I want a dongle!

Well, it seems that keeping in touch with family and friends is going to be an issue. I anticipated this, so I’m not too surprised – but I’m still disappointed. The internet connection is very poor in the capital city, so I imagine it will be even worse once I get to the small town of Domasi. It seems that my best option is to get a dongle. I’m not entirely sure what it is or how it works, but it seems to be a gadget you purchase from one of the 3 internet providers that plugs into your laptop and then you can purchase an internet plan or minutes. I’m hoping it helps with connectivity as I’ve only been here 3 days and I’m already frustrated when trying to connect with friends back home.

In other news…

The in-country training continues! We had another very busy day today. My brain is starting to feel rather full from all the information that is being thrown at us – and I’m fearful of how little I will eventually retain! We reviewed the fundraising policy (apparently, some of us may be asked by our partner organizations to raise funds for their projects), registered with our embassies, toured the VSO Malawi office, discussed the 3-way partnership between VSO, the partner organization and the volunteer, reviewed logistics of banking, housing, etc, and learned specifics about Malawian culture. Lots to learn and take in!

The VSO staff have been fabulous in organizing the training sessions and engaging local representatives from different organizations and sectors. They have put a lot of thought and effort into the training and it definitely comes through in the breadth and depth of topics we manage to cover each day. I’m confident that I will definitely feel more prepared by the end of this week when I set out for my placement! The other volunteers who are here with me are quickly becoming good friends and great resources! I’ve never been surrounded by so many doctors! We have 4 pediatricians, 2 general physicians, an emergency ward doctor, an end-of-life specialist, an abdominal surgeon, a psychiatrist, and about 5 others whose specialties I can’t remember! It’s fascinating to hear about the work they will be doing in Malawi and where they will be situated. I hope that once we are all settled, I’ll be able to visit some of them in their placements and see their work first-hand. I’m particularly interested in visiting Nick (a psychiatrist from the UK) and Anna (an occupational therapist from Scotland) at the Zomba Mental Hospital. Nick will be the only staff person there who is actually trained in psychiatry. The hospital is terribly understaffed and the conditions are extremely difficult and stressful. It sounds like they will be grateful to have him, especially since he has over 30 years of experience in his field. Anna is my roommate during the in-country training and it has been amazing to hear her stories about her work. She is bracing herself for what awaits at Zomba Mental Hospital, though from the sounds of it, she has worked in extreme conditions before. She spent some time volunteering as an occupational therapist at an orphanage in Tamil Nadu in India. She recalls that for over 150 orphans, there were only 3 workers. The conditions in the facility we shocking because of the lack of resources, with many of the babies heads being misshapen from being left laying in the same position for extended periods of time. She recalls it as being one of the most difficult things she has ever seen. Though I’ve only known her for a few days, she seems like an extraordinary individual and I’m sure she will rise to the challenges Malawi has in store for her! That’s one thing I quickly recognized in all my volunteering colleagues here in Malawi – everyone seems to exude such strength, resourcefulness and passion for helping others – it is both humbling and inspiring for me to be in the presence of these people!

And now for some pictures...

Outside of our hotel in the capital city of Lilongwe.

Inside our hotel which also serves as the training venue for our one week in-country training and orientation.

The VSO Malawi office.

We had a tour of the office to meet the local Malawian staff.

The view from the VSO office of 'downtown' Lilongwe. The tallest building in the capital is apparently 8 floors.

We were taken into the city centre of Lilongwe and shown some supermarkets where we could purchase food and dry goods. And apparently, poolcare - though most of us are hoping for running water, never mind a pool.

Beautiful trees along the streets. This picture doesn't do the tree flowers justice - they're actually a brilliant purple colour, so vivid that you just want to inhale and breathe in that gorgeous colour!