The Value of Freedom in Malawi

When and where have I felt the most freedom in my life so far?

I thought long and hard about the answer to this question. Was it while trying to outrace a thunderstorm in Lesotho, galloping along a ridge below building towers of storm clouds? Was it finally catching my first wave after a long battle with my surfboard on a Portuguese beach? Or is it sitting in my favourite spot on the French seaside, looking for the meaning of life in the sound of the waves?

These moments all made the short-list, but I have chosen instead to focus on my time in Malawi, because I feel that this is when I became acutely conscious of the variety of ways that freedom can be experienced.

When I left the bustling streets of London for a rural Malawian village, the freedom I felt came initially from the space. Space to breathe clean, fresh air and let the wind blow my hair wildly around my shoulders. Wide-open spaces in which to run and jump and spin, arms thrown out as wide as I wished and no one to judge me for it.

There was freedom to be found in the power of my legs propelling me forward as I flew down bumpy red dirt roads on my bicycle, keeping pace with birds and butterflies. It was found in stumbling upon an unexpected panoramic view and letting the unreal beauty of the scene wash over me. It was in the sun-dappled road as afternoon light filtered green through the treetops, and in the jolt of surprise when a monkey suddenly ran into my path! Freedom washed over me when collapsing breathless and fully clothed into the lake to seek relief from the midday heat. Floating on my back and staring at the blue sky, I could feel the tension and the claustrophobia of the city melting away.

As time passed however, Malawi taught me that there are many ways of experiencing freedom apart from these idyllic moments of perfection.

Next came the freedom of innovation and improvisation. When I could not find the ingredients for my favorite meals, I learned that recipes are only guides, and I found the confidence to experiment with what I did have. When the luxuries to which I was accustomed were no longer available to me, what initially felt like a limitation quickly turned to a feeling of liberation.

Then there was the freedom that came with the realisation of what I needed, and what I could live without. When there was no internet or electricity, I realised that in fact they are not as necessary as I had previously thought. I was able to discover what were the really important elements in my life, and was able to let go of some of the technological dependencies to which I had become accustomed.

Finally, and I think, most importantly, I became aware of a freedom that goes beyond the rush of exhilaration that comes from a moment of pure joy. I started to notice the level of freedom that I had in relation to those around me – the blessing that is the ability to travel, the luxury of having that little bit of extra money in my pocket and the ability to choose to stay in Malawi, or, eventually, to choose to leave.

It is for this reason that Malawi is the place in which I feel the most freedom. In a place where this luxury cannot be taken for granted, I am constantly reminded of the value of choice.

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