Addictions - We've all got them. Let it be music, substances, loved ones..

And then there's the most dangerous addiction: Adventure, which I happened to fall prey to. Part of addictions is the rush we crave from them. Just like substances provide a feeling of euphoria, the buzz, the noise, the smell and the images of a new and unexplored place have the power of giving me this rush. Since the inside of a lecture hall fulfils many purposes but to satisfy my needed dosis for adventure, I once again find myself in my parallel world which couldn't be more different from Groningen. Obviously, I just cannot stay away from the continent of Africa that has won my heart already couple of years back. The best part of it is, we're right In what they call the 'warm heart of Africa'- Malawi. Purpose for discovering the country is visiting my sister, who is doing social work in a nursing school as part of her gap year.


Travelling has taught me the value of unpredictability. Every single day I've now spent here has unraveled the most unexpected encounters, lessons, views and last but not least rain showers. Our journey started in Lilongwe, the capital city and also the home of my sister. We stayed there for an entire week which was a great opportunity to dive into her everyday life. My sister showed us all the hotspots in town, took us to the local market and made sure we got acquainted with the basics of Malawi culture. In the few months she's been here, she's already learned a good amount of Chichewa, the main language in Malawi. It didn't take us long to feel at home, there is a reason Malawis have a reputation for being incredibly warm and hospitable people. By now, I've even gotten used to Malawians' distinct concept of time. If Malawi is the 'warm heart of Africa', then Africa's pulse must be pretty slow. For Malawians, the day has 30 hours even though everything happens at a slow pace, there's always a rhythm. Time and distance in Malawi is probably measured in roadblocks. A Malawi spends on average two hours a day fuelling up his car because he'll only fill up a litre at one go. Unsurprisingly, we've already been involved in push starting Tuc tucs. That's what I love about this continent, you'll always be 100 % engaged wherever you go..


Our next destination was Cape Maclear, which is a village at a beautiful spot right at Lake Malawi. Travelling Malawi means enjoying the here and now. Whatever destination you are aiming for, alone the scenic journey there makes the travel worth its while. Malawi prides with its incredibly diverse landscape, ranging from cornfields, to vast bushplains, mountains and dense forests.
For those who drive 4x4 Land Cruisers and like to move around a lot, Southern Africa is a village. Not even an hour in Cape Maclear, and I meet friends from my favourite place and former hometown Maun, Botswana. Together, we showed everyone how Mauntown people joll: You're not from Maun if you can't balance cool boxes of beers on a Kajak. Throughout my journey, I've met plenty more people who are all somewhat connected to my Friend base in South Africa and Botswana.


After having spent some time at the lake, we headed towards the Liwonde National Park in the south of Malawi. I've already been on various Safaris during my time in Africa, but this experience has been at far the most enlightening and memorable wildlife experience I've ever had. I've only met very few people who cherish and identify with the nature in the way our guide, Samuel, did. He took us on various walks, boat cruises and drives through the bush while packaging his knowledge into engaging narratives. Samuel himself has grown up in a National Park himself and could name 600 different bird species and even identify their sound. Discovering the bush is not about finding the big five and crossing them out on a checklist, it's about being sensitive to the little processes and interactions that happen around you - 'registering' as Samuel phrases it. We spotted a variety of birds species, elefants, buffalo, hippos, lions, bushbocks and monkeys.
When the year 2019 began, I found myself under a baobab tree dancing away to the tribal rhythm of the drums and singing of a local dance group that performed at the lodge.


Currently, we are on the road to the famous Mushroom Farm, a place in the mountains up north. It's midday, and the village we're just passing reminds of the Zernike Campus after the lectures end. The entire street is packed with cyclers, only that there's no fietspad. Transport in Malawi is an adventure in itself. Observing the vehicles here actually demonstrates how Africans are in fact ingenious when it comes to problem solving. Did you know you can replace a window with a plastic bag? A cracked windshield is a trivial issue of you have duct tape. Who needs a Ford Galaxy if even a Toyota Corona can fit 12 people? Just as the Dutch are famous for transporting beer crates on their bikes, Malawians won't hesitate to tie their pigs, goats, and chicken on their bike for a last journey before slaughtering them.


Even though travelling a country is a very different way of education, it is a great opportunity to apply and complement the education that UCG has given me. Being particularly interested in Development Economics, and Malawi being a developing country, I also discover the country through the lenses of a student. I find myself asking the questions and applying the analytic framework which I learned about in my Global Development course.


In about a week, we will be boarding our plane back to Schipol Airport, Amsterdam. It feels surreal imagining myself back in the first world, following the university routine again. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences with my fellow students. The past two weeks of travelling have felt like being beamed back into my gap year. Not even reading 50 books could replace the life lessons learned when travelling. Africa is a place for free spirits which is why I'll certainly return soon to experience new cultures and chase more sunsets and thunder storms. It's all a matter of time until I need the next doses of adventure.