We’ve been home for over a week now, which is surreal. For next year’s interns, I have a few bits of advice:

1. First, making friends is a crucial part of this internship. You’re there for two months; you can’t really make it unless you try to learn the language and get to know the people.
2. Look out for the friendly faces below. People at the hospital helped us get around every day, but these 10 were constant parts of our lives who made us feel like Namitondo was home.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

3. Knowing a little bit of Chichewa goes a long way toward showing people that you care about being there. The word list/cheat sheet we compiled over the summer is here: Chichewa Word List. (Note: we DEFINITELY didn’t memorize all of these. You can easily get by only knowing the top half of the page.)
4. Malawi is such a young country that its history and politics really effect a lot of everyday life and the healthcare system. If you’re looking for reading material, it might be worth reading up on while you’re there or before you go.
5. Don’t be afraid to a) drink the water, or b) walk around alone in the daytime. Both are safe and will allow you to make the most of your time.