Malawi: The Feeling of Familiarity

I went back to my former home in Malawi over Easter for a short holiday. It's the first time I have been back or seen many people since I left early last June.

When I lived in Malawi and happened to be travelling, I always knew I was going home when I got on the plane at Joburg airport and recognized several faces from the small community in Lilongwe aboard the plane. At first when I got on the plane this time, I looked around with anticipation, seeking out a familiar face which I did not find. But halfway through the flight, on my way to the bathroom, I recognized the face of my friend and former colleagues, Sam Phiri, director of the Lighthouse clinic that I had worked closely with in Malawi. I was going “home.”

Though some of the people and sights have changed somewhat since I left, it was also nice to be in a place so familiar.

My dear loyal dog, Lucy, who now stays with my friends Anne and Andreas, immediately recognized me when we drove in and gave me a big kiss on the cheek. Lucy is now the hardworking and loving mom of 7 puppies, now 2 months old, that she had with Ashanti, the dog of my friends Anne and Andreas. Lucy is still as gentle as ever, with kids, with the puppies, and still loved accompanying me on morning runs through the bush.

I spent a day or so at the Lighthouse clinic with whom I had worked and it was so nice walking into the morning staff meeting and seeing so many familiar faces and seeing the growth that has happened in the organization since I left. Malawi continues to be making positive steps in its response to HIV, with now more than 150,000 patients started on treatment. Many of the key public-health focused technical advisors who have been working with or at the Ministry are starting to transition out of Malawi so we will hopefully see Malawi continue in a similar path once these advisors leave.

I saw Chipi several times who is now nearing his 16th birthday. When he answered the phone, I at first didn't recognize his voice as it has changed considerably in the last year. He is now very much a teenager: during the first half hour I saw him, he answered every one of my questions in a mono syllabic answer, “yeah,” “Man” “Cool.” At dinner at his house one night however, the more familiar , younger theatrical side of Chipi emerged for a short while when he did a short theatrical performance for us. His health appears okay, he is still actively in care but at the same time still does appear quite skinny and continues to struggle with health issues.

I did not do much in Malawi, besides visiting with friends, sleeping, running with Lucy, but was refreshed by the many familiar sights and times: the lush green rolling hills as Malawi quickly approaches harvest time, Anne's homemade yogurt for breakfast, topped with passion fruit picked from the garden, beautiful African sunsets, the warm, gentle soul of Malawians that continues to touch my heart.