That was probably first photo what I took in Malawi. First impression? I mean we have markets everywhere in Europe, but this is a bit different you may find there all kind of different stuff from simple tomatoes which are put very nicely in triangle shape to toot brush. And a little bit of disorder everywhere. You can strange things like music from movies without screen, sound is really poor hard to understand for those people who know English and there in rural area is majority of people not English but Chechewa speaking. But at least they have music/sound. Since first day of being here, everybody can realize that music is quite important for them.  

 This market is in Dowa town. It`s the biggest town i our district. First time I went there with previous Development Instructor what already left.. Just to see town and check some shops and market as well.
Well I can say that town is nice even though  compare with our area Dowa is more forested. However more crowded too. But in general is nice place. Always is good to see other places. Actually we were in one restaurant too, on recommendation from our friends. In restaurant they recognized them straight away and he was nice with us too. It was kind of family atmosphere and chicken with rice were great and tasty :D

 When I`m writing about market I need to mention carrying stuff on head. from beginning it was for me something waw, but now I got to used to see it all the time so is normal ordinary stuff what i can see daily.
What I can say about women which are carrying whatever on their heads, heavy things too. They work hard to bring whatever on the market in order to sell it. Actually I tried to carry bucket with water on my head too, and when you know how to keep balance and spine straight then it`s easier than to carry something with hands. And another thing is that they are taking me as an one of them. I mean is nice to show them  that you respect their culture, even though with small thing like this. And then you can talk with them and to get closer and so on. It has some advantages :)

Period of suffering

I came to Malawi from winter, from zero degree into     plus 25 and strong sun. For my body it was very hard to adapt to other conditions.
I`ve been taking a nap every day day during first two  weeks. No because I didn`t have what to do, but in order to rest a bit and don`t look like walking mummy.
As you may see on the picture, resting a bit and enjoying warm stone and landscape.

I remember very well my firs week in DAPP Dowa(my current school). Everyday on sun just with singlet. Because of this and because I wasn`t still adapt into African sun I suffered a lot, especially my skin. I had four colors on my hand from white through burn red to strange red/brown after what my skin  was peeling out.
Currently is better, even I`m really turning into dark dark skin.

Landscape

 These photos are from beginning of program here in Malawi. For those who think or have imagination that countries in Africa are just desert and hot hot hot, here are examples that is not just like that.
For instance south Malawi is quite forested are with mountains or hills as well. There are no huge peaks like we used to have. Even though there are 2 or 3 thousand meters above the sea level.  It is because Malawi is highland country. Just to compare with Slovakia. Let`s take High Tatras and peaks there. They look quite big and elevation above sea-level is 2 500 meters. Here have the highest mountain approximately 3 000 m and doesn`t look really huge.
But honestly country itself looks great :)

With my teammate Panos on Chilangoma hill near to headquarter DAPP school  . (still with light skin)

Creatures

These cute creatures I got from our friend - Daniel from Farmer`s club from Lumbadzi. Because hethat was soon leaving from Malawi back to England, I got suggestion whether I`d like to take them, because local people kill them - they don`t know exactly what`s that if it`s dangerous/poisonous or not.

So I took them. It was very interesting to travel with these kind of animal in mini bus with at least hundred people. When chameleon appeared  on my backpack children were screaming with dread in their eyes and asking something their mothers in Chechewa. 

Even though they have a lot of them in Malawi, still don`t understand what is it. They kill from small tiny cockroach to turtle. 

I got it two weeks ago. Nowadays I have just turtle, because chameleon did not want to eat anything. I tried cockroaches, warms and small insects but it was unsuccessful . Therefore I decided to let her be outside in garden, hopefully she is still alive.

Turtle stays in my room and she(?) enjoys for instance tomatoes and a lot :)

Easy thing?

Is easy to hang something on ceiling?

Sometimes is very hard to hang mosquito net on ceiling. Here is example how we were struggling with it.
For comfort your teammates you`re able to do everything. :D
Thanks Dianis for help, can clearly say that with this guy I had really good cooperation when he was here, whether with building, whether with gardening or just ordinary things for instance to hang mosquito net :)

Beginning

18^th – 20^th of February

One and half day of traveling from Denmark to Lilongwe, Malawi including three stops in Frankfurt, Addis Ababa and in Congo. From Europe to Ethiopia we were flying during night, however next day we were traveling during bright day and we could see country`s landscape. Dry, more dry, river without water and time to time we saw shiny roof in middle of nowhere. How they may manage to survive those natural resources? The answer is hidden for me in their communities.

After that it was all the time cloudy, so we saw just light white cloud reminds us heaven as all people imagine it.

When came that time when we were getting out of the plane, we were expecting that heat wave will slap our faces. It wasn`t like that. Lilongwe is no as warm as I expected, but for sweating all the time it was more than enough. After what we changed our money from U.S. dollars to Malawian Kwacha, we went car park where were waiting for us two taxis which ordered for us our project leader – it was the safest way how to get to hostel.

Airport in Addis Ababa 

We got accommodation as well, because travel during night is too dangerous, therefor we stayed there in hostel. Having a shower, having a dinner and first bites from mosquitoes.

Second day taxi driver came to pick us up, drove us to central of city to bus depot, where we bought ticket to Blantyre. It was four hours journey where we could just gazed on environment different from Europe. From Blantyre to final destination – DAPP we went by minibus, by narrow road with a plenty of holes and of course without asphalt, just sand and clay.

That were our first days in Malawi.