Ode to Sima

So not too much more to report.  Training is training, and we're chugging along.  We had Mock-LPIs (language proficiency exam) today, but I won't know results for a couple days.  I think I could've done better, but definitely could've done worse.  Palibe Suzgo (No worries)!

I wrote a poem on sima (nsima to the Chichewa speakers) and thought I'd share that, since I'm not being too interesting otherwise.  I also will include a story the trainees from my village wrote during a practice class where everyone in the class wrote a sentence for a story, building on what the others wrote.  If you're not familiar with the 'toilet' humor of Peace Corps, this will probably be less entertaining for you, but enjoy it anyways.

Ode to Sima

O' sima,
O' sima,
How you amaze me,
O' sima.

Mashed potatoes may look like you,
However you are your own sinister form of goo.

Your taste is hard to compare,
But it is probably most similar to air.

Eating you with my hands is quite fun,
Except you are hotter than the surface of the sun.

Your glue like properties are quite something,
Especially as I curse your name while dumping.

The process to make you ufu is long,
And it ensures any nutrition is gone.

Be it one patty, two, or three,
Amayi will insit it wasn't enough for me.

O' sima,
O' sima,
How I loath you,
O' sima.

Group Story
I awake to the wailing call of a goat and the feeling that someone was watching me.  The goat walked towards me.  It had knives tied to its horns.  I thought this must be a dream.  I love nsima, it is good.  So I took the leftover nsima from last night's dinner and threw it at the goat.  The goat ran away and returned with a while heard of vicious goats.  What a time to oopsie-poopsie!

Random Quotes

Wow, this internet cafe sucks! However, I will post a couple Cam gems.

"If you want to drink your beer and eat it too,
Chimbuku is the International Beer for you."

"Chimbuku, the beer so nice is asks you to shake it, twice."

"Dedza Pottery:
Wanted,
Our cheesecake.
Dedza or Alive."

http://africaam33.tumblr.com/post/27763745361/malawi-101-chibuku

Pre-Service Training

So I'm sitting in an internet cafe in Dedza right now.  Go ahead, you can be jealous, but its k5 per minute and while that may be next to nothing, I get paid less than next to nothing.

Just thought I'd let everyone know I landed alive.  Malawi is beyond amazing, but training is beyond exhausting.  I'm staying near Dedza with a home-stay family.  Problem is I'm learning Chitambuka since I'll be living in the north, and my family knows Chichewa.  So, serious language barrier.

I'll post more when I have more time, aka after swear-in.  Life is good!

I've attached a picture of our group when we arrived in Malawi.  We were all very confused and overwhelmed at this time.

One last thing.  Please hold off on sending any care packages.  If you sent it now, it wouldn't get to me by the end of PST and I'll have a different address to send them to for my actual site.