Evan Arrives for Mice on a Stick

Hi Friends and Family

As the title suggests, I arrived safely in Malawi this afternoon after a long series of flights (total time in transit, approximately 36 hours). All in all the trip went smoothly, although I narrowly avoided having to pay 325 pounds ($650) at Heathrow to check my second carry-on bag (they only let you carry on one, and were going to charge me 27.50 per kilo). Fortunately, they decided at the last minute to allow me to pay the fine I would've incurred in Boston had I checked it there (only $100). Next time, I'm not going to try and carry four laptops onto the plane I guess.

Touched down in Nairobi this morning at around 6am local time. It was just starting to get light and my first glimpses of Africa came as we started to descend through the sparse cloud cover around the airport. Had some excellent views though on the flight to Lusaka, including a breathtaking look at Mount Kilamanjaro and and equally spectacular volcanic crater lake thingy just past it.

Zambia passed by in a rush, and I didn't get too many looks at Malawi until we were on the ground. A former PIHer was kind enough to pick me up at the airport, and drove me the half hour to the place I'm staying, which is just around the corner from the headquarters of the Clinton Foundation.

Two things about the drive stuck out: one, we were driving down the left side of the road, something I realize I never really did when I was in Ireland and is a little freaky, and two, there were lots and lots and lots of young kids selling mice on a stick perched right on the edge of the road. Apparently the tail is really good, but I'm not sure I'm going to be going for that just yet.

I'm going to try and set up a blog this week and will post some pictures to it once I do.

Thanks for all the help you guys have given me, and talk soon.Best,Evan