March/April 2015 - Malawi

Malawi - more of a tropical feel, high humidity, big thunder clouds and rain storms, lots of lightning and wild wind.  Very poor, lots of children... every woman seemed to be carrying a baby on her back with another at her side and many times more coming behind.  Also, apparently, there is a high HIV rate.  Large signs about children and HIV, and one sign said "Don't Marry Me, Educate Me."

Two of our truck drivers are from Tanzania and Zimbabwe; they are both married with children and actively looking for second wives.  I met a man at one of our camps that told me he had 20 children and 17 grandchildren and he was 50 yrs old. There were about 6 kids with him when we met.

Schoolkids were amazed at the bikes on top of the Tour d'Afrique truck. They were extremely cute. I'm not sure that the kids who didn't have school uniforms were able to attend school. I was told that it costs $11 per year including the uniform but if the family doesn't have it then the child cannot attend.

Roadside market - potatoes out front, everything was stacked attractively to look good.