dreaming over the ocean

I know that it has been FOREVER since I have posted... I apologize. there is not much excuse, other than the fact that the last few weeks in Malawi were busy.  I wanted to drink it in, and enjoy my time.  The final week was spent in an escape~ a place that I could just reflect on the four months, and slowly re-integrate into environments with more white people.   (seriously.  it takes a bit to get used to us again.)   but, during that last week, my computer also started acting a little fishy.  Glad it happened at that point, and not 1/2 way through my time there. I arrived back in Canada last thursday (the 22nd).  It has been nice to be home (despite not being 'home'), and spend christmas in Victoria with my new "family to be."  For the last 10 years or so, they (my beloved's parents) have spent much time working in South East Asia... so, they know what it is like to come back to North America.  To transition back into life here...

I am not going to lie.  This past week is one of those experiences where you literally have to remind yourself that what you are experiencing is actually real life.  it is also one of those experiences which plays into a "typical African stereotype"that there are wild animals running rampant. but, let me back up a bit.  A visitor's visa in Malawi is for 30 days.  You can get it extended 2x for 5000MK (which is about 25$), and then you have to either leave or get a temporary resident's permit (or, alternatively, in my case, I could also get a student permit).  Since the TRP will take forever and a day, I knew that I would have to leave.  So, I have been contemplating in the last little while:  just go to the border, eat lunch in Mozambique or Zambia, and come back?  hmmmm, nope, that would be an expensive lunch (visa for both countries are about 50$). By a plane ticket to South Africa? (hmmm, i wish!) go on a discount safari to Zambia?  SU...