Rebecca Jacobson
I just tossed my mortarboard and ditched the Northeast, and I'm now in Malawi for twelve months, working with teenage girls to create a dance-based gender advocacy campaign. In pursuit of the story, I've toured hat museums in Portland, attended archery festivals in Hungary, and chatted with a mafia godfather in a Providence laundromat. I like crossword puzzles (with a pen), people watching (unobtrusively), and backpacking (particularly in the Pacific Northwest).
Hometown: Portland, OR
School: Brown University
Where I've Lived Abroad: Blantyre, Malawi - Tübingen, Germany - Hegyközszentmiklós, Romania - Brodski Drenovac, Croatia
Landlocked
The Day I Followed Jimi Hendrix Across the Zambezi
26 Jan 2010
“Hey, bobo!” Maryan and I pivoted. It had been weeks since we’d heard the Chichewa greeting (which bears no resemblance ... read more
> View All PostsStories
This person has not published any stories.
Insider Tips
Malawi
Make sure you're ready to see in the dark
Power cuts can occur daily in Malawi, and much of the country isn’t even on the grid. Unless you’ve got remarkable night vision, toss a headlamp into your ... read more
19 Oct 2009
Malawi
Everyone is fine, but you'd better ask anyway
“How are you?” “Fine, and you?” “Fine, and you?” Circular, yes. Optional, no. No matter how rushed you feel, do not omit the simple salutation. The greeting is perfunctory to ... read more
19 Oct 2009
Malawi
Dance in the sand till sunrise
Arguably the biggest event of the year, Lake of Stars is a multi-day music festival held on the shores of Lake Malawi every September or October. Though ticket prices have ... read more
27 Oct 2009
Malawi
Hubby hunters, you're in luck
As a foreign woman, get used to hearing the question “Muli pabanja?” This literally translates to “Do you have a family?” but functions more like a marriage proposal. Such propositions ... read more
02 Nov 2009
Malawi
Texas is in Malawi
To travel like a local, forget the names listed on the map. The capital Lilongwe is known colloquially as “Ls” and Blantyre, Malawi’s largest city, is “BT.” These epithets ... read more
03 Nov 2009
Malawi
Pedestrians: partner up and be patient
Though roads sometimes have crosswalks, drivers rarely pay attention to pedestrians (or to traffic lights, signs, or laws). You may stand at a street corner for eons before a chance ... read more
09 Nov 2009
Malawi
Carry your bathroom accoutrements with you
Sanitary conditions in Malawi leave much to be desired — particularly when nature calls. Though you can usually find a flush toilet in urban areas (in rural settings, expect to squat ... read more
09 Nov 2009
Malawi
Is this a nightclub or a carnival sideshow?
After 3 a.m., when everything in Blantyre has closed, there’s one place to go: Chez Ntemba. Though entry tickets call it an “international dancing club,” the establishment is ... read more
16 Nov 2009
Malawi
Try a tailor on for size
If you arrive in Malawi and find yourself despairing at your wardrobe, fear not. Either hit up the market (‘80s-era tees any Goodwill-prowling hipster would love) or set off for ... read more
24 Nov 2009
Malawi
A feast for hungry bookworms
Bibliophiles in Blantyre should head straight to Mandala House. The Society of Malawi boasts an impressive library here, which visitors can browse freely. Categories include transportation, anthropology, history, botany, cookery ... read more
24 Nov 2009
Malawi
Take in the tobacco auctions
If you’re in Malawi between March and September, do not miss the tobacco auctions in Lilongwe or Blantyre. Tobacco is Malawi’s primary cash crop, responsible for 70 to ... read more
28 Nov 2009
Malawi
"Big Brother" is watching you...or you're watching it.
Malawi has little local programming, but the pan-African series “Big Brother” has become a national phenomenon. The show takes representatives from across the continent, locks them in a house, and ... read more
28 Nov 2009
Malawi
Ditch the fork: it’s all finger food here
No, your host did not forget the silverware. Malawians tend to eat with their hands, regardless of what’s on the menu. This can feel awkward when there’s rice ... read more
30 Nov 2009
Malawi
Catch the football fever
Soccer is Malawi’s sport of choice. If you have the chance, attend a game at Blantyre’s Kamuzu Stadium. Local matches draw small crowds, but if the Malawi Flames ... read more
30 Nov 2009
Malawi
Madonna does Malawi
No matter your opinion on the Material Girl, Madonna’s documentary “I Am Because We Are” is one of few films you’ll find about Malawi. The documentary examines HIV ... read more
18 Jan 2010
Malawi
Listen locally
Malawi has a wealth of local musical talent, and the small scale of the scene means it’s easy to see top-notch acts for cheap. For an introduction, check out ... read more
20 Jan 2010
Malawi
This friend request ain't on Facebook
As a foreigner in Malawi, locals will be eager to chat with you. Amusing and even enlightening conversations often result, but you can also expect a number of unusual or ... read more
