Update from Madam Whitey

Hey All - Nice to see some notes from the fold. Update for me: I am a homeowner! Doing little projects and taking my time to move in. I am happy to be on summer vacation. Visitors are most welcome.

Zabwino zonse, nonse!

Urban Dictionary's definition of Chichewa

So, I followed Ryan's youtube link, and listened to Mwana wa Munthu. After almost 2 years of not having to hear it, it wasn't nearly as annoying. It probably helped that it wasn't blaring out of the speakers of a minibus as I try to make myself as tiny as possible.

So I shared it with my coworkers. Which got them trying to translate chichewa words online. Which led to a Google search that led to: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chichewa

I saw it, and figured I had to share. It's not Politically Correct, but hey, I'm not in the PC anymore!

-- Scott

Update from Ryan

Just a quick update since I haven't been very good at keeping in touch with everyone. I'm currently working for Reuters in London, which is pretty cool. We have seven hour days and I get lots of vacation time. I'm still debating going back to school to get an MA, but I defferred admission until next fall, so I'm giving myself some time to decide.

I was really excited to get this from Patrick (a long time ago, sorry I didn't share until now):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx5Qai2Ckrc

I even bought the CD.

Otherwise, I'm mostly working and doing some sightseeing here in England. So far we've walked around the countryside, including across some peoples' farms, and spent a day caring/flying for birds of prey (really cool). And we're going to the lake district at the end of July.

I guess that's all for me. I'd love to hear more from everyone else.

Ryan

P.S. Lisa had found an African restaurant that served nsima, nyama ndi masamba for £10, but when we went to look again it was closed down. I don't imagine many people would want to pay that much for nsima.

US Postal Service Eliminated International Surface Mail

At some time, we all received care packages that were sent on the slow boat to Africa. That is why it took 6 months for my christmas presents from my mother to reach Chitipa.

Now current PCVs, our friends in Malawi and all of those living overseas will not have to endure those dreadfully long waits. The Postal Service has eliminated international surface mail.

Shipping on a 1 pound bag of peanut M&M's... $10.10.

Maybe you want to write somebody and tell them how you feel.

http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007/pr07_033.htm

Postmaster General
Jack Potter
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW
Washington DC 20260-0010

Senatorial Addresses
The Honorable (name)
US Senate
Washington DC 20515

I'm Totally Gonna Get Laid On This Humanitarian Mission To Uganda

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/45589

For my hiking buddies

I was in Borders tonight, looking around, going through all the stuff on the bargain tables, when my eyes fell upon a book called "Middlesex". Realizing that we never got past the first 100 pages or so, as once we got lost we no longer took the time to stop for our reading breaks, I picked it up. It stirred up fond memories and homesickness for Malawi and for all of you. I can't wait to start reading it on my lunch breaks at the courthouse.

Much love - Jess

Malawi's first lady passes away

http://www.nyasatimes.com/Breaking-News/840.html

The demise on Monday, May 28, of Malawi’s First Lady Madame Ethel Mutharika has indisputably robbed the country of its dearly loved mother who dedicated her last years to changing the ills of the vulnerable citizens.

Testimonies have flooded the airwaves, print and on-line newspapers, internet discussion forums (Nyasanet, Malawi Talk and Malawiana), among others, just to demonstrate how seriously Malawi will miss her mother in deeds, particularly through her Ethel Mutharika Foundation.

“Those of us, now in the diaspora, who have intimately worked with her in various developmental projects know exactly the caliber of a person Mrs. Ethel Mutharika was,” wrote one family from United States of America (USA) contributed via Malawi Talk.

Adds the contributor: “The country has lost a mother who passionately devoted her life to significantly add value to the lives of deprived souls in Malawi at a difficult era of political turbulence.”

However, one thing for sure, the death of Mrs. Mutharika has united the politically fragmented Malawi; for once, unity and tranquility has prevailed.

Former State President and National Chairman of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), Dr Bakili Muluzi, has announced his return from United Kingdom where he is holidaying to be with President Mutharika during these trying times.

Dr Muluzi, viewed as Mutharika’s number one political foe, has set aside his differences with the incumbent Head of State even though the President failed to even cheer him after he came back from UK where he underwent surgery last year.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President John Tembo and New Republican Party (NRP) President Gwanda Chakuamba telephoned Muluzi and made visitations.

But immediately after the First Lady’s death, Muluzi was reportedly the first to send a message of condolence to Mutharika and the people of Malawi.

Presidents of almost all opposition political parties namely; Tembo of MCP, who is also leader of the opposition in Parliament, Chakuamba of NRP, Aleke Banda of the Peoples Progressive Movement (PPM) and Mutharika’s out-of-favour former minister Uladi Mussa, leader of the newly registered Malavi Peoples Party (MPP) were among the first to comfort Mutharika at the New State House.

“This is a stepping stone towards a permanent cohesion for the good of our national development… It must not be a temporal cease fire,” observes Rafiq Hajat, a governance and policy analyst, who is also Executive Director of think-tank Institute for Policy Interaction (IPI).

Chakuamba, has meanwhile, cancelled all its political rallies scheduled for this month in order to mourn Mrs. Mutharika.

It is the wish of every Malawian that Mrs. Mutharika’s death will once and for all cement the mutuality and tranquility that has engulfed the nation.

“The onus is on the politicians themselves to ensure that this harmony is maintained at all cost. We can have conflict and resolution experts from anywhere but this is the best,” Hajat added.

Malawi is observing the fourth day of national mourning and the last day of body viewing for people living in the capital, Lilongwe and surrounding areas. There are still long queues of people wanting to pay their last respects.

The casket will be closed at exactly 17.00hours.

Tomorrow morning, the body will be taken to Lingadzi CCAP for a church service before being flown to Mzuzu State Lodge in Northern Malawi for viewing again from June 2 to 4.

On June 5, it will be taken to Sanjika Palace in Blantyre for the last three days of public viewing.

Another church service will be held at St Michaels and All Angels Church of the CCAP before proceeding to the President’s Ndata Farm in Thyolo where she will be laid to rest on June 9.

As mourning of the First Lady continues, people wonder and whisper; “why can’t this peace, unity and tranquility continue?”