Well, school is out, and all but the Form 4s have gone home. The Form 4s are still here taking the national exams which are the equivalent of the SAT/ACT. Two weeks of testing in every subject.
While my schedule has changed, I wouldn't say that I am "on vacation."
My big job of the summer is organizing the library at the school and the library room in the study hall. While there were general labels on shelves when I arrived, whether the contents had anything to do with the label was questionable. I would say the a good shelf was 50%. Okay, the Math shelves were closer to 100%, but only because no one ever took the heavy text books down (this does not refer to the currently used Malawi state math text books, but to shelves of old donated text books from the US and UK). There was absolutely no sub categorizing withing History, English, Biology, Geography, Social Studies, etc. Neither were there any spine labels on the books.
Working with the librarian and assistant librarian, we now have subcategories for all subject matter and spine labels on about 2/3 of the books (thank you Doug and Linda H. part of your gift for school supplies bought the masking tape and colored markers that we are using).
It has been a good excercise in working with others, but I've got to say that it has only reinforced my notion that if you want something done right do it yourself.
A couple afternoons this week, I've spend two hours after lunch learning how to garden here in Malawi and to make garden beds. It is hard work! And I was only watching! I have hopes to begin my own garden in the rainy season.
This week, I have also been helping in the kitchen as there are 12 additional sisters who have come from other houses to make their annual retreat. So, from 10-12 and 4-6:30, I've been helping Astima and Ajuma in the kitchen. I love working with them as I have learned how to make traditional Malawian food as well as some more Chichewa. Astima and Ajuma speak more slowly and less dynamically than the sisters, so it is much easier to try and follow their conversations.
The retreat will end Saturday and after the Saturday Mass, the new batch of postulants will enter. Sr. Margaret and I are the cake team. Sr. Margaret makes the cake and I decorate it. I just looked in the cupboard today and there is a scant 1/3 cup of powdered sugar -- not nearly enough for frosting, so I looked up raw sugar buttercream. There are raw sugar frosting recipes, but you run the raw sugar through a food processor. The food processor here is named Rufina. Rufina is a form 4 student and turned the raw sugar into fine powder in the mortar and pestle! She uses a big standing one at home to make peanut butter and to ground maize into fine flour!
Working with Rufina was one of those chance encounters that are always the best. She happened to be in the kitchen making "madonuts" with Sr. Bertha for the retreatants and simply took over when she saw what I was trying to do with the sugar.
Finally, my other big job was growing up into independence! When I arrived, the sisters didn't want me to be overwhelmed by all the new things, so they put me in a little guest house in the compound, and I have been taking my meals with them in the convent.
It has been really lovely. The food and company is wonderful, but so much of the everyday life that I want to experience is going to the market and seeing life outside the convent bubble.
On Sunday, I moved my things into a little duplex down in the teacher housing outside the compound. I think it is beautiful, and it is very spacious for one person. My favorite space is the screen porch, but I have plans for the little yard once the rains come.
My neighbor is an Italian woman named, Marina. She is a nurse who has been living in Malawi for 20 years, and goes out to work with people in the villages. She just got back Saturday from an extended home visit. She is really fun, and her English is perfect. It is because she is back that the sisters are comfortable with me moving.
We'll see how I survive this next week on my own cooking and marketing!
Comments