Old adventures . . . of imaginary play in Malawi

My time spent in Malawi in 2007 taught me a lot about life and how people live on the other side of the world but one of the things that impacted me the most was the children.

They were so joyful and playful with whatever little they had, they did not desire the fancy toys we own in the West but instead they used imagination and what resources around to play...

...this little boy had made a car to sit on, from bricks lying on the roadside.

Playing cars in Malawi

Nsima

Nsima

Nsima is a staple Malawian food. It is eaten at nearly every meal with some form of stew or vegetables or meat. Whilst I was travelling in Malawi in 2007 I would eat this daily. It is very stodgy and filling.

Ingredients:

For every 1 cup of cornmeal 2 1/2 cups of cold water

Method:

1. Heat the cold water on high and when beginning to get warm slowly add half of the cornmeal, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon.
2. Continue heating and stirring until it begins to boil and bubble.
3. Reduce to medium heat and cook for a few minutes.
4. Add the rest of the cornmeal slowly whilst continually stirring.
5. The mixture will become very thick, it may be that you do not require all the cornmeal or that you need more.
6. It should be thick enough to eat with your hands, make into patties to serve up.

To eat break small pieces off with your hands and pick up the stew or vegetables you are eating with it.

Old adventures . . . with a goat!

This photo was taken at sunrise near Lake Malawi, this goat has picked the perfect place to stand to soak up the early morning sun.

Goat on a house in Malawi

Old adventures... lessons of African cooking!

When I was in Malawi in 2007, I was taught to cook African style!! Although the ladies often told me I was not strong enough...

Cooking African Style

...here they are cooking Nsima, which is cornmeal & water heated together and pounded in a large pan. They are cooking on an open wooden fire for about 100 orphan children, 2 of the ladies have the large paddles in which the pound and mix the food together with.

Nsima is very stodgy and served with a meat dish.

Old adventures... in Chirimba

This photo was taken whilst I was living in Malawi in summer of 2007. 

It was in an area of Blantyre city called Chirimba. It is a road, ok you might not get a car down this road as it is very narrow but you can expect a motorbike or two.

African Road

Old adventures... in Malawi

This week on "Old Adventures", we are going to visit...

...LAKE MALAWI

Lake Malawi

I went to Malawi in summer 2007 for a few months to get some experience working in an eye hospital, whilst I was studying to become an Optometrist.

It was an amazing place and it has a special place in my heart.

I only visited Lake Malawi for a few days as I was working in the Eye Hospital in Blantyre in the south of the country mostly. One weekend I took some time out to visit friends who lived on the lakeside. It is such a beautiful calm place where the locals live off the land and the fish from the lake.