On this new collection of 12 conversations in Malawi, Phil Clisby meets an Ethiopian on his flight to Lilongwe and discusses his enterprise (and the climate).
As I'm going for the flight that may take me from Addis Ababa to Lilongwe, I begin a dialog with my neighbor.
Abraha, from the Ethiopian capital, is visiting Malawi for the primary time. I can see the sense of pleasure engraved in his steep face; possibly a little bit of apprehension too.
I’m additionally stuffed with anticipation. I’ve already had the pleasure of touring to Malawi many occasions earlier than, however I’ve by no means been to the locations that make up my itinerary on this event – the island of Likoma, the Nyika Plateau and the reserve. of Nkhotakota – and I cannot wait to get there.
Wearing a shirt, a cardigan and a jacket, in addition to air cowl ubiquitous about itself, Abraha is an individual who clearly feels the chilly; don’t concern the chilly – I sweat buckets in a t-shirt (and pants, I hasten so as to add it).
Inevitably, our first exchanges embody the climate – as is the case in English and, it appears, in Ethiopia – and its unpredictability, particularly within the UK. Abraha, to my astonishment, is conscious that England has simply basked below two consecutive days of sunshine. It's humorous, however I by no means consider somebody sitting within the Cradle of Civilization who wonders if it's raining in London.
Talking of rain, I used to be shocked to be splashed by the clouds after I modified plane in Addis. I ask my new buddy whether it is standard right now of the 12 months.
"The sunshine rains began," Abraha advised me. "The wet season is preparing in July and August." Though, he provides, the month of June often affords a respite from the rain with heat, sunny days, earlier than the arrival of the "huge ones". rain".
Later, he asks me if I am going to Malawi for enterprise.
"By some means," I reply. I’m touring to the center of Africa, on the invitation of the Malawi Ministry of Tourism, to go to some locations after which write about them. So, sure, it's work – however not likely.
"What are you doing?" I ask.
"I’m a businessman," he replies, as if that solutions every thing.
It’s wonderful to see what number of Africans let you know that they’re businessmen whenever you ask them for his or her job. And what are their issues? "Ach, bizness", right here is the present reply.
"So, is Malawi a enterprise or a pleasure?
"I do some enterprise in Lilongwe and I do some sightseeing," he stated, waving his hand that approach, which doesn’t sound both.
"What enterprise do you do in Malawi?" J & # 39; s questions.
"I'm doing workshops," he replies. "To see how they work there."
Did that imply how his workshops labored or how did Malawians work?
I by no means found it and I didn’t discover out what it was doing – enterprise, I'm ready for it.
