Thanksgiving

The first holiday away from the family.  Thought it was going to be tough.  But then I realized Malawi doesn't know or care about Thanksgiving.  Ah, much easier.  It's just a normal day.  But keeping in tradition over the past few years, the McGraths did a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday night with most traditional dishes sans turkey.  It was a great time of worship and the food was incredible.  Pictures below.

On Saturday, another group of friends were doing Thanksgiving dinner as well.  So, I doubled up.  I sucked it up like a true american and shoveled down another incredible meal complete with multiple desserts.  It was a smaller and more intimate dinner - I don't have pics, we ate outside with candlelight which my camera doesn't like.  

On Sunday, I finally ate at the KFC.  I ordered the only sandwich combo on the menu - complete with coke and fries.  A really expensive meal for Malawi - about $7 USD.  The sandwich was really good, and the fries were better than the fries anywhere else in Blantyre....which are all the same.  It felt good to eat there.  I needed a comfort meal.  I found it unique that the Malawi staple - nsima is included on the menu.  An apparent attempt to lure Malawians in there, but the nsima meal is still far more expensive than any other place in Blantyre.  SO not sure how much nsima is sold there, but I can guarantee no malawians from CURE have eaten there.

The children's Christmas party (Dec 7) is in the planning stages.  I'm working with the hospital marketing director to develop a program for the kiddies.  Also, working on a staff Christmas program for the following week - that fell on my plate as well.  It's all good fun though.  I can't wait to party with the kids.  

Small group meets for the 2nd time this Tuesday.  At my house, the CURE guest house.  Attendance was only 7 for the first meeting.  We hope to have a few more people as we discuss what the gospel means and the early church in Acts.  Pray for this group, I desperately want it to grow and not become a boring, stuffy study with the same few people leading the discussion.

I'm going with my translator, Lawrence to his home village two weeks from now.  It will be my first time seeing his childhood stomping grounds.  I'm helping him create a blog and post info about a project to help children and the elderly in his village.  I will have a paypal link up soon.  If anyone is interested in donating money in order to purchase supplies/essentials for the village.

Thanks for following, always.

Alex - friend

Dave Burgess, medical director and ortho surgeon at CURE

we made dessert bowls since there were too many choices

Aysha, physiotherapist at CURE, Amina (daughter) & Nadine McGrath

Konde decorated for Thanksgiving 

Nina, german volunteer at CURE

Francie, german missionary

Roy Miller, anesthesiologist at CURE and Maxi (local NGO)

John McGrath. most gracious host ever

Humphries, friend/pastor/radio program host

Greg and Afton (american missionaries)

My top 5 favorite meals in Malawi

1.  Rice with Mince Meat and Salad.....only about .35 at the canteen at the hospital.  Tasty, cheap and the hottest freaking hot sauce ever is readily available.  I eat this meal multiple times weekly.

2.  Chicken and chips at the gym.  The gym that I frequent is part of the Malawi College of Medicine that is right next door to CURE.  After a workout or squash match, I order chicken/chips and a Fanta orange.  The chicken is breaded and fried, french fries are called chips here.  It's fantastic, some of the best chicken I've eaten in Malawi.  Only about $4 and there are tables outside to sit and relax in a nice breeze.


3.  Chicken pot pie/coke/chocolate cake at the Cafe at CURE, which runs about $4.  A little more upscale dining at the hospital, and a little more western.  Safina, an indian lady that runs the cafe, makes AWESOME cakes. My favorite is chocolate on chocolate.  She knows how much I love her cakes now so I get hooked up sometimes.  She makes a mean chocolate milkshake too.


4.  Nsima with soy pieces and salad.  Nsima is ground maize which looks like masked potatoes but has no taste.  It's the staple here - it's dirt cheap.  Malawians roll the nsima into balls with their hands and then dip the nsima into salad or spinach and add a piece of chicken/soy/beef/goat and then eat in one bite.  I don't really care for the beef or chicken with nsima - it has bones and is usually tough.  The soy pieces are good though.  I don't like using my hands though.  It's offensive but I have to use a fork, discreetly.  About .35 at the canteen or other small restaurants everywhere in Blantyre.  Malawians eat nsima for every meal with different sides.


5.  Cereal or oatmeal at my house.  Yep, when I'm tired of everything else, I resort to my comfort food - american cereal.  The milk isnt the best here, but it works.  I've found corn flakes, honey nut cheerios and granola with fruit here.  However, the cereal varies every week - so you don't know what's in stock ever.  There is always flavored oatmeal at the grocery store - currently on a strawberry yoghurt flavored oatmeal kick.  I ate chocolate flavored oatmeal for the first two months and got tired of it.


That rounds out the top 5.  As you can see, I'm eating well here.  Lots of good food.  But also watching the budget and not eating american food out every night, which you could do here.  I'm adjusting to preparing meals for myself here, which I'm starting to enjoy.  Pic of nsima below with chicken and spinach as the sides & the infamous chocolate cake as well.