home in Malawi

 


After I got up I had a lovely chat with Rosie using the miracle of face time and then headed to the sick teachers flat with leftover macaroni cheese and cans of Pepsi. 

Then I pottered about getting water in and picking the weeds out of the strawberry patch, only to hear A shouting MUM from the bathroom. I had been booked to dye her hair. Purple this time. I love these moments, she asked if I ever did it with my mum, but I was never brave enough to dye my hair. But I've had plenty of bathroom chats and remember fondly the joy of peeling off my mum's face mask. We laughed as I tried to avoid getting the dye on her face and ears and neck. It looks great, not quite what I was expecting. BigA took her over to a friends for a sleepover and then we watched films and an Arsenal game. Our pal came over and fell asleep in the second half. 

Sunday was a day for me in the garden mostly, my seedlings had mainly survived and I enjoyed planting out the lush looking basil seedlings. It tends to get tough quickly here with a slight aniseed taste to it but I'm hoping this batch will grow well and I can harvest it while it still has that perfume sweetness. Cheese here is very expensive and you don't get the same kind of mozzarella, I'm craving that. An upside of returning to the UK will be the access to much better and I hope cheaper cheese. 

This week lots of staff and therefore some friends have been returning from their breaks away and the new teachers arrived too. The best way meeting the new baby. Beautiful. 

It has become busy quickly, I've moved offices, feeling happy to be in a larger space, and tried to make sure the staff room is looking good as it was painted over the break and there was a fair amount of rubbish to clear out. The induction of new staff is a lovely part of my job, settling them in, I enjoy it and feel I'm good at. It. Watching them see Malawi for the first time, the questions they ask, brings back memories of our arrival. How my wonderful cohort all took it in our stride and the connections I'll have for life. I think it's such an important stage in their journey, these first few days and weeks, and we have to make sure they can feel at home quickly despite the big changes and issues that arise. I like them seeing those of us who have been here a while, seeing what a life you can make and sharing your tips and advice.

We had a fantastic evening with the new English teacher getting out his guitar and him, me and A singing all sorts. A lot of tear jerkers, made me think of dad and Conrad. One song was, I'm sure at Conrad's funeral. 

Their arrival prompts so much thought for me too. We are so torn about what our next step should be, when we decided to come we didn't even think about longer than two years, we had no idea what life would be like and now there is a part of me that can't imagine leaving. And yet I know this isn't my forever home and I know too that staying here isn't what is right for A. When I think of coming home I know I will miss my garden and the simple joy of seeing plants I've grown from seed take shape and mature. I will miss having lunch together as a family most days, I will miss the big screen in our front room, I will miss the weather, the travel, the calm I feel here. I have a few people too that I will miss and perhaps in this new batch of staff we might be able to foster relationships like those we had before, but I don't think it will ever feel quite the same here now all but one of our cohort has gone. Part of the lifestyle of international teaching I guess. I have been able to catch up with a few people, ladies poker this week was fun. 

Last night we hosted a braai for new staff and anyone hanging about. It was lovely, more singing and lots of laughter. It was good to see how the new batch get on and they really do seem very normal. 

Only a few days left of the holiday, although I feel like I'm already back at work in many ways. Having fun, feeling focused and useful. 

BigA has taken the new staff off for a safari this morning and I'm going to clean up and catch up with a newish friend. 

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