Back to America

So I am back at home! Good ol' Indiana. I was thinking that last post would be my final post, but me and the other volunteers talked a lot about how it would feel to come home, so I thought I'd write a bit about my first day in America. Throughout the day I noticed things that I was able to do, or things that I haven't done in a long time. So here is my list of things I was aware of on my first day:
1. I had real choices for my clothes! I got excited to pick out what I wanted to wear (of course I ended up in sweatpants... but still nice to have a choice)
2. I thought about what I wanted to eat/was able to cook for myself
3. I drank milk for the first time in 3 months
4. I sat on comfortable chairs/couches
5. I washed my feet and they STAYED CLEAN
6. I drove!
7. I had about 5 pieces of fruit throughout the day. It's definitely a food group I really missed while being away (we had a banana once every few weeks for breakfast, but other than that there was no real fruit). 

There it is. 7 things I have noticed in the last 24 hours that I don't think I ever really thought about before

In London!

I remember my first blog entry, when I was sitting right here in London airport. I remember feeling like there was SOO much to do. It's weird sitting here again with the whole thing being completely over.

Leaving yesterday was really hard. I'm going to miss the kids, the country, the workers at the feeding center, the fellow volunteers and my whole adventure. But I'm excited to get back to cell phones, my own computer and hot showers! It's a weird mix of emotions, but I'm not surprised that I'm torn.

I thought I would share a few lists that Lisa (the other volunteer) suggested I write for myself. It's nice to put some perspective on everything.

Things I'll miss:
THE KIDS
Mini bus rides: such independence and good people watching!
The weather
The volunteers- especially insightful conversations with Lisa
Amarich- our cook/den mother
Feeling helpful
Figuring something out without using any verbal communication
Seeing the monkey eat our compost!
Feeding center conversations
Not being cell phone/internet whipped

There are a few more lists that I want to share, but my time on the internet is about to run out! It's so expensive here...

I will continue with the lists in the United States! Crazy. Also, I am wearing jeans for the first time in 3 months. The other volunteers/workers said I looked very different and couldn't believe I even had them. It's weird to think they've only seen me in skirts, especially since my mom's first reaction when she saw me was "weird! you're wearing a skirt!" Definitely different worlds..

KENYA

Well it is going to be very tough for me to describe this trip. Very tough. I hadn't really thought about it ahead of time because I was so focused on seeing my MOM that I couldn't think about anything else. But I will try to give the trip some justice:
   We were staying in Samburu National Reserve. We stayed in a small "camp" that had 6 tents. Compared to the other lodges around, this is VERY small. We were one of 4 guests for the first few days, and for the last few we were by ourselves! It was really nice to have something so personal. The camp was great, but obviously the REAL highlight were the animals. Everyday we went out in the car and drove to look for different animals. We ended up seeing 25 different types! We also saw all 5 of the species that are only found in that part of Kenya AND we saw all 3 types of cats (leopard, cheetah, lion).
   It definitely felt like a much needed vacation and it was so so nice to catch up with my mom. In order to not bore, I will write our Top 5 Favorite Moments:
  5. Monkeys! They were everywhere at camp and we watched them every morning over breakfast.
  4. Meeting the owners, Oria and Ian. They started the camp (Elephant Watch) to be together with an Elephant research center that Ian works at. They have done some amazing things and we were very lucky to spend some time with them.
  3. Elephants! First, being so close to a HUGE male that we could touch him (terrifying but so cool) and watching them at the waterhole. They're so interesting!
  2. Lions! We got within 3 feet of lions. And then we saw them mating, twice! It was pretty amazing. I felt like I was watching a documentary, but I was close enough to touch the animals...
 1. We saw something that NOBODY at the camp had ever seen before: a badger eating a tortoise. It was over a few days that we saw the attack and the actual eating and it was pretty amazing. Our guide googled this behavior and he couldn't find any research on it! So, we might have seen something groundbreaking...

Alright, so there is the quick summary of my Kenya trip. I will hopefully post some pictures soon onto Facebook. Now, my mom is in Ethiopia until Saturday and she's going to the feeding center with me! I'm really excited to show her around :) Yesterday she met the kids! Amazing to have her here

KIDS

Earlier this month I sat down and wrote a short summary of each kid
here. Given that there are 15 kids, and I wrote a paragraph for each
one, it was a pretty long document. I wanted to post something similar
but not the whole thing, since that is BORING for anyone who doesn’t
know the kids or doesn’t really care. Instead I thought I’d give a
short progress report of where the kids are academically and talk
about the 3 groups we’ve put them in.
   In general, the kids are doing really well with English and Math.
They all know their letters (with the exception of one girl, who I’ll
talk about in a bit) and they know the sounds of every letter. When we
start to sound out a word, they all know which letter it should be. A
few of them have progressed this to short reading. For math, they are
all doing vertical addition (a double digit over another double digit)
and many of them have begun carrying the one. A few have started long
subtraction (with carrying a ten over. Like for 52-25). Overall, we’ve
seen a lot of progress. We also do a lot of vocabulary and the kids
know a lot of animals, foods, clothing, shapes, colors, etc. in
English. We also go over what day of the week it is every teaching
day, so the kids have begun to understand the concept of yesterday,
today, tomorrow.
  When we started in January, we realized how big of a spread the
kids’ abilities were, so we decided to split them up into three groups
for part of the day. Not only does it break up the day for the kids,
but A LOT of learning occurs because it is so individualized. In the
highest group are 5 boys: Aseminow, Tariku, Bakalu, Dawit and Hailie.
These boys work with Peter and have covered a lot. They doing short
“spelling bees” and also have been trying to read. Peter also covers
some more difficult topics, such as geography, with this group.
  The middle group is currently working with Lisa (from New Zealand).
The kids are: Bahilu, Yosef, Sinknesh, Hanna and Danny. Lisa has been
focusing a lot on letter sounds with this group and going over what we
teach in class. She often goes over the days of the week and clothing,
food, etc.
   The lowest group is my group. Included are: Bezawet, Hanok, Arafat
and Sara (and now, Hiwat, which I’ll get to). My group started off a
bit behind and we reviewed the difference between b, d, p, q. They
have gotten that down and we have been reviewing consonant sounds
(which they are good at) and now are doing vowels. Vowels are REALLY
hard but they are starting to understand. We also go over things from
class and spelling. I have tried to get them to sound out and read
3-letter words, but so far not too much success.
  The last girl, Hiwat, was receiving one-on-one with Julie in
February. Now that Julie has left we are pulling Hiwat out during big
group times and doing a one-on-one session and she is in my small
group during that time. Hiwat is very far behind. She’s definitely the
youngest kid (we guess she’s 5 or 6) and is still figuring out her
letters. Without one-on-one we are afraid she’ll just slip through the
cracks. Julie made progress with her and she now knows A-I. Hopefully
we can get her through the whole alphabet and understanding concepts.
   So there is my very short summary of the kids and what they’re
doing. As a group we try to introduce something new every week, and
this week we are tackling questions. They know a few (Where are you
from? How are you? What is your name? etc), but we want them to
understand what a question is and how you ask it. Always a challenge
around here!

End of Second Month Reflections

Well since I wrote a blog marking the end of my first month here, I
thought I would do the same for the end of my second month. February
has FLOWN by. It really feels like just last week the new volunteers
arrived. At the same time, I feel like I’ve known them forever. Isn’t
it weird how that happens? So here are my thoughts about February.
  First, it is VERY different with girls around. When I told my family
I was excited, they asked if it was specifically because there would
be new girls or just new people. It is definitely because there are
new girls. I feel like I have shared my feelings and really talked
about some important things a lot more this month. Not that boys can’t
do this, just that the Peters were much more reserved about most
things. I think Peter has been getting a bit overwhelmed with the
girly stuff, but he’s been a good sport. Last Saturday he walked in on
Julie and Lisa doing their makeup (I, of course, was not
participating… having girls around has reminded me that my girly side
is not very prominent), and he looked at what was happening and
literally turned around and walked out. In general though, he seems to
be doing quite well. Along with the talking and emotional outlets, we
also got our hair braided and have been shopping quite a bit more.
  Second realization: 2 months would not have felt long enough for me.
Part of me feels like I’ve been here forever, but I really want to
make sure I give everything I can, and I think another month will help
me to do that. Unfortunately, I will be saying goodbye to Julie very
soon. I think she’s really sad that she has to leave and she has
expressed that she wishes she had signed up for more than a month.
But, alas, the real world awaits. We aren’t expecting any new
volunteers for March so it will be the Lisas and Peter! I’m very happy
with these volunteers and we get along great, so I’m not sad.
   Third realization: African lice is different that American lice.
Yep, you heard me. This week I was sitting in class when a student
pulled a bug out of my hair, about the size of a small ant. Gross! I
quickly went and showered during the lunch break. But right after I
found several more in my hair and on my hairbrush. They were pretty
big, so I ruled out lice. But I decided to take it to a worker in the
home and she immediately identified it as the lice they get here. She
told me not to worry and just to shower. It was almost a relief (I
would rather have lice in my hair than unidentified gross, big bugs).
So I did the lice shampoo and had Lisa pick out all of the dead
babies. Sorry if this grosses anyone out, but it was quite an
adventure and I feel it was a significant part of my week.
    Alright, so those realizations do not really go together. But
there is my report at the end of February. I have been able to post a
lot of pictures on Facebook, which is really nice. I can’t wait for my
Kenya trip with my mom (March 10th!!!) and to continue teaching for
the next month. I know I’ll be home before I know it, so I’m trying to
make the most of everything.

A New Realization: Acceptance

Serenity Prayer:
      Dear God, please grant me the serenity to accept the things I
cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom
to know the difference.

It has been 2 weeks since the new volunteers have gotten here. It
seems like these 2 weeks have really flown by and I feel really close
the new girls. Oh, and this also marks my half way point… crazy!
   But since the new volunteers have arrived, I have noticed a
valuable thing about attitudes. Let me preface this by saying that
life here isn’t always 100% comfortable. The bathroom takes a bit of
getting used to and there are many small things that are just harder
here. I quickly learned about the dogs that bark almost all night long
and the chanting that comes from nearby churches that can start as
early as 4am. After I figured out how to use the toilet (as described
earlier, by pouring water into the bowl), I realized it was easy and
no big deal. Not to say I didn’t sometimes wish for a hot shower, but
I think I learned to accept my surroundings pretty quickly (not to
toot my own horn, but just being honest).
   Well, it has been a half of a month, and I don’t think my new
roommates have quite accepted the surroundings. I don’t want this to
sound like they aren’t appreciative or they are whiny. I have thought
of it as complaining, but I recently realized that it is simply a
non-acceptance of things. I came to this realization the other morning
when, at breakfast, one of the girls asked me and Peter when we “got
used to” the dogs barking. Peter said, “about a week.” The girls
seemed surprised but didn’t say too much. I thought about it and
realized that I’m not totally “used” to them, and I probably never
will be. But that I have accepted them as part of the surroundings and
my nights/mornings.
    Although this conversation sparked my understanding of my own
acceptance, there have been many other conversations concerning the
annoying bits of life here. For instance, every morning there is a
conversation about the loud dogs and the chanting. Often this is
accompanied by a conversation about the hard beds (small foam
mattresses on wood). When we go out, it is always a wondering about
the toilet situation in the restaurant (flushing? Toilet paper?
Usually neither). Last month we might have commented on the flushing
toilet, but it would not have been a main conversation. I think it has
given me a new perspective about a person’s attitude while doing
something a bit out of their comfort zone. I know these girls love
their time here, but I think if they just accepted the non-flushing
toilet and loud dogs, it could be greatly enhanced. But maybe not.
Maybe for them, this is a comforting conversation, to remind them of
where they are and the differences. I don’t really know.
   I want to again reiterate how much I like these girls and don’t
think they are unappreciative of what is here (they both have said
they assumed it would be worse). There has been more than one
conversation when one of them would say, “I know I shouldn’t complain,
but it’s hard not to compare it to things I’m used to.” Again, this is
a very understandable statement.
   As I was writing this, I remembered the Serenity Prayer, one of the
only prayers I know by heart. I love this prayer and I think this
experience continues to show me why I think it’s so important. I don’t
know if this post is meant as advice for people who are doing new
things or just a place for me to understand my own realization.
Either way, my conclusion is the same: acceptance of uncontrollable
things is a powerful concept.

Looking Out for Each Other

In a book I recently read, it said that Addis is like a large
village; people are often looking out for each other. Being the
“forengie” (the name for foreigner) that I am, most of my day-to-day
experiences with locals are them asking for money or looking to rip me
off. It’s nice when I’m reminded of the generosity of people, and in
the last few days I’ve gotten a couple of examples.
    The first example has been ongoing since I’ve been here. At the
feeding center, it is a common theme to help others. There are many
men who come in and are blind. Sometimes they come with others leading
them, but often they are by themselves. When we are serving, the other
men around them will always help move the bowl up, or make sure the
man knows he’s been served. It is nice to see a huge group of
extremely hungry men taking the few extra seconds to make sure a less
fortunate among them is getting the same treatment. I’m always
impressed at their willingness to help everyone else get served, even
after they have gotten theirs (and could be stuffing their faces).
   The second example is what prompted this entry. I was sitting on
the taxi the other day and a woman walked up with a small child. The
little boy (who was probably 3 or so), got into the taxi first. There
was only one seat and it seemed the boy would be sitting on his
mother’s lap. While the mother was getting into the taxi (she had a
few bags so it was a bit slower), a young woman took the small child
and put him on her lap, no questions asked. Everyone in the taxi began
smiling at the child. When the mother sat down, she did NOT take her
child. The young woman held the child until him and his mother got off
of the taxi.
   These taxis can be brutal to get into and I’m used to shoving my
way so I can have a real seat, so to watch this clear example of just
helpfulness from everyone in the taxi was really great. It did not
seem out of the ordinary that the young woman sat with the boy on her
lap and nobody questioned her integrity or the mother’s abilities. It
was just clear to everyone that the mother literally had her hands
full and it would have been a struggle for her to carry the small boy.
  In a city as crazy as Addis, it is really nice to see locals looking
out for each other. The moments in the feeding center and the taxi
remind me of a small town, where people are just helpful for no
reason. I wish I could obtain this “local” status to take part in
these instances. Unfortunately, I am stuck being a very white
forengie…

Also, I just got my hair braided in corn-rows! Hopefully pictures on
Tuesday on Facebook :)

The Reason I’m Here!

   So after my last entry about the volunteers and my friends here, I realized that I was leaving out another group of individuals that have a HUGE impact on my life: the kids! They are amazing, hilarious, frustrating, adorable, sneaky, smart, and so much more. Since I neglected them in the last post, here is the run down, including some photos (if they work).

   We started off with 18 kids, but after Christmas break (in early January), two didn’t come back. Eyob says this happens every once in awhile and the families probably moved to find better income. We were sad to see the two girls go, but there is really nothing we can do. So we were at 16. Then, just this week a little girl was asked to leave for behavioural issues. She was asked to leave once before but was brought back. She cries about missing her mom a lot, but also ripped up some of the other children’s clothes. Eyob said it’s sad, but they can’t afford to keep buying new things when she feels upset. Again, I am sad to see her go, but I have no control over it, which I have learned to accept.

   Soooo, we are 15 kids. 10 boys and 5 girls! It was more balanced, but all 3 of the children who left were girls, so now they are greatly outnumbered. Their abilities have a large range, from starting to spell and read a bit of English, to not knowing their whole alphabet. For English, we have split them into group to provide some more individualistic teaching and understanding. I have been in the lowest group and I’m trying to get the children to know the sounds of the letters, as well as distinguish between p, q, b, d (which is actually quite tough if you think about it. Why is English so hard?!?).

   Along with just wanting to tell everyone about these adorable kids, Wednesday evening we had an amazing experience with them that I wanted to share. First, it started to rain! The first rain we have seen while being here. It was a pretty big rain that included thunder and lightning. The kids handled it pretty well, but we were stuck inside for break. Amarach came in and started the kids singing. It was really cool! I had heard a few of the songs at the Christmas celebration, but it was really great to hear them again (all in Amharic). Amarach led them and she has an amazing voice, so I was really happy. After they finished a few songs, they all started speaking in Amharic and began moving the chairs and tables in the room. All of the volunteers rushed upstairs to grab our cameras. Pretty soon they were DANCING AND SINGING!!!! Again, Amarach was leading the pack. It was so great to see them doing something they clearly really enjoyed and it was such a great photo opportunity. The pictures in this blog are them dancing and then a group shot.

   So there they are, the kids. So so cute. I hope that is enough of a description. It is hard to talk about them all without going into all 15 separately, which I know is too much. They often misbehave, but its all part of the job. They are also an extremely affectionate group and give kisses on the cheek every time we enter or leave the classroom (even if we are coming back in a few hours). It’s very adorable, but the occasional snotty nose on the cheek is the price we pay. The kids are usually sniffling and I have joined them for the past week. But, snot and all, they are a great reason to be in Ethiopia. 

My friends and 24 hour companions

I would like to start this blog by saying that this is the FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN MY BLOG SINCE I WAS IN THE LONDON AIRPORT! The internet here is too slow to load it/it never works, so my boyfriend Luke has been posting for me. A shout out to Luke for helping! I am excited. Right now I'm sitting in a different part of Addis at an internet cafe that is known for being super fast. So here I am! Alright, on with the blog:

  Here in Ethiopia, my only real friends are the other volunteers and workers at the home. I have begun to make more connections with those at the feeding center, but I spend every waking minute with my fellow volunteers. I thought I would write a bit about them, since they are a HUGE part of my life (and we just got two new ones).

  Peter V: Peter is from New Zealand and was only here for January. He is a really quiet guy who is studying to be a nurse. He wanted to come to Africa specifically and working with kids was a bit new for him. But he was always good humoured and had a lot of fun with it, so I was sad to see him go.

  Peter J: Peter is from Canada and is here for the entire 3 months that I’m here. He works as a camp counsellor for most of the year and loves being around kids. He reminds me a lot of people I worked with over the summer (at camp), and we get along very well. We are both a bit competitive, which made for some fun card nights. Over January, we played the same game every night and made a grand total score. I beat him by only 12 points (you can get that amount in just one hand), which he wasn’t too happy about. Our final scores were in the 2000s, so you can imagine what 12 measly points means. But he’s very relaxed and doesn’t mind entertaining himself, so we have gotten along great.

   Julie: Julie just arrived a few days ago from America (yaaaay!). She is originally from Chicago (and yes, she was sorry about the Bears), but she now lives in Detroit. Julie will just be here for February. She recently quit her job as an accountant and moved to Detroit with her husband. She seized the opportunity to do something a bit crazy before settling into something new. She’s really friendly and we’ve had a lot to talk about. It is nice having someone else from America. At first I didn’t think I would really notice, but it’s nice when someone knows the same references.

   Lisa: Yes, two Lisas and two Peters! Crazy crazy. Lisa just got in from New Zealand and she’ll be here through March. She was immediately friendly and we hit it off right away. She works in business and is really close to her family. She was really impressed I played rugby and it was so nice to have a conversation about the sport with someone! Both girls are still adjusting but I know it will be no problem. We’ve already had some “girl talk,” and I’m really excited to have more people to talk to on a daily basis.

  Lastly, the workers at the home are a huge part of my life here. Eyob is my supervisor and is amazing. He works around the clock and is currently doing the job of volunteer supervisor AND director, while the director is on a mission trip. Eyob helps us with everything we need and he really dedicates his whole life to this cause. It’s great to see someone who is so invested in the kids. Magdee is another worker here who helps out a lot in the classroom. She translates for us and is really great with the kids. We love having her around to help and to chat with. Before Julie and Lisa, she was my main girl interaction! Lastly, Amarach is the “den mother.” Eyob calls her the cook, but she does so much more than that. She cleans, does the kids’ laundry, washes their hair, cooks, etc. She is always busy and right now she is chopping onions for some meal, and has been for almost an hour (it is also 9am… she is always on top of it). As I said in my last blog, she doesn’t speak a lot of English but we have definitely bonded and I am learning new phrases to say to her. I recently learned good night! Denadueli!

  So there they are: my friends in Ethiopia. I really like all of them and I’m glad for the new additions. The people have definitely made this experience enjoyable and I feel lucky to have such great company!

Title: Reflections after 1 month

 So this week I hit my one month mark. Crazy stuff. At first I
thought 1 month sounded SO LONG, but it has really flown by. One of
the volunteers is only here for a month and will leave tomorrow. I’m
definitely glad I am going to be here for longer. I want to be able to
teach the kids more than I have and really put in a lot of time to
this project and home. So, I have decided to write a blog on me, my
reflections and some exciting news after 1 month of being in Ethiopia.
    Ok, first me. I have been doing really well and I feel really good
about this experience so far. It started off difficult, but I am now
into a routine that I feel really good about. I know what I should be
doing and I know how to be the most helpful. Such a relief! At the
same time, I recently talked to my sister Laura and she encouraged me
to push myself. Now is the time where I can try new things and do
things that will be embarrassing/nerve-wracking/maybe not turn out at
all. A few of these things are: speak a full sentence of Amharic to
workers at the feeding center (more than just “how are you”), learn
more Amharic to speak to the cook at the home (she is amazing and I
want to tell her that!), go to the huge market by myself and bargain
for things, etc. The list isn’t finished yet, but I am excited to use
my time to push myself and really get a lot out of this experience.
    A few realizations I have had recently:
       -I graduated! Hahah I realize I did this back in December, but
it is really starting to hit me now. My friends are all back in
classes, taking tests, writing papers, and I’m not. It is also the
first time I haven’t been in school since I was… 3? 4? A long time.
Along with this comes the realization that my friends are all together
again. Although it makes me a bit sad, it leads me to my next
realization:
      -I am exactly where I should be! This is what I should be doing.
I love this program, I believe in the message and I really think I can
help. I signed up for 3 months because I was afraid any less wouldn’t
make a difference. I am starting to realize that my 3 months will make
an impact on these kids, which was my biggest goal of all.
   I think those are my major realizations, but I also have a few
exciting things to share. First, my mom is visiting me in March!!! I
really can’t wait for her to see everything here. We are first going
to do a trip to Kenya (that includes a safari-thing), that will be
really amazing. Then, she will be coming back to Addis with me to see
where I’m living, meet the kids, and maybe even volunteer at the
feeding center. I know she’s excited too and I’m glad that my time
abroad gives her an excuse to visit some new countries.
   The second piece of good news is much closer. We are getting 2 new
volunteers for February! I am super excited to have some fresh faces,
especially since one of the Peters is leaving. They are both girls and
will be arriving tomorrow or Monday (the 30th/31st). Yay! I am in
desperate need of some “girl talk” so I hope I get along with them.
Plus it will be nice to have roommates!
   So there are my thoughts after 1 month of this craziness. I am
constantly validated that I picked the right program to spend 3 months
in and I’m sure I will continue to be challenged.

VACATION! My weekend in Lalibela

 This weekend, The Peters and I
planned a trip to Lalibela. This is a small town in northern Ethiopia that is a huge tourist
attraction for the country. We planned to go there as a small “vacation” for
ourselves and it was everything we hoped it could be.

          In Lalibela, the attraction is the
churches. All carved into the sides of hills with stone, there are 11 churches
in the town of Lalibela
that were carved in the 12^th century. They replicate Jerusalem, and are a place
of pilgrimage for many Christians. Ethiopia has a large Christian
population, and the actual pilgrimage was rather daunting for people at that
time. We hired a tour guide (which was strongly recommended to us from all of
the books) and saw all 11 churches on Saturday. It was unbelievable! I am upset
that I can’t upload a few pictures (the internet here is way too slow), but I
would advise anyone to Google it if they get a chance. The guide books talk
about how if this was in any place other than Ethiopia, people would be flocking
to it from all over the world. As it is, the most “touristy” place in Ethiopia
is far from any other touristy place I’ve visited. We were still greatly
noticed as white people and still stood out everywhere we went. We did see many
other groups, mostly Europeans, but it was still a small town in Ethiopia.

          Along with seeing the great churches,
we got a few other commodities. HOT WATER! I took a hot shower for the first
time in over 3 weeks. We made sure our hotel had it and we were all excited. We
also indulged in Western food and restaurant eating. I got French fries (called
“potato chips”). It was awesome. Finally, we had an amazing chance encounter
with a few other tourists that led to an extremely eventful Saturday night.

          We were looking for a restaurant on
Saturday night for dinner, and we ran into two female travellers. They are both
originally from Israel,
but have both lived in the States at some point. They are travelling in Africa for 6 months and had just arrived in Lalibela. We
struck up conversation and pretty soon had a dinner invitation with them and a
Lithuanian couple they had met during their travels. Dinner was delicious and
super interesting! The Lithuanian man had been to 75 countries and told us many
stories about his experiences. He talked quite a bit about his travels in North Korea
and how different the culture and restrictions are.

          After dinner, we decided that we would
like to try tej, which is a honey wine that Lalibela is known for. The girls
called up a local they had met (friendly girls!) and he took us off the beaten
path to a small coffee shop. We were relieved to see a few other white faces as
we walked in, but it was hardly the highlight. As we walked into the big hut,
we saw traditional Ethiopian dancers! There was live music and dancing all
night, with many locals joining in. It was really amazing. The tej was alright
(more like juice than a wine), but the dancing was unbelievable. We all got up
and danced at points, but the real talent was the Ethiopian “shoulder dance.”
It is the traditional dance and it involves shaking your shoulders so they look
like they are popping out of their sockets. Youtube it maybe?

          So all in all, a great trip. It was
nice to get out of the house, see some cool things, meet some people and have
hot water! And it hailed on Saturday evening!!!! Crazy crazy.

Businessmen, chickens, babies and me all coming together

So today I witnessed a first: a boy
brought 2 live chickens into the taxi with him. I thought they were dead for
the entire ride (they only moved with the movement of the taxi), but when we were
leaving, they made a noise! I about had a heart attack. He held them by their
feet, upside down. I don’t know how this works to keep them quiet (or maybe
they were drugged?), but I had NO idea they were alive.

          From this experience, I thought it
might be cool to write a blog entry about the “taxis” we take to get into town.
The taxis are actually small buses/vans. Think of That 70’s Show. Those very
old school, hippy vans that are rounded on all sides. That is a “taxi.” They
fit 11-12 people, and are white/blue.

          Here is how it works. You are standing
on the side of the road. You can stand anywhere, or you could be walking along
the road. A taxi will pass and the “caller” (I don’t know what they are
actually called) will put his head out of the window and begin hollering where
the bus is going. The places he calls are the major stops. If you are going
that same direction, you nod and he hits the side of the van, signalling the
driver to stop. You get in and try to find a real seat. When the caller is not
yelling at someone, he will ask you for money (I have never seen a female
caller, or a female driver). It is cheap to ride these taxis. From my suburb
all the way to the Piazza of Addis, it is 4 birr, which is about 25 cents. This
is about a half hour drive total. However, halfway between my suburb and Piazza,
I have to get off of the van and find a new one that is calling “Piazza!
Piazza!” Although you can just be walking along, there are also a few major
stops, especially in Piazza or in the town half-way.

          I hope I didn’t confuse anyone with
that description. I ride these at least twice a week to get to the feeding
center. We take them all the way to Piazza and then walk about 15 minutes to
the center. But I think the most fascinating part about them is the fact that
EVERYONE rides them. It is not reserved for lower class or for commuters, it is
everybody! I really like being on a taxi that has a student, a very
wealthy-looking businessman, a baby and, maybe if I’m lucky, a boy holding two
live chickens.

          There are two other main forms of
public transportation. The first are HUGE buses, about the size of Greyhound
buses. These are cheaper than the taxis that I take, but they shove so many
people into them. The home where I’m staying prefers it if we don’t take these
because they can be unsafe, due to the amount of people. The last form is
“cabs,” which are the type of taxi we have in America; small blue/white cars with
a driver. The difference is that you negotiate your price with the driver. They
are notorious for ripping off tourists and it is advisable to not get into the
cab until you reach a fair price. From Piazza to my suburb would be closer to
150 birr (instead of 4). So although it is easier, it is not the most
economical way to get around.

           When I rode the taxis by myself last weekend,
I felt very accomplished. It is a very local thing to do, and I love knowing
where I need to stop, how much it should be, and when I need to switch taxis.
Definitely a sign that I am becoming a pro!

Those Sensitive to the Feeling of Animals: Don’t read on

Animal cruelty. Man, it’s crazy. I’ve only been here for a few weeks,
but I have definitely seen that this is a strong pattern. Individuals
raising animals will often walk them along the street, so you see
several herds of cows, goats, donkeys, etc while riding the taxis to
and from Addis. But this week I saw a very clear example that was hard
to watch.
I was standing outside of a bank in Addis waiting for another
volunteer to exchange money. You can always hear the animals and
owners before you see them. The sound of the whip is loud, so I knew
they were coming down the street, right next to me. I looked over and
saw a young boy whipping a goat. This is not new, but the shape that
the goat was in surprised me. It had lost a lot of its hair and could
barely stand on its own. The boy would whip it while it sat there
(unable to do much else), then the boy would give it a big kick to
move it a few inches. There were two other healthy goats walking with
them, who were just trying to stay out of the way of the whip. When
the goat still could not walk, the boy grabbed its front leg and began
dragging it down the street.
I have seen this before also. It’s hard to watch when the owners grab
the legs of the animals and start walking with them, and the animals
struggle to keep up. But this was also different; the goat could not
even keep up and was on its back/stomach, literally sliding along. The
boy would get the goat a few feet before stopping, whipping it,
kicking it, then dragging it again. I just sat there, unable to do
anything while they went down the hill and out of my sight.
It’s hard to pass judgement, when I realize that if this goat doesn’t
get to where it needs to be, this boy may not get paid, eat, etc for
the day. But it is also very hard to watch these helpless animals
constantly being bullied. Along these same lines, there is an
abundance of dogs here. Out of control. Apparently about half of them
have owners, while the others just wander the streets. To keep down on
the numbers, the city officials will poison meat and leave it out at
night. In some parts of town, in the morning you see dead dogs lining
the sides of the streets. Luckily I have only seen a few of these so
far, but it is sad. Again, I understand why the need to do it, but
it’s just not fair that the dogs are never really given a chance.
Alright, there it is my vegetarian entry. On the positive side (might
as well end on a high note), I am pretty sure I got complimented at
the feeding center this week. The woman in charge cheered when I came
in and then kept saying “Gobez” (good job) to everyone around us and
looking at me before I had done anything. I said thank you (in
Amharic) and she smiled. Good sign. Then she began talking to the
woman next to her about my clothes and shoes (I think…), so they lost
me again. Oh well, small victory! Yay!!

My Home in Asko, Ethiopia

So I thought I would take this blog to describe the place that is my
home for the next 3 months. The Mercy Ministry Happy Children’s Home
is in Asko, Ethiopia. This is just a small suburb on the outskirts of
Addis. The neighbourhood where I live has compounds all around, like
apartment buildings and is mostly residential. There is a school next
door that looks like two big apartment buildings and has TONS of kids
running in and out all day.
When you walk through the gates of the MMHCH, there is a small yard.
Sometimes my supervisor, Eyob, parks his car there, but in the absence
of his car it is the space for “play time” for the kids. The size… hmm
well I don’t think our Suburban could fit, or if it could, just
barely. There are clotheslines and a small metal shed to the side,
where the children use the restroom. Straight ahead is the children’s
classroom and sleeping areas. The classroom is small with a few tables
and desks. It has dry erase boards that we desperately try to keep the
kids from writing on with Sharpies. Attached there are two sleeping
rooms, one for boys and one for girls. They are filled with bunk beds
and tiny shelves for their clothes.
If you walk up a few steps, you are in the main hallway. In this part
of the house is where the director and his wife live (although they
are off doing missionary work right now, so Eyob is staying there).
There is a small living-room type area, and a room with their beds,
etc. The kitchen is also on this floor and is very quaint. There is a
refrigerator and a small stove. No oven, but somehow they make
delicious and interesting meals everyday (for over 20 people!)
Lastly (ok, I’m starting to bore myself) is the upstairs, where the
volunteers stay. On this floor there is a small day room that has a
table, a few benches and plenty of books. This is where the majority
of my free time is spent and all of our meals are eaten in this room
(just the three volunteers eat together). Also on this floor are the
two rooms for the volunteers (boys and girls) and two bathrooms.
Lastly, there is a small office where the employees of MMHCH do
administrative work.
Alright, that was pretty descriptive and I hope it gives you a good
sense of my home. There is running water, but there is not enough
pressure inside of the house for it to come out of any sinks or for
the toilets to flush (I have no idea how that works). So we use a pipe
outside to collect water and we manually flush the toilets, by pouring
water into the bowl to push everything down. Also, the toilets can’t
hand toilet paper, so we throw it all in the garbage. Makes the
bathrooms a bit smelly, but it is really nice to have a toilet! Also,
with no pressure there is no shower, so we engage in “bucket showers,”
which are exactly as they sound. They’re a bit cold, but nothing too
bad. Actually, I think one of my fellow volunteers hasn’t showered
yet, and we’ve been here for 2 weeks…
There is electricity, although sometimes it goes out. Apparently this
is a problem for all of Addis. I asked Eyob about new public
transportation, and he said that they were thinking of having a subway
system, but with the power outages, there was no way. I can’t even
imagine if a city in the US suddenly couldn’t have public
transportation because of a lack of electricity… (and Addis is just as
bustling with people).
Alright, this is it. I’m sorry for the length of this blog entry, I
always get bored reading other people’s long entries but since I’m not
near a computer a lot, I thought I would take advantage. Anyway, have
a great week everyone!

Ammeseganalo (Thanks!)

Lisa's computer is too slow....So Luke is posting it for her!

Salam! I’ve been in Ethiopia since Friday morning. The
first few days we used to rest, see Addis and go through orientation. We first
worked with the kids yesterday and it was so great! The language barrier is of
course a bit frustrating, but other than that it was really fun. They are so
cute and really eager to learn. There are 18 of them and they are between the
ages of 6-10. They live in this home for 1 year, where they are given an
education. That way, they can go to schools next year and be up to speed with
the other students. Most of these kids have been found through a women’s
shelter, and a few are from the streets. They call the house a “rehabilitation
center,” but it is more of a temporary lift up for the kids.

    This morning we
started by teaching the kids a bit more (yesterday we assessed what they
already knew and today we taught them “ch” “sh” and “th” sounds). It is pretty
difficult to teach when the kids all speak Amharic, but again, it works. A lot
of hand motions, crazy acting out and facial expressions. Which, is what I’m learning
is good for communicating with anyone here. You can really say a lot without
words.

  This afternoon we
came into Addis and did our first experience with the feeding center. It is
essentially a soup kitchen that serves 700 people every lunch. They do it in 4
separate rounds and it gets a little crazy. I spent time serving and folding
the njara (which is like a big pancake and the traditional food of Ethiopia). It
was actually really cool and I’m excited that we will get to be there twice a
week.

  Other than that, I
am still adjusting to the whole situation and my lack of contact with many
people. I am here with 2 other volunteers (both boys named Peter), which I am
really happy about. However, sometimes I want new people to talk to! I’m sure I’ll
get used to it or make new friends. We might be getting a new volunteer in
February (fingers crossed that it’s a girl).

Alright, that’s it for now. This internet is crazy slow and
I don’t want to keep the others waiting. Also, Merry Christmas! The Ethiopian
Christmas is this Friday, January 7^th. The largest religion here is
Christianity (followed closely by Islam), so it’s a big holiday.

Ciao!

ps. Lisa didn't mention this but she saw a monkey running around in her village!!!