On Holiday and Home!
It’s crazy to think that seven months has passed so quickly and that here I am, sat in Harrietcfield, writing my final blog entry. My overall experience had been incredible and settling back into life in the UK has had easy and challenging moments. Family life and home life seems oh-so-natural, but going into Perth and going to the shops is all a bit daunting! I’m sure I will get used to it in time; it’s just so strange that a week ago I was on my final Malawian bus ride…time flies.
Leaving Nchalo and the family was a very strange experience. I was very sad to say goodbye to the community which we had become so used to and especially sad to say goodbye to the Phiri family. Phoebe and Ignatius really were so good to us and what was bizarre was not knowing when we would meet again. While I fully intend on returning to Nchalo, I have no idea when, or if they will still be there. Even so, in living with the family we experienced Malawian life first-hand and built relationships which I hope will stay alive for years to come.
First stop after Nchalo was Blantyre, where we stayed with friends, went to church for the final time and were treated to lunch at a brilliant “English country pub”, called “Village Green”, in the city-a definite recommendation for anyone in Blantyre any time soon! At the same time we had to say goodbye to Tony, someone else who was so, so good to us in Nchalo. Unfortunately the “thank you and goodbye” was quite rushed and sudden and I didn’t feel that we conveyed our gratitude quite well enough, so (I’m hoping that Tony may read this) Thank You So Much, Tony!!!
From Blantyre Sophie and I went to Dedza where we met Mum, Dad and Jenny for one final night before they flew home the following day. Dedza is a very cold town up in the mountains, so we were very chilly, however pretty pottery and cheesecake served as good distractions! Once my family had left, we really began our travel time and were in Lilongwe, where we had never been before, to meet up with the other volunteers for a few nights. There were political protests lasting a couple of days which delayed our itinerary by one day, but in the grand scheme of things that’s not too bad at all! Drew, Sophie’s boyfriend, came out to visit and travel with us and we spent a lot of time travelling with Isla (another PT volunteer) and Lucia (Glasgow Uni med student who we met).
First stop was Senga Bay, our first glimpse of the lake since April. The sun was deceptively cruel and the wind made the weather seem cooler, so most of us ended up a little pink after day one, but learned to apply sun-cream every hour (at least). One of the funniest parts of our time in Senga Bay was when the owner of the place we were staying said that we could have a pan of boiling water when we asked if we could self-cater. We said “Yes, please!” and later that night were presented with a pan of water which had just come off the stove. He wouldn’t let us use the kitchen so we were stumped as to how we would cook our pasta. Luckily, Family Lovegrove had brought me some instant custard to which you just add boiling water, so we certainly did not go hungry. I think the owner was a bit disappointed that his joke hadn’t worked, but we were very smug!
From Senga Bay, Sophie and Drew went to Cape Maclear while Isla, Lucia and I went north. My trip up the lakeshore road on a coach was quite something. Picture a normal, UK sized bus, crammed with as many people on seats as possible, luggage everywhere and the isle full of people too. This journey lasted 10 hours and I couldn’t help but think how boring and uneventful public transport will be now that I am home.
We spent a few nights in the Livingstonia area, visiting the mission and the huge waterfalls. While buying a slice of banana cake in the little craft shop in the town, I spied a shop-bag with “Steenson’s” written on it. I asked if I could see it: “But it’s my bag, Madam.” “Yes, that’s not a problem, I just wonder could I see all the writing on it more closely please?” Sure enough, it was a bag from Steenson’s Jewellers, Glenarm, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland! (A jeweller very near my family in Ireland, which has sold several rings or bangles to us over the years). It was very strange but was a reminder as to how small the world can be!
After Livingstonia, the three of us hit the lakeshore, meeting Drew and Sophie off the Illala Ferry in Nkhata Bay and then spending time at Kande Beach, where we did horse riding through forest, on the beach and in the lake. From Kande we went to Nkhotakota, Dedza Pottery’s sister outlet, where again, cheesecake featured heavily and so did pottery. This time we were able to paint pottery and have it glazed and fired; a brilliant memento of my travels. Heading back to Lilongwe before flying home, everyone’s bags were more heavily laden, mainly with pottery and chitenjes. Our final weekend in Lilongwe was quite surreal but enjoyable nonetheless and on Monday morning we made our way (via matola!) to the airport.
Our journey was uneventful and after saying goodbye to everyone at Heathrow, I continued on up to Edinburgh to meet Dad and Jenny. Being home is strange; on the one hand, nothing has changed, but then again, so much is different. I have learned so much from my time away and I am very excited about university in September. I cannot put into words how grateful I am for all my family and friends being so behind me in everything that I have done, to my sponsors for helping me get to Malawi, and to everyone who has taken an interest in my Gap Year. All the emails and post brought a smile and it’s saddening to think that most of my post will now be bank statements, not hand-written cards and letters!
So, I guess it’s time to sign off and say “The End”. It’s strange to think that two years ago I signed up for my PT selection course and here I am about to go to my debriefing course, having had an incredible experience. All the fundraising, training and preparations were well worth it and given the chance, I would do it all again.
Thank you for all the support, both moral and financial and I hope to see lots of people in the not too distant future.
Tionana! (Goodbye in Chichewa)
Lots of love,
Catherine
Xxx
THE END
