Over the Ocean...check!

Well, I've just completed my first overseas trip! It's hard to beleive that the lext leg of our trip from London to Nairobi, Kenya will be an even LONGER flight but it's still a great adventure!

We had already said goobye to our Uganda-team friends yesterday afternoon as they had to leave earlier yesterday, and even though we knew we'd be parting ways with the Ghana team at the airport it still seemed abrupt as we came apon their next terminal and quickly gave our hugs and well wishes.

We are now down to the 6 Malawi participants. We have a pretty huge 8-hour layover before we start boarding for our Air Kenya flight. I'm excited, I'm anxious and I am more than a bit sleepy. One thing the overseas flight provided me was the chance to brush up on some Malawi culture and history.

About Malawi
Malawi is a landlocked country that covers about 118,500 square kilometers in the South Eastern corner of Africa. 80% of its 15.4 Million person population live in rural areas, where agriculture plays a vital role.

The two official languages are English and Chichewa, a Bantu-related language. Over the last 100 years Malawi has moved from a British colony to commonwealth to a fully independant republic.

I could easily write what I have read regarding Malawians, but I do not think that would be fair to anyone. I can say that Stella and Mathias have left me with a great first impression, and I look forward to forging many new relationships in the 'Warm Heart of Africa'.

Thanks for tagging along!

Tionana!

Meeting New Friends...

Day one in Ottawa is done as I continure my pre-Malawi preparations.  I FINALLY got to meet my fellow CCA adventurers as we convened at the CCA offices for our first day of training!

It's interesting how diverse a fairly small group can be, yet much we also have in common as we come together in this setting.  It's great to hear more stories and experiences from the coaches who are on their second (or more) year of volunteering, and it's great to hear the hopes and concerns of the other "newbs" as our departure dates creeps closer and closer.

For most of the day, we participated in course in Intercultural Effectiveness, facilitated by the Centre for Intercultural Learning (CIL).  What a great session!

It's really a shame that every single Canadian cannot receive this training.  Who do you know that would not benefit from learning more about Human Behaviour, includng our very concepts of culture, personality and human behaviour?  I look forward to resuming this session tomorrow!

I would have to say the highlight of the day was a chance to meet and chat with our 'Country Resource Person(s).  It was a great honour to be able to spend the afternoon with Stella Nyasulu and Mathias Mbendela who are both natives of Malawi and were kind enough to share their insight into Malawi life and culture!

The Malawi crew with Mathias and Stella

I am determined to learn some Chichewa, the national language in Malawi.  If I can master a typical Chichewa greeting (Moni, Muli bwanji?), I will so proud of myself!

Thanks to you both Stella and Mathias, thanks to you both I am feeling more excited than ever for my upcoming adventure!

Mathias, myself, Stella and Erin

Until next time,

Tionana!

Here we go!

Ok, first post!  Thanks for joining me on the first stage of this adventure!

How do you prepare for an experience like this?  What do you pack?  How do you deal with the travel?  What do I need to prepare for?   Information Overload!
But I think the biggest prepartions for me, are what will be happening while I am away.  While I profess to be pretty laid back, my family and I just don't seem to be able to walk-the-"laid back"-talk.


I am the proud father of three boys, ages 9, 6 and 4, and the husband of a very loving wife who has been very patient with me (and more importantly our kids) while I travelled around to play Ultimate Frisbee, took night classes to get my MBA, and who now herself is doing her MBA while taking on a new job and teaching our oldest's catechism classes.
So the first thing I did when offered this great opportunity is do what any man who appreciates his marriage would do in that position...I asked her if I could go!  Her response: "How can you NOT go?".


So these days leading up to our training and preparation in Ottawa, as I try to figure out what to wear and what I need to bring, I am also preparing my three page spreadsheet on who will be covering what at home to keep life as normal as possible for my three very active boys!

On a professional note, what an honour to be chosen for this program!  I can't wait to put faces to all the friendly voices I have been conversing with the past few months, as we meet in Ottawa next week to prepare for our trips to Malawi, Uganda and Ghana respectively.
 
And what a great place to work for!  OMISTA Credit Union really is a great place to work, and it's truly awesome that they are supporting me and this program!

Back to preparations!  Thanks for checking in!