Hi friends and family! One of my brothers is currently backpacking Europe, and that statement is all the news we are getting out of him! And from me, you have not heard much for the past month! I apologize for the lack of posts - life has been incredibly hectic with wrapping up the school term assignments, making sure my house-mates got the most out of their last few weeks in Malawi, and the final crunch of work. But, don't worry - I have been keeping a list of things I want to share with you, and these posts will be making their way onto the blog over the next few weeks. The placement coordinator for INDEV asked us if we could answer a few questions for a newsletter, so I thought I'd share my responses with you too!
1) How are you finding your placement and the country/environment you are living in? I absolutely love Malawi – the climate, people, work, friends – it seems to have been made for me! My placement is amazing – I get to work with some great kids with special needs in a refugee camp, and also with a large women’s cooperative craft group. I have difficult days where I miss family, work is difficult emotionally, or conveniences such as consistent running water, sure, but on the whole, this has been some of the best months of my life. 2) What have you learned (which you did or did not expect to)? I have learned that I really don’t mind not having electricity, except for when papers are nearly due! And that having no running water freaks me out – I have a bunch of 5L containers filled with back-up water as we are not always given notice of water cuts, and they could last from a few hours to a week in length. I have learned that cooking and baking for others is a huge way for me to relax and reduce my stress levels after a long day of work. And a big one is that Canadians are not nearly as friendly and welcoming as Malawians – they really do live up to the moniker ‘the warm heart of Africa’! 3) What are you looking forward to now? I am looking forward to or dreading with all of my being (depends on the day) to graduating this spring, and deciding whether to go to graduate school or get a job in Malawi, or try to do both at the same time!
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AuthorWelcome! My name is Katiana and I am a development professional pursuing my dream to live out Isaiah 1:17 to the best of my abilities. I am passionate about teaching and working with vulnerable families and children to improve their lives sustainably.
CaveatThis blog is composed of my personal opinions, which do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of institutions or organizations that I may be or have been affiliated with.
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