Presidential Luncheon

I think the title is pretty self-explanatory; probably the 200th blog post about it coming out of Malawi this morning, but the event is surely to be an interesting ordeal. All PCVs in Malawi were invited to have lunch with President Bingu, thus swarms of usually grungy and scruffy volunteers have made the trip to Lilongwe, shaved, showered, and even dressed up. Contrary to popular belief, the Environment group cleans up nicely.

This will be an interesting luncheon for numerous reasons. First, there is a over-arching assumption the food will be good, after all we will be dining at the State House. Secondly, I can't speak for the Central and Southern regions, but people in the North generally don't like the President. He was a spectacular leader his first run, but the second time, and last time, he has failed in many respects. The primary issue is the quota system, which is stifling the generally well educated North. With the quota system all universities in Malawi must accept students in proportion to each region's population, regardless of exam scores. Thus, more students from the South and Central regions must be accepted because of higher populations than the North, even if all the students in the North score higher on the entrance exams.

The scores in the North are usually higher because the education system is better, due to the early influence of missionaries. It's frustrating to meet all these brilliant kids in my village, hard workers, that don't have a chance at university. It's saddening to hear them talk about their dreams of becoming journalists, doctors, lawyers, all of which they are more than capable of becoming if provided the proper opportunity. Their voices drip of dreams lost, voices reserved for old age, as they talk of framing tobacco as their fathers and their grandfathers have done. There are a couple of students in Mwazisi that have made it to university and the community proudly speaks of them as the ones that made it out.

The third reason this will be an interesting meal is because Wellesley prepared a proposal for President Bingu. This proposal discusses several plans to improve the education system. Her plan is to hopefully hand it to him, that he reads it, and changes his ways. Perhaps even put Wellesley in charge of the Ministry of Education...oh that's an amusing thought.

In other news, this is my first time in Lilongwe, the city I only passed through before. It's nice, a little strange though seeing shopping malls, cars, and all these things from home. The city is so abundant: food people, sounds, smells, its overwhelming to the senses and quite tiring. Sunrise and sunset, my most favorite times of the day in Mwazisi, are not the same, the night sky is cloudy and the stars invisible.

P.S. I finally got mail. Finally. 1 package (with American chocolate!) and 2 letters (Nina and Howley). I guess the mail situation has been sorted out and a particular volcano in Iceland has lost its impact. Also, Destroyer, my sitemate, is COSing tomorrow, back to America. He will be missed.
Basi.