Malawi

YES! IT'S TRUE! I'M MOVING TO MALAWI!
... pause for dance of excitement ...

This beautiful country will soon become my home! I will be embarking on an eight month trip across the globe to a small African country called Malawi. I will be living, working, and loving my life in this foreign country's capital city, Lilongwe. And right now I will try to contain my excitement as I provide you with some facts about my wonderful home to be.

FACT: Lilongwe, Malawi is 6 hours ahead of our time here in Ontario. This means you may need to do some calculating and bare this in mind when you want to talk to me all the time and hear all my super amazing stories.


FACT: Malawi is very well known for its great lake, Lake Malawi! It is the third largest lake in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world! However I have been warned by my travel clinic doctor, DO NOT SWIM IN ANY WATER... ANYWHERE. And then on the other hand there is Larry Swatuk, a professor of mine, tell me he believes everyone should take a dip in this big old pond. Maybe I'll flip a coin?


FACT: Malawi is located in South East Africa and borders Tanzania, Mozambique, and Zambia. And I just want to see as much of all of these beautiful places as possible!

Taken by: Melanie Jones who recently went to Malawi with HFHI
FACT: The official language of Malawi is Chichewa. Unfortunately they do not offer this course at U of Waterloo, and therefore I am in French. And boy oh boy am I terrible at it. Wish me better luck with Chichewa!

FACT: The population of Malawi is approximately 13 million people! And from what one of my professors Bruce Frayne has told me, they are beautiful, kind people that I cannot wait to meet!

FACT: The life expectancy in Malawi is only about 41 years old. This is too young.

FACT: The literacy rate of Malawi is just slightly above 60%. I believe education is a human right.

FACT: Malawi is smaller than Pennsylvania, USA! I'm sure I could jog that no problem. [Hahaha... I am funny.] But I do hope I get to see as much as I can while I'm there!

Taken by: Melanie Jones who recently went to Malawi with HFHI
FACT: Nearly 80% of the population of Malawi is of Christian faith. I have also been warned that the majority of Malawians are very devoted to their faith and practices and that the women dress more modestly than we do here. Needless to say my tiny dresses and hot pants will not make the cut.

This is all for now! But as I continue to learn many new things about Malawi I will most certainly share!

 


4 comments:

  1. tim the swimmer5 April 2012 at 17:25

    hopefully you will come back able to speak some Cechewa! that would be an achievement in itself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rach5 April 2012 at 21:42

      SO true. But you've seen me in French class. The languages are clearly not my strong suit.

      Delete
  2. Joyce19 April 2012 at 18:21

    Tim, if Rachel passes French, I owe you a dinner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gina Vukojevic20 June 2012 at 12:42

      Rachel passed French! Do I get dinner? haha...

      But really - fun fact is that Serbia is same time as Malawi, which means that we will likely be skyping my parents all the time. Are you ready for that?

      In all honesty, I've decided to take Larry's word for it and ignore the travel clinic doctor's advice on swimming in Lake Malawi. Everybody we know who has been there swam in it!

      I really enjoyed this post, and actually learned a lot about Malawi that I didn't know. I guess that means I need to get it together and do more research if I plan on living there with you!

      Delete

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