Bus travel – Malawian Style
I travel a lot. It’s kind of ridiculous (as my friends and colleagues often remind me). Usually, that travel is in Malawi, which means it’s usually on a bus.
I seem to have a particular talent for catching the slowest bus at the depot. Usually, that drives me crazy. Of course, that happened again today. I got on one bus only to have the one beside us pull away. And so starts the waiting game of pretending patience until the bus fills enough to go.
Usually, I would read a book. Usually I would listen to music. But with my head pounding from a lingering sickness and my ipod dead… There was little option.
Instead, I did what Malawians do. I sat. Sandwiched between two nice, big Malawian mamas, who conveniently propped me up as I slept. And like everyone else on the bus, I alternated between dosing, staring out the window and buying random snacks and groceries from various markets through the window of the bus. Because when you travel on a bus in Malawi, this is what normal people do (as opposed to over-achievers who read books all the time).
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:22 pm
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October 24th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Hey Colleen,
I hate bus journeys as well, but then that’s inevitable including in India. Anyway, it’s good to hear that now you are entirely grooved into the ‘Malawian lifestyle’.
Meanwhile, I came across this article on Telegraph UK “Malawi is the cradle of humankind, scientist says” at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/malawi/6418148/Malawi-is-the-cradle-of-humankind-scientist-says.html . Not sure whether you are anyway closer around the Dinosaur fossils! Should be exciting to see them.
Lastly, I gather from your blog that you are extending your EWB stay. Well, all I can say is hats off to you, madam. Indeed, it’s a courageous decision.
Take care and keep writing.
Uma
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March 9th, 2010 at 6:08 am
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