To Africa with Spatula: A Peace Corps Mom in Malawi, 1965–1967

by Jane Baker Lotter

Take one ordinary 1960s American family — husband, wife, and four active boys from three to twelve. Add a Peace Corps staff assignment to Malawi, Africa and more than ninety letters home. Stir well, edit liberally, and you get To Africa With Spatula. This is the story of our family's two-and-a-half years of adventures (and mis- adventures), and especially of our growing and enduring love for this tiny beautiful African country and its people. The book title, To Africa With Spatula, was inspired by our favorite family activity, Sunday morning pancake open houses which we held to give the Peace Corps Volunteers a little touch of home. Africa and the whole Peace Corps experience got into our blood and forever changed the lives of our entire family.

Jane Baker Lotter

293 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2002

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very different from any of the other Malawi books I have read. Lotter's husband Will was the deputy head and then head of Peach Corps Malawi from 1965-67 so their story is from the administrative point of view - one which she acknowledges is very different from those of PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers). The entire family moved to Blantyre, Malawi, for two years - including 4 boys ages 3 , 8,11, and 12. This is one high energy woman and I am not sure how she managed to stay sane. She has a typical 50's mom/housewife feel about her, but she is also an early human rights advocate. The story was published recently but is nearly entirely letters she wrote home during their 2 year stay. In other peace corps books, the PCVs talk about how important it is to have a house to go to on weekends or vacation - and the Lotters was one of those places - it seems to have been constantly packed with young people and dogs and other animals. An interesting perspective on the Peace Corps.

The last few chapters are about their trip back to the US through Nepal, Thailand, Japan,etc. I read this quickly and had little interest except for the fact that they allowed their 13 and 14 year old sons to travel to Thailand ALONE ahead of the family!! Seems to have worked but even the author said she can't believe they did that - the kids had a lot of responsibility in Malawi and it seemed fine at the time.

Again, this is for Malawi lovers or people interested in the Peace Corps, not general readers. Self-published letters. And I would go hear Jane speak if I saw she was anywhere in the area.

[Maddymappo · Rating 5 out of 5]

When her husband is appointed assistant peace corp director of Malawi, Africa, Jane Baker Lotter, a quintessential housewife of the early 1960s, (she can sew, cook and vamp with the best) brought her family, spatula, a sense of humor and most importantly her own big heart to darkest Africa. After reading 20 pages I learned more about Africa than I had in fifty some odd years. And every moment, down to the ironing of socks, believe it or not, somehow becomes fascinating in this wonderful country filled with gorgous scenery, dangers seen and unseen, loving and dedicated people and the constant drum beat of life and death.

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really dated but still a great read. For anyone who has forgotten how different world travel was before 9-11 or for anyone looking to be inspired to change the world. Unfortunately, being self published lent this book to being of poor physical quality and having a number of typos and repeats, however the story still remains entertaining.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book. I used to go to church with Jane Lotter and I learned so much more about her in this book. She writes descriptively and you can really see what she was seeing while in Malawi.

[Pangolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old school - I loved it.