Category Archives: Malawi-related

Coffee from Chipunga, near Mzuzu

I finished drinking my souvenir of Malawi coffee last week. I like the strong, rich flavour of Malawi coffee. It’s strong, it’s chocolatey, it’s earthy. Each time I wonder how I could help to promote Malawi coffee and its unique taste in Europe. Rather than importing green beans, could we import roasted beans? Rather thanContinue reading “Coffee from Chipunga, near Mzuzu”

Responsive web design and low and expensive bandwidth

Some time ago, the Malawi daily newspaper, The Nation, released a new web design. More recently Nyasa Times updated their web design. In both cases, it’s an improvement. And from my current home base here in Switzerland, both sites load promptly. From family in Malawi I hear that the loading times for both sites haveContinue reading “Responsive web design and low and expensive bandwidth”

ET phone home

I like this blog post on the Crossroads website: Home for Christmas. ET phone home. Growing up in Malawi, I probably don’t share the same level of contemplative Christmas (“besinnliche Weihnachten”) memories that my fellow German compatriots may have experienced. It’s difficult to emulate some Christmas traditions when it’s over 30 degrees warm. My momContinue reading “ET phone home”

Papaya is a super food

Via “50 foods you should be eating”, papaya is highly recommended: 34. Papaya If you’re feeling the onset of a cold, reach for this tropical fruit instead of an orange next time. One papaya has more than three times the daily recommended intake of vitamin C and is also stocked with flavonoids, vitamin B, potassium,Continue reading “Papaya is a super food”

Underperforming students at Chanco

This is sad news: http://www.nyasatimes.com/2013/11/29/university-of-malawi-withdraws-116-unperforming-students-at-chanco/ It’s so tough to get to Chanco in the first place and then this. Their relatives will be devastated. I’m sure lots of aunts and uncles paid towards their secondary school and exam fees. I know very few students that make it to uni level in Malawi. Most lack theContinue reading “Underperforming students at Chanco”

501 members in the Malawi Flickr group! http://bit.ly/1bfP07I

Awesome. The Malawi Flickr group silently crossed the 500 member mark. If you’re living in Malawi and have access to enough bandwidth, get the Flickr app ( Android | iOS ) and post everyday scenes to the group. Show what life in Malawi is like. If you’re travelling to Malawi, share your best and favouriteContinue reading “501 members in the Malawi Flickr group! http://bit.ly/1bfP07I”

Basel to Blantyre and back

My daily routine has engulfed me already. But I want to add some notes on my recent visit to Blantyre. And point you to some photos. And travel tips. Let’s start with the travel tips: A very favourable recent development for Blantyre-bound travellers is the fact that Ethiopian Airlines now flies to Malawi’s commercial centreContinue reading “Basel to Blantyre and back”

Malawi on Twitter – Version June 2013

Twitter lists are its most powerful and least-used feature. (Source) While I am fully aware, that Twitter lists have lost significance in the past years, I still maintain a list on Malawi. Since the early days of Twitter, Malawian content has increased many fold. Social media content about Malawi during general election time, or aboutContinue reading “Malawi on Twitter – Version June 2013”

Sunny Sunday

I just got back from a run around the Finnenbahn. The distance is nothing to write home about, but it was a pleasurable experience with temperatures around 18 degrees. Spring is here. With all the fresh air rushing thru my system, I was in mindblogging mode. Reflecting on all the data I have been consumingContinue reading “Sunny Sunday”

Online dictionary for Chichewa

I am really excited about this online Chichewa/Chinyanja dictionary, which I just heard about on Twitter (hat tip @kristungati). Try entering Mchenga. Select Chichewa/Chinyanja to English Click Translate mchenga 1.sand; maziko ena onse npamchenga = all other foundations are on sand (see: hymn 362, Nyimbo za Mulungu); expression: walemba pamchenga (lit.: you have written inContinue reading “Online dictionary for Chichewa”

Technology Leapfrogs

I like this quote from Hacktivate: We need to stop underestimating people. Don’t expect Africans to be content with boring old SMS and voice for long. Smartphones, droids and even iphones are much higher up Maslow’s hierarchy of needs than we realize, especially if nobody around owns a computers, your schools suck, and the governmentContinue reading “Technology Leapfrogs”

Connecting to the Internet from Blantyre

Just got back from visiting family in beautiful Blantyre. It’s rainy season now and there are regular rain showers every other day. Everything is green and lush. The sun is hot. The air is moist. And the shopping centres and outdoor markets of Blantyre are busy with holiday shopping. And except for a couple ofContinue reading “Connecting to the Internet from Blantyre”

Malawi Twitterers

As Malawi celebrates independence day tomorrow, here is a list of Malawi twitterers you might like to follow: Vincent Kumwenda – currently at Muloza border, Mulanje; topics include Malawi news, world news, interesting Malawi web pages, and soccer. He also writes a blog. Fred Bvalani – in Blantyre; tweets about mobile applications and phones, OracleContinue reading “Malawi Twitterers”