Sika | March 25, 2009
I just ate a yummy white guava that I bought at the market when I went in on the 10 o’clock (read: 10:40. Ish.) bus. In one of my last couple of bites, I saw a brown area, which upon closer examination, was inhabited by a worm. The worm had an interesting reddish-brown head, which [...]
Sika | March 11, 2009
The people at Long Street Backpackers recommended Knysna next, but after talking to the proprietors of the hostel in Franschhoek we decided that with only 3 days left before we were due to be back in Cape Town again, we didn’t want to make the 6 hour drive each way. We tried to settle on [...]
Sika | March 11, 2009
In Franschhoek we stayed at the Franschhoek Group Accomodation. We were a bit nervous when we got there because the place looks like an institution. As in, the type of place to which one can be involuntarily committed. But the rooms are sweet and neat, with duvets and comfortable twin beds. The couple running the [...]
Sika | February 23, 2009
There was Ari’s Souvlaki, of course. There was also sushi that first morning. We ate it at the earliest hour we could find a place serving it. I had been talking about eating sushi for a good three months before we went to Cape town. Actually, to be fair, many of us in my group [...]
Sika | February 20, 2009
My birthday party was awesome. David made a nutella birthday cake for me, I made Tracy’s carrot cake for Thoko’s birthday, and Adrienne blessed me with her first ever baking attempt: a delicious although somewhat disconcerting red velvet cake. Wanangwa brought a Ngoni delicacy—a hog’s head, and parts of it actually tasted good*. We had [...]
Sika | February 20, 2009
Our first full day in SAfrica*, I woke on Malawi time (read: way too early). I was very excited because I knew we were going to see Johnny Clegg that afternoon. Gareth had told us about the summer concerts at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, and that we had to make sure to go to one. I [...]
Sika | May 16, 2008
It’s been a while. It’s not that I have nothing to say, it’s just that whenever I have something to say, well, basically I can’t be fussed (the Scots have been contaminating my language) to actually write any of it down. Well, and also some of it is inappropriate for day shift. And then I [...]
Sika | March 28, 2008
It’s interesting to watch the landscape change from the green and lush wonderland that has marked the rainy season to having areas of tawny, gold, and brown, as it becomes more and more like the country I flew into 10 months ago. Avocados are no longer expensive (MK10 now, instead of MK30-50); maize is piled [...]
Sika | February 11, 2008
I had a very busy weekend. Saturday I finally met the mfumu, the chief or village headman, of Matawale. I had asked the Campus Administrative Officer*, Jeremiah, if he could introduce me to the mfumu, but he had never met him. So I asked my landlord, Mr. Makato, and he said he could arrange it. [...]
Sika | January 17, 2008
Not really thoughts inspired by Chilembwe Day, since my only thoughts about Chilembwe Day were, “w00t! Day off!” and “Is it really appropriate to say Happy Chilembwe Day about the first martyr for Malawian independence? It seems a little gauche.” So more like thoughts inspired on Chilembwe Day. Whoever invented fitted sheets is a genius, [...]
Sika | January 14, 2008
My grandma is doing better, I’m back in Malawi and back at work. Derek and I had Christmas dinner Iranian-style at the house of an ex-PCV in Old Niecy here in Zomba and then hiked the Zomba Plateau right after Christmas. I then went north and camped on the beach for New Year’s eve with [...]
