Malawian ex-pat assists in training Coaches

Scott is shown here with Stella Kasambara, a native Malawian who made herself available to CCA staff and volunteer Coaches in Ottawa during the three day training held Jan 18 to 20/11.  Stella spent several hours with the Malawian Coaches on Friday answering the many questions we all had, giving each of us the information we needed to properly prepare for the work beginning next week.  Stella is an authority whose careful input will assist us all in avoiding those cultural pit falls that sometimes plague newcomers when travelling abroad.  Something as simple as using the thumb and first finger to indicate “All OK” can (and does, in Malawi!) cause offense!  Or knowing how to properly address someone you have met (in Malawi, generally the last name with the appropriate preface of Mr, Mrs, etc) while in an office setting.  Or how you indicate how tall a child is - by holding your hand, palm up, at the appropriate level - the hand held palm down is only used when indicating the height of animals they might own!