Malawi Sunrise

In light of the fact that I had a good friend living in Malawi (Meg) and that she was interested in having a traveling partner, and was worried about being able to bring home everything she accumulated during her time there, I went to Malawi on New Years day. Meg promised me adventure, and adventures we had!

First: sunrises. I like sunrises, I love being able to watch them, but usually I'm not up that early, and usually seeing a sunrise goes hand in hand with limited sleep. I got to see quite a few sunrises in Malawi (and one in Ethiopia), and from many different places, boats, cars, beaches, all very beautiful.

Ethiopian Sunrise (sounds like a good name for a coffee!)

Meg and the sun coming up at Nkhotakota, Lake Malawi

Nkhotakota Sunrise, every 10 minutes was a new sky! definitely worth waking up for!

The fishermen went out in dug out canoes to get the first catch of Chambo from Lake Malawi for breakfast.

Sunrise over Mozambique! From the Illala (more on that later) at Likoma island, lake Malawi

A wintery fix

Minnesotan as I am, I have always loved winter, the soft fluffy snow covering over all of the dead and brown things. Winter (in Minnesota) is neat and orderly, there is no mud, no bugs, no rodents, all is still and quiet and frozen.... except the Minnesotans! Minnesotans (at least the ones I aspire to be like) are out enjoying the snow, the sun, and each other. So this Christmas when I got to go home, my favorite part was playing with the family in the snow!

I love that first turn up the hill of the driveway to home!

We went skiing in the woods, got lost skiing in the woods, and enjoyed every second of it!

Kosens Kozy Kove our swimming spot growing up! Not much swimming going on now, but the pelican was still out to greet us!

Home! AND my mom! doesn't the barn look inviting with the little smoke stack?

I love weather, and what I always find interesting is that in Minnesota, the coldest days are the bright sunny ones (and sometimes you even get sun dogs!). (For those of you who are interested, I think of the clouds like a blanket holding the heat near the earth, and when the clouds are blown away, there is nothing to keep the heat in, and it gets very cold! Meteorologists may have a more scientific description.) On the last night I was home, the temperature fell from a balmy 37 F to -21... and there was SUN the next morning! so pretty!

On the way to Fargo (thus the flat-ness) it was VERY cold, and very bright!

Sometimes you don't have to travel very far....

Sometimes you don't have to travel very far to have other-worldly experiences! We (the neighborhood groupies) think that Elmer Fudge lives in the neighborhood and that he stole Bugs Bunny's spaceship rocket. I don't know what he is planning to do with it, but I really do hope it's fun!

Elmer Fudge driving off with Bugs' Space Rocket, but first a quick stop at Deardorf Grocery!

UPDATE: this is a screw! because Harrisburg is screwed!

A continuation

I was asked to blog for a cross cultural trip with students last May (Zambia 2013), and found that I really enjoyed thinking through the places I was visiting, and for putting to words to those experiences (along with pictures!). I've decided to continue that here, I hope you enjoy the stories.