My Malawi Alphabet

As our time in Malawi is coming to a close, I have begun thinking about everything I will miss. We have experienced so many events, cultural differences, foods, and landscapes. Throughout my time here, I have been mentally keeping an ongoing list of things that are Malawi.

My Malawi Alphabet

A is for Africa, the continent I had never been and Annie’s, a home away from home
B is for baobob trees, bottled water, “botolo!” begging beginning to take a big toll, bartering, babies on backs, Black Diamond, and beautiful weather.
C is chicken and rice, Carlsberg, and chambe. Culture and caring. Club Mak.
Domasi schools, full of delight and dancing. Drumming—Du, Du, Ke.
E is to educate. Education is essential. Eggs and elephants
F is for Freedom Gardens, fire, Fanta, and figuring out a future…
Glass bottles of pop. Glass windows gone. Goodness and God
H is for Happy, a feeling and a businessman. Hippos are huge. Hunger is haunting.
I is for interesting and intriguing. Internet? Impeding and in high demand
Jump rope, join the jam
K is for Kumbali and Ku Chawe Mountain, Kuche Kuche
L is for lessons learned, living life, and Lucius Banda
Malawi, Malawi, Malawi! The warm heart of Africa, for sure. Markets in town and music with words of might. Moni! Mosques and Mt. Mulanje. Malawi Moto!
Night comes early, with nsima on one’s plate. Never underestimate
Outside is outstanding. Our own obstacles we create
Pepper? Paypani, you won’t find it here. Power is a problem. Pun intended. Political and patriarchal society, please pay attention and provide education
Q is for Q, a poet with words so quick. Questions that quiet the mouth and open the mind
Remember and replenish. Recycle and reuse.
Sustainability. Singing. A stunning safari so stellar!
T is for travel and tradition. For teaching and tomorrow, something transitional and tender.
Understand.
Venture out, vindicate, we are visitors to their village. A vendetta, we don’t create.
W is Willie, our bus driver so true. Walk and don’t waste. The wall will make you wonder where your kwacha went. Where’s the white wine?!
X eXcite. eXtend a hand. eXotic Fanta.
You may just find Yourself along the way.
Zikomo, Malawi. Thank you, Malawi for your zeal and your zebras

Katlin Wohlford