Friday, October 21, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
"Time is Gold in America"
To Everyone:
This topic is entitled "Time is Gold in America." Let’s take a moment and ask ourselves what does this really mean. The last couple of weeks or so I have really contemplated the meaning of this.
Is it always being attached to our electronic devices may it be computers, phones, or televisions being able to access at anytime news, work, or schedules? Is it working in high paced jobs 60 hours a week? How about those American schedules we better stick to them or the world might fall out from under our feet.
Is this really what makes time golden in America? I only wonder? Yes, Americans are bombarded by media almost constantly and until all of that is taken away we really have no idea. Media is inevitable in America; I do fully still understand that. But what would happen if our cell phone service was out for hours or days on end? What about power outages...if they were frequent and daily for hours. How would people in America function? Think about working on computers with those types of outages. Let me tell you when you are typing a document the "save" button has a whole new meaning.
So in Ethiopia what does one do when you experience all these challenges regularly? "You go out for chai." At least that is what I do.
Obviously the saying "Time is gold" has a new definition for me.
I don't expect anyone's definition of productivity to change because of American culture, but just be aware that one person's definition maybe very different than another. This is only a suggestion but take the time to treat yourself to coffee or tea, take a journal or a good book with you. Leave at home all your electronic devices... This means ipods, cell phones and computers (Don't just turn them off). Leave all work at home or at work as well. Go sit in a coffee or tea shop and just enjoy the simplicities of life for a couple of hours. People watching can also be a great time passer. I would also say try and make a new friend while at the tea or coffee shop but in American culture this is very difficult. In the world of Ethiopia in a two hour set of time I can make at least 5 new friends.
This is what makes life golden or time golden. Learning to, even with challenges enjoy time.
Just some other fun life stories of productivity...
It may be making a new kid friend on the street who will in turn protect me from the crazy little old lady in my town.
It may be heading to the market to get a kilo of tomatoes in which I fully misunderstood my tomato lady not realizing the metal weight she has on her scale is a half a kilo and she's going to weigh tomatoes out twice for me.
It may be helping out a fellow member of your community with the internet on his phone and when you opened up his search engine it said, "Sexy Ladies" LOL!!!
Hope all is well with everyone. And always... if you have any good stories to send my way, it is good to hear from people back home... it kind of keeps me connected.
Sham
"Life is tough wear a helmet"
Weekend with other National Volunteers from UK, Ireland, Canada
I headed to Mychow again for the weekend to hang out with some other Ferengi=Foreigners from other countries. It was great!!! As always it is stressful trying to travel in Ethiopia but I did make it and had a great time. Saturday we went on a hike around Mychow with about 12 other Foreigners. I got to meet two travelers from France a married couple from the UK, an Ireland University teacher, and an IT computer tech Canadian and of course the 6 other PCVs that went to Mychow for the weekend. After the hike we made stew and had a freshly made salad couldn't really have asked for a better weekend...
Except for some reason I got my first experience of bad diarrhea just before I left for Mychow don't worry had meds in my med kit and so I took some. Pretty sure I had your traditional traveler’s diarrhea which usually includes amebias. Oh well that is what I get for eating raw veggies and not filtering my water in country. But I have to say being in country for almost 4 and a half months and just now having intestinal problems is pretty good. I have adapted well to the water and other diseases most Americans have here in country. I'm doing well now and my diarrhea has about cleared up.
As for the people I met the UK couple, the Ireland University teacher, and the Canadian IT guy are also volunteers here in country too. They are working for an organization called VSO, this is a national volunteer program that sends teachers to developing nations. This organization is actually looking for retired individuals with lots of experience. So all of these people are well into their 50s. I'm actually really lucky because the UK couple and Ireland University teacher are living in Mekele now and on the way back to Audigudom at the end of the weekend. They were able to see my town and where I lived. I think they were all rather surprised because they live in big towns and I live very rurally.
So thought of another item you could send me if possible.
I would really like a travel sleeping bag. They are usually really small and easy to pack. Hopefully you can find in the camping departments. Don't worry about it being warm enough temp. wise. Ethiopia is a very temperate climate. (They have no idea what cold is). For some reason I have been doing lots of sleeping in other places and a bag would be helpful. I slept in a sleeping bag the other day that had a blow up pad in the bottom it was like another separate attachment that you stuffed in the bottom but very comfy... I have no idea how much those things cost but what ever you send me would be awesome.
Sham
"Life is tough wear a helmet"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)