First day in Malawi!
on Rachael's VSO experience (Malawi), 06/Feb/2011 14:58, 34 days ago
So I arrived at Heathrow crazily early 14.30ish and check in didn't open till 16.30!! I walk up to the desk and the lady explains that she cant check me in as I only have a one way ticket so I need to be approved by a manager. So I wait, eventually realise the man stood in front of me is the manager!! He explains I can't travel as I don't have a return ticket. I show him my letter from VSO and he says without a visa I can't travel!! He eventually relents and makes the three of us sign a waiver to agree that if we are turned away from Addis Ababa because we have no visa Ethiopian Airlines would not be responsible to repatriate us!! nice...It all worked out in the end and I undertook a very sleepless night flight to Ethiopia.On an aside from what I saw of Addis it looks like a beautiful place and one that I really hope to visit. Arrived in Addis at 7am although thats 3hrs ahead of GMT, our flight left Addis around 10am and we arrived in Lilongwe around 12.20 (+2hr GMT). We then went and had our passports stamped and then 'checked' which involved a lady who appeared to look that it was British and agreed it was me!! But thankfully there were the VSO team there to meet us and explain what to do. which was now to find my bag, what a crazy experience, a lot of 'unbritish' pushing and shoving to even get close to the belt and the technique from what i could tell was scream when you saw your bag and hope someone near the front passed it back, if that failed you forced your way forward and grabbed it often taking out near by people!! I was so impressed my luggage was there that I didn't really care!! I then went through 'security' where a lady asked what was in my hold luggage, i said clothes and she said OK! I then had to have my hand luggage 'checked' and the man said don't worry I'll make sure I check you next time!!!The VSO reps then passed me over to the lovely minibus driver whilst they waited for everyone else to get their bags. He carried my bag to the minibus where I met a few of my new VSO colleagues. Once we were already we started the quite scary journey to the hotel. Apparently there don't appear to be speed limits in Malawi, just random signs saying 'Drive safe arrive alive!!' I can't say we did the first but we arrived alive!! So then I had a quick shower to freshen up as I've been travelling too long then we had a bite to eat and decided to try and figure out the wireless. Took a bit of time with my special laptop but we eventually got there!!In Country Training (ICT) was due to start at 5 but now will be 5.30 as the director is stuck in traffic and will be late! but we have wi-fi and some aircon (well more of a ceiling fan but hey beggars can't be choosers)Will try to put some pictures on but the wifi is a bit busy!!