Controversial Crabs

This week was full of social events. Workwise, there is not a lot to report—I spent a lot of time reading papers about malaria pathophysiology and epidemiology as we continue to await ethical approval from the College of Medicine Research & Ethics Committee for our research. The building where I work has a guava tree in the front and sweet little fruits have been dropping all week. We will start the laboratory analysis of our retrospective samples very soon. I also spent some more time on the Pediatric Research Ward observing clinical care for children with severe neurological disease. It is deeply sad to see children who will suffer permanent neurological damage and who are discharged from the ward with nowhere near the amount of support that is available to children in the US. Nicole said that some of the kids who are inpatients now would, in the US, be sent home with 24/7 nursing care for the rest of their lives funded by the federal government.

On Monday, I joined Maria and friends of ours, Yaseen and Jo, for dinner at a local restaurant called Bistro. It was delicious and a great atmosphere. Maria, Jo, and Yaseen saw lots of people they know and there was a weekly poker group set up at a table nearby. Tuesday, Jo and Yaseen hosted a pancake party—Jo’s PhD cohort was there (4-5 couples) with their approximately ten small children, all under the age of four. It was pancake/sugar fueled mayhem but quite fun for me as a non-parent and non-host. I provided moral support for Jo in the kitchen who was on pancake duty, and ate several pancakes made for me by one of the kiddos.

Wednesday, I hosted a group of friends for Galentine’s Day. We made a (thematic) bright pink beet pasta and tahini chocolate chip cookies which were delicious. Everyone was in the kitchen, peeling beets, grating beets, chopping squash, making ricotta, it was a true group effort. Having people over was super nice and especially cooking a meal together, it was cozy and fun. While grocery shopping with Camille in preparation for the dinner, we encountered a funny looking local vegetable which we have yet to identify despite asking Malawian colleagues at work. I also tried Baobab fruit this week as one of Camille’s colleagues brought some to work as a treat for everyone.

Thursday, I went to a local cultural center where there is a musical program on Thursday nights that gives new Malawian musical artists an opportunity to perform in front of a live audience. The young man performing had a beautiful voice and played an acoustic set with a drummer accompanying him. He gave detailed intros before each song, which were about his family, his parents’ relationship, and the difficulties people who live in his village face. I went with an American researcher I met who was just here for the week.

Friday, we went to a ‘cabaret’ event at the Portuguese Club, which I had never been to before. The performers were a mix of professional and casual—a group of primary school teachers daringly performed (although their dress rehearsal was in front of their five-year-old students which frankly sounds more intimidating than performing for adults). It was great to get dressed up and watch a show! Saturday was a bit more relaxed; I went to yoga with Camille, and we then joined Bhag, a newly arrived infectious disease fellow from England, at an Italian café for brunch. In the afternoon I went over to Nicole’s for another pool party where I forgot to put sunscreen on my feet which got absolutely fried.

I was taking a samosa snack break outside the lab this week and talking to Karl, when suddenly, a large crab appeared from the drainage pipe! I was shocked to see it, and a couple of Malawians who happened to be walking by also saw it and were amused by the situation. One asked me, in politely veiled disgust, whether we ate crabs in the US. I said yes! We do, but ours come from the ocean. That did not seem to make the prospect any more appealing to her 🙂