Three Months, Site Lockdown, and Integration

Wow I’ve been living in Chipoka now for practically 3 months. Yesterday was day 150 (thanks to those PCV’s who keep track of this kind of thing) in Malawi, and almost 5 months! I know this statement may seem redundant, but time really does fly by here! It seems like yesterday I was waiting until the VERY last minute (seriously at 2:30am, when I left my house at 4am) to START packing my luggage. Now I’ve been here 151 days, and that panic during packing seems like forever ago. Malawi has become my home in the last 5 months, and I’m not sure how I’ll ever say goodbye to things like sleeping just as many hours as I’m awake, non-existent solid bowel movements, and 2:00 o’clock meetings that start at half 3. Haha just a few of the many “perks” of my life kuno ku Malawi (here in Malawi)!

August 8th will mark the “official” 3-month mark of our training group (CHE 2015- combined health and environment 2015) living at their sites, but more importantly (in many eyes of us PCV’s), the end of site lockdown. During the first 3 months in our new communities, Peace Corps enforces something called site lockdown, to help encourage integration into the place we will be living for the next two years. As volunteers we are not allowed to leave site except for re-stock weekends in our closest BOMA (city center). The idea is that if we are not allowed to travel around, we will be in our villages full time, meeting the community and integrating. Integration is the primary focus of these first 3 months at site because here in Malawi building relationships is so important to be able to make a positive change and be trusted. Because I am “different,” and not Malawian (yet), it is so important that my community gets to know me before I just start doing projects and trying to create positive change in their community (aka their home they’ve been living their whole lives, that I just moved into). It is important that my village and the people I’m working with know what Peace Corps is, and my role as a volunteer. They need to understand that I am not a NGO coming with money and free things to give out to them. And let me tell you, all of this is hard to display to them, simply because the Malawian majority, when they see my white skin, have preconceived ideas. Living directly in the village though, and say not driving in with my fancy car everyday like other NGOs, among doing other things the same way people do it here in my community (eating the same food, wearing the same clothes, cooking over a fire, etc.) helps with my integration and this false perception that Malawians may have had of every azungu (white person) living in Malawi. After these 3 months my village knows why I am here, they know what I have to offer is my time and my knowledge, and they know I’m learning Chichewa pon’gono pon’gono (little by little). The last one always gives them a little laugh…that “n’go” sound isn’t one we make in speaking English the U.S. too often, or ever.

In the beginning of our site lockdown I think many volunteers were worried about “being trapped at site” for 3 long, “dreaded” months, not knowing anyone, not speaking the language even close to fluently, and not being able to see any of the people you just were forced to be friends with for the last 2 months during PST (pre-service training). Because you’re alone (meaning the only PCV) full-time and not allowed to really leave there were thoughts that at times one may be bored. I myself was probably one of those people, but as I;ve mentioned before I have been quite impressed with the things I’ve come up with to entertain myself in times of boredom. I was talking to one of my friends here, Christina, and asked her, “What do you do when you’re bored?” Our answers to each other were pretty funny, but strangely so similar; “I walk to the market because I have been sitting in my house all day (avoiding being stared at and having to speak Chichewa) and need to get out,” “I stare out my window,” “I read for HOURS,” and/or “I eat.” On top of that the realization of the amount of times we were content with just sitting and thinking/reflecting/processing the crazy things of our new life was unreal to us. Let me tell you, sometimes sitting and doing nothing can be quite peaceful, especially coming from a country that is go, go, go constantly.

So, for the last 3 months that’s what I’ve been doing; integrating (no not being bored, avoiding the outside world, and sitting around doing nothing all the time haha). I’ve gone from my first meeting with my health center during my first weeks here, to attending many, many outreach clinics. I’ve learned how my health center runs, about the different health issues they focus on, and programs they have already in place (HIV/AIDs testing and counseling and ART distribution, under-five clinic, supplemental feeding program, maternity ward and guardian shelter, hygiene and sanitation with a goal of 100% pit latrine usage by the end of this year, etc.). I’ve met the TA of my area (tradition authority), and many of the chiefs and village headmen from the surrounding villages. (This is also very important because before I put on any program here in my community I need to seek permission from a chief/VH). I’ve attended community events, including a wedding, funeral, and birthday party. I attend Chichewa lessons almost every day with my teacher, Madalitso, from the secondary school in my area. I go to church, and have met the pastor and been welcomed by many of the people in the congregation. I visited schools, the police station, nearby lodges, among other important places. I have started a SOLID group (which I explained in the blog post just before this one). I’ve even made friends, Malawian friends, which is probably the most important thing on this list. These are the people who will be here, right beside me throughout this long journey. They are my neighbors, and my counterparts, and the health center employees. They are whom I spent my time with, answer all my questions, and help me with my projects. And they certainly will be the reason why it will be so hard to leave in 2 years timing. My friends are the reason I am so happy here in Chipoka, putting a huge smile on my face everyday, and each one of them a true blessing from God.

#peacecorps