Bring it on 35!!!!

Today is my 35th birthday! It has been a great day. A birthday unlike any other and one which I have always wanted. I am enjoying the day personally, treating myself in ways (an extra granola bar if I would like!), and just enjoying each moment of the day for myself. I purposely planned this adventure to fall on my birthday as I wanted to greet 35 in a special way; open to the future and the adventure of life while enjoying where I am in the moment. I feel that I have accomplished this and I am so happy about this.

I received a call from my parents at 9am (2am their time!!) They woke up to call me and sing Happy Birthday to me! How cute are they? You just never out grow somethings. My family also sent me with a birthday card from each of them to open on my birthday. They said the nicest things. Such a cool way to start a birthday.

It has been such a great day as I did not tell anyone that it was my birthday. I just wanted to make sure I did things I wanted to do and just take note of the cool things that happen to me in a day. So many cool things, and soooo many kind people. The kids just topped it off. I just heart them all. I am a self proclaimed birthday grinch (as well as a new years eve grinch) so I feel so lucky to spend such a huge birthday in anonymity. Who gets to do that? You have to go to Africa to be able to get away with something like this. I consider this my birthday gift.

Some of the stories of today will follow in another blog. I am heading to enjoy a glass of wine or two! :-P

PS. I decided to post a picture of the cutest boy in Malawi today. I just can't handle posting another picture of myself right now.

Aubrey

This might just stand out as one of my favorite moments here. Meet Aubrey. He has been supported on a scholarship from PP for 5 years. He entered the program as his mother (the night she was dying) begged someone associated with PP to help her son get a good education. He was left living with his two brothers who created a terrible home environment for him to succeed in. They were big time thieves and drug addicts. He was an orphan at 13 years old.

I heard about Aubrey before I met him. He sounded like such a great kid. He just completed his senior year and took the MCSE (a national exam) to see if he passed to go onto college. While he was waiting for the results, he has worked everyday. Hard labor. He gets up at 6am every morning, travels 7km to the market to purchase a cows head. He then lugs it home and spend the whole day making stew with the head. He carries the stew (about half a trash can) 2 km to a market that is located between two bars. He gets harassed nightly by drunk men giving him a hard time. He returns home at 11 at night to start it all over again, for less than $5 a day. It just breaks my heart.

So the morning I met him he told us that the exam scores were out. They announce all the names of people who have passed the exam on the radio. 45,000 names!!! It takes them 3 days!!! What the......

So we worked and worked to find a way to see if he passed. We finally got in touch with his school who told us he passed with excellent results!!! It was so exciting! Only 50% of the kids pass this exam. After all their handwork and money spent. Needless to say, I cried. I was so happy for him and for all the people at PP who made this possible for him. There is noway this great kid would have made it anywhere without someone supporting his schooling after his mom passed away. These are the stories that keep you going when you see and hear so many heartbreaking stories of pain and suffering to such good people…..

This picture was taken right after he found out he passed. How cute is he?!

Part of the work here is to help get the PP office in Malawi running efficiently.

I get back to the office after a shopping trip, and there are about 7 other Malawians in the office. People associated with PP in some capacity, a girl who is home sick from school and a carpenter. I am typing up a project proposal and just look up now and then watching the discussion. I have no idea what they are saying as they are speaking in Chichewa.

After a while, Mara (the one who runs the office), looks at me and says…..Christine….we need to to go look at a bookshelf that they found - it was $340 . We need you to tell us whether or not to buy it. I was laughing in my head wondering what do I know about any bookshelf?! And what I am I supposed to say…yes…this bookshelf you picked out looks great??!

So we go, Mike, Frazier and I and I am shocked with how shotty these bookshelves are. After sitting in on the board meeting last week and realizing how tight money is, I was thinking "no way". This could put a kid through school for the year. I had them take me to many other stores, a random carpenter on the street…..

I ask Mike if he knows any friend or someone outside of the city we can commission to do this. After a while, he remembers a coffin maker who has skills. We drive out to an Area, and they think it is best if I talk to him. The quality would be better for a white person. We find the guy in a bar and I have to ask him to come out to do business. I tell him the measurements, the price we are willing to pay, measurements, and I go through all the wood selecting the quality we want. He said he will do it for $80!!!

All I kept thinking was how funny this all is. I never know what I am getting into and have had to become an "expert" on so many random things. I think that is what I like best about being in this role. I am learning so much about random things. Two days ago I was talking agricultural practices on how to have a better corn harvest and today I am in a coffin shop wheeling and dealing with the quality of wood. Just another day here…..