A snapshot of week 1

So end of the first full week and on the whole things are going pretty well on the whole.

I’ve been keeping up to date with the Games on the radio every night.  From my distant perspective it feels like it would be really exciting to be there, I’d certainly rather be watching and getting excited with the tv commentators, than listening on the world service, but hey I chose to be here!

From reading Pat’s ‘the life of a volunteer’s partner’ blog, it’s probably harder for him than me.  Here all is new and different so far and I’m excited to be going to the Lake soon (or at least I hope it will be soon as that’s why I’m here).  Keeping in touch isn’t always easy, but I have to say it’s much easier so far than I thought it would be.  Sorry Pat, I will try to stay awake after 9pm so we can Skype occasionally!  For those of you who know me well, being an early bird really isn’t me, or wasn’t until I came here.  I’ve woken up every day this week at 5.40 am!!  Hopefully I will be out to a more conventional hour tonight so I can sleep a little later tomorrow!

So my days start with that early start, I put on a pan of water to boil as soon as I get up and manage to make it hot enough for a coffee at about 6.30 am – oh yes, it really is taking that long!  I’m at work just after 7.30 am, and stay til 4.30 pm – not the official knocking off time, but for me the necessary knocking off time to get home before dark.  Everyone else I share offices with drives, so I feel like I’m shirking.

So a quick snapshot of some of the memorable images and events from the week:

- army officers leaving the nearby supermarket with bags of shopping in one hand, and a rifle in the other

- cars with windscreens so broken they can’t possibly see to drive

- lorries with no windscreen at all, which I guess is much preferable to the above

- gorgeous, brightly coloured birds – turquoise and violet, and as common as blackbirds at home

- learning to cope with a MUCH slower pace of life – this may be the capital city but it certainly isn’t buzzing

- learning a phrase of Chichewan, and promptly forgetting the one I learned yesterday

- thinking I’ve got the greetings at least sussed, then not recognising them when I hear them!

- actually feeling quite comfortable (just the once so far) on a minibus!

- gospel music, and lots of it

- being called sister – and the lady who drinks lots of tea!

- the disappointed look on the faces of the interns in the office when they realised I’m not the famous Armstrong they thought I was (!)

- wondering if I can actually go to bed at 7.30 pm! (in my defence there is no light in the lounge so it’s much cosier in the bedroom)

- the lizard who lives undisturbed in our office

- the electric socket falling off the wall when I went to plug something in

- the hotplate socket sparking (a little disconcerting and I did get up 3 times that night to check the place wasn’t on fire!)

- the bedroom light that flashes all night after I switch it off (how do I manage to get all that sleep?!)

- the excessively large spider who invited himself in when I opened the back door one morning

- the impromptu residents meeting we had over cups of Tetley tea and choc biscuits after work yesterday when my fellow volunteers agreed it would be a good idea for me to refuse to sign the lease til they have sorted my flat!

- my fridge that freezes everything I put in there

- the debate I’ve just had with one of the above mentioned interns about just why the British are so bad at sport (he’s watching the cricket!)  At least I made him laugh!!

And probably so many more!

So here we are, 3.30 pm, the office is largely empty, I’m still waiting to hear if the meeting I’ve been promised with my boss on a daily basis (and believe me I’m pushing for it!) will happen today – my guess?  Not a chance!