this is africa.

after sixty-three hours of traveling (involving an unexpected night in johannesburg, new friends from all over the world, and a two-pound bag of german gummy bears), i finally made it to malawi.

and from the second i left the lilongwe airport, everything has just seemed so utterly african (okay, except for the hot showers... and thank goodness for those!).

the women walk around carrying everything on their heads, the men ride bicycles around barefoot, and there's a little market on every corner and side of the road. 

after a taxi ride across malawi, i arrived at open arms infant home,

the orphanage where i've been working as a volunteer/photographer.

this orphanage is home to thirty children whose mothers have mostly died due to aids;

here, they're given proper nutrition and care during their first years of life, and many are treated for their infectious diseases (aids, tuberculosis, etc.) 

i've only spent a few days with these little guys,

but they've already stolen a little piece of my heart.

they're so gorgeous and happy and love nothing more than to laugh and stuff their faces with porridge. 

i'm in love.

but really, can you blame me?