worth it!

Also had a heart-filling afternoon with the teachers’ kids. I was sitting on Banda’s porch, waiting for him to come home so we could go visit the house construction. I hear a bunch of giggling and people running through the forest and thought to myself “oh it must be some students.” But nope, there comes Banda skipping and running along with a trail of my 3 favorite teachers’ kids behind him, Muche, Euclid and Hope. Of course this led to a photo shoot of the boys who were soon joined by two of Clifford’s sons, Owen and Clifford Jr. And then they followed us all the way to the new house, entertaining us and holding our hands along the way. They’ve all gotten so much braver around the mzungu than they were last year! And it was kinda adorable seeing them racing through the house exploring the rooms and then lose interest and go play with the long grasses in the front yard – they play horsie too! Beams met us on the road so we all piled into the car, where the boys danced in the backseat to Beams’ awesome music. Hung out at Banda’s place afterwards with Muche, eating cookies, drinking Sobo and watching music videos. Just one of those lovely afternoons with the kiddoes!