First First Day of School

It has been a hectic first few weeks here in Malawi, we had no car, no phones, no bank account, no water during the day, and no electricity for a few full days.  So it was a challenging first few weeks.  Luckily we have some great friends who have driven us around and cooked us meals and taken us shopping.  But things are getting better, we have a bank account (so we can buy groceries), we have a satellite dish (so Easton gets to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and I get to watch ESPN), we have a cell phone  (so feel free to give us a call) and we are starting to remember how to live with no water or power.

The most exciting thing that has happened is that Easton had his first ever first day of school.  He was so excited to start school.  He is in the pre-nursery class at our school.  We went to the school during the week before and he was excited because of all the cool things that the school has.  There is a little farm with two horses, two donkeys, chickens, geese, a turkey, rabbits, guinea pigs, and a camel.  There are also monkeys that run around the school and there is a large play castle.  Easton loves school.  His teacher said his favorite friend is a little Malawian girl, which is no surprise to us, because he loves girls!  Starting school also means no more diapers…which means Lindsay had to go pick him up a couple pairs of the tiniest boxer briefs you’ve ever seen. So far, after one day, no accidents! (It helps that they take the kids to the toilet every half hour!) He has to wake up at 5:30 to get ready for school, so he has been going to bed at 6:30.  But he loves school, which is great.

 (Easton at School)

Lindsay and I finished our first week of school. This means only 5 weeks left until we get our week-long holiday.  Lindsay is really enjoying her class and working with a teaching partner has been great.  We are enjoying the new school, and it has been great to have so many familiar faces and we have felt very welcomed.  Each morning Easton hangs out in Lindsay’s class until school starts at 7 and then after school, I run down to his class and pick him up at noon.  I am busy learning the roughly 400 names of kids who I will teach in PE.  This is made even more difficult with names like Abijit, Tayyibah, Poojitha, Gerismos, and Wezi. And that’s just in Lindsay’s class.  The biggest challenge so far has been leaving Gracie at home.  She has become a mommas girl.  We think that we have a good nanny now, but it is hard for anyone to be as good as Annie(Eastons nanny the first time around).

(Easton pointing out the bananas in the tree)

It has been fun coming back to so many familiar things about Malawi.  Some things have changed though. Here are a few of my favorites.  You can now get Reese’s at one store, you can buy real ice cream at another, and the speed of the internet has improved.  But my favorite is that I am in the First Club at FMB bank.  Before when we were in Malawi, going to the bank meant standing in lines for long periods of time. We are talking 30-40 minutes minimum.  But now I get to go into a side room with A/C, leather seats, a flat screen, and there is a fridge with waters and Cokes.

It has been a busy week, so I haven’t had time to type as much as I would like to.  There is so much more to talk about.  But I wanted to get these pictures of Easton at school out to everybody.  I hope you are doing well. We’d love to hear from you, too!