PST in the Phaz :)

For the first 8 weeks in Malawi, I underwent Pre Service Training (PST). This included health technical trainings, language courses, and Malawian culture lessons. PST was located in Dedza, a mountainous and cold area in the Central region. We were very fortunate to be in such as beautiful location!

My First View of Dedza

During the first week, I climbed Dedza Mountain, a pretty cool mountain located right behind our bunks at training site. From the top, you can see Mozambique and plenty of mountains.

Dedza Mountain

For 5 weeks I lived with a Malawian family for what PC calls Homestay. I was fortunate to stay in Chiphazi or the Phaz as we called it with 8 other PCTs. I lived with a widow and her 2 children (she has 4, one at school, the other is married). They were very accommodating to my strange American behaviors. My amayi (mom) was a excellent cook! My achemwali (sister) Coria helped me with Chichewa. And my achemwene (brother) Phempo would entertain me with songs and dance. I lived in a modest room, but was living in luxury because I had a bedframe (oh, the simplest things in life are so pleasing). I was a constant source of entertainment for the family, especially when I brought out my camera!

My Homestay Family

Not only was I amusing to my family, but the entire village. Wherever I went, I was a constant spectacle to the village children. My friends and I would go for walks which confused many. They would ask us, "Where are you going?" We would respond, "We are just going for a walk." They would ask, "Where?" The concept of exercising is lost on many Malawians.

The Paparazzi

Health Technical trainings consisted of learning a variety of PACA tools (Participatory Action for Community Analysis), health indicators for Malawi from the Demographic and Health Survey, and techniques for community development. My particular favorite was the day we made our host families sanitation platforms for their pit latrines.

Community Mapping

Problem Tree: Insufficient Water Sources

But PST wasn't all work...of course not. My 33 new best friends and I got to enjoy the local dive (Ed's Bar), explore new foods (some ate mice, not i), and visit Dedza hot spots! Dedza Pottery is an amazing venue with fantastic food, especially the cheesecake. It's not really cheesecake, more like egg custard, but delicious nonetheless. I also devoured mushroom and tomato quiche and coffee!!!!!!

CHEESECAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whew....ok, thats alot for now....plenty more to come in future blogs! Stay tuned for more on PST and swearing in :)