Hello from Malawi!!

Sorry friends-- no pictures on offer today. Not sure if there will be a card reader at all while I'm here, but it's possible the resort where I'll be able to get on the internets once I get to my new village will have one.

So I arrived in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, two days ago. The flights were uneventful, but I have to say I was expecting a bit more modernity than I've found (apparently the capital is not the main city here). I'm staying in a nice enough place run by a young English expat, and a 15 minute walk away takes you to a small complex with an Internet cafe (where I am now), a bank, a gas station, and a small supermarket (you would not believe the produce section.. basicaly wrinkly tomatoes and some garlic. I am looking forward to the mango trees I've heard about in my village!). All the houses around here have razor wire around their 10-foot walls and at least two nightwatchmen. (It reminds me a lot of your neighborhood, Mom and Dad.) But people have been really lovely to me so far-- every time I walk into 'town', everyone on the street smiles and says hello, and all the guards call me 'madame.'

Possibly the coolest thing so far that I've seen, that really made me realize I am in Africa (!!!), was on the cab ride here from the airport. We're careening down the road, no AC, no seatbelts, my window won't roll down, and I see a woman up ahead walking along the road carrying probaby 4 dozen eggs on her head. My driver started honking at her to make sure she knew we were coming, and she kind of whips around to look, and the eggs don't move an inch! Such skill!

I leave tomorrow morning for my new home, on the shore of Lake Malawi, at a place called Mwaya Beach. I'll be working with a charity called Ripple, living in a hut on the beach, asssisting in a primary school. If anyone's interested in the charity (which seems to be really well run and sincerely interested in the wellbeing of the village), you can find out more about them here: www.rippleafrica.org. Not sure when I'll next be able to post, but time is flying and I'll be leaving for the Dominican Republic in just 8 weeks, so I'll definitely catch up on pictures at least once I get to my parents' house. Hope you all are well!!

P.S.
I realize I pretty much skipped out on posting about my Italy leg, but it was such a lovely place and it was pretty much heaven to have a week with my family and stay in such a gorgeous place (our villa in Tuscany had a huge patio and pool overlooking vineyards all around). Rome was busy and beautiful, and then I had a few days down on the Amalfi coast which were really relaxing and breathtaking as well. I'll try to find a way to get pictures up sometime in the near future!