Feeling teary

Our last night in Malawi and I think we all have mixed emotions. It’s been an amazing adventure. We didn’t make much of an issue of it here (no sense in worrying those of you at home), but Iris was pretty sick for a while mark knew exactly what was in store if we had to check her into a hospital, and that was pretty scary. And yet, we know that we always have the option to hire a car to a big city, or fly to South Africa if an emergency arose. Every day, mamas here have to decide whether to pay to ride on the back of a truck to take their sick baby to the health center, or buy food for their family.
;
many of you have asked me to weigh in on what this trip is like with small children. Would I go back and do it again? Yes. BUt there are a few things I would like to do differently.
1. A cell phone would have made things much easier. I would also consider a dongle, which would allow you to have an Internet connection wherever cell service exists (which seems to be just about everywhere). Internet connections were few and those that existed were expensive and very unreliable.
2.  I’d bring more drugs. Even with mark’s careful planning and what felt like an entire mobile pharmacy, we still felt like there were drugs we wish we had access to when Iris was sick. And yoU won’t find them here.
3. I would have felt much safer if we’d been able to spring for a car rental or taxi instead of minibuses and matolas everywhere we went. BUt the price difference is phenomenal. Example, the 18 km from the main highway to the beach town was U$35 by private car, U$8 by matola. We lugged carseats halfway across the world for one car rental. Most transport around here doesn’t give yoU your own seat, much a seatbelt.
;
We will miss the amazing places and the friendly people here in the ‘warm heart of Africa.’ We’ll not forget the intensity of color, smells and sound, and the density of vegetation and people. As mark said, this place gets Under your skin. I have no doUbt we’ll be back. And next time, we’ll make sure we have more than six weeks to contribute to and learn from these wonderful people.