Best bit of the day

 This is amazing. Rokia Traoré knows what she's doing.

Whose point of view

Few days before our departure from the US we heard what had just happened in Boston. It felt like for the first few hours everyone was in a state of anticipation. I personally thought the bombs were a diversion for something much more horrid just like in Norway. Luckily they captured the bomber and whatever plans he had are now belied.

All major TV channels were all about Boston - naturally. But literally this one event excluded every other piece of news. After the first day one might have like to hear wether or not North-Korea is attacking anyone or say know if there still is a Europe with all its' financial problems. Did the senate pass new laws, was there any natural catastrophe going on, how were things with the army or the legal system?

What is shown on TV is always someone's point of view and those making the decision have their interests and motives. (OK I admit I've been watching The Newsroom lately.) With Boston there were hours when nothing new truly happened, they were just repeating the same news, showing one runner take a fall again and again and finding people who commented jus how terrible it was to set a bomb in Boston.

I don't think I was the only one hoping to see or hear something else. Or was I?

Food for the soul

Enough with the traveling for a while now. These are from Sculpture Garden at New Orleans. One of the best parts in town. 

From the top by: Robert Indiana, Jaume Plensa, Coosje van Bruggen and Claes Oldenburg, Arman

Big easy

Rainy day in New Orleans gives a good reason to stare at your laptop. I've had a wonderful holiday here, seen and done plenty. People in the South are friendly and open. I've been talking to strangers the past week more than last year altogether.

Everywhere you go one way or the other the discussion is turned to Katrina, the hurricane that hit here hard in 2005. You can still see the results of the storm nearly anywhere you go. Abandoned houses big and small, remnants of various buildings and sad looking port.

There's also sunnier topics, plenty of them. I've been watching one family nearby in the neighborhood lifting their house. It's literally raised on poles so that if the water level goes up they'll be safe. I like that kind of attitude. "Come what may but we'll make it."

Louisiana baby!

Quick change from Africa to the South. Here's my theme song for the past few days. Overwhelmed.

Wild Africa... well almost

 Don't do safari if it's rainy season. These were my top shots. 

We had fun though.

Oh and saw some of the cast from Lion King.

Refugees

How desperate is your situation when you end up seeking refuge in Malawi? I mean were talking about one of the poorest countries in the world. Value of Kwacha went down I don’t know how much in only three months I spent there, big percentage of the population suffers from starvation and let’s not even start the HIV.

A refugee in Malawi has to have good reasons to leave ones’ country. And there’s over 20 000 reasons.  I had the privilege to visit Dzaleka refugee camp – a privilege cause at the end of the day I could leave the place. Several others can’t.

Some of the inhabitants of the camp have lived there close to 20 years. They consider it as their home as shabby as it is. Just before you reach the camp coming from Lilongwe there's a small hill with some trees and bushes. It's a cemetery for the refugees. Cause in Africa people want to be buried close to their home.

Where do men go to cry?

Though I’m not in Malawi as a clinician I get a peak, every now and then, of local hospital life. The compound is formed of too main buildings and a few smaller ones. Often in the morning one can hear loud, desperate crying that echoes from shelter that was built close to the hospital as a house of grief. Far too often a corpse is rushed there on a gernie followed my crying women. Their mourning is loud and by no means reserved. Sometimes I wonder, if they want to show their sorrow properly there and then so that they can move on with their lives as soon as possible. After a while the gathering accompanies the deceased for the last journey. Nearly always they’re ladies. Men are there mainly as drivers or play otherwise minor part.

Back home grief is often silent and somehow shameful as if emotions are to be hidden. To be strong in times of sorrow has become almost a standard.

When the former North-Korean leader died news footage showed crowds of people loudly crying after him on the streets. My heart broke as I saw them. Was it genuine or done because of fear?

I’d like to learn from Malawians on this. Cry with those who are in grief. Men included.

Girl in Lilongwe

Feeling like a hick in a big city right now. I'm not a fan of countryside living but just realized that's what I've been for the past weeks.

Lilongwe is a growing town with international dwellers. ..And that's about all I can say of it. I have a sense that the foreigners either work here or consider it a s a place to fill their stocks right on their way to visit a safari or the lake. Pretty much my strategy as well.

But it does feel good to watch TV in a long while and eat oranges. (Yeas I can be lavish.) Guess if I had friends here who knew good places to visit, would make it a whole different experience. In a way that's the case where ever you go in Malawi, or that's at least how I feel. Annoying as is can be that's also a way for people to connect. I've made good friends here thanks to needing their help and advice.

Yesterday someone asked me what I think about Malawi. My response was full of positive adjectives and none over exaggerated. Living here is not all rose pedals, but there's so much good that it helps to get through the rougher stuff.

I Heart Lake Malawi

My eyes are hurting for this beauty. 

No wonder the first missionaries tried to settle down around here.

Only downside being bilharzia, Lake Malawi is incredibly beautiful. 

Thank you God for creating it.