We had such a long line when we were set up at Namatapa Primary School that we had to call the Kudos group in the afternoon for extra help, and at the second site, locals arrived with whole truckloads of dogs to be vaccinated.
We also microchipped approximately 100 dogs. Since many dogs tend to react to the 22-gauge needles used for the vaccinations, we were concerned the dogs would not handle the big microchip needle very well. We were proven wrong though—most of them were fantastic!
Between vaccinating and microchipping, we spent some time with the locals. We enjoyed kicking around a soccer ball, dancing, laughing, and of course, discussing differences in our cultures. We even learned a new Malawian expression: “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.” John, Justin, and John explained that this expression means that if you could achieve your aims simply by wishing for them, life would be very easy. Our group also stopped by a nearby market, where Dawn and I tried cassava root, which is similar to sugar cane, but less sweet. Overall, we enjoyed a lot of laughs among our group and with the locals.