First Post!

Please enjoy updates from my four month trip to Malawi where I will be living and working as a Health Financing Analyst. Here I go!

On my way to the airport: 5am, no sleep, excited to be on my way!

Malawi is one of the least developed countries in Africa. Actually, it is one of the least developed countries in the world. Malawi ranks 171st out of 187 countries in the Human Development Index, placing it just one spot above Afghanistan. 

Average life expectancy at birth is around 51-53 years, prevalence of HIV is 11%, and 26% of adults are illiterate. 

While these indicators suggest serious poverty, Malawi is also affectionately known as the Warm Heart of Africa--a well deserved nickname. Malawians are welcoming, peaceful and quick to smile. The majority of people live a simple agricultural life, and from what I have seen so far, the low human development numbers are most apparent in the lack of 'extras' that much of the world takes for granted.  These 'extras' include, for example,

-reliable electricity, water and fuel (power outages happen daily)
-a railway system
-conveniences like postal codes, road names, home addresses

Outside of the major towns, there are few paved roads, few cars and few commercial vehicles. Gasoline is expensive (over 2$ per litre) and the lack of transportation means that consumer goods are limited. It is not uncommon for grocery stores to be out of basic goods like eggs, milk or sugar. And it is not always clear when these items will be restocked, turning grocery shopping in to a treasure hunt. Discovering a supply of feta cheese in one of the grocery stores?--endless happiness! Who really needs power or water anyway!?

Flying in to Addis Ababa - My first view of Africa!