Living in Malawi I’ve had the chance to see how woman live in this country. I have been amazed at the things I’ve seen and it has been a culture shock to me.
Something I admire most about the woman of Malawi is that they are very humbled individuals. Just last month when we were in Zomba, Malawi our host took such good care of us. Mama rose is what we called her. She would wake up very early to clean the house and always make sure we had food to eat and hot water for our tea. Whenever you asked for help with something she would stop with what she is doing to help you immediately. Something that really stuck out to me and humbled me is that she would cook food for 10 people (us) but she would cook for her husband and their family which was another 5-6 people. They’d also give up their home for us to eat in their dining room and they’d eat outside. I was amazed at this because to my American mind it seems so rude to have the people who own the house eat outside on their “patio floor”.
That’s just one story from last month, this month also in Malawi the women around here carry babies on their backs and do yard work, they cook, they clean they carry 10-15 pounds of supplies on their head. They are constantly working and staying dedicated to their family. The women out here are never just “resting” they are always working away and finding things to do to serve their communities.
Something I learned is that the elderly women will take in orphans and work very hard to put the very little bit of food they can afford to give to the children. Again always serving others before themselves.
Just the other day I helped out a mother and watched over her baby. I got the full experience as I carried the baby on my back with a piece of fabric tied around my shoulder to keep the baby up. I had that baby on my back for probably an hour maybe less and the next day my back and shoulder hurt so bad! It really made me look up to the woman of Malawi. It showed me that these women are strong and they are beautiful! They are my role models, yes they may not get enough credit and not enough say so in their culture but I admire everything that they do.
