Is Malawi poor?
Is Malawi poor? I have been asked this question many times since I have been here and, so far, I havent been able to gather enough evidence and thoughts to reply. What is considered 'poor', for a start? and 'poor' of what, one would ask? everything here looks poor to me.... I will probably never be able to reply this question properly, but I will try to reflect on how the country has appeared to me so far. Largely, this post is autoethnography, meaning critically reflect on how I see things and why I see things that way. I have spent the first few weeks in Malawi in sheltered conditions. Been picked up from my 40£ a night lodge, been driven around to the most efficient parts of the cities I have visited in a comfortable car. I have been surrounded by very literate people and immersed in very well-maintained university campus, visiting buildings that were modest, but functional. I immediately romanticised, especially when comparing my stay here with my experience in K...
