My Life in Ethiopia

First of all, I’m sorry it has been a while since I’ve sent out an update.  I have been busy not only in my town of Adigudom but also doing some traveling.  Mostly to neighboring towns but I took a trip down to Addis to see off a good friend I met here in the Peace Corps. The Addis trip was bitter sweet as it was sad to say good-bye but also wonderful at the same time because Addis is the closest thing I can get to real Ferengi life.

I’m really starting to enjoy life here in Ethiopia, I can say this is probably one of the first times I can officially say Ethiopia is my new home and life, may it be simple, is also very enjoyable. I’m becoming very accustomed to the traditions and beliefs.  It has been important for me to make the decision everyday to have a good day and I believe this has really helped me with life here. If you sit and dwell on the little things that can make life miserable living here as a white person it can be very difficult. That’s not to say that I don’t have rough days but I’m finding those little thoughts help.

As always traveling anywhere here can be stressful, difficult and there is always waiting involved. Thank you to my parents who sent me a travel (light) sleeping bag and small blow up air mattress as I have used it a couple of times and it has been wonderful.   I have a suggestion for anyone traveling invest in a light weight sleeping bag and (travel) blow up air mattress as they can really be a life saver.  I’m excited to continue to use these two items in my travels around Ethiopia.

A situation that occurred that made me say… “This would only happen in Ethiopia!” Was sitting at a hotel/Restaurant in Mekele enjoying a pretty decent Ferengi  meal, there was 5 of us and we were sitting outside. (Oh! And this Hotel/Restaurant caters specifically to Ferengi people traveling through or doing research in Tigray).  As we were eating we kept feeling splashes of water coming down on us. At first my thought was, oh it’s just one of those freak rain showers that have occurred this last month. Finally, someone looks up and sees its mop water that is being swished around on the balconies above. For all we know it could have been toilet water that over flowed in a bathroom above. The guard at the front door starts yelling up to the lady mopping up above and we see her peak over the balcony and she did profusely apologize.  Let’s just say this would not happen in America and if it did it would be a freak accident.

I went to Wukro for Thanksgiving.  It is a town about 2 hours north of me and of course 2 bus rides. Thanksgiving was absolutely enjoyable as there were only 6 of us and Bailey did a great job at planning and pre planning the meal. We had meat loaf, fried chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, apple pie, pumpkin pie, green beans, and salad. And of course good company… Overall I would call it a successful first Thanksgiving in Ethiopia. And as always it’s just nice to be with other Ferengi . Not sure what the plan is going to be for Christmas but I’m not worried I will find someone to celebrate it with.  I know that the new group 6 of Peace Corps Volunteers that came into country 3 months ago will just have gotten to their sites so maybe Group 5 Peace Corps Volunteers in Tigray will have to host the new Group 6 volunteers that just arrived. We will see!

You know your standards have changed when:

1.      You actually take comfort each night as you drift off to sleep and hear the distinct sound of rats eating your house

2.      Poop becomes a normal topic of conversation between pretty much everyone

3.      You don’t get bored anymore – Boredom is no longer a word in your vocabulary

4.      Your happy to get a solid fart

5.      Those snot-ridden children ignite loving instincts

6.      You consider bugs in your water bucket to be extra protein

7.      You think you can clean anything by sprinkling a little water on it

8.      You enjoy listening to Celine Dion and Michael Bolton because it’s a break from traditional regional music.

9.      You think radio static creates nice ambiance as you can never get a clear channel and all speakers are blown out here.

10.     And as always Dirt and Bugs are still awesome

I will try and be better about writing, hope everything is going well in the states and back home.

I am safe and healthy .

Sham

"Life is tough wear a helmet"

CHEESE!!!

The Goat in my Compound

My House NOW!!

Hike 2

Ashenda 2

Ashenda 1

Ashenda, A little Girl Dancing! She is so cute!!

Run Down of My Life

Cows in the Kitchen

Compound Cows

My Life in Ethiopia

Creepy Hotel in Ethiopia

Host Family Compound

Kings Hotel Week 1 Ethiopia

"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"

Health Center

So this week for the most part was pretty uneventful.  Headed to the health center Monday and Tuesday this week learned how patient collections and filing worked.  Brian the current PCV here and I ran the patient check-in those two days. The 2 individuals who usually run that portion of the health center were gone and there was no one else to run it so we did. The ironic part of the whole situation is that in America if you walked into a doctor’s office and the person at the front counter was speaking to you in your own language but very broken we would ask to speak to the supervisor. However in Ethiopia there was no questions asked or no concern given that 2 Ferengi/white people were running the front counter.

Wednesday-Friday I spent out in the community visiting the different offices trying to understand what services are provided in my town. Usually the goal is an office a day, but during my walks I get stopped on a regular basis and invited to come in and have coffee.  This is all very traditional and common in my community and I try to take as many invitations as possible. I usually end up talking to some amazing people and I find more out about my town and other offices around the area. So I don't always get to my office a day.

The weather in my town is absolutely beautiful... We are heading out of the rainy season and into the dry season.  The days are very sunny with the average high temp being 80-90 degrees and at nights its also very comfortable 72-75 degrees.  So most days I walk around in skirts and short sleeved shirts or capris and a T-shirt. Ethiopia is known for its 13 months of sun and I think its living up to that. Oh by the way in the Ethiopian Calendar there are 13 months and not 12 and I just celebrated the Ethiopian New Year so its now 2004... HAHAHAHAHa!

Sham

"Life is tough wear a helmet"

Things I have learned while here in Ethiopia....

Things I have learned while here in Ethiopia....

1. You do not make friends with your compound goat or sheep as that night it could be on your plate.

2. Ga-at or Gungfo I do not like. It is similar to bread dough uncooked in a bunt form with butter melted in the middle and eaten for breakfast.

3. Always keep 1 eye on the road as you never know what is going to be there or NOT be there.

4. Habasha or Ethiopians do not understand what moles and freckles are and they will ask you a million questions as to what they are.

5. When riding in a vehicle more often than not you will have live chickens at your feet and live goats on the roof.

6. Expect to know everything and anything about anything and everything that is electronic...if it has a switch or plug you know about it.

7. Try figuring out how people in your compound are related because I sure can't.

8. Shint bet yet now? or Shint bet abey iyu? which means where is the bathroom? cause I may need it immediately.

9. While walking down the street expect many double take looks as someone is passing you. They are just as curious about you, as you are about them.

10. When in the market and some child is calling Ferengi, Ferengi or China, China and you very politely correct them (in their language) and say No I'm Habasha...The child and everyone around you will first give you a very confused look... not because you are telling them you are native but because you are talking to them in their language. They will all chuckle to themselves and then believe you.

11. Power surges at your local internet cafe are frequent sometimes frustrating. But what can you do you are in Ethiopia. Patience is a virtue! I do love Ethiopia.

12. Oh and dirt and bugs are still awesome.

--

Sham

"Life is tough wear a helmet"