Hello All from the warm heart of Africa!
I send my warm greetings from my warm heart although I currently sit very frustrated unable to read all of the wonderful greetings and words you have posted. Fortunately enough they have been read to me over the telephone and I couldn't be more honored and delighted to hear these thoughts and well wishes. I have been trying for about a half hour to find the site to no avail so I proceed blindly.
So many thoughts, experiences and emotions that 15 minutes in a computer lab would not do any of it justice. So I'll keep this one short and sweet, my biggest desire is to thank all of you for the letters, packages, thoughts and friendship. Everytime I speak with Sarah or my father and they read your words I am encouraged and determined more and more to work with the wonderful people of Malawi. They are unique in so many ways but most striking is their optimism amid so much suffering. In all of my years in America, living as an American I rarely encountered so many genuinely happy people, smiling and laughing at the simplest of things. I've learned more in this past month than in 28 years in other places.
Many lessons I've learned in such a short time that my head is spinning with exhaustion. Between training and traveling, weather and sickness I'm digging very deep for the energy to keep going. I feel best when quiet and alone or sitting among candlelight communicating with my host family. They have been the most gracious of hosts and despite a language gap we have developed a genuine love for each other. I'm looking very forward to finally arriving and building a life in my site, just not leaving them. Speaking of site, I recently visited my future home which is about a 10 minute bike ride from the Zambian border. Not to worry any of you folks but I am really far out there, really, really far out...about a four ride through the mountains on the back of a pick up from the nearest town. The ride is spectacular, passing both the gates of Nyikah Natioanl Park and Vwaza Game Reserve, two of the premier parks in this country. Once we crest the mountain we look out into Vwaza Marsh and the plains of Zambia which my village, Zolokere is situated between. The people gave me an excellent vibe and the volunteers I am replacing have laid some pretty impressive groundwork. I look forward to working in a community that has already expressed their gratitude and eagerness to work with me. With time you'll know more.
I must end here as I have a line of Volunteers behind waiting but I end with a bit of Lithuanian and then some Chitumbuka...
Jeigu jus negalite rasyti anglu tada prasau rasykite lietuviskai. As suprasiu ir zinau kad jums lengviau. Aciu uz zodzius ir tikiousi kad viskas gerai lietuvoje, as jusu pasiilgau.
Yebo chomene babwezi bane. Nikukondwa chifukwa sono nikukhala ku Malawi. Nizamuluta ku chikanda lelo ndipo ningayowoya na banja bane! Tiwananenge!
Thanks again everyone, I'll include more next time, here's my new address:
Gregory Jacob Wilson
Peace Corps Zolokere
C/O Postmaster
Katumbi, Rumphi District
Malawi, Africa
Donny did a great job posting Jake's remarks. Jake couldn't get onto the site and it's most likely my fault, since I told him the address. What he and I didn't know is that you don't need the www. prior to malawi jake. Sorry Jake and all of his fans out there. And thanks Donny.
Love you all.
Califon Dad
Hi Jake, I am so happy to hear that all is going as you had anticipated. There could not be a better example of the best our country has to offer than YOU!!. We think of you often, and I am still looking for those chocolate chip cookies.. Take care. Fondly, Cathy
Posted by: cathy Maloy at April 19, 2004 12:19 AMHi Jake,
Nice to hear that every thing is all right:) I've stardet new job so i'dont have enough time to post in this site:) Be careful:)
Hello Jake:
It is nice to hear about your experiences.Iwonder if you got my letter?
The family sends their love.Wow! you really have a facility with languages.Guess what? I will be teachin English at a Language Inst.here in Colima!
Keep up the good work.
love
jnana
Hi Jake. I am really proud of you. They are so fortunate to have someone as you in Malawi. You are such a generous, kind and determined person. I have you in my prayers always. I feel so lucky to be able to keep track of your accomplishments through this website. Please be safe. Take care.
Love,
Peggy
Moni Jaker,
Love reading your messages, so keep them coming when you can. Muli uli? Hope this message finds you well and that you're settling into your place in Zolokere. I've located it on the map and I'm counting the days when I'll get a chance to see the town/people/you with my own eyes. I'm off to Cameroon next week, and will be in your neck of the woods the beginning of October. That being said, put a few Malawian versions of "Kalnapolis" on ice for when the big musungu comes. Thanks to the Wilson/Hunt clan for putting this thing together...it's wonderful.
Paweme,
Spence
Hi Jake, greetings from all 12A :) It's great that you have your own site and we can learn something new from your experience again. Hope to visit here constantly to know what's happening. Good luck:)
Posted by: Tomas at May 17, 2004 07:26 AMSveikas, Dzeikai. Mes tikri kiaules. Skaiteme tavo laiskus, juokemes iki asaru, o tau parasyti vis neprisiruosiame. Aciu uz atviruka. Tavo 4 zmonos gal ir grazios (cia jau skonio reikalas), bet as ne toks drasus. Man ir vienos per daug, nezinau kur ja deti.
zinai, kaip kazkuris graiku filosofas pasake "ivertini ko netekai tik tada, kai to netenki". Taip ir tau: pas mus LIetuvoje galejai ivertinti, kaip gerai amerikoje, o dabar, Malawi pamatei, kad LIetuva dar ne pasaulio krastas, yra saliu kur kavai reikia ne tik vandens i arbatini ipilti, bet ir lauza uzkurti.
Kai skaiteme tavo laiskus pirma karta (beje, labai gerai rasai lietuviskai)juokemes, po to buvo baisu, bet dabar as tau pavydziu - labai noreciau pagyventi taip, kaip tu. Tik, zinoma, ne du metus. Mums, kai skaitome, romantika. Tau, kai ten gyveni - sunku.
Na, o Birzuose, kaip pats supranti, nieko nauja. Pas mus naujienu atsitinka 1 karta per 100 metu. Kartais nuvaziouojame i pirti Pabirzeje. siemet maudziausi eketeje - kai ant ezero atsiranda ledas, iskerta skyle ir reikia sokti i vandeni. Na, bet tu jau nezinai kas yra ledas ir sniegas - tokie balti kieti daiktai is kuriu vasara atsiranda vanduo.
Labai grazios tavo darytos nuotraukos. Jeigu padarysi, idek i website dar daugiau nuotrauku. Tai tiek, dabar, kai jau zinau tavo adresa ir galiu rasyti ne ranka o kompiuteryje prizadu parasyti dazniau. Dalius
Posted by: Dalius at May 28, 2004 11:15 AMHello Jake
I stumbled across this somehow by mistake. Kindly allow me to introduce myself. If you are stll in Zolokere you will without doubt be in touch with the Chavula Family in one village called Kamunoli across the river Hewe. I come from that beautiful village, full of wonderful people. I did my primary at Zolokere Primary School from 1971 to 1978. My memories of Std 1 are still very fresh. Our teacher was Mr Amos Nundwe. I hear he is been recalled back into teaching! I also remember most of my classmates, like it were just yesterday.
Anyway, I am now a Chartered Accountant working in Tanzania with a tea company. I long to work in Hewe one day when our industry picks up. May be on some social work to contribute to poverty alleviation of my people. We have alot of potential there needing taping!
Let me not bore you. Greetings to my father, SVH Kamunoli and my lovely mother and all the wonderfull people of Zolokere.
Macloud
p/s I am the Treasurer of Friends of Zolokere
Posted by: Macloud Chavula at December 1, 2004 04:21 PM
hmm..this is quite interesting