face to face with an elephant.....

Hello everyone

Well, what a week this has been!  I went to Lilongwe on Monday so that the car could be serviced on Tuesday - all went fine.  Then on Thursday I picked up two students who have come for three weeks to see what Early Childhood in Malawi is all about.  However, as it was their first weekend I thought it would be a good idea to take them to Vwaza Marsh to have a 'wildlife' experience!  Fidelis and Nicolas joined us.  We packed up the picnic lunch and off we went!!

Deborah, Fidelis, Helen and Nicolas

It had  been really cold in Mzuzu but once we went north the weather changed and it was lovely and sunny.  When we arrived (around 8am) the group decided to go for a walk with a ranger while I stayed at the camp.  It was very peaceful, I was reading my book - a hippo decided to come out of the water,

followed after a few minutes by some friends........

and so they kept on coming - it was a great show!

Then, right in front of where I was sitting, a lovely baby hippo appeared with his mother - I just assumed it was a he!  This is the time when hippo's are most dangerous as they protect their young.

It was great to see two hippos having a real fight - unfortunately I didn't manage to get a great photo but this was just at the beginning.

Somewhere behind me there were elephants as I could hear them crashing through bush and pulling branches off trees, but the undergrowth was thick so I couldn't see anything.

Baboons were around in abundance - many with babies as well.

and some of the antelope kept appearing in the distance - kudu and impala.

The Vervet monkeys were hunting through the elephant dung looking for seeds... they made a lot of noise but it was fun watching them.  They always put on a good show.

And of course there were lots of birds but some too far away for me to capture - here is a Hammerkop...

and a heron....beautiful bird!  There were other birds like the yellow - billed stork, the hadeda, weaver birds and a black headed oriole.

I always like to see elephants when they are walking away from me - I have had too many close encounters with elephants over the years in various African countries.  

This elephant just wandered down to the water to drink....a peaceful scene!

After the rest arrived from their walk which they really enjoyed - they saw quite a lot of animals, we had our lunch.  Another group of visitors then alerted us to the fact that there was a herd of elephant near by.  After talking with the ranger, he said the elephants were on the road so we should not attempt to leave just now.  No problem, we were enjoying the sunshine and just having a laugh!

More hippos kept coming out of the lake in front of us..

and ended up looking like rocks on the sand......

It really is a beautiful spot!

By this stage another two cars with visitors had come into the campsite.  They had lunch quickly as they were travelling on to Karonga.  However, when they went to leave they found elephants all around and so had to come back.  After the third attempt they managed to get past the elephants and leave the park.

Then the other group decided to leave and we thought we would also go - we followed the other car until it stopped as there were elephants in front of it and began to turn around, so we quickly turned around and went back to the campsite to wait until the ranger told us it was safe to go.  There was a lot of trumpeting from the lake as the elephants in the water were having fun splashing around!

The other group eventually managed to leave the park also.

After some time the ranger told us it was safe to leave as the herd had split into two and one half was in the water splashing around while the other half had moved on.  We all got into the car together with the park manager, Godwin,  and off we went.  It was not far to the main gate of the camp, but through dense bush and sandy underfoot.  The first part went smoothly, and then someone said there was an elephant on our left side.   Godwin  told me to drive on slowly.  All fine and good - we had made it.  However, more elephant were now on the right side of the vehicle - Godwin told me to drive on  - we didn't have far to go to the gate now - all was well.

Suddenly the matriarch of the herd arrived right in front of the car flapping her ears and looking none too pleased.  Literally I was face to face with an enormous and quite irritated female elephant.  I was aware now that we had elephant all around us and one wrong move could be fatal.  From behind me in the car there was tension as we all waited to see what would happen next.  Godwin told me to be calm and wait.  The elephant continued to look at us and flap her ears.  By this stage there was nothing else for it - we were at the mercy of the elephants and just had to sit it out.  Eventually after some minutes (where time seemed to stand still),  she waved her trunk wildly and rushed into the bush on the left side of the car - after a few seconds a  baby elephant and a few other young elephants crossed the road running in front of us.  We waited again and then Godwin told me to drive on.

This is not the actual elephant - I was driving so couldn't take a picture
and the others were all petrified and taking a picture was the last thing on their minds!!  This elephant
is one I met on a previous wildlife experience in Tanzania a few years ago!!

Godwin, who I have known for a long time, and without his guidance
I do not know if we would have made it out of the park!

We reached the gate and had to stop to pay the ranger but I asked if we could park outside the gate as my passengers by this stage had just realised what they had witnessed and there was much excitement and fear and almost panic at the same time!  I think it is an experience they will never forget.

For me, I am always in awe of God's creation - elephants, hippos, kudu.... all the animals are amazing and I have great respect for them in their natural habitat.  I really thank God that we made it out of the park safely, and for Godwin's skill in reading the movements of the elephants.  Just the night before the elephant had gone to his grass thatched house and ripped off the roof to eat some maize that he had stored.  I love African wildlife and appreciate that we were in their territory and that the matriarch was just protecting her children.  I have been in a few sticky situations with elephant in my time in Africa, and three of them have been in this very park - maybe I should choose somewhere else to take visitors next time!!

Deborah and Helen are going into nursery schools tomorrow and while I hope they have an enjoyable experience, I pray it will not be quite as dramatic as their encounter with the elephants!

Wishing you all a blessed week.  Please continue to pray for our safety on the roads of Malawi as we visit different early childhood centres through the next few weeks.

Blessings,

Diane

Because of the children....

Hello everyone from a bright but cool Mzuzu,

Its been quite a week all in all.  I had a lot of paperwork to catch up on but of course some of it is still waiting as other things took over during the week.

Last Sunday some of the ladies were inducted as new Umanyano members (PW to those of you in PCI).  Here is Luso, the personal secretary of the General Secretary looking well in her new uniform.  

Every few years a group of school children and their teachers come from Blairgowrie in Scotland to assist with maintenance in one of our local schools.  Linda was one of the teachers who I met in two previous trips, so it was a joy to meet with her again.  On Wednesday morning I took Linda (who is now retired) and the other teacher in the group to visit some of our centres in Mzuzu.  They were very enthusiastic - here is Linda giving out the porridge in one of our centres.

And Annette greeting some of the children!

It is always good to visit centres unannounced and I was delighted to find the children and caregivers busy playing, here with blocks........

and here with dried maize stalks.......

Yesterday, I went with three of our ECD trainers to the Day of the African Child celebrations which was held at Ekwendeni primary school grounds.  It was supposed to begin at 11 o'clock - on the programme on arrival it said 12 o'clock but in fact it was 1.45 before the guest of honour, the Vice President arrived!  We left at 4pm and it was still going strong!

The theme of this years event was 'The rights of children with disabilities; the duty to protect, respect, promote and fulfil.'

In  Malawi in previous years as the poster below suggests, children with disabilities were hidden away or locked up.  Today, we see more attempts at inclusion in society and many schools have children with disabilities in main stream education.  We also have some schools for children with particular disabilities such as schools for the hearing impaired and the sight impaired children.

While we waited for the guest of honour to arrive, we were entertained  by children with different forms of disability playing drums.....

dancing traditional dances.........

the Ngoni dancers in their traditional animals skins....

and a great show by the old Ngoni dancers in their full regalia, complete with spears and shields........

Choirs from different schools.......

and some great performances from the children at Embangweni school for the deaf - here is a girl telling her  story in sign language, with  her teacher translating for her,

and from the same school playing the national anthem using hand bells  when the Vice President arrived - a wonderful sound.  I am always humbled when I see these  children perform as they cannot hear but are making such beautiful music.

The highlight of the day for me was this lovely girl reading a speech on behalf of all children with disabilities in Malawi.  It was very powerful and read with such conviction outlining the problems that children with disabilities face in this country.  Unfortunately I was sitting behind her so its only a back view.

Just to prove I was there!!! (you can't really miss me among all the African faces)

Because we were graced by the presence of the Vice President the followers of the Peoples' Party of course were there singing and dancing!

and finally, the Vice President addressed the people.  I found the speech quite disappointing as it was more politics than speaking about the theme of the day!  

However, it was a colourful function - I met many friends and we laughed a lot!  By the way notice the old Malawi flag is flying!!


This coming week I have two young ladies coming to spend three weeks with me so lets hope they also have fun!

Wishing you a good week, and please don't forget to post a comment if you have enjoyed the blog!

Blessings

Diane

A wee trip to Ireland

Hello everyone

The photo above is a beautiful sunset, it looks just like lake Malawi but it is in fact in Portstewart last week!  I was in Ireland for 3 weeks to have a break and sort out some issues and I got fabulous weather most of the time!  I met some people who were shocked to see me but I did not tell anyone apart from my family and a few close friends that I was going to Ireland as I needed some time out.  

While I was there I attended an Early Years conference which was not really that inspiring - I thought this was interesting - nursery teachers are being encouraged to use locally available materials...........maybe they should come on a field trip to Malawi!!

It was great to be in Belfast together with Rev Nyondo the General Secretary of Livingstonia Synod who had come to attend the General Assembly.  We travelled back together to Mzuzu and arrived on Tuesday evening, meeting some interesting travellers on the way!!

Because the weather was so good I did a lot of walking and spotted some wildlife along the way......

and wildflowers too........

and on one occasion walking with a friend we took a barbeque with us - I loved the flame on this picture!!  The food was good too I must admit and some fellow walkers wanted to join us.........

Of course it was great to spend some time with the family and on the day before I left was at the home farm - weather was great, countryside was looking wonderful - I loved the field full of buttercups....

and the sheep with the lambs enjoying the weather...

So I am back in Mzuzu, we still have fuel shortages but nothing like it was before I left.  Sugar is back on the shelves but now we have no margarine!!  I got a warm welcome and am looking forward to getting back to work on Monday.

Wishing you a good week,


Blessings
Diane

a day in the life of....

Hello everyone

Just a normal day - getting up in the morning, turning on the tap and its orange juice........no, its the water.......aghhhhh.......

Heading out early to visit a nursery school in a rural area where there is an 'issue' to deal with, hoping to be home by lunchtime.  Its a lovely day with the sunflowers in full bloom as we speed along....

until..........we reach a hole in the road and have to slow down as the road becomes a path.....

and then.......a puddle/river............

but eventually we reach our destination - Elunyeni where I am supposed to pick up the minister to go to Thunduwike to sort out the problem.  As soon as we reached Elunyeni, I was told there was another function where I had to go and address children and a school committee, before I went to Thunduwike.  Okay......this is Malawi.  


So I was taken to the nursery where there are only 275 children registered with two caregivers!!

I seemed to be a very important visitor as children from the primary school and other people  came to join us.  So I had a welcoming speech where I listened to problems that I hear wherever I go throughout the synod, and then I had to address the crowd who waited in anticipation to see if I would solve the problems..........

Next stop Thunduwike.......however, we were provided with cold chips, and eggs in tomato and onion sauce to eat on the way as it was now lunchtime.........

Here I had to address the education committee of the congregation and answer questions to help them to sort out a problem with their newly built nursery school.

the new building

Meetings of this type take a long time and after many deliberations, resolutions were made and I was free to go .........not before the traditional lunch however, and by now its the middle of the afternoon.

Homeward bound and we arrived back in Mzuzu just after 5pm.  Another day in the life of.........


Wishing you a good week,


Diane

a new era....

Since my last blog post the week before Easter, we have had a lot of changes in Malawi.  On 5th April, 2012 we heard that our President had been rushed to hospital in Lilongwe.  There was much speculation as we waited for news of what had happened.  Listening to the BBC and other radio stations we learned that the President had died.  But it was not until 7th April that it was announced on State radio here.  

Tomorrow the 23rd April, we will have a public holiday as a State funeral will take place at his home in the South of Malawi.

We now begin a new era with a new President, Joyce Banda who has no easy task as she takes over an economy that is crumbling and people who are in despair.  However, she is a lady with much experience in politics and human rights issues, and she has a lot of support no only from within Malawi but internationally.  We are hopeful that Malawi can begin a slow  but sure turnaround!

I can now say that I met the President of Malawi, as she was the one who gave me the Early Childhood Certificate a few years ago!!

Last week the body of the late President was here in Mzuzu for 2 days so that people could go and view it and pay their respects.  I did not go but this is a photograph of the banner across the road on the way to state house.

The country is still in crisis - this last week we have had more fuel because Zambia assisted the country with fuel for the funeral.  Sugar queues are still long although the price has been regulated once more.  We have had torrential rains over the past week when the rainy season is supposed to be ending.......this has resulted in some maize which was almost dry becoming sodden.  Hopefully it will dry again and not rot.  Life is not easy for people here on any level.

The Early Childhood Programme is going on as usual.  The container that arrived a few weeks ago had a lot of stuff for Early Childhood.  So, my house has been piled high with plastic boxes and cartons - yesterday I managed to sort out some of them.  For those of you who read this and send things, I want to say a big thank you - so far I have opened around two thirds of the boxes and I have found very few items which are not much use here!  I appreciate the time and effort you take to fill these boxes, and we do appreciate what you send.  Yesterday I had a call from a minister from Chitipa who was in Mzuzu and wanted to know if I could give him any play materials to take to their nine nursery schools - he left with a box of toys and books for each centre.......

I have started my research for my dissertation in Early Childhood studies.  My study is on play in the early years and I am distributing questionnaires to 150 caregivers in the Mzuzu area (restricted due to the ongoing fuel crisis).  So I was out this week delivering questionnaires and I must admit I was shocked at some of the centres I visited.  I had forgotten how bad some of them are.  Children are in small dark crowed rooms with no toys, untrained teachers and its not a pretty picture.

I also found a few caregivers with canes in their hands to keep children under control...... once again I am humbled and hope that my research can at least go some way to helping in planning and implementing our programme better in the future.

We are in the third term of school which is going on well.  We have a huge waiting list for our school and when I see the conditions faced in other centres, I realise why!

This coming week I am meeting with the Regional Early Childhood trainers in the north to assist them in material making - making materials from 'rubbish', and helping them to understand the use of materials and how they help young children develop.  I am looking forward to that!

In my garden the bird life is flourishing as usual.  I talked some weeks ago about a mongoose in the garden - well now they are two.  On my way to work on Friday I was almost ambushed by them as they were playing a game of chase and I got in the middle!!

I found this nest on the ground below the lemon tree - I am not sure what sort of a bird it belongs to...

This Bulbul is a frequent visitor with all of his family............. it was hard to find him in the foliage of the tree.

and there is always colour from the flowers and plants all year round...

On a different note, its the time of year here for citrus fruits.  The oranges in my garden are almost past, the lemons are just ready and I found some grapefruit in the market last week.  As I was cutting the grapefruit I was amazed at the number of seeds inside only half of it, so the camera came out...........

Think I might plant a grapefruit tree!!

I leave you with a photo of the dam in Mzuzu in the evening light.   I trust that you will have a good week.

Blessings

Diane