Before Shannon and I got to see elephants, discover our love for hippos and play on paddle boards, she took me to her village. This is where I started really falling in love with Malawi and I'm hoping you'll be able to see why - I'm already wishing I could just go back and hang out with her til her service is done, buuuut that's just me :)
Shannon's village was where I got to experience all kinds of things for the first time, truly immersing me into that culture shock that was bound to happen. For example, I got to watch as Shannon picked out rocks from the uncooked rice since "it's a fancy thing" and she "only does it when she has company over." true friend right there.
Soon after, I ate the first rock of my adult life...can't always catch 'em all. ;)
While in the village, I also...
...got to ride a bike taxi for the first and second time - and good news, I only screwed him up and made us almost fall just a few times...
...learned how to properly wear a chitenge/dress appropriately to village standards - shoulders and knees covered - typically by a chitenge or something flowy/not skin tight. Shannon told me I couldn't wear my yoga pants or leggings without a chitenge because "they ain't eva seen an ass like dat." thank you, microwave squats *heyyyy!*...
...got to see Shannon's new digs, where she has spent the whole last YEAR of her life! Her house is probably the nicest (& biggest, phew!) house in all the vill AND it has the best, most fun porch (aka the children's daily playground)...
needless to say, my time at Shannon's village, while brief, was special, meaningful and so.much.fun.
all I hoped for and so much more. <3
And as if this post isn't long enough already, here are some of other pictures of her house, should you be curious. :)
^^^ shower room on the left, chim (bathroom) on the right
^^^ glass fence around almost all of her house. safety first!
^^^ hand washing station
^^^ kidskidskids. seeing Shannon with these cuties, interacting with them, teaching them, supporting them, laughing with them and making goofy faces...filled my heart right up, GAH. so proud of you, sweet friend.
I could talk your ear off about my time in Malawi and add so many more pictures, so I shall cut myself off here.
Thanks, as always, for reading. xo.
Shannon's village was where I got to experience all kinds of things for the first time, truly immersing me into that culture shock that was bound to happen. For example, I got to watch as Shannon picked out rocks from the uncooked rice since "it's a fancy thing" and she "only does it when she has company over." true friend right there.
Soon after, I ate the first rock of my adult life...can't always catch 'em all. ;)
While in the village, I also...
...got to ride a bike taxi for the first and second time - and good news, I only screwed him up and made us almost fall just a few times...
...learned how to properly wear a chitenge/dress appropriately to village standards - shoulders and knees covered - typically by a chitenge or something flowy/not skin tight. Shannon told me I couldn't wear my yoga pants or leggings without a chitenge because "they ain't eva seen an ass like dat." thank you, microwave squats *heyyyy!*...
...got to see Shannon's new digs, where she has spent the whole last YEAR of her life! Her house is probably the nicest (& biggest, phew!) house in all the vill AND it has the best, most fun porch (aka the children's daily playground)...
...met the sweetest kids. I probably spoke a total of 3 sentences to/with them but OH the fun was had, especially with the camera. And see how fun the porch is?!...
...found the best hammock spot yet, just a super steep, hourish long hike in Shannon's "backyard!"...
...was humbled by my privilege and opportunity often. Once occurred when we passed these sweet little girls on our hike. They were the youngest of the many people we saw, each going back and forth up the hill to get water, firewood, etc. Very few understood why we were choosing to do walk because to them - time, responsibilities, basic survival...doesn't necessarily allow for hiking just for funsies.
We stayed in Shannon's village for one full day. I met all of her new friends, each of her little friends too. I got a little taste of what it's like to live as a Peace Corps volunteer. I ate the meals she has been eating for the last year, lots of rice, eggs, AND we got tomatoes from her garden, yummy yummy...
...I peed next to a cockroach for longer than I thought I could, I asked Shannon to place a dead spider on my hand so I could not be a child and learn how to handle it (I did). All kinds of new, lemme tell ya.
I soaked up every second while in her village - the simplicity, the frustrations, the peacefulness and silence. The pain, the hunger, the laughter, the singing and dancing. The morning cock-a-doodle-doos, the birds scratching the tin roof, the effortless, pure joy each person I met has, the view from her porch...
needless to say, my time at Shannon's village, while brief, was special, meaningful and so.much.fun.
all I hoped for and so much more. <3
And as if this post isn't long enough already, here are some of other pictures of her house, should you be curious. :)
^^her backyard/garden area
^^^ Shannon's kitchen/nifty bucket system
I could talk your ear off about my time in Malawi and add so many more pictures, so I shall cut myself off here.
Thanks, as always, for reading. xo.
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