Thursday, November 27, 2008

PICS-Visiting Jean's Project & lunch w/ her family


First Jean  drove us by the local college. 
The college had just about everything including a basketball court.
Residence halls and one dining hall.
     The college's office buildings. I was surprised to see an Asian style building in Africa!
This is Jean's Project. She has helped fund and build this school for the local village.  Preschool is an unknown concept in Malawi but this school is primarily for young children to set them up to be successful in school.  Since the schools are so far away, this is much closer for the little ones.  Its by far the nicest building I saw in any of the villages in Malawi.
This is a poster in the schools office. The picture is a lady who Jean randomly met on an airplane flight and has been helping Jean fund her project. 
 The teachers office. 

   One of the classrooms. There is light, the chalkboards work, no holes in the floor or ceiling, color on the walls and locks on the doors!
I brought the toothbrushes and toothpaste to these children. :)
We had to get a ZTA picture to send to nationals. Jean is on the far left.  Her nephew is wearing a red shirt with his hands crossed.
The kids were getting carried away with the stickers we brought. This little girl on the left is wearing  fabric tied around her shoulder because she doesn't have any other clothes to wear. 

Precious! 
In addition to the school house, Jean has also built this round building right next to the school. Its perfect for outside activities and to get some shade.
These  two little girls held my arms the whole morning. They never said a word but they never left my side. 

Weights made out of clay! They are SOO resourceful. 
Jean is also building a clinic for the village. She is really making a difference!
Walking down a dirt road...
A swing!

Jean brought us to a ladies house who takes care of all her grandchildren. Her children have died from AIDS/HIV and how the grandmother is left to care for all these children. This is her tiny house. 
Jean told me there isn't enough maize in here to feed all of the kids for a whole year. They will run out and starve.

This is Jeans mothers house! 
This is Jeans brother and his son. Jean brought him a whole new outfit and we called him the "JC Penny baby" He's adorable!
Inside Jeans mothers house. Radio, bathroom, electricity, furniture....very nice! 
A feast! The best meal I had in Malawi! 
Jeans mother! 
Jeans aunt and her mother with all of us
A wonderful family

To read the blog that goes along with these pictures, see Visiting Jean's Project 

PICS-Mount Mulanje


On our way to Mt. Mulanje, we drove by Malawi's tea plantations.
Beautiful land! 
Approaching Mt. Mulanje

Waving to the Malawians
The paved road ended and we followed this long dirt road to the mountain.
Mountain, trees and tea!
This is our tour guide, Sam, who we literally picked up from the side of the road. At the time we thought this was outrageous, but we learned thats just the way you get tour guides!


Our hike begins. The path starts off very wide...
Sam  telling us stories about the mountain 

me, Lauren and Sarah
Malawians  go into the mountain to get sticks and carry them down the mountain on their heads. Most of them didn't wear shoes and some didn't even use their hands. Many smiled and waved at us.   Needless to say, we let them have the right of way!

Sarah, Heidi, Krista, Lauren, Vandy, me, Mandy, Brittany 
The path was very intense

This is such a typical picture for me. I was ALWAYS writing notes so I would remember what to write about in my blog! haha
  Brian and Brittany taking a break
We finally made it to the waterfall! This is the platform where we stopped to have lunch and take pictures.
VT group
After lunch we climbed down the platform to play on the rocks. 


Back down...

 After we got back, we stopped to shop at the vendors.  This picture is a great example  of how the vendors come to the window of the bus and most of our purchases are usually as the bus pulls away. Thats when we get the best deals. The vendors literally shove things in your face-Its quite an event! 

To read the blog that goes along these pictures, see Hiking Mount Mulanje