There are any number of things that distinguish daily life in Malawi from daily life in the U.S. but one of those that I find to be such a clear signal and that usually garners a laugh is the difference in signs. I realize these differences are due to cultural and language gaps and really aren’t all that funny. But they continue to give me pause and make me smile. For example when walking through the market in any small town you will without question find a number of coffin makers with great store names such as “Heavenly Bound Coffins” and “Mr. Smith’s Precious Rest Coffins”. These names seem to be a marketing ploy – as if a great slogan about peacefulness in the afterlife will bring in the customers. The names are both funny and sad (the number of coffin makers is always overwhelming).
You will also find great names for beauty salons and barbershops such as “In God’s Hands Beauty Shop” (i.e. if you come in here for a haircut, know that you are placing the outcome in God’s hands because the person cutting your hair is not so good at her job) and “Oriental Barbershop” (which is 1. not owned by an Asian person, 2. does not have an Asian barbers, 3. doesn’t have any special Asian hair cutting tools, and 4. gives the same haircut as the non-“Oriental” barbershops). Unfortunately I spots these store names in crowded markets or other places that make it impossible to inconspicuously pull out my camera for a shot.
Although I did get this one of the “Jumbo Luxury Shop”
One of my favorites is road signs. For example instead of “Bump Ahead” there is “Humps Ahead” or “Humped Crossing”
Some other favorites include the remnants of British Colonialism, i.e.
A golf club with a course that looks like this:
And finally the "oh so familiar" yet "oh so different" food products:
More wierd signage to come................
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