Wrapping Up!

We've got only two days left in Zomba. It is amazing how quickly two weeks turn into two days. We have spend the two last weeks wrapping up our stay here. Doing everything we haven't done before (which include too many visits to the taylor) and saying goodbye to all the people we have met. In addition we have been working hard to get all the information to our projects, we have visited "The Tallular Man" (he's got the most amazing hair!) and several schools, both new and old. We went to Malosa where our friend Steve (who was a part of last years project) teaches, and we got to observe a evening class with very energetic youths giving us full applause just for showing up. We have been playing volleyball with the priests, looked at stars in a very international environment, had farwell dinners and seen the longest three in the world(!) at Chilma.

Initially we came here to go to Chancellor College, and as luck has it, it opened again last week (after the strike). We finally got a taste of Malawian college life, and even though it was just for one week, I think we all were happy to attend some classes. Unfortunately, it was only the first years that started and not really the subjects we wanted (except from African pre- colonial history), but still, it is an experience.

Otherwise, we have met a young man eager to get education, and yesterday we visited his home in the outskirts of Zomba. After his parents died in a car accident, he and his siblings have been struggeling to make ends meet and they now live with their grandmother. James has been accepted to a college but has not been able to enrole because of lack of fundings. We have decided to help him with his school fees, and in return he has made a promise to us to work hard to get a good education. He told us that he wants to get a paid job so that he can help others who experience the same hardships as him. Education in Malawi is hard to attain. You need to work very hard to be accepted to secondary school and many are not able to pay the small amount (in Norwegian eyes) requiered in school fees. It is even harder to get higher education and a paid job. The sad fact is, that it does not matter how bright you are if you don't have any money.

The next few days will be spend enclosing our projects, chating with our friends and packing our things. In addition we have been invited to a large farm owned by the first "real" white Malawian we have met, and I think it will be quite exciting to see that aspect of malawi as well. Today we have dinner plans with Kristin, a Norwegian FK participant working at the Statistics office and on Tuesday afternoon there will be a formal farwell party at Chanco. Afterwards we will (hopefully) eat dinner with the priest students and the staff at Leonard Kamungu Theological College, were we live, followed by a visit to the choir practice in the chapel.

And that's it, I guess. I will miss waking up to choir song, the early mornings when the life of the city is rising with the sunlight, I will miss shopping fresh vegetables at the farmers marked, strangers greeting me in the street, finding a rooster in my kitchen, the beautiful fabrics and African smells. And of course the adventures and special people, my friends and amongolongolola, the jokes and the laughters. It is good to have something to miss.