Malaria and death

One of the things that really surprise me here in Africa is how close death is. So far, with my only about 15 colleagues at the organisation in Nkhotakota, every week there is a few that are out from work because they have to go to a funeral. In Norway, I think I haven't been to a funeral for about ten years. People just don't die in Norway, whereas here it happens all the time. Malaria, traffic accidents, tuberculosis, many other diseases and a health system not available for most of the population may be the main reasons. 

Malaria seems to be very common. Every couple of days some of my colleagues have malaria. However, they are used to it: They just take some medication (Lariam or quinine, apparently) and then they seem to be fine. We white guys take prophylaxis, so we generally don't get it as long as we remember to take our pills.

The pictures show the lab and the outside of the Saint Anne's Hospital in Nkhotakota. Nice place to check for malaria if in doubt.

Election campaign in Malawi

The elections in Malawi are to be held in May this year. We are now mid February, and this is how it's looking outside of our office. There has been at least one rally like this every day the last week. It might be hard to concentrate on work in the coming months... It's hard to know what will be the outcome of the elections, but with the Malawians I have discussed so far, there seems to be consensus on that's improbable that the current female president Dr Mrs Joyce Banda will win. It will be interesting to see as the elections approach.

På jakt i eget hus

Eg sit fredeleg på ein mandags kveld og slapper av med ein whiskey i sofaen min, då eg ser eit lite kryp ytterst til høgre i synsvinkelen min. Eg tenkjer det er ein kakerlakk, men ved nærare augesyn ser eg at det er ei lita mus som kikker på meg. Eg syntes jo egentlig at små mus er koselege, men kanskje ikkje inne i mi eiga stove. Så eg bestemmer meg for å ta bilete av musa og så jage den ut, så den kan fortsetje sitt heseblesande museliv der ute blandt insekter, frø og slanger.  Biletedelen av planen går bra etter å ha jaga musa litt hit og dit, eg får eit omlag skot av ho sitjande mellom batteriet og ladekontrolleren til solcelleanlegget som vi har som nødstrøm. Deretter henter eg ein kost, og prøver å jage musa ut den opne døra. Den spring eit par ganger fram og tilbake føre den opne døra, truleg redd for bikkja Lion som sitter på sin faste plass utenfor og klør på lopper og flott. Til slutt får eg inn ein fulltreffer på musa, som ruller ut og blir liggjande besvimt på ryggen på bakken rett foran bikkja. Eg blir ståande og sjå på imens bikkja klør seg ferdig og håper at musa skal kvikne til. Den dumme bikkja har ikkje fått med seg noken ting, og klør seg berre bak øyret. Men så blir den ferdig med det, ser overraska ned på den livlause musa, kikker på meg, og plukker den opp i kjeften og vandrer fornøyd bortetter terrassen. Musa overlevde dessverre ikkje.

No water

Attention tend to focus on the things we don't have, don't it? This week it is water. I think the water cut before the last weekend, so when we came back from Lilongwe on Sunday, our emergency tank was already running low. Now, with the help of the three Norwegian musicians that squat our place this week, we've spent it all. We are starting to get smelly, but not as much as the toilets. The guards are thirsty and the laundry is piling up.

There are various theories in circulation about the origin of the water blackout. Some claim it's due to planned work on the piping, some say it's a broken down pump and that they are waiting for a replacement from Lilongwe, and the probably most trustworthy source I have spoken to say it is because the water authorities did not pay the electricity bill, so they have been cut off.

However, the lower lying parts of town have water, so we have now escaped to the lowest of them all, the Sitima Inn at the lakeshore, and Leiry is taking a shower while we wait for the food in the terrace of the restaurant.

New in town - Surprises and challenges

Sitting in the car en route to Lilongwe after four days living in Nkhotakota, I have a feeling that the first chapter of my new life in Malawi is over. It has been a busy one, especially on the private side.

The house I arrived to live in was quite amess (to my taste), so the first few days was spent getting that situation under control. I had to through out a ton of old stuff left over from a German guy that used to live there about six months ago, Doom-spray a few cockcroaches every day (maybe I'll have to get used to that), and get in some experts for cleaning up. The worst however was probably to fire the former housemaid. I was told that it was time to change her, because of a few less fortunate things that had happened, and the obvious fact that she was doing a terrible job keep the place neat and clean. I went through a morning with discussions, excuses, her rolling around on the floor in tears and the following consolation. I honestly didn't feel good about it at all. Then she denounced me for the Labour Office and I had to present my case for an official there the next day. Anyhow it seems to be OK now, and I hope for her that she finds a new job and that she has also learned something from all of this. I have definitely learned something, and probably lost my Norwegian innocence already.

Jobwise the week was spent learning about how things work, and evaluation applications for the two announced jobs in Kumudzi Kuwale. We've got a lot of good applicants, and it will be exiting to get the company up and running with real employees and new and bigger projects.

Now for a weekend break in Lilongwe, getting some things done there and meeting up with a few of the guys we met at the FK Norway prep course last week. And my wife will come on Sunday!

Next chapter of my life will bring new surprises, and I'm sure it will be mostly good. And I'm looking very much forward to sharing the life in Nkhotakota for the rest of the year with Leiry.

The Malawian landscape we are driving through is just so extraordinarily green. I have no problems with that.