Saturday noonish in Blantyre

I had a question (thank you, BB)about what I am wearing and eating. Because I wanted to be 'appropriately dressed' for the context I consulted my Canadian contact who has worked here before. She told me to wear nice T-shirts and long skirts or dressy slacks. So, that's what I've been wearing. The women in the workshop, however, we dressed to the 9s! Some men wore suits or slacks, dress shirt, and ties. Needless to say, I was the most underdressed person in the room. Except when the Canadian journalist came (probably size 4)in just below the knee pants and a skimpy T-shirt. I think I looked rather dowdy, which perhaps is a contributing factor to my esteemed title of "Mother."

As to what I'm eating---curry vegetables on rice, curry chicken on rice, vegetables with a nice red sauce (not curry), Chambo (local fish)fillet...Although Anthony (remember him from Lilongwe?) recommended I order the whole fish, I just couldn't --knowing that the eyes would be staring at me. Nimse (made from maize/corn) is very popular, but it's really like eating very dry cream of wheat, so I put butter on it. I'm still startled that I'm drinking instant coffee everywhere! I wonder if they'll have any real stuff in Kenya. Perhaps there will be a Starbucks there....

Now about the beer/ale. Obviously, someone made a very good, long-term deal. Carlsberg (or is it Carlsburg?) is everywhere. It's locally brewed, but that's about all one can buy. I did see an Amstel someplace, but that's never appealed to me so I passed it up. I've settled on "Kueche Kueche"...which is a Malawi product, and I wouldn't really drink it except I like the fact that it's local, and it's cheaper that Carlsberg. I remember singing a song as a kid, "You do the kueche kueche, and you shake it all about...." I wonder if they were talking about the beer/ale. What do you think?

I'm having a break from being a task master with Moses. Let's say, I'm making him look good for the presentation in Ottowa in June. The calendar for next week is pack. (It's a long a boring story, but I was trained early in life how to help males think and get themselves out of a paper bag.)

Cosmas, the new project coordinator, is sharp, knows what to do, how to do it, and is relieved I'm here, given the lack of leadership at the top. Remember Cosmas? He played soccer. He also showed me a picture of his new baby....I wish I could see him, since I miss my grandgirls' hugs. Anyway, the motor and battery were stollen out of Cosmas's family car while we were in Zomba. I guess having a garage would be a necessary thing here.

BB--Did I answer your question? Does anyone else have a question?

Back to work to be the task master!