All the last times

I just finished my first last week in Malawi. It has been a lot of things to sort out in the office before I leave, but I've also enjoyed so much of the things I really love about Malawi - the good mood, the beautiful landscape, the random and crazy things, and hanging out with good friends.

Now I have arrived to South Africa for the homecoming workshop with FK Norway. Then I'll have another final last week in Malawi before I'm off to Florence.

Saturday - The last event at Nkhotakota Cultural Centre

Sunday - The last afternoon at Fish Eagle Bay and the last time to see Edson take chambo fish home to Lilongwe hanging from the side mirror of his hitchhike ride.

Monday - The last time to walk around Nkhotakota in the lunch break and discover totally random stuff.

Tuesday - The last time to bike home racing the local bicycle taxis, this one taking my housemate Cecilie on the passenger seat.

Wednesday - Last time to take a sunset Carlsberg (green) at Sungu Beach with my partners in crime, Sille and Thomas.

Thursday - Last time driving to Lilongwe with Sille, Robert, Andrew and Solace.

Friday - Last (and first) time to travel with Malawian Airlines from Lilongwe to Johannesburg

Also Friday - well back in the civilization, enjoying a cold beer in 7th Street in Melville, Joburg.

Random encounters

I'm biking through the villages on a Saturday afternoon, through these peaceful and innocent villages of Malawi. Where people have nothing, but still everything. Where people always smile. Where nothing is dangerous, nothing is unknown. Where time is just another thing passing by. Where nothing is wrong, where there is no shame. The kids run as freely and safely around as the chicken and the goats do. This is where everyone greets you, where you can always have a conversation, even without words. This is where people will treat you as you were their family even though they have never seen you before, even if you don't speak their language. Even if you are just passing through it will hit you; the curiosity, the friendlyness and the interest.

Is this what we lost with the invention of cities, the invention of roads, cars and escalators? The invention of high-rise buildings, the invention of TVs, cellphones, sunglasses and computers? The invention of property, borders, money, weapons, universities, hospitals, books and courts? What have we gained, and what have we lost? 

My little devil and my little angel

My little devil: Why are you still here? You've already had the "African experience", you know how it is now. You leave your wife, your old friends, your good job and your comfortable life behind, for this? Living in a country where everything is difficult? You have a stressful job with tons of responsibility, causing you sleepless nights and that leaves you with the feeling of not being able to deal with all the tasks? For what? For a ridicoulus salary, for living in a house where nothing really works well. If the worries from your job doesn't keep you awake, the bugs and the malaria-infested mosquitoes in your bedroom certainly will! With your small salary you even spend of your own pocket to make things run smoothly, both at home and at work? And what do your friends back in Norway get? Nice offices, well defined responsibilites...comfortable jobs and nice lives! And what if they have to travel from home and stay away from their families? Yes, they get tons of extra benefits, free travels, compensations.. They do not get their salaries reduced down to fraction of what they originally earn, do they!?! Go back! Don't stay here anymore. You have already done so much good here, why should you continue torturing yourself like this?

My little angel: Come on, this is an amazing experience! You should be grateful for this opportunity. You see so much, you learn, and you have so great friends here. And this little devil makes you complain about your salary? That's so selfish! You are so much better off than almost everybody here in Malawi. You are so lucky! You live in one of the best and most comfortable houses in the town, how can you complain? You have all the facilities you need, you cruise around in your air-conditioned car while everybody else has to walk under the scorching sun. You have such a great time with your friends, every weekend is just great, with the beach of Lake Malawi at your doorstep and all of this beautiful country to visit. And your job? It is marvellous! The experience you are getting is unique on so many levels, you learn so much, your colleagues are great. This is how you have always been wanting to work. Isn't it great to see all the results you have acheived? All the grateful faces? The people are dancing and singing in the honour of the things you have acheived! Hundreds of families have better lives now than before because of you, and you are helping the solar energy revolution to come to a new country and give a new, better and more sustainable lifestyle to the people who need it most. Isn't that the best motivation!?! Enjoy your last time here, you are so priviledged! Enjoy the country, the people and your job!

Me: It was not so easy to come back to Malawi this time. I've just came back after five weeks back in Europe and I have gotten used to that life. I'm only back for a short time though - I have less than four weeks left here in Malawi, and one week in South Africa. Now I have to concentrate to listen as much as possible to the little angel and make the best out of it, but I'm also looking much forward to come back to start up my life back in Europe again.