Things we have learned that you need to know when you come to Malawi

Things we have learned that you need to know when you come to Malawi

• Tea is not instant, or in tea bags, you must put it in a strainer first. This was very embarrassing for me (Jamie) the first night.
• When you go to a hotel, they normally do not provide towels. You need to bring your own. We didn’t know this and left our towels in the U.S., so we are being very creative.
• Most of the time the children think you are a ghost, if they haven’t seen a white person before.
• Bring candy and balloons with you at all times so at least you are a friendly ghost.
• They have lots of English people that visit them, so they have tea a lot. I think we have tea at least 3 times daily if not more. So luckily Luke is able to at least drink the tea since he doesn’t really even like it.
• There is water all around them but most of the Africans do not swim. So when Luke went swimming they thought he was going to drown, I kept having to tell them he can swim well, he is fine. But there were lots of waves and even Luke was worn out after 15 minutes.
• In our area there are no safari animals. Due to not having good control of poachers, all the animals are gone, but there are lots of goats, chickens, cows, sheep, and corn, so it is really familiar to us.
• Chickens, goats, and pigs roam wherever they please, at night they just go home.
• Everywhere you go, you must sign their guest book.
• The people appreciate it when you eat with your fingers and not with a fork. (A sign of respect for trying to fit into their culture)
• Numbers are very easy to learn in Chichewa- one…two…three…four…five….
• Learn how to aim, pit toilets are a hole in the ground and are difficult.
• Electricity may work, it might not.
• The largest bill is 1000 Kwacha, which equals 2.13 USD and everything is paid in cash. Get a bigger wallet or if you are buying a car, bring a suitcase. (a $100 bill turns into 47 bills)
• They have never seen a contact lens. When one falls out, they probably think that part of your eyeball came out.
• Hot water, a big luxury item. (Sometimes run by a switch, don’t forget to turn it on)
• You only have one chance to tie a wrap correctly around your waist, otherwise it will be tied for you- VERY TIGHT.
• You must be somewhat of a light sleeper so that when you tangle yourself in the mosquito net you will wake up. Luke had to save my life one night.

Here are some pictures of the beautiful lake that we got to go to twice. It was very relaxing and we will enjoy being by water.

And one of the landscape