Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2001

From: Abigail Stamm

Subject: merry christmas and happy new year

hello all,

I enjoyed Christmas break, disorganized though it was. Four friends and I visited nyika national park in the tumbuka highlands. It looked a lot like scotland, with the rolling hills, mist due to the rainy season, and patches of temperate trees. We saw a few animals there too. Then we went to mlomo near chiweta (don't know if either one is on a map) to stay at another friend's house for christmas. She lives right on lake malawi, so I tried washing my clothes in the lake and was more successful than i'd expected.

After Christmas, we visited Mzuzu for a few days, then went to Nkhata Bay for new year's. Nkhata Bay is also on the lake and was pretty, but much more touristy than Mlomo. dad, I got you a Rhodesia coin from the 1950's there. Now I am in Lilongwe for a few days, finishing errands. Then back to my site to begin preparing for school, which starts about January 16. but since I am teaching form 3 and the form 3 students have not yet been selected (they must pass a national exam to go from form 2 to form 3), they probably will not start until mid-February. That's all for now. I will send a more long and involved letter sometime in the spring (fall here).

tiwonana, Abby

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my address:

Abigail Stamm

Ulongwe cdss

PO box 43

Ulongwe, Balaka

Malawi

Southern Africa

p.s. I was told cnn mentioned the recent death of a Malawi pcv. Lest you wonder, I did not know her, but I do know a few of her friends. all I know is that she was killed in a car accident while vacationing in namibia.