Malawi Trip - Day 24/25 Departure and flight home

August 2nd, 2009 Posted in SCHOOL TRIP REPORTS

The staff were just finishing breakfast as the first students appeared at the unheard of late time of 7.45 a.m. – what a change in 3 weeks. By 10.00 the 4 buses were packed for the final time as we slowly manoeuvred our way through city traffic to Lilongwe International airport. Checking in, as usual, was its chaotic norm but we eventually made it through immigration, customs, security and duty free without too much hassle. The formality of bureaucracy associated with air travel was in stark contrast to our previous three weeks of freedom from the trappings of modern society.

The long, long wait at Nairobi was punctuated with occasional forays for drinks, food or yet more curios and the odd ‘koi koi’ - the East African equivalent of the chitenje sarong.

Just before midnight we boarded the Boeing 777 for the final flight home. After the evening meal (early hours of the morning actually) everyone settled down to watch one of the latest movies – except my screen didn’t work – welcome back to modern technology.

Instead I took the time to look around at the students and staff I had come to know so well over the last three weeks. Old friendships had been deepened, new acquaintances made and, hopefully, with a host of new experiences of life in a developing country to reflect upon in the coming months. The disparate group who had assemble three weeks ago were returning wiser, more knowledgeable and perhaps more sensitive and aware of the nee less fortunate than themselves.  I regard it a privilege to have been in their company and I can say categorically that the son, daughter or member of staff who I am returning to you today is not the same as the one I took away three weeks ago. I hope they are better world citizens – perhaps inspired and willing to do something concrete for the people they have met in Malawi.

As we drive through the school gates we receive a warm welcome form family and friends. The 10th Malawi tour finishes in much the same way as before –smiles, handshakes, hugs and tears – a rollercoaster of emotions that typifies the past three weeks.

As they say at the end of the original Bugs Bunny cartoons ‘That’s all folks!’

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