FAQs about Malawi

AND NOW... some more Frequently Asked Questions about Africa and Malawi!

 

How is Africa?

I don’t even know where to begin!  Firstly, I only really know how Malawi is, Africa is a pretty big continent to be summing up, but Malawi has been an adventure.  Learning how to live in another culture has not always been easy, but it has been incredibly interesting.  Malawi is a diverse country – mountains, lake, valleys, cities and rural areas – and the people here are from several different tribes.  Overall, Malawians are very friendly and they pride themselves on being from the “Warm Heart of Africa”. 

While you are in Malawi, do you switch houses or cities every couple of months?

A Peace Corps service is about 27 months.  The first two or three months are spent in training in a village with other Peace Corps Volunteers.  The last 24 months are spent in one village.  Some volunteers choose to change sites due to a variety of reasons (lack of work, corruption, disagreements, etc.) but most volunteers stay in one place.

Did you choose Malawi?

I did not choose Malawi.  During the Peace Corps application process, I was asked if I had any preferences for specific regions (South America, Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, etc) and based on my resume, experience and preferences, the Peace Corps recruiter selected a country that would fit best.  When I learned I was going to Malawi, I had no idea where it was and so I had to do some research before-hand.

Do you think you will want to stay in Malawi when the two years is up?

I love Malawi and I have many friends I would like to stay in touch with here, but I know that it is time to move on.  I will definitely come back to visit – Malawi has become a part of me.  However, two years away from my family is long enough.  I have missed my friends getting married, having babies, new cousins and the deaths of some family members.  It’s difficult to go through these experiences so far from home and I am looking forward to seeing the people I left behind.

Do you think you will go to another country after Malawi?

After my service I plan on taking a trip through Eastern Europe before I return home to the States.  I want to work in international health so I know I will do more traveling when I have finished my graduate work.  There are so many great places to live!

What region are you in?

I am in the Northern region of Malawi on the lakeshore.  I stay in Nkhotakota district, closest to Nkhata Bay district.

Were you nervous to go to Malawi?

No I can’t say that I was nervous to go to Malawi.  I was mostly excited.  I was more nervous about social things, like saying good-bye to friends and family for two years and learning a new language so I could make friends in my village.

Is it extremely dangerous?

Malawi is not dangerous.  I have never feared for my life or felt threatened.  It’s a peaceful country.  Occasionally I have been robbed, but nothing that felt dangerous.

Are you near a desert or tropical area?

Malawi is tropical, although there is a serious deforestation problem and it’s predicted that the lush, beautiful part of Malawi will soon be empty.

How hot is it? What is the weather like?

There are three seasons in Malawi: hot, cold and rainy.  During hot season, the lakeshore can be in the 120s.  Most people find shade and do very little work during hot season.  During rainy season, it rains every day for several months.  When it’s not raining, it’s muggy. In cold season, it’s in the 60s along the lakeshore.  *Other parts of Malawi have different temperatures and this is only in my community.