Ian Wright's blog

I write this from under a grass thatched roof on the magnificent shores of Lake Malawi. I’m sitting on a little patio in a backpacker’s lodge in Cape Maclear with my back to the crystal clear, yet bright blue waters of the lake lapping against the shore. The sky is blue, the beach is white, and it’s hard to believe that this is the same country that I just spent three months in.

Last week I led a team of ten people in the second half of the field study that I`m conducting for WaterAid. We have been visiting a random sample of Machinga`s waterpoints to verify the data that is being collected by health workers within the monitoring system that Enam and I have established in the district. WaterAid is very interested in the quality of the data, as the system will be scaled up into other districts very soon.

A combination of a weeklong rural fieldwork activity, Unicef’s wireless internet network breaking down, and bloggers’ block has prevented me from writing for a very long time. But let me paint you this picture of an event on Tuesday night:

This is short.

Instead of the standard 80 page JF reports that are written each year by every JF and then so often forgotten, Melissa is switching it up this year. She wants each of us to design a "tool" that our chapter can use in the future. Is it a workshop, a presentation, a case study.... I don't know. It's super open-ended, and I really want to think outside the box (ie. not just another case study)

I was planning to write something deep and thoughtful today, because it's been a while since I last posted BUT I've been struck with what I have deemed an African Flu yesterday, and am having trouble thinking clearly. So instead of that profound entry, we're going with a list. (I know, lists are outrageously popular in the JF blogosphere right now)

Top 10 Things That Have Made Me Laugh in the Past Two Weeks

So first excuse this EXTREMELY visually displeasing way of showing you these shots - little tiny pictures in a straight row down one side of the page... it's not my choice though. If I try to switch anything up on this sketchy internet connection, it makes me pay. Anyways. Behold, the Kapitos.

I stayed with this family in town for a good three weeks or so, before moving out to a nearby village. They were all incredibly accomodating and I feel like I am still part of their family. (I go over there to visit every once in a while)

There’s a giant question that I’ve been asking myself for a few weeks now, and I would like to throw that question out to anyone who cares to answer. First though, I should give the question some background, its origins, if you will.

I don’t think that I’ve explained my actual placement (work-wise) very much at all in my blog since I’ve been in Malawi. I had said that I was going to work with CCAP in Northern Malawi, but that changed before I even left.

These are all along one of my running routes... can't ask for a whole lot more as far as scenic runs go...

... school across field.

... field of wild grass (see these everyhwere in town)

A few days ago, I promised my current host family that I would take care of lunch today. (Sunday) Conveniently, Everence’s sister and a few of her female in-laws were at our place that night and overheard my plans. (even though they don’t speak English...) Laughter followed. An azungu cooking for an African family? Yeah right! Azungus can’t cook! ... was the general reaction that night. And so, it was up to me to impress several Malawian women with my cooking today.

I’m sitting in an empty district office on a Friday afternoon. Right outside my window, the whole town has come together to march, dance and sing; all of Machinga has essentially been paused while its people share some time together. Believe me when I say that their voices sound incredible, as they bust out one unique song after another, complete with acapella sections. How can they all know so many words!? One fellow tells me it is their way of thanking the recently elected MP, in hopes that she will represent all of their voices in the coming five year term.