Back in Lilongwe

We are back in Lilongwe, and still without luggage. Truly a lesson in letting go.

In typical American style, when we arrived back here today, we set off on a mission to "get results", starting first at the Wilderness Safari's office which is the group that met us at the airport and helped with the lost luggage report and our transportation to Heuglin's lodge. They confirmed that yes, at this point we should go to the South African Airways office to follow up and have them track the luggage. On arrival at the SAA office we were told that they couldn't track the luggage on their computer system as the Lilongwe Handling Company is their agent here in Lilongwe and has to track it. They would check and call us in one hour. 3 hours later, we went back to their office after having been told they would call us back when we phoned to follow up. They called "McPherson" at Lilongwe Handling Company, but he was out of his office and would call us back in 30 minutes, so we headed out the airport determined to "get some answers". On arrival at the airport(more than 30 minutes later), McPherson took out his hand written record book(6 or 7 pages of problems) and confirmed that he didn't have any tracking information on our luggage, but said that perhaps it was on today's flight to Blantyre as there was no flight to Lilongwe from Johannesburg today, or maybe tomorrow on the afternoon flight to Lilongwe.

We tried to establish a relationship with him and give him some reason why need the luggage urgently(we're leaving tomorrow at noon for the Northern Region, and the supplies are for our project at the University of Livingstonia) which we hoped would make some difference and make our problem more of a priority than the other hundred he has to deal with. We now have his cell phone number and are to call him tomorrow at 7am to check after he tries sending a message to Johannesburg(which has been done at least 2 other times that I know of).

OK, I admit it, now I'm just letting off steam and complaining here since no seems to care when we complain here in Malawi.

John and I were debating whether our trip to the airport was a waste of time and gas(at about $7.00 per gallon), and couldn't decide. What we did agree on is the need to let go of this and know that the luggage will get here when it gets here, and that is just the way everything is going to be in Malawi. The trip did make us feel like we had done everything we could do, although I looked on the web and found a contact number for customer service in Johannesburg and I think we will call them if McPherson has no answers for us tomorrow. Beyond that "it is what it is", and we will be well served to remember that during our time in Malawi.

I'll post some information on our wonderful trip to see John's old friends and the trip they took us on to meet their family in Mulanje. An amazing experience! Here is one photo of Mount Mulanje.