They don't carry guns

police officer: Let me see your license
me: here you go (giving her my SC license)

police officer: where is your Malawi license?
me: I don't have one

police officer: why not?
me: I'm in the process, I went to the police station and they told me to come back next week (not the truth)

police officer: which police station
me: the one downtown (first thought)

police officer: well, let me see your letter from them
me: I don't have it, it's at home

police officer: you're a liar, you're telling me all lies
me: no, of course not, can I pass now?

police officer: I have to fine you, according to section 16, it will be 8,000 kwacha ($20)
me: no, no, that's too much....a speeding fine is only 5,000 kwacha

policer officer: then what are we going to do?
me: I don't know but I need to go

police officer: have a nice day.

If the falsehood in the story bothers you, let me try to justify my lies.  To get a Malawi license without bribery, you would need to go to the police station and wait for a week until someone decides to help you.  I don't want to bribe and I don't want to miss a week of work, so I drive without a Malawi license.  

It's usually not a big deal, police see my U.S. license and let me go.  But this one particular officer decided to pick on me and obviously expected payment.  I'm not a tourist and I know how to deal with the shady minds of the police department.  A few people would pay the fine and she was obviously looking for gullible drivers that day.  But I drove away and smiled....only here.  She probably smiled too, at the next driver that handed over 8,000 kwacha.  

I feel like I just woke up....

Sitting at my desk.  11:39 am.  Wednesday October 2.  Back from a 10 day trip to the U.S. which felt like a long dream.  I miss home.  I miss people.  I miss family and friends.  Texts and calls are great but nothing beats seeing someone that you've missed.

I'm lucky.  I have a support network at home that is priceless.  My mom & dad are there for me, no matter the situation.  Even though they would like to see me more and living closer to home, they don't discourage me from looking at more time abroad.  My sisters made the effort to get to South Carolina to spend time with me.  My friends let me slip back into the picture without missing a beat.  We enjoyed conversations like I had never left.  Things weren't awkward or uncomfortable.  I'm truly lucky.

Back in Malawi.  Where wi-fi is reliable, 48% of the time.  Where french fries are chips and all chips taste the same.  Where there are never too many people in a bus. or car. or van. or room. or office.  Where people greet you, regardless of how they're doing.  Where machetes outnumber guns.  Where life is simple but chaotic.  This is home.  At least until the end of the year.