But First, A different view of malawi
My hour long drive to Namitete with Shannon MacPherson and her two children Marin and Megan provided me with lots of information on the region. Shannon is originally from South Africa and is married to a third generation white Malawian. They live on a large tobacco/cattle farm and her husband Derek is a pilot, working as an aerial surveyor, flying out from their own airfield. Shannon drove me to a lookout point to see the house and vast tract of land they own. It was absolutely beautiful. The red, red sandy loam of Malawi supports vigorous stands of a variety of African trees, the Acacia being most easily recognized. * Note*: Issues of deforestation in Malawi to be discussed in a later blog. Their home was surrounded by tall shade trees and a small lake fronted the property. The scene reminded me of the movie "Out of Africa" (cue the John Barry music!), and Shannon laughed when I told her. "I do feel like Karen Blixen", she said, "It is absolute heaven here."
I was invited to get in touch any time and come for tea.
It was a lovely "warm heart of Africa" gesture coming from such a different world from the reality of most Malawian's lives.
And, such a different world from the one I'm about to be part of.
I was invited to get in touch any time and come for tea.
It was a lovely "warm heart of Africa" gesture coming from such a different world from the reality of most Malawian's lives.
And, such a different world from the one I'm about to be part of.