Suggestion of Things to Take – Ujeni

-Cary Virtue, RPCV Malawi, Co-Coordinator of the Mentor Program

Ujeni is a word that is used like “um” or a pause in a sentence in Malawi. It basically doesn’t mean anything, and hence it’s a great word when talking about STUFF to take for your PC experience. In reality, you will get used to not having certain things. But, if you like to have some things, indulge yourself, and don’t feel guilty about it. Also, a lot of these things are available in countries where you serve, just not the same brand or quality you may like. This list does reflect the needs of volunteers going to African countries like Malawi.

• Shoes/Hiking boots
• Tevas/Birckenstocks
• Pants
• Underwear
• Socks

Clothing Hint: think durable, but also you will want to look nice. Malawians take pride in how they look. Because you are a foreigner, you can get away with a lot, but when you look around at your coworkers, usually you will see that they dress really well.

• Film- Think about whether you will want to show slides, or have a photo album.
• Journal/scrap book.
• Swiss Army Knife
• Solar Shower
• Batteries (rechargable best)
• Short Wave radio
• Cassette player/tape recorder /tape to tape (The walkman with speakers is great. You may want to buy things like walkman and shortwave with AC adapter, or rechargable battery pack, that fits the electricity in your country of service. Converters from radio shack tend to blow up a lot.)
• Blank tapes
• Vitamins- PC issues you a multi-vitamin, so if you want more, bring it
• Money pouch.
• Condoms. PC gives you trojans… so if you like those, don’t worry about it.
• Lubricant is nice to have. The PC nurse once gave me a tube of KY, but I prefer other kinds…
• Padlock/lock with key
• Back pack /Day pack
• Back pack/Easy to carry medium luggage
• Sleeping bag. Something for many moderate temperatures, but also for whatever traveling you thing you will do.
• A pad for the sleeping bag is nice to have too.
• Pictures of family and the area you are from
• Seeds to plant a garden.
• A couple of good books to read. Don’t over do it, there will be plenty of people with books to trade with later.
• Extra bike things, if really into biking-( find out first what you will be issued in country. We had mountain bikes, but I think that PC was switching to “local” bikes)
• Watch with an Alarm (bring extra battery just in case yours goes out)
• Any toiletries you can not live without ( Shampoo, razors, Women-tampons)
• Kitchen:
  • Teflon coated skillet
  • Good kitchen knife (Swiss army can come in handy for this too)
  • Maple syrup
  • Chocolate Chips (Any chocolate or sweets you may miss)
  • Your favorite spices
  • Boxed food (eg kraft mac & cheese)
  • Garlic press
  • Tupperware (they do sell stuff that is similar to this, but does not stay shut well. Tupperware is great for everything, including travel)
  • Ziplock bags (can wash and reuse, pack things in them)
• Presents:*
  • Calendars
  • Books of the area you come from
  • Soccerball
  • Basketball
  • Net ball (girls sport, not too sure if we have these in the US)
  • Tshirts
  • Backpack
  • Maybe set up contact with a soccer/basketball team in the US that may help you get uniforms/shoes for a team later.
  • Books/paper/markers/pens

*Be careful with this one. People will constantly be asking you for things while you are in country, because they see how much better quality the things you have are. You will want to have something for your home stays, but somethings they may need are found in Malawi, like food, and household stuff. People LOVE shoes from the US, because of their durability. If there are many people in a family and you give one person something, others will expect something too. Think Group presents for family.

Remember when people come to visit you from the US, you can ask them to supply you with more of these things. Some things, ie a lot of clothes, can be made by local tailors out of cloth you buy there. For these, it is a good idea to bring them an example, like a dress or skirt, or shirt, that they could copy.

Most important things to take:

• Patience
• An open mind

Remember that relationships are very important in most developing countries. Before you jump into trying to get things done, spend time “chatting” (kucheza) with people, in the community, at your job, etc.. Get to know people, and let them know you. If you make meaningful relationships with 3 to 5 people, that may not seem like much, but they will be what you remember about Malawi, and they will be there when you leave to carry on your work.

It took me over a year before I felt like I had done something in my work, and a year and a half before I really felt good about it. Remember that this is their lives, and that you are only a small part of it, and that you will leave one day.

Enjoy! And “Tsalani Bwino!”(Stay Well)

Note: This was written in 1998… things may have changed…