Turn here for all the latest developments in Sara Lane's Malawi Peace Corps experience.
Official Disclaimer
The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.
About Me
- Sara J. Lane
- I'm a journalist, turned Peace Corps volunteer, working on sustainable environmental programs in Malawi.
How You Can Help
You may not be able to spend two years in Malawi, but here are some ways you can help with the type of work I'm doing:
- Plant a tree in your neighborhood
- Make microloans to business people in developing countries through Kiva.org
- Donate to Heifer International at Heifer.org
- Plant a tree in your neighborhood
- Make microloans to business people in developing countries through Kiva.org
- Donate to Heifer International at Heifer.org
Write to me!
Life in Malawi can be tough, and there's nothing better than a letter from family or friends. I'll have only sporadic access to email, so please send me a good, old-fashioned letter! I promise to write back :-)
My address:
Sara Lane, PCV
Peace Corps
P.O. Box 208
Lilongwe
Malawi
Africa
Some tips on mailing:
- Be sure to write "Air Mail" on the front of the envelope.
- It may take up to two months for letters to reach me, and the same for my letters to reach you, so please be patient! Also, sometimes letters are simply lost, so don't be too disappointed if that happens.
- If you'd like to send more than one letter (bless you!), number your letters so I'll know if I've missed one, or received one out of sequence.
Care Packages:
These are much appreciated. If you'd like to send a care package, please see the note at the bottom of this page.
My address:
Sara Lane, PCV
Peace Corps
P.O. Box 208
Lilongwe
Malawi
Africa
Some tips on mailing:
- Be sure to write "Air Mail" on the front of the envelope.
- It may take up to two months for letters to reach me, and the same for my letters to reach you, so please be patient! Also, sometimes letters are simply lost, so don't be too disappointed if that happens.
- If you'd like to send more than one letter (bless you!), number your letters so I'll know if I've missed one, or received one out of sequence.
Care Packages:
These are much appreciated. If you'd like to send a care package, please see the note at the bottom of this page.
Care Packages
If you're a dear, kind soul who would like to send me a care package, here are a few ideas of items I would greatly appreciate:
- brown rice & whole-grain pasta
- beef and/or turkey jerky
- packaged meat (like summer sausages)
- small packets of tuna, chicken etc. (like the single-serve packages)
- Crystal Light single-serve packets
- dried fruit
- any chocolate or peanut-butter-flavored candy, sweets, processed American junk food
- pre-seasoned ready-to-cook packets such as flavored rices
- protein bars
- cheese packets from Mac & Cheese, taco seasoning packets, any other seasoning packets
Here are some helpful mailing instructions from the folks at Peace Corps Malawi:
Please be advised that packages can often take 1-2 months, but sometimes as long as 4-6 months. Unfortunately, sending packages can be a frustrating experience for all involved due to the high incidence of theft and heavy customs taxes. Be advised that most items with a declared value of more than $20 will be opened and may be charged for duty.You may want to try sending inexpensive items through the mail, though there is no guarantee that these items will arrive. We do not recommend sending costly items through the mail. It is recommended that packages be sent in padded envelopes if possible, as boxes tend to be taxed more heavily.
(Sara's note: Packages sent by U.S. Mail should go to the PO Box 208 address at Peace Corps.)
For lightweight, but important or time sensitive items, we would recommend using an express mail service. DHL is one possibility and other courier services may operate in Lilongwe. For more information about DHL, please call their toll free number, 1-800-CALL-DHL, or visit their web site at www.dhl.com. We advise you to shop around to find the best prices and service options.
If you choose to send items through DHL, you must address the package to:
SARA LANE, PCV
C/O U. S. PEACE CORPS MALAWI
AREA 4 PLOT 70
ACROSS FROM OILCOM DEPOT
LILONGWE
MALAWI
You’ll also need to include the Peace Corps/Malawi phone number: 265-1-757-157).
- brown rice & whole-grain pasta
- beef and/or turkey jerky
- packaged meat (like summer sausages)
- small packets of tuna, chicken etc. (like the single-serve packages)
- Crystal Light single-serve packets
- dried fruit
- any chocolate or peanut-butter-flavored candy, sweets, processed American junk food
- pre-seasoned ready-to-cook packets such as flavored rices
- protein bars
- cheese packets from Mac & Cheese, taco seasoning packets, any other seasoning packets
Here are some helpful mailing instructions from the folks at Peace Corps Malawi:
Please be advised that packages can often take 1-2 months, but sometimes as long as 4-6 months. Unfortunately, sending packages can be a frustrating experience for all involved due to the high incidence of theft and heavy customs taxes. Be advised that most items with a declared value of more than $20 will be opened and may be charged for duty.You may want to try sending inexpensive items through the mail, though there is no guarantee that these items will arrive. We do not recommend sending costly items through the mail. It is recommended that packages be sent in padded envelopes if possible, as boxes tend to be taxed more heavily.
(Sara's note: Packages sent by U.S. Mail should go to the PO Box 208 address at Peace Corps.)
For lightweight, but important or time sensitive items, we would recommend using an express mail service. DHL is one possibility and other courier services may operate in Lilongwe. For more information about DHL, please call their toll free number, 1-800-CALL-DHL, or visit their web site at www.dhl.com. We advise you to shop around to find the best prices and service options.
If you choose to send items through DHL, you must address the package to:
SARA LANE, PCV
C/O U. S. PEACE CORPS MALAWI
AREA 4 PLOT 70
ACROSS FROM OILCOM DEPOT
LILONGWE
MALAWI
You’ll also need to include the Peace Corps/Malawi phone number: 265-1-757-157).