Wow...

Finally have some time in a real Internet cafe... and the thought of blogging is a bit daunting, to be honest.  This has been an incredible experience... overwhelming in so many ways.  As a professional writer I feel like I need to make a blog post pithy and moving, but I don't have the energy or the perspective on things yet that such a post would require.  Such stupid pressure I put on myself :)

Anyway... where to begin... we have held babies in orphanages, sat in on HIV testing in a remote village (one was positive, all the rest negative), visited a girl who is dying of KS (a form of cancer that directly results from AIDS... a disease which our ER doctor tour guide said he never sees in the US anymore, but which ravages AIDS patients here in Malawi), visited huts in villages where 9 kids live in a space that is about 8 feet x 8 feet and with only one mosquito net and their possessions include a few pots and some clothes... and many more experiences that I still need to process.  We've also seen some beautiful landscapes and took a river boat and saw hippos and elephants.  The terrain ranges from dry desert in the middle of the country to lush green vegetation and tea plantations in the south (we won't see the north on this trip). 

In spite of severe hardship, the people here have the biggest smiles I've ever seen and they use them a lot.  The kids LOVE to have their picture taken, and even more they love to see their pictures in the digital cameras -- they literally shriek with laughter at the sight of themselves and then beg me to take more and look again, take more and look again and tease each other.  As soon as they see my camera I am hijacked into photo duty, and it's so much fun and I feel like I am giving them a moment of pure joy.  We were self-conscious about taking photos at first -- feeling exploitive -- but one man here who runs an orphanage assured us that it is, in fact, our duty to take these photos and tell their stories and show the rest of the world.  So I am coming back with about 1,000 pictures... good thing I got the 8G card :)

We are on the home stretch... we have about 2 days left, then get on the airplane Thursday afternoon for our 34-hour flight home (!).  Once I get back I'll upload some pictures... still can't do it here for some reason.  Although I did manage to check email at one point, using my PHONE if you can believe it, from a place in the mountains where I was able to tap into someone's wifi connection :)

Thanks again for all the messages and well-wishes!  I wish I'd been able to blog more frequently along the way, but in a way it's been nice to be completely disconnected from "real life" for a time.  I have truly been able to be here, which was the whole point in the first place.  :)  So it's all good. 

I look forward to boring you all with my stories very soon!!! :):) 

--Kim

We're Here!

Great time so far!  Only a quick update for now. I have been using my internet time to try to upload photos, unsuccessfully.  Oh well...first thing you learn here is to be flexible.  :)  The lesson started with Ethiopian Air insisting that we check our bags (after we'd meticulously packed carry-on size only), and then of course our bags were nowhere to be found when we arrived.  Thankfully they arrived today and our friendly driver Luzu has graciously gone back to the airport to pick them up.  I've been wearing the same clothes now for about 60 hours.  :)

We've met some amazing people so far... a couple who started a paleative (sp?) care clinic, which we'll visit tomorrw; and a local Malawian teacher who has 130 students and teaches geometry, algebra, chemistry AND physics (talk about overworked). 

I'd like to make this post more interesting and wish I could include photos... but oh well.  I hope to update more but not sure what access will be like as we travel throughout the country. 

Thanks for all the well-wishes and thoughts!!  It's great to hear from you.  

I hope to add more soon!

--Kim 

Weather report in Lilongwe, Malawi

Highs from 70-75... lows around 50. 

Nice! 

Weather.com

hmmm... maybe I'll bump into Lindsay...???

Lindsay Lohan wants to do charity work in Malawi

As SugarScape puts it: 

"She may be out of jail but Lindsay Lohan's still in the dog house. Can she really turn her life around? It seems LiLo's spent her jail sentence doing some serious thinking. After her stint behind bars the troubled star has decided she wants time out to find herself and concentrate on helping the poor and needy. First stop Malawi."   http://www.sugarscape.com/main-topics/homepage/546896/lindsay-shipping-herself-malawi 

I say anyone can turn his or her life around.  And Malawi seems like a good place to start.  Go for it, Lindsay.  Maybe I'll see you there. 

 

Liquid Assets

The carry-on traveler's friend... non-liquid versions of bug spray, sunblock, shampoo, laundry detergent and hand sanitizer.  :)

Shots!

= sore arms :)

Getting ready for my trip to Malawi!

With a new hat and travel sweater, courtesy of my folks and the REI gift card for my b-day... thanks mom and dad!!