We have been enjoying hosting a team from the States this last week, so today's post will be short and sweet!
Transportation is a big problem in Malawi as most people can not afford a vehicle.
With gas hanging out right around $8 a gallon, it is expensive to travel period!
Doing anything besides walking is a luxury.
Out in the village, where we live, most people walk or take a bike taxi to get them out to a main road (M1). From the main road, you can wait to hop on a mini-bus (what we call a mini-van), hitch a ride in the back of a truck (which is a tad bit cheaper) or hope someone will be generous and give you a free lift into town. Once you reach town, you can buy a ticket on a "big bus" to take you anywhere you want to go in Malawi. One round trip on a "big bus" to the capital city can be as much as 4-6 months of average village wages.
A sturdy chintenje that fastens a baby to mom is considered a safe car seat and the best air conditioning is riding on top of a truck full of maize! Instead of road rage, most of the passengers can be heard singing as they drive by.
No comments :
Post a Comment