Malawian Special

Got a new puppy last Saturday...breed unknown, but what's for sure is that she's a true full blooded Malawian Special, a mut of all kinds, predominantly of a brownish beige color.

We struggled with a name....going from Malou (dog in Chichewa) to Diesel (since I got to fill up on my way to pick her up) and finally settled on M'vula (Rain in Chichewa) since it's the rainy season and from what I understand, a particularly wet one this year...

So, there she is, the beautiful little M'vula...and if she continues at the rate she's eating right now, she will soon be the BIG M'vula!

Afternoon Rush-Hour

It's funny how sometimes the most ordinary sights make you giggle..  Monday late afternoon, Emine and I were walking home after a day of teaching, working, meeting and workshopping when we both were surprised by the number of people on the street.  It was past 5:00 PM and many of the workers were doing just like us, going back home after a hard day of work.
Since you are aware of the diesel and petrol issues we are facing, the commute, whenever possible, is done on foot...so the photo below illustrates just that...  the evening commute on Barron Avenue,  usually a relatively quiet side street in the neighborhood!

Photo taken by Emine

Filling up!

For the past several months, Malawi has been experiencing ups and downs in diesel and petrol deliveries, all due to the shortage of foreign exchange currencies to purchase these precious fossil fuels!  My big 85 liter tank has been running on pretty much empty for a while and I started walking more than driving to get to places.  Thankfully, the stores are only a quick 30-40 minutes walk, through the golf course and the side streets.  

Last Friday, with my friend Aly and my boy Alex we took the afternoon to go shop and brought back some groceries...  The next afternoon, I had organized several errands, a puppy pick-up and post-sleepover pick up, all driving the Tank, again with Alex and Aly.  We quickly stop at Crossroads, a little shopping area, looking for a specific item when Aly needs to get to the ATM to get some Kwatchas.  So, I'm standing there, looking at the gas station and all of a sudden, realize the guys are actually pumping, filling up big trucks!  OMG, they are pumping diesel and there is NO lines!!!!  I couldn't believe it.  Before rushing to my car, I actually did check with the attendants to make darn sure they had diesel.

What a RUSH!  I rushed to my car, cranked it up and quickly drove to the filling station.  I just pulled up and stopped the Tank right next to a pump, got out, unlocked the little door and there it was, the precious diesel, filling up my Tank's tank!  

I was ecstatic, even after dropping close to 20,000 MK (over $100) in the hands of the pump attendant!  Call me crazy....  ONLY in Africa!

Before leaving the station, I did spread the happiness by sending SMSs to all my buddies driving diesel.  The word spread fast around town.  Since Saturday, several deliveries were made.  Unfortunately, it looks like the drought has already returned and that there is no more diesel or petrol in town...  Until next time!