Two weeks in Malawi (continued)

The Gondwes inspired us so much with their passion and dedication - cliché words, yes, but a powerful force in a context where passivity, depending on Foreign Aid and exchanging Malawi for greener pastures are normal. Many households are left fatherless as young men go looking for jobs (often gardening or cleaning) in SA. Chancy and Miriam play a much bigger role than just running a school, they are mentoring a generation of kids that offer Malawians something to live for, with keen eyes to see the cultural and natural richess around them that need to be conserved and cultivated.

Along the way we met a guy from the UK living in Kenya, and we spent a rich evening talking about SA, African politics and why he isn't planning to go back to the West. Fascinating perspectives from those on the other side, making you reconsider what you have at home.

Our last week was spent hiking up Mount Mulanje, a large granite massif similar in formation to Ayers rock in Australia. We passed 4 nights in mountain huts, cooking on fires, bathing in the streams and pushing our bodies to their limits on the steep up- and downhills.

Exhausted but happy, we hope to cross into Mozambique this week, where we'll stay with South African friends in Tete (apparently the hottest place in Africa). From there we'll travel South, sharpening up on our Portugues (to placate traffic and border officials with) and to see and experience more of this exotic but troubled country.

Regards from Malawi
Ydi en August