September 2010
50 posts
6 tags
Kyson and Stephanie Play Farmer
George’s truck left a thick red dust in its wake, bumping and thumping its way into the deepest heart of the Zomba district. The expedition was nothing short of arduous, as the road was essentially mauled through, but unpaved, by one enormous CAT machine—and yes, there was only a singular road that existed here. As our hands gripped the seats tightly for dear life, we jostled and jolted past...
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Surprise!
We get many visitors here at the Emmanuel International office— first there was Zoltar, our Hungarian friend who was very familiar with our new home. Five years ago, he did research on food security in Malawi, surveying more than 250 households for his Ph.D. He sat me down at the piano and made me play the little that I remembered, then found a recorder and we created some duets. Zoltar then...
Sunday morning.
Kumbaya, they sing, voices strengthening with every crescendo, harmonizing into one voice rising to thank God for the morning.
Faith is an intricate detail in the fabric of the lives of these Malawians. By the time I finish my shower at 7:30 in the morning, many colleagues of Emmanuel International filter in through our open doors and settle down in the living room for morning prayer. Hands...
Chiki chiki chiki!
“Follow follow follow follow the leader! I jump, I jump I jump, I sit I sit I sit, I sing I sing I sing!”
A trail of giggling, sparkling children follow us on part of our three hour hike in the Zomba mountains, singing the few songs Helaine taught them, showing us just how high they can jump up in the air and land on their own bare feet.
Climbing up the mountain was quite the trek,...
“I believe that education for children can help change the future of Malawi.”
– says Helaine, our Brazilian housemate.
By teaching children English, children can get better occupations and thus provide better support for themselves and their family. By learning English, they get paid more— otherwise, a man makes about 10,000Kw (or about $57) a MONTH; more outrageous...
It's some kind of world out here.
Coasting down the bumpy road at a speedy 90mph, dodging potholes and pedestrians and bikers alike, we set out from the Chileka, Blantyre airport into our hometown for the month.
The very first thing Helen (our host for the month, although she is off to Canada with her husband starting today!) points out, is the amount of charcoal traders on the road. Pushing their overflowing bicycles topped...
I have optimism for Kenya.
They just got a new constitution a few weeks ago, and they are very proud of this. In fact, I’ve also learned (from Ronald, our talkative, politically knowledgable and friendly driver) that Africa takes it as a personal compliment that the US elected Obama— Kenya took a 3 day holiday when he was elected, and people sing hurrah and physically look and sound proud when talking about him....
Why is Bamboo Lota in Malawi?
In a nutshell, Bamboo Lota was created by Kyson, Joanna and I during our UC Berkeley Haas School of Business Spring 2009 class, Entrepeneurship to Address Global Poverty, taught by the fantastic and life-changing Professor John Danner (our GSIs were Luke Filose and Roxanne Miller, likewise amazing folks who have contributed much to our project!). The class was structured to give us learning...
Saturation.
Saturated is the way of this city, dripping heavily with perspiration in the hot humid air, painted an opulent color of glistening gold and silver, sagging under the weight of money made from thick, dark oil.
However, Dubai’s majestic alien towers house nothing but air-conditioned, fake circulating air. It is an empty, affluent city redefining superficiality and westernization.
So, calling...
“I am because we are.”
– I am not defined without you. Or anyone else in this interconnected world.
Watch Madonna’s “I Am Because We Are” documentary on Malawi’s children. Kyson & I did, & we are greatly moved, encouraged, anticipating our arrival into Blantyre tomorrow!
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On a ‘get-vaccinations-for-hepAB-typhoid-flu-&-yellow fever’ expedition with Kyson! First: EastBay traffic, Bart, then walk 20 blocks…! Muy ouchh.
“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the...”
– Buddha (via quote-book)
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WANDERLUST.
Via Wikipedia: Wanderlust is a strong desire for or impulse to wander, or, in modern usage, to travel and to explore the world.
Well then, world, I’m off again from the comforts of my materialistic, networked universe, to humbly trod on an unmarked path, to get sickened by waterborne diseases, to get stung by mosquitos, and to meet dozens of people who we will hopefully positively affect.
...
“No one is anyone, one single immortal man is all men. Like Cornelius Agrippa, I...”
– Jorge Luis Borges, The Immortal (via @johannal)
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Tickets finally booked for MALAWI, AFRICA!
& Kenya (scopin’) & Dubai (for a layover). How to spell E-X-C-I-T-E-D. 13 day countdown!