Human machinery and creature comforts.

We may have been delinquent in the regularness of our writing. I apologize. It's just that we've been overcome with comfort here in Lilongwe. When the lotus fruit is offered, it's difficult to refuse. But luckily, we're both strong, motivated invididuals and therefore only spent 5 days of lounging around, watching Olympics, bad movies, and terrible TV shows. We managed to rouse ourselves on the 6th day.

Actually, there have been a number of activities, the first of which was on Saturday, August 16th. The Peace Corps Iron Chef Cookoff was the actual reason we hurried from Dar and it was well worth the effort. We were able to meet a number of the volunteer and see them all gather together for a cross dressing fashion show and a cookoff. We actually didn't get to taste much of the food, as there was enough for realistically about 40 people and there were 90+ in attendence. But macaroni and cheese tastes so good sometimes I think I would have voted for it.

On monday, we went out to visit a permaculture farm, which was quite interesting. We were able to tag along on the Peace Corps' In-Service-Training, so there was a group of about 20 volunteers, all in the environmental group, who were learning how to help out the communities they were assigned to. This would generally be by doing things such as planting banana trees and beans by a well so that it can be fed by the runoff. It would also include using greywater from washing dishes and bathing to water papaya trees or avacado trees. This is all in the interest of become more self-sustainable and teaching better water management to people who depend almost entirely on the rain to manage their water.

On Friday, we went to see the Lilongwe tobacco auction, which was supremely interesting. The first thing that I noticed was the smell in the air. It felt like walking throw a cloud of tobacco dust. They were actioning 10,000 bags of tobacoo that day in an enormous building filled with bustling humanity. We were supposed to meet with a floor supervisor for a formal tour, but we were never able to find them, so we took ourselves on our own little tour. I felt like I was watching scenes from novels from the early 19th century describing the factory workplaces. Almost no machinery was in place with the exception of a few conveyor belts. Runners with dollies would sprint back and forth carrying 100kg burlap bags of tobacco from the truck to the floor, where they would be opened, graded, auctioned (around $250/bag), sewn up, and sprinted to the waiting truck. Each individual would have a specific job and do only that. There was a guy who opened the bag. A guy to sew up the bags. A team of guys to grade it. A separate team to auction it, which included the only non-locals in the entire place, who were the buyers. Two guys who turned the bags from one side to the next. A team of sweepers. A guy who sprayed water all over the place to keep the dust down. It just goes on and on.

Yesterday we went to Dedza to do a little hiking and shopping. It was quite cool in the mountains. People tend to think of tropical africa as hot, but the majority of the time we've been here, we've been in sweaters and long sleeves, except during midday, when it might get up to 75 or 80. In Dedza, it was even cooler, so luckily we were prepared. We went to a well-known pottery factory and purchased some plates, then took a quick hour hike up the mountain. I secretly think my dad set this up so he could spy on his volunteers who were in training there. But it was a beautiful hike, followed by a gorgeous sunset on the ride home.

So, that brings us to the present. I am currently drinking coffee, eating a bagel with cream cheese, freshly showered (so fresh and so clean!), getting ready to do some cooking. There's a brunch today we're helping with and dinner tonight that Erin and I will be cooking. Also, there will be a wine tasting.

It's a rough life, I know, but somebody has to do it. We are the willing volunteers.

T