I have been in this small densely populated country for nearly 16 months now. That sometimes makes me think I should not be surprised by things that happen here anymore. However this is just not the case.
Before Christmas I was waiting in the outer office of the Chief Permit Officer's quarters at immigration. Generally you wait a lot to see anyone or accomplish things here so I was messing around on my phone. I heard a door open and looked up and by the window behind the secretaries desk stands a lady eating corn on the cob. So where did this come from? It's December and is not maize season and this is an official office. Shortly three immigration officials from the front counter come in and head to the window and buy more corn on the cob.
There is a sign upstairs that says you cannot vend in the building but I guess that doesn't apply to through the window. I asked one of the officials who I have met before how they came to have maize in Dec. He kindly offered me his cob and said this was irrigated maize. Who knew?
Now this surprised me but I was further surprised when a little while later I was back sitting in the same office and a different person was selling boabab flavored popsicles out of a cooler. I was not offered one but was told they were very good and refreshing.
Now I thought about this as compared to the US and decided it really wasn't so very different from sending someone in the office to pick up Starbucks for everyone. It did still surprise me though.
Above is a picture of my dogs: Lukas and Mowgli. If you follow me on facebook or anywhere else you have seen them before. Most Malawians have dogs, or are around dogs but I am assuming because so many are trained guard dogs they do not trust dogs. Mowgli is about 7 months here and still acts very puppy like and has no viciousness in his heart at all. Lukas I believe would protect me if I were in a threatening situation so I take him with me if I walk far. I meet very few Malawians who are not intimidated by him.
I have grown men give me a 10 foot space as they pass or complement me on my fine dog and then say they find him frightening and ask if it is safe to pass. I generally say OsaOpa (do not fear) Galu ali pa chingwe (the dog he is on his lead). If it's young men with decent English I tell them he will not bother them as long as they don't bother me.
So as you can imagine much to my amazement I encountered a woman carrying a toddler in a Chitnji the other day and she stopped to talk to Lukas and tell her toddler this is a dog, can you say doggy. I can only guess that she has had some experience with German Shepherds and this leant her more confidence as he was on lead and honestly is quite well behaved.
You never know and can't make assumptions.
I am as I have probably said several times hoping to keep up with this blog more with snapshots of my daily life and thing that happen from day to day.
Before Christmas I was waiting in the outer office of the Chief Permit Officer's quarters at immigration. Generally you wait a lot to see anyone or accomplish things here so I was messing around on my phone. I heard a door open and looked up and by the window behind the secretaries desk stands a lady eating corn on the cob. So where did this come from? It's December and is not maize season and this is an official office. Shortly three immigration officials from the front counter come in and head to the window and buy more corn on the cob.
There is a sign upstairs that says you cannot vend in the building but I guess that doesn't apply to through the window. I asked one of the officials who I have met before how they came to have maize in Dec. He kindly offered me his cob and said this was irrigated maize. Who knew?
Now this surprised me but I was further surprised when a little while later I was back sitting in the same office and a different person was selling boabab flavored popsicles out of a cooler. I was not offered one but was told they were very good and refreshing.
Now I thought about this as compared to the US and decided it really wasn't so very different from sending someone in the office to pick up Starbucks for everyone. It did still surprise me though.
I have grown men give me a 10 foot space as they pass or complement me on my fine dog and then say they find him frightening and ask if it is safe to pass. I generally say OsaOpa (do not fear) Galu ali pa chingwe (the dog he is on his lead). If it's young men with decent English I tell them he will not bother them as long as they don't bother me.
So as you can imagine much to my amazement I encountered a woman carrying a toddler in a Chitnji the other day and she stopped to talk to Lukas and tell her toddler this is a dog, can you say doggy. I can only guess that she has had some experience with German Shepherds and this leant her more confidence as he was on lead and honestly is quite well behaved.
You never know and can't make assumptions.
I am as I have probably said several times hoping to keep up with this blog more with snapshots of my daily life and thing that happen from day to day.
