Malawi polling in pictures

I took these pictures from a friend. Because I am not Malawian I couldn't get beyond a certain point to take pictures of people voting. It appears that many people are excited about the process of voting. And even for me, someone who can't vote it was an exciting process. Now the most exciting part of all aside from people casting their ballots is finding out who the winner is. In Canada, the process of democracy is less exciting. For us it's something we consider a right. So essentially, we just vote for do we want a conservative or a liberal in power but for us (Canadians) we understand that no matter who we vote for our democracy will still stay the same. But for many Malawians and people in Africa sometimes choosing one leader over another is choosing one form of freedom over another. We take democracy for granted. We treat it as a right. But for many in Africa it's not a right it's a privilege and especially in Malawi it's something that people cherish dearly. I really learnt alot from Malawians as they went to the polls. From now on I think I will vote in every election that I can. I don't think it's right for me to take the democracy we have in Canada for granted. As we have seen in places like Kenya and Zimbabwe, democracy can easily be taken away. In any case, a friend of mine got a monitor to take pictures for them and I sought permission from him to use his pics on my blog. He said it was fine. Here is the Malawian polls in pictures. I would love to reflect on democracy and other things more but it's late here and I have to go to sleep. enjoy!

POLLING DAY

Today Malawians go to the polls to vote. Malawi is a multiparty democracy. The democracy started in 1994 after the peaceful ending of their dictatorship. It's my first time to experience an election in an African country. you know whenever you hear about elections happening in Africa you only hear about it when things go badly. let's hope that Malawi's elections run smoothly and are peaceful. I am gonna spend the day at Zodiak radio station...watching and listening how they cover the elections. In any case, I will be watching. I truly believe Malawi's elections will be peaceful and fair. the people here are amazing and I don't think they would want to see their country erupt into chaos. Everything will work out fine. I'll let you know the results when they come in. There are several parties contesting in the elections but the one's with a shot at winning are DPP, MCP, and UDF these are the three big parties. Currently, UDF has no candidate vying for president instead the Malawi Electoral Commission ruled that former president Bakili Muluzi couldn't stand for another term because he served the maximum term a candidate can serve so he formed a coalition with MCP although the two parties still haven't signed an MOU. DPP is the ruling party hoping to stay in power. DPP has made significant strides in improving the economy, human rights, and education. Although there is more to be done. Let's pray for a good outcome today.

Quarter Life Crisis, poem A

Trapped in a whirlwind
Caught in a daze
Wrapped in a strait jacket
Fighting to escape.

Running from commitment
Hoping for a man
Yearning for a baby
To start down my maternal path.

Searching for tomorrow,
But still living in today
Looking for a miracle,
please God show me the right way.

Quarter Life Crisis

Okay okay. there's one thing i really need to get off my chest. it's all this discussion about the quarter life crisis. I didn't hear about it until I spoke to a friend and when he told me what a quarter life crisis was, honestly, i gave a sigh of relief. finally a term that articulated the changes and confusion i am going through. Yes, I believe I am having a quarter life crisis. For some of you who have no idea what I am talking about essentially a quarter life crisis is basically like a mid-life crisis except well like the term said it happens in your quarter life or in your twenties. For me I can definitely say I am experiencing a quarter life crisis. I mean i packed up my life as I know it and came back to Malawi. It's a scary thing but also something exciting. I just felt I want to have meaning in my life and in my job. I really wanted to be involved in contributing to society in a positive way. And currently in the work I am engaging in in Malawi, I can say I am doing just that. Yes, I may be dealing with a bunch of challenges that if I stayed in Canada I wouldn't have had to deal with but I am also enjoying this new path I've taken...one of uncertainty and discovery. I'll take my experience for what it's worth. A chance to learn about myself and life. It's only a quarter-life crisis. The good thing about this terminology is that eventually it will end and I will be a better person for having experienced it.


Here's some characteristics typical of a quarter life crisis that i pulled off of wikipedia:

* feeling "not good enough" because one can't find a job that is at one's academic/intellectual level
* frustration with relationships, the working world, and finding a suitable job or career
* confusion of identity
* insecurity regarding the near future
* insecurity concerning long-term plans, life goals
* insecurity regarding present accomplishments
* re-evaluation of close interpersonal relationships
* disappointment with one's job
* nostalgia for university, college, high school or elementary school life
* tendency to hold stronger opinions
* boredom with social interactions
* loss of closeness to high school and college friends
* financially-rooted stress (overwhelming college loans, unanticipatedly high cost of living, etc.)
* loneliness
* desire to have children
* a sense that everyone is, somehow, doing better than you

Out and about

Okay, so I've been a bit absent from the blogosphere because I have been super duper busy. Yes super duper busy. But now I am back. Okay where was I? Besides in my own head contemplating the mysteries of life, love and the pursuit of happiness. I was actually in another city called Blantyre. It's about 4 hours from Lilongwe. It looks more like a city. It has nice buildings. Night life. Different restaurants etc...I was in Blantyre to participate in a human trafficking workshop. I was one of the facilitators. I really love being part of the workshops because I am really into the issue of human trafficking. I just think it is so unfortunate that we have this kind of issue in the 21st century. After doing a human trafficking story myself I really became passionate about doing my part in some way to help in the fight against human trafficking. So yes that's why I went to Blantyre. However while I was in Blantyre I ventured out to a chinese restaurant, then went to a bar. Then...what!...caught a cold. the weather down there was cold. Yes, I know I am from Canada, yes the place with the snow and ice but despite my Canadian blood, I HATE THE COLD! I get cold so easily. man if a little breeze blows across my bare arms I have goosebumps automatically pop up on my arms. I mean seriously there's nothing I can do. So curently I am nursing my illness with lots of tea, bread and sudafed. hey that rhymes. I have included a pic of myself. this was me at the chinese restaurant. Enjoy!

Current Projects

WAPI. May 30. one word. exciting. come back later to find out more.

Response to the last post

So that was my first time ever sharing my poetry to someone or anyone else. Not as scary as I thought it would be. And in any case it now seems like I've turned into one of those people. You know the ones who bear their entire soul in their blog. Man I used to clown these kinds of people. And now I've made my blog into my personal diary. Funny. However, it feels surprisingly good to express my feelings in cyberspace. Till next time.