Yesterday my plane got into Lilongwe, around noon local time. Happy New Year! 2012--a year of big changes.
My luggage arrived, but not my guitar. It was left somewhere between Amsterdam and here by Kenyan Airways. It seems they have a reputation for delaying/misloading/forgetting baggage. We reported it missing to institute a trace on it. My guitar was eventually located (not sure where) and was flown to Blantyre today. I'll pick it up next time we drive into town.
Mum (my aunt Phyllis) took Arnold and me for a pizza lunch. Then we headed over to the bus station to wait for the coach. About an hour into the drive, the female assistant (she made announcements over a p.a. speaker at the beginning and the end of the trip) handed out individual plastic containers containing a corn muffin and a meat pastry. We also had a choice of pop or water. It was a very scenic drive from Lilongwe until it got too dark to see anything.
(vid to come)
Speaking of driving:
1) People drive on the left side of the road, and the steering is on the right.
2) Lots of people walk on the sides of the roads--a LOT. When it's dark it's a little scary to see how close they are to vehicles.
3)Roadblocks: there were several, with police looking for illegal aliens from China or India, as well as searching for illegal imports.
4) The main road is in pretty good shape. The side roads or off roads? Well, I think they're being pretty generous using the term "road." More like a track in the hills: bumps, lumps, twisting and turning up and down little hills. Elaine, your road is GREAT compared to these;)
5) The coach (like a Grehound bus) deserves mention. The washroom (by the way, I got blank stares when I called it that--here the term "toilet" is used) was not at the back of the bus, but in the middle. It was set low, so that the bottom was actually where the floor of a Grehound's luggage compartment would me. One had to carefully walk down 4 steep steps to the door. When we met a roadblock and heard talk of everyone having to leave the bus, I figured that I'd better use the toilet. Well, things had...splashed. The floor was wet, and the toilet paper roll was wet on one end. I decided that, since my clothes were already dirty and I was sweaty and smelly, I wasn't going to think about it too much.
My first night--it was hot and HUMID. God prepared me by experiencing Cuba at the end of September, I guess. Nothing to do but let 'er sweat!
I had a good first night's sleep in the little room Mum prepared for me. I slept until 11:00 a.m.
I tell you, that cool bath the next morning felt wonderful! We hung around the house all day.
There are mango trees in the yard. The mangoes are gathered up as they fall from the trees. Mum made mango juice yesterday. I had some along with my peanut butter toast for brunch. I spent my first day unpacking suitcases, going through photos with Mum, organizing my belongings, and just talking together about anything and everything.
Mum has 6 dogs! Sara, Lady, Solomon, Rosie, Twila, and Suzie Q. They help guard the school property at night. I just heard that the night guards decided to celebrate New Year's Eve, and the day guard came at 5 a.m. to discover that all but one sink from the girls' washroom had been stolen! Thieves don't take a day off.
Tomorrow morning I will go to the 7 a.m. chapel. After the 20 minute session, I am to meet with the principal to get information on my teaching assignment.
Thank you to those of you who are praying for me.
Good night.
Love,
Inez
Plane lands in Lilonwe
People on airport shuttle
Mum in bus station
Arnold (business manager) in bus station
Road through market to Mum's house and the school
Men walking down the road through the market
