Every Peace Corps Volunteer has a story to tell about their service. Read stories from Volunteers about what it's like to live and serve in Malawi, the Warm Heart of Africa.
I am sitting at my brand new table, hand-made by the local carpenter in
front of my living room window overlooking a sea of jungle green that grows
between my front porch and the tarmac.
I stare at the smoking mbaula with complete
frustration. My watch beeps, signifying that, yes, 9am is here and, yes, I have
tried to meticulously light this fire for the past hour. All I want are eggs
for breakfast, but it seems like I will be drinking my coffee with charcoal
smoke and an empty stomach.
I feel like my personality changes a bit when I speak in Chichewa and others have told me similar things about their own experiences speaking other languages. I make an attempt to speak in the way those around me speak and, in that way, integration and adapting to the environment around me becomes easier. Of course, I can never be Malawian. But I can try my best to understand, as an outsider, to fit in and become a member of the village and part of the extended family of community.
It’s been a rough week, but this afternoon I decided to try and find my
friend Agnes’ house to talk about some projects we are working on. I had only been there once, and her phone wasn’t working, so I set off
walking in the general direction and hoped for the best.
Did you know that in Malawi, malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for children under five? Our Stomp Team is here to help put an end to that! Watch out video to learn what Stomp is, and how it's helping community members and Volunteers who want to put a stop to malaria in their areas.
Learning a new language can be very difficult but Peace Corps Volunteers in Malawi know it's worth working towards. Language skills can help Volunteers make friends, complete projects, and integrate into their communities. Hear what our Volunteer Support Assistant and former Education Volunteer, Paul, has to say about learning a new language in Peace Corps.
I spent the majority of my two-year Peace Corps service in Uganda fighting the spread of malaria. After finishing my service, I knew I had started a mission that I wasn’t done with yet.
Everything
looked so familiar, yet there were subtle differences; a house that was
now painted blue, the new brick fence, the church that had recently been
cemented.
Peace Corps Volunteers all over the world strive to learn the local languages in the host countries in order to earn the friendship and respect of their community members. Learning a new language is hard, and there are many mistakes to be made along the way. This doesn't deter Peace Corps Malawi Volunteers; they dare to try...and look what happens! By learning the local language, our Environment Volunteers increase communication between themselves and their neighbors--leading to better team work.
Peace Corps Volunteers all over the world strive to learn the local languages in the host countries in order to earn the friendship and respect of their community members. Learning a new language is hard, and there are many mistakes to be made along the way. This doesn't deter Peace Corps Malawi Volunteers; they dare to try...and look what happens! By learning the local language, our Environment Volunteers increase communication between themselves and their neighbors--leading to better team work.
Peace Corps Volunteers all over the world strive to learn the local languages in the host countries in order to earn the friendship and respect of their community members. Learning a new language is hard, and there are many mistakes to be made along the way. This doesn't deter Peace Corps Malawi Volunteers; they dare to try...and look what happens! By learning the local language, our Environment Volunteers increase communication between themselves and their neighbors--leading to better team work.
In our "I Am Peace
Corps Malawi" video series, we introduce you to the individuals who are
working in the field here in The Warm Heart of Africa. Tune in each month to
meet a current or former Volunteer and hear about their projects, what they love
about Malawi, and what makes their service unique.