To: Everyone,
So just some general information. I have officially moved up to Tigray. I live in a very rural arid part of Ethiopia, most people are of their traditional beliefs and values that they have done literally for thousands of years. Women still cook by fire, most people do not have running water and many share toilet facilities on their compounds. My language skills are such that I can make my way around the market, introduce myself, answer some basic questions, tell people my likes and dislikes, and I'm usually able to tell people where I will be going for the day. At some point in time I will probably hire a tutor but I just need to find the right person.
I have made friends with every kid that lives with in a 2 mile radius of me and they all know I'm Habasha and not ferengi. The kids like to quiz me on my vocab which is awesome for me because not only does it keep me fresh but I also learn some new things too. I have also made it a point to befriend the women that live around me as well going to different houses daily and having coffee programs. I have a sort of women support group around me because they all want to know where and what I will be doing...This is also good for me because incase they don't see me for a day they begin to worry. The women think I"m gobez (very clever) because I can talk with them. Almost No women speak english in my town and very few men speak english. The other day I went to the market to buy some buckets and jugs for my house and as I was leaving a few of the women I met saw me and were all so proud that I could buy stuff at the market. I think more than anything they saw that I live just like them and appreciated it.
To mainly my father and people like him who need a direction in life. Here are the job descriptions I have received from Peace Corps...
Act as a community focal person or mentor for People Living with HIV and Aids and Orphans and vulnerable children's groups at the health center and in the community. Assist these groups with training's or Income Generating Projects. Help to build up the capacity and support networks in these groups. Work with the health center on community out reach and conversation with schools and Non governmental organizations. Also help in supporting activities of health extension workers. Help with promoting VCT campaigns and increasing awareness and knowledge of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other health issues facing people in Ethiopia. Provide training and technical support to all health center staff in regards to computer technology. Specifically giving the health center staff sufficient knowledge to use computers effectively in the health field. If the PCV can help them with developing a better data tracking and patient record keeping, this would also be beneficial. While all of this is good it may or may not be my actual job with in my community. I definitely think the technology thing in my health center is needed as they have computers but no training on how to even use word.
To my mother and people like her who do not always need a plan or direction in life. The last month or so I have figured out how the market works, made friends with as many people as possible and relearned how to eat here. I have gotten furniture made cause you don't go to your local RC Willy here and pick out a bed, desk, or table and chairs. I have also learned how entertaining our compound cows and chickens can be all while dodging flees, bed bugs, mosquitoes, beetle like bugs, and daily power outages.
So back to relearning how to eat here. Firstly, I do not have running water or a fridge nor do I plan on purchasing one. I have water on my compound but I have to carry it up to my house. Everything I eat here is super fresh and I usually go to the market to buy produce 3 times a week; that is always an experience. There is very little MSG or processed foods in my diet. Nor is there an opportunity to just make yourself the typical go too sandwich. No lunch meat here! I do not eat much meat here either. Meat here hangs off a wooden rack in some sort of very small metal/open air building; which they call a butcher shop. You never know how long the meats been hanging there or how many flies have landed on it. And you do not ask your local butcher for a cut of New York style steak. He just gives you what ever is convenient at the time. Fat and Grissel here are considered a delicacy... but in my town just getting meat at a meal is considered a delicacy. Chicken is also not an option because you do not go to your local super market and pick out a bagged chicken for dinner. Usually you go to the market and purchase a live chicken and the oldest male of the family does the initial slaughter and the women does the rest of the prep work.
So moral of the story is Sunday-Friday I am your traditional vegetarian. Saturday I try to head into Mekele the nearest largest city find a ferengi restaurant to get some cheese and meat.
One of the most important aspects of being a PCV is integrating into the community and PC has given us 3 months to begin that integration process. This is what makes Peace Corps different from other organizations that send people to developing nations. Right now my main responsibility as a PCV is integration and learning how to live day to day. The simple task of going out and buying sugar which we would find as mundane in the states can take an exorbitant amount of energy and time. These little daily accomplishments are huge and it is important to take the time to enjoy these little daily successes.
Just a fun side story... Went to MyChow (2.5 hours south of me) to meet up with a couple of other current PCV for the day. I got up and got going at 6:30am and stood on the side of the road to flag down a bus headed in that direction. By the way this is normal. Got there spent the day. Mary and I rocked the market her speaking Amharic and me speaking Tigrinian. They speak both languages there.
Anyway ended up missing the last bus back home spent the night with the current PCV there. The next day got up to head back home and after changing buses twice in the bus station and pulling out and backing back into the bus station I finally made it home.
It is always good to hear from home and I really do appreciate the updates. I'm using internet cafes until the current PCV in my town leaves and can give me his CDMA so I can use internet on my computer and that will be a few months. Pictures will probably have to wait until then to be downloaded.
--
Sham
"Life is tough wear a helmet
