On the 22nd of July 2007 I went to Africa. We stayed 3 different countries for different periods of time to fit 18 days: Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique.

In the first week, we stayed in north Malawi and as one of our activities, rode a bike for 8 miles to get to a village. This village was called Donija Nkoma.

There, we stayed overnight in the headman's house (who was blind) got a tour of the village with the headman's brother and watched the ladies dance and sign to welcome us. We also ate the local food: Chicken in fresh tomato sauce, a spinichy/cabbagey thing and Nsima (Maize flower and water patty). A very interesting experience.

After dinner, we were showed to our room - not exactly a 5 star hotel but what would you expect? It was dark, there were holes in the wall, and the headman told us not to be worried if rats may come in. Rats! We tried to get an early nights sleep but in the night I kept waking up because it was so cold, but I couldn't see anything - not even my own hand!

The next morning we awoke to the smell of breakfast. Fresh potatoes, rice and a slice of banana cake. Mmmm carbohydrates! It was delicious but I was still in shock from the state of sleep I had that night.

After breakfast, we sat down with the headman and talked about how he'd like to improve his village. He told us some heartbreaking stories about how when the rainy season came his house got flooded because his roof was in poor condition and how his village people were starving when it was dry because their maize mill had broken and they didn't have enough money to fix it.

Just as our car was arriving to pick us up (we didn't really want to cycle 8 miles again) my dad paid the headman to repair the mill and to repair the beams on his house - it felt so good they were being looked after a bit more. Soon we left the village, I hope (I am back in England now) that they are living their lives to the full.