Catching Up with the North Carolina Group
These past few days cover April 29th, 30th, and May 1st. On Wednesday the 29th, I finally caught up with the North Carolina group. They had apparently gone out to dinner somewhere else the night before, but persistence wins — they made me a guest and I got to share their dinner. We exchanged a lot of information. Frank, one of the group members, had lived in several places across Africa and traveled all the way to Ethiopia from Malawi and other places, but in small parts. He was very familiar with the region and also very curious about how things went in West Africa, among other things. It was fun to get a better idea of what they are doing here and to enjoy a meal together. They’re going to be leaving on Monday at the end of their two-week journey.
Sorting Through Belongings and Resting Up
I spent a lot of time sorting through things. It doesn’t seem like one should have as many things, but I need to decide what needs to go and what needs to come. Since I have limited space, I have even one more suitcase than I really like, and I have one less bag than I started with. It’s just a mind-blowing journey. I’m mostly taking it easy and getting over my cold.
Government Holiday and Carnet de Passage Logistics
On Friday, May 1st, I learned from Steven that it was a day off for most government workers. So even if I could have gone to visit the MRA in Lilongwe, it would not have been productive. Steven had spoken with the person he needed to speak with the day before in the afternoon, and basically if that person had been on the job, I would have been gone already. But he wasn’t — he’s in transit, and it looks like he’ll be there on Monday.
I made it clear that all I really need, since the ambulance donation is a pretty straightforward part, is to be signed out with my carnet de passage. Contributing a car is one thing, but letting the deposit money go is not part of the equation — at least that’s not my intent. Hopefully we’ll get that done on Monday, which is what is being planned at this time.
Extending My Stay and Kenya Visa Challenges
I also need to find a way to extend my time in Malawi because I got 30 days starting April 6th. Since it takes time to get a visa for Kenya and arrange all the tickets, this is becoming a logistical challenge. For the Kenya entry authorization — they don’t call it a visa — you have to apply online. You need your ticket to get there, your ticket to leave the country, and on top of that, they want to know where you’re going to be every single night. This is the first time I’ve encountered that requirement. Usually they just want to know where you’re staying the first night, which is already a hassle. Now they’re going a bit overboard. I wish I were driving — I could just say transit. But I’m not driving there, at least not in my car.
Exploring the Local Market
I also did a bit more exploration in town. I always enjoy going through the market. There are even places that repair cell phones — really small spots with just one person trying to do the best they can. It’s still a fascinating place to spend some time. Thank you for coming along.
