It took 3 flights and 24 hours but I’m finally here. Dubai to Ethiopia was straightforward but I admit I started getting nervous when the girl at the check in counter in Ethiopia expressed her doubts that my luggage which I had sent straight through would actually arrive – there is no flight info on your baggage claim ticket she said disapprovingly. I tried to look confident and placed my faith in MIA check in staff who had assured me it would be alright. Waiting for my luggage I had visions of being stuck with no clothes or toiletries and was already thinking of plan B..

I know! I would buy colourful Malawi kaftans for the duration….but phew! Luggage arrived.

The other slight unease was at the gate…in Dubai we had been directed to three different gates across the vast airport…mild grumbling by Ethiopians as opposed to the haqq ghall-?!&@! which would have been reaction of Maltese. But here in Ethiopia there were 3 flights through same gate. I kept asking different people to ensure I was boarding correct plane…I really did not wish to end up in Nairobi by mistake.

Travelling alone, especially to a continent such as Africa, can be daunting….you start imagining all sorts of scenarios where things go horribly wrong, but everything was well-organised by Rutgers WPF the Dutch partners and FPAM Malawi who together with SOS Malta made this trip and opportunity possible. A friendly smiling driver was there with a sign Jossane Cassar Malta….I was never so happy to see my name misspelled in my life….

Views from my hotel room