There were plans in the pipeline to visit a different area
of Lake Malawi this weekend. However, due to miscommunication and
transportation issues, I returned to DLH to spend my final weekend in Malawi
with Sarah and the Podgores.
On Saturday morning, they picked me up in Area 3 after
dropping off Kate at the airport. We went to the Old Town Mall, which is full
of galleria-type shops, one of which is called African Habitat. We also stopped
at the grocery story, Chipiku, and an Indian restaurant for lunch. On the way
back, we paid a short visit to the chaotic Main Market to buy fruit.
A short note on the driving/road culture in Malawi; apart
from a few main roads that are paved, most are red dirt roads, dangerously
uneven with rocks and ditches. There are very few streetlights, and even fewer
that actually work. Roundabouts and speed bumps (or “sleeping policeman,” as
the Podgores call them) are common. Actual policeman stand guard at checkpoints
and periodically check licenses and registrations. Driving is on the left,
passing is frequent, and dodging packed minibuses and pedestrians on foot or
bicycle is a must.
After the busy morning, we took a short siesta at the
Podgore’s house. Later on, Sarah and I completed a yoga session before cooking
dinner. We decided to make vegetable lasagna—roasted vegetables layered with a mix of cheeses and fresh sauce made from the famous Malawian tomatoes. Armed only
with past experience and intuition, we made a few improvisations and
substitutions. Nevertheless, it turned out fantastic—a huge hit with the
Podgores!
That night, we heard from Kate that her flight from South
Africa to Washington D.C. was indeed canceled after the snowstorm hit. She
would be forced to spend the night in Johannesburg and book another flight back
home. What awful timing.
The night ended with an interesting movie about the first
cardiac surgery performed at Johns Hopkins University.
Sarah and I started Sunday with a morning run. The sunrise
was—as always—incredible.
After breakfast, we went to mass. There is a Presbyterian
church at DLH that offers services in English and Chichewa. The English mass
was quite enjoyable, consisting largely of songs of praise by the choir.
Sarah and I stayed for the Chichewa mass, which was slightly
different. The church was packed, and there was even more song and dance—which,
according to the pastor, is innate to their African blood. Adult and children
choirs performed, but the entire congregation actively participated.
After lunch, Sarah and I played a board game and made banana
bread out of the over-ripe bananas purchased at the market the day before.
That afternoon, the five of us walked down to the hospital.
Dr. Podgore was asked to consult on a very sick newborn with tetanus, weighing less than
three pounds. It was very sad to see, as the baby will likely not
make it.
On a happier note, we also went to the pediatric ward for
“balloon rounds.” Periodically, the Podgores visit the children on the weekend,
and bring toys and balloons. It was extremely heartening to see the joy spread
by our visit. Children, mothers, and grandmothers were all smiles.
Later that afternoon, we welcomed a brief thunderstorm and a brilliant rainbow.
The weekend came to a close with a communal pancake dinner at the Chinchins’
house—founders of the ABC. There I met and mingled with several missionaries
and volunteers working in Malawi. I found this tight-knit and altruistic
community to be quite inspirational.
Afterwards, the Podgores dropped me off in Area 3, where I
caught up with Ryan and the residents, and crawled into bed. Three days left in
Malawi.
