Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Marley
In an earlier post I mentioned that we have 2 dogs living outside our gate. Unfortunately, the puppy, Marley, was attacked by something a few days ago. Yesterday, his head was swollen on one side and he couldn't hold it up straight. Today, both sides of his face are all puffy. He is still walking up to us and wagging his tail, but it doesn't look good. If you are the praying type, I would really appreciate it if you could send up a prayer for him. Otherwise, if you could just send him good vibes that would be great. I'm very heartbroken over this. I realize it's a little silly to be this concerned over a street dog in a country where so many people are dying, but Marley is part of my Ethiopian family here. I will keep you all updated.
Arts and Crafts
I have started a new volunteer schedule at Little Ahope, and one thing we are doing lots of is Arts and Crafts! I am not very experienced in this area (it's been a loooong time since I was 5), but thankfully I am working with a school social worker, plus we have an arts and crafts book.
On Friday, I came up with the idea of making paper crowns. We had so much fun! I cut the crowns out of construction paper ahead of time and then we let the kids color whatever they wanted on them. They all loved it and looked super cute! We took some great pictures that I can't wait to show you at home :).
One song that the kids love to sing here is the itsy bitsy spider. They can sing it in both English and Amharic (the Amharic version has a different tune). Tiffany came up with the great idea of making spiders out of construction paper (we have A LOT of this here). This was another project that the kids loved!
We already have a few ideas planned for the next couple of weeks that will hopefully turn out great!
Bazaar!
It is hard to believe, but up until last Saturday I had not gone shopping since being in Ethiopia. I certainly made up for it though!!! On Saturday, a bazaar held by numerous NGO's was held here in Addis. They all had booths set up in the courtyard of a church and were displaying numerous handicrafts such as quilts, woven bags, table cloths, jewellry, coffee pots, and many other things. I was able to get some great gifts as well as souvenirs for myself.
Some of the NGO's helped with leprosey, helping women escape poverty, and helping orphans. It was so nice to be able to shop for a cause!!!
Gladney Part 2
This post is not well written, but these are my honest thoughts...
Last Friday, I was fortunate enough to spend the day with Gladney's In-country rep. He offered to show me around the 3 Government orphanages here in Addis. These orphanages are not run by Gladney, but they show them to their adoptive families.
The first orphanage we visited was Kolfe. This is where the older boys live. They can stay until they are 21 as long as they are in school. I had heard a great deal about Kolfe before I left home, so I was very excited to have the chance to see this place myself. We were unable to spend a great amount of time with the boys, but they all were very polite. Of the 3 places we went to, Kolfe was probably the most depressing. Their cafeteria has no table or chairs. The kitchen was extremely small and simple. We were told that a couple of boys will share each twin size bunk bed. I barely fit on one by myself. I can't imagine living in a place like this. Yet living on the street would be so much worse. Gladney is the only adoption agency to show adoptive parents this orphanage. I wish Kolfe could get more exposure.
Next up was Kebebtsehay orphanage. This is where the younger boys and girls live. All of the children were so excited to see us. Every visitor had at least one child holding their hand. Whenever we entered a bedroom (that would have at least 18 bunk beds per room), all of the children would swarm around us shouting, "You! You! Photo! Photo!" They know that visitors take their pictures back home and this gives them a higher chance of being adopted. I took pictures mainly to please the kids, but I was uncomfortable with the situation. It is so tricky. By taking pictures of the kids, they do have more exposure and yes, some kids will find homes. On the other hand, when they start hamming it up for the camera, I begin to feel like they are a tourist attraction, when in reality they are children, no different from your kids at home. We also saw the baby room at Kebebtsehay. The good news is that most of these children (with the exception of those with special needs) will be adopted. There were at least 25 cribs packed in a small room.
The final orphanage was Kechene, which is for older girls. I thought this seemed like the nicest of the 3 we saw. There is quite a bit of space and the surrounding land is very pretty. The girls that we spoke with seemed very nice.
This day really opened my eyes to how many children around the world are living. I did not even realize how nice Ahope truly is until seeing the Government orphanages. Ahope truly looks like a palace compared to them. I am so thankful to Gladney for letting me tag along with their adoptive families on Friday. This experience has given me a lot to think about.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Ethiopian Kiddieland
Do all of you Chicagoans remember Kiddieland? Ethiopia has a smaller version of this little amusement park, Veeras, here in Addis. Last Sunday, we took the Little Ahope kids to Veeras. It was so much fun! There is a ferris wheel, a huge slide, a couple of small rides, bumper cars, and a swing set. It was really great to get the kids out of their daily routine for a little while. They had a blast!
This past year Tiffany's school raised money for an Ahope field trip, so we went back to Veeras on Wednesday with the Big Ahope kids. They also had a great time! They were all obsessed with my camera. I let them walk around and take pictures, which they loved. I ended up with some great shots :). 5 of the girls decided to do a photoshoot. They are all so pretty! For most of the day I just relaxed and watched the kids have fun, but I did get to drive a bumper car with E., a stunning girl. When it was time to eat, Tiffany and I were shocked as each kid ate an entire pizza themselves! That is one thing I have noticed here...Ethiopians sure can eat! I haven't spent a whole lot of time with the older kids, so spending the day with them at an amusement park was a great icebreaker.
Veeras was such a big success, that I am planning a couple of field trips myself. I can't wait to tell you about them!
This past year Tiffany's school raised money for an Ahope field trip, so we went back to Veeras on Wednesday with the Big Ahope kids. They also had a great time! They were all obsessed with my camera. I let them walk around and take pictures, which they loved. I ended up with some great shots :). 5 of the girls decided to do a photoshoot. They are all so pretty! For most of the day I just relaxed and watched the kids have fun, but I did get to drive a bumper car with E., a stunning girl. When it was time to eat, Tiffany and I were shocked as each kid ate an entire pizza themselves! That is one thing I have noticed here...Ethiopians sure can eat! I haven't spent a whole lot of time with the older kids, so spending the day with them at an amusement park was a great icebreaker.
Veeras was such a big success, that I am planning a couple of field trips myself. I can't wait to tell you about them!
Home Sweet Home
Before coming to Ethiopia, I was nervous about my accommodation.
Ahope has a guest house for its volunteers, but I had no idea what to
expect. Honestly, I pictured really tiny rooms and a squat toilet.
Thankfully, the guest house is really nice! There are 2 bedrooms
with Queen beds, a small kitchen, a dining room, a living room, 2
western toilets, and a washing machine! We even have a satellite dish
and receive about 10 English channels on tv (by the way, MTV Arabia is
hilarious). The whole compound is gated and we have 3 guards that
keep an eye on things.
Behind the actual house are a few individual rooms. Last week the
3rd volunteer arrived, so I moved out of the house and in to one of
these rooms. My little room is actually pretty nice! It is maybe 8
ft. by 10 ft. and has a twin bed and a night stand. The only
negatives are that there really isn't any storage space (I live out of
my suitcase) and my window doesn't latch shut. We don't have window
screens and one time I saw a feral cat jump into an empty room. I now
duct tape my window shut each night.
Like I said, there are 3 volunteers living in the guest house.
Besides me, there is a social worker from Chicago and a teacher from
D.C. who spent 7 months volunteering here last year! Everyone gets
along really well! We also have 2 dogs that always sleep against our
gate. The older dog is very shaggy and has dreadlocks. We call him
Bob after Bob Marley. The second dog is a very hyper puppy that looks
similar to a yellow lab. We named him Marley to go along with Bob and
also after the movie Marley and Me.
Our housekeeper, Selam, comes every day to make us breakfast. She
makes amazing things like french toast, crepes, oats, and pizza (yes,
homemade pizza for breakfast). She also insists on doing our laundry,
scrubbing our shoes clean, and making our beds. She is very sweet. I
always try to speak a little Amharic with her. Selam also makes life
easier by filling buckets with water when we run out of it in the
house.
In speaking of which, we do not always have water and electricity.
We typically have electricity every other day. Whether or not we have
water depends on a few variables like electricity and how full our
water tank is. The longest we have gone without water so far is 3
days I think.
I didn't know what to expect, but I have been positively surprised
with my living arrangements. Ethiopia is beginning to feel like home
sweet home.
Ahope has a guest house for its volunteers, but I had no idea what to
expect. Honestly, I pictured really tiny rooms and a squat toilet.
Thankfully, the guest house is really nice! There are 2 bedrooms
with Queen beds, a small kitchen, a dining room, a living room, 2
western toilets, and a washing machine! We even have a satellite dish
and receive about 10 English channels on tv (by the way, MTV Arabia is
hilarious). The whole compound is gated and we have 3 guards that
keep an eye on things.
Behind the actual house are a few individual rooms. Last week the
3rd volunteer arrived, so I moved out of the house and in to one of
these rooms. My little room is actually pretty nice! It is maybe 8
ft. by 10 ft. and has a twin bed and a night stand. The only
negatives are that there really isn't any storage space (I live out of
my suitcase) and my window doesn't latch shut. We don't have window
screens and one time I saw a feral cat jump into an empty room. I now
duct tape my window shut each night.
Like I said, there are 3 volunteers living in the guest house.
Besides me, there is a social worker from Chicago and a teacher from
D.C. who spent 7 months volunteering here last year! Everyone gets
along really well! We also have 2 dogs that always sleep against our
gate. The older dog is very shaggy and has dreadlocks. We call him
Bob after Bob Marley. The second dog is a very hyper puppy that looks
similar to a yellow lab. We named him Marley to go along with Bob and
also after the movie Marley and Me.
Our housekeeper, Selam, comes every day to make us breakfast. She
makes amazing things like french toast, crepes, oats, and pizza (yes,
homemade pizza for breakfast). She also insists on doing our laundry,
scrubbing our shoes clean, and making our beds. She is very sweet. I
always try to speak a little Amharic with her. Selam also makes life
easier by filling buckets with water when we run out of it in the
house.
In speaking of which, we do not always have water and electricity.
We typically have electricity every other day. Whether or not we have
water depends on a few variables like electricity and how full our
water tank is. The longest we have gone without water so far is 3
days I think.
I didn't know what to expect, but I have been positively surprised
with my living arrangements. Ethiopia is beginning to feel like home
sweet home.
Amharic Mixup
Most people have a funny story or two about trying to learn a new
language. There are over 70 different languages spoken in Ethiopia,
but the most common language is Amharic. Right now I know and use
about 60 words.
Our housekeeper, Selam, is a really great cook. Anything she makes
for breakfast is amazing, but my favorite is her french toast. Selam
does not have an extensive English vocabulary, so each time she makes
french toast, I say "Gobez!" (excellent) or have her read, "Hats off
to the chef!" in my Amharic phrase book. I do this as a gentle way of
encouraging her to make it as often as possible. She often hugs me
and repeatedly says, "awadeshalo". I thought she was teaching me to
say "I love it."
Awadeshalo has been a word that I often use to describe various
things. The male social worker at Ahope often asks me if I like
Ethiopia or the food. I always reply, "Ow. Gobez. Awadeshalo" (Yes.
Excellent. I love it). He often looks at me funny, but I just ignore
that.
This past week I was talking with another volunteer when the subject
of amharic words entered the conversation. She has volunteered before
and knows a lot more Amharic than I do. She told me that Awadeshalo
means I love you when speaking to a female. So basically I have been
telling the male social worker, "I love you, girl".
Oops. I will be apologizing to him this week.
language. There are over 70 different languages spoken in Ethiopia,
but the most common language is Amharic. Right now I know and use
about 60 words.
Our housekeeper, Selam, is a really great cook. Anything she makes
for breakfast is amazing, but my favorite is her french toast. Selam
does not have an extensive English vocabulary, so each time she makes
french toast, I say "Gobez!" (excellent) or have her read, "Hats off
to the chef!" in my Amharic phrase book. I do this as a gentle way of
encouraging her to make it as often as possible. She often hugs me
and repeatedly says, "awadeshalo". I thought she was teaching me to
say "I love it."
Awadeshalo has been a word that I often use to describe various
things. The male social worker at Ahope often asks me if I like
Ethiopia or the food. I always reply, "Ow. Gobez. Awadeshalo" (Yes.
Excellent. I love it). He often looks at me funny, but I just ignore
that.
This past week I was talking with another volunteer when the subject
of amharic words entered the conversation. She has volunteered before
and knows a lot more Amharic than I do. She told me that Awadeshalo
means I love you when speaking to a female. So basically I have been
telling the male social worker, "I love you, girl".
Oops. I will be apologizing to him this week.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Getting Out of Town
Last Saturday, Tiffany and I hired a driver to take us outside of Addis. The plan was to visit a cave church and a couple of ancient sites.
We left very early, so we actually had time to kill on our way to the 1st stop. We left the car a few times to snap scenic pictures of the mountains. Have I mentioned that Addis is in the mountains? It's very pretty here.
We also visited the big Saturday market in a small town called Awash Melka. We were the main attraction there. As soon as we left the car, a group of children attached themselves to us. They would say hello very shyly, and when I replied, "Selam"(hello), the whole group broke into a fit of giggles. The market was packed with people. Donkeys and cows stood in large groups waiting to be sold. Teff, the grain used to make injera, was piled high on dirty old tarps. It was a bit strange not seeing it in a container. Everything seemed to be available here, from various spices to Obama shirts (Obama is HUGE here).
The 3 sites we visited are not really worth writing home about. The 1st one, Melka Kunture, is an old site where lots of fossils and stone age tools wee found. It could be a really cool place, but the archaeologists abandoned it before it was fully excavated. Adadi Mariam, a 12th Century cave church was the next destination. This was the best site that we saw. The church was not all that pretty, but it is very old and was carved out of rock. The last place, Tiya, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is eerily similar to Stone Henge in England.
While the main attractions of the day were less than thrilling, seeing the country side was certainly the day's highlight. There are 5 roads leading away from Addis. Ours was a paved 2 land street that stretched over picturesque rolling hills. The land is yellow and dry right now, but as the rainy season is beginning, soon everything will be a vibrant green. Just a few minutes outside of the city, beautiful straw huts begin to appear outside our windows. Children spot our car and wave to us, shouting "Fereng! Fereng!" (foreigner). When we wave to them, big smiles beam back at us. As we near a small town, we pass a slow moving donkey taxi. Donkeys seem to be the national form of transportation. Some people ride them along the road, while others use them to pull carts full of straw or wood. The most common thing we see is donkeys with big yellow buckets strapped to their backs. "They are carrying water", our guide tells us. Water is not widely available in rural Ethiopia, so people must travel long distances in order to find this scarce resource. At one point, I see a girl collecting dirty water from a pothole. Not everyone uses a donkey for transportation, however. We pass many people simply walking along this road that appears to lead to nowhere. Many older women struggle with heavy bundles of wood that are strapped to their backs. Their burden is so heavy that their bodies are bent at a 90 degree angle. Sometimes, the piles look bigger than the woman carrying them. As we pass them in our comfortable vehicle, I glance back at them. Their tired eyes stare straight ahead, while dirt and dust cakes their weathered faces. These women are much stronger than I will ever be. Both physically and mentally.
After briefly seeing life outside of the city, I have an even greater appreciation for the people of Ethiopia. I hope to gain even a tiny bit of their strength before I return home.
We left very early, so we actually had time to kill on our way to the 1st stop. We left the car a few times to snap scenic pictures of the mountains. Have I mentioned that Addis is in the mountains? It's very pretty here.
We also visited the big Saturday market in a small town called Awash Melka. We were the main attraction there. As soon as we left the car, a group of children attached themselves to us. They would say hello very shyly, and when I replied, "Selam"(hello), the whole group broke into a fit of giggles. The market was packed with people. Donkeys and cows stood in large groups waiting to be sold. Teff, the grain used to make injera, was piled high on dirty old tarps. It was a bit strange not seeing it in a container. Everything seemed to be available here, from various spices to Obama shirts (Obama is HUGE here).
The 3 sites we visited are not really worth writing home about. The 1st one, Melka Kunture, is an old site where lots of fossils and stone age tools wee found. It could be a really cool place, but the archaeologists abandoned it before it was fully excavated. Adadi Mariam, a 12th Century cave church was the next destination. This was the best site that we saw. The church was not all that pretty, but it is very old and was carved out of rock. The last place, Tiya, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is eerily similar to Stone Henge in England.
While the main attractions of the day were less than thrilling, seeing the country side was certainly the day's highlight. There are 5 roads leading away from Addis. Ours was a paved 2 land street that stretched over picturesque rolling hills. The land is yellow and dry right now, but as the rainy season is beginning, soon everything will be a vibrant green. Just a few minutes outside of the city, beautiful straw huts begin to appear outside our windows. Children spot our car and wave to us, shouting "Fereng! Fereng!" (foreigner). When we wave to them, big smiles beam back at us. As we near a small town, we pass a slow moving donkey taxi. Donkeys seem to be the national form of transportation. Some people ride them along the road, while others use them to pull carts full of straw or wood. The most common thing we see is donkeys with big yellow buckets strapped to their backs. "They are carrying water", our guide tells us. Water is not widely available in rural Ethiopia, so people must travel long distances in order to find this scarce resource. At one point, I see a girl collecting dirty water from a pothole. Not everyone uses a donkey for transportation, however. We pass many people simply walking along this road that appears to lead to nowhere. Many older women struggle with heavy bundles of wood that are strapped to their backs. Their burden is so heavy that their bodies are bent at a 90 degree angle. Sometimes, the piles look bigger than the woman carrying them. As we pass them in our comfortable vehicle, I glance back at them. Their tired eyes stare straight ahead, while dirt and dust cakes their weathered faces. These women are much stronger than I will ever be. Both physically and mentally.
After briefly seeing life outside of the city, I have an even greater appreciation for the people of Ethiopia. I hope to gain even a tiny bit of their strength before I return home.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Craft Time!
I have officially been in Addis for a little over 2 weeks now. During this time there has been a bit of miscommunication due to cultural differences (another post for another time). While it is nothing to stress over, at times I have been slightly confused as to waht I should be doing with my time. When I am simply hanging out with the kids, spinning them or tickling them, I have a blast. I also feel that I can offer something a little more structured though. Sometimes when I plan something structured, the schedule changes and even the little kids have school all day. Tiffany and I finally got our chance to do something really fun last Friday, June 19th.
Tiffany came up with the great idea of making name signs for the kids' beds. We found a ton of construction paper and crayons in the supply closet, so we simply set everything up at the dining room table and let the kids at Little Ahope loose! They had an AMAZING time! At first, things were a little chaotic as the youngest ones can't spell their names, and we couldn't even guess the correct spelling. Luckily, the kindergarten teacher was kind enough to write everyone's name down for us.
These kids are so creative! Pretty flowers, hearts, soccer balls, and various animals were vibrantly colored on each sign. Almost every sign proudly displayed at least one Ethiopian flag. One girl, H., wrote "Happy" all over her sign. Each word was spelled incorrectly, but I think her sign was the most beautiful of them all. Another girl, D. (who I lovingly call Mia Hamm), took the sign I made and copied everything on to her sign.
Every kid was so excited that they raced over to show me their finished product. Everytime, I smiled and told them how Gobez (excellent) or Konjo (beautiful) their sign was. They all wanted pictures with their creations, it was so cute. Tiffany helped each child tape their sign to the wall beside their bed. These kids have very little that they can call their own, something they don't have to share with 30 other children. Something like a name sign may be an insignificant possession to many of us, but not to them. The looks on their faces were so joyful. It is something I will never forget.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Teacher!!! Teacher!!!
On Wednesday (or "Robe" in Amharic), Tiffany & I taught our first
English lessons at Big Ahope. We teach two, 30 min. classes. First
we teach the 3rd graders & then we teach the 4th graders. Mom &
Ralph's sponsored girl, K., is in my 3rd grade class.
The classroom is small. We have a tiny dry erase board up front,
and the rest of the room is stuffed with 2 rows of four old school
bench style desks. Each class has around 8-10 students, but we could
maybe stuff 16 kids in our cheery room if we tried. The bright blue
walls liven up the room, and the 2 windows in the back emit lots of
sunlight, which playfully dances on the beautiful ocean mural that the
students recently made. On the other wall is a big world map. The
kids love looking for Chicago & Wichita. They all stand on top of the
desks, pushing their way closer to the map, attempting to find these
faraway places. We give them hints, "Chicago is by a lake" and
"Wichita is in the middle". As they find them, many brown fingers
fight to touch each city.
Our students are currently in the middle of finals at their regular
schools (yes, even 3rd & 4th graders have finals here), so we try to
make our first day easy & lighthearted. We start off by making name
signs with construction paper & scented markers. My grape scented
marker takes me back to my childhood. K., is a perfectionist & spends
most of class time coloring her name. A sweet girl named A., sees the
hearts on my sign & adds a few to her own. When she sees that I
notice, she giggles. Two very active boys, S. & A., copy the
squiggles on Tiffany's sign. They add so many that I can hardly read
their names.
Next we move on to introducing ourselves & naming something we like.
Each student has to memorize all of the names & likes of the students
before them. The last student must remember them all. These sweet
kids like things such as pizza, hamburgers, soccer, swimming, &
praying. They don't understand what Tiffany means when she says she
likes peanut butter. We can't wait to bring some in for them!
Like all kids, ours seat themselves with boys on one side of the
room & girls on the other side. The 3rd grade boys are quite rowdy,
while the girls pay attention as they draw flowers on their name
signs. We don't expect the boys to remember what the girls like,
especially the last boy, M., who is possibly the loudest. Without
hesitation, he speeds through everyone. He is smart.
Our time with the 4th graders is the same. It goes a little faster
as they have a better grasp of English. As soon as we dismiss class,
the kids race back to their friends & pickup football (soccer)
matches. Feeling happy & purposeful, I begin the 20 min. walk back to
my room. For the first time in awhile, it really hits me. I am in
Ethiopia. And I love it.
English lessons at Big Ahope. We teach two, 30 min. classes. First
we teach the 3rd graders & then we teach the 4th graders. Mom &
Ralph's sponsored girl, K., is in my 3rd grade class.
The classroom is small. We have a tiny dry erase board up front,
and the rest of the room is stuffed with 2 rows of four old school
bench style desks. Each class has around 8-10 students, but we could
maybe stuff 16 kids in our cheery room if we tried. The bright blue
walls liven up the room, and the 2 windows in the back emit lots of
sunlight, which playfully dances on the beautiful ocean mural that the
students recently made. On the other wall is a big world map. The
kids love looking for Chicago & Wichita. They all stand on top of the
desks, pushing their way closer to the map, attempting to find these
faraway places. We give them hints, "Chicago is by a lake" and
"Wichita is in the middle". As they find them, many brown fingers
fight to touch each city.
Our students are currently in the middle of finals at their regular
schools (yes, even 3rd & 4th graders have finals here), so we try to
make our first day easy & lighthearted. We start off by making name
signs with construction paper & scented markers. My grape scented
marker takes me back to my childhood. K., is a perfectionist & spends
most of class time coloring her name. A sweet girl named A., sees the
hearts on my sign & adds a few to her own. When she sees that I
notice, she giggles. Two very active boys, S. & A., copy the
squiggles on Tiffany's sign. They add so many that I can hardly read
their names.
Next we move on to introducing ourselves & naming something we like.
Each student has to memorize all of the names & likes of the students
before them. The last student must remember them all. These sweet
kids like things such as pizza, hamburgers, soccer, swimming, &
praying. They don't understand what Tiffany means when she says she
likes peanut butter. We can't wait to bring some in for them!
Like all kids, ours seat themselves with boys on one side of the
room & girls on the other side. The 3rd grade boys are quite rowdy,
while the girls pay attention as they draw flowers on their name
signs. We don't expect the boys to remember what the girls like,
especially the last boy, M., who is possibly the loudest. Without
hesitation, he speeds through everyone. He is smart.
Our time with the 4th graders is the same. It goes a little faster
as they have a better grasp of English. As soon as we dismiss class,
the kids race back to their friends & pickup football (soccer)
matches. Feeling happy & purposeful, I begin the 20 min. walk back to
my room. For the first time in awhile, it really hits me. I am in
Ethiopia. And I love it.
Teacher!!! Teacher!!!
On Wednesday (or "Robe" in Amharic), Tiffany & I taught our first
English lessons at Big Ahope. We teach two, 30 min. classes. First
we teach the 3rd graders & then we teach the 4th graders. Mom &
Ralph's sponsored girl, K., is in my 3rd grade class.
The classroom is small. We have a tiny dry erase board up front,
and the rest of the room is stuffed with 2 rows of four old school
bench style desks. Each class has around 8-10 students, but we could
maybe stuff 16 kids in our cheery room if we tried. The bright blue
walls liven up the room, and the 2 windows in the back emit lots of
sunlight, which playfully dances on the beautiful ocean mural that the
students recently made. On the other wall is a big world map. The
kids love looking for Chicago & Wichita. They all stand on top of the
desks, pushing their way closer to the map, attempting to find these
faraway places. We give them hints, "Chicago is by a lake" and
"Wichita is in the middle". As they find them, many brown fingers
fight to touch each city.
Our students are currently in the middle of finals at their regular
schools (yes, even 3rd & 4th graders have finals here), so we try to
make our first day easy & lighthearted. We start off by making name
signs with construction paper & scented markers. My grape scented
marker takes me back to my childhood. K., is a perfectionist & spends
most of class time coloring her name. A sweet girl named A., sees the
hearts on my sign & adds a few to her own. When she sees that I
notice, she giggles. Two very active boys, S. & A., copy the
squiggles on Tiffany's sign. They add so many that I can hardly read
their names.
Next we move on to introducing ourselves & naming something we like.
Each student has to memorize all of the names & likes of the students
before them. The last student must remember them all. These sweet
kids like things such as pizza, hamburgers, soccer, swimming, &
praying. They don't understand what Tiffany means when she says she
likes peanut butter. We can't wait to bring some in for them!
Like all kids, ours seat themselves with boys on one side of the
room & girls on the other side. The 3rd grade boys are quite rowdy,
while the girls pay attention as they draw flowers on their name
signs. We don't expect the boys to remember what the girls like,
especially the last boy, M., who is possibly the loudest. Without
hesitation, he speeds through everyone. He is smart.
Our time with the 4th graders is the same. It goes a little faster
as they have a better grasp of English. As soon as we dismiss class,
the kids race back to their friends & pickup football (soccer)
matches. Feeling happy & purposeful, I begin the 20 min. walk back to
my room. For the first time in awhile, it really hits me. I am in
Ethiopia. And I love it.
English lessons at Big Ahope. We teach two, 30 min. classes. First
we teach the 3rd graders & then we teach the 4th graders. Mom &
Ralph's sponsored girl, K., is in my 3rd grade class.
The classroom is small. We have a tiny dry erase board up front,
and the rest of the room is stuffed with 2 rows of four old school
bench style desks. Each class has around 8-10 students, but we could
maybe stuff 16 kids in our cheery room if we tried. The bright blue
walls liven up the room, and the 2 windows in the back emit lots of
sunlight, which playfully dances on the beautiful ocean mural that the
students recently made. On the other wall is a big world map. The
kids love looking for Chicago & Wichita. They all stand on top of the
desks, pushing their way closer to the map, attempting to find these
faraway places. We give them hints, "Chicago is by a lake" and
"Wichita is in the middle". As they find them, many brown fingers
fight to touch each city.
Our students are currently in the middle of finals at their regular
schools (yes, even 3rd & 4th graders have finals here), so we try to
make our first day easy & lighthearted. We start off by making name
signs with construction paper & scented markers. My grape scented
marker takes me back to my childhood. K., is a perfectionist & spends
most of class time coloring her name. A sweet girl named A., sees the
hearts on my sign & adds a few to her own. When she sees that I
notice, she giggles. Two very active boys, S. & A., copy the
squiggles on Tiffany's sign. They add so many that I can hardly read
their names.
Next we move on to introducing ourselves & naming something we like.
Each student has to memorize all of the names & likes of the students
before them. The last student must remember them all. These sweet
kids like things such as pizza, hamburgers, soccer, swimming, &
praying. They don't understand what Tiffany means when she says she
likes peanut butter. We can't wait to bring some in for them!
Like all kids, ours seat themselves with boys on one side of the
room & girls on the other side. The 3rd grade boys are quite rowdy,
while the girls pay attention as they draw flowers on their name
signs. We don't expect the boys to remember what the girls like,
especially the last boy, M., who is possibly the loudest. Without
hesitation, he speeds through everyone. He is smart.
Our time with the 4th graders is the same. It goes a little faster
as they have a better grasp of English. As soon as we dismiss class,
the kids race back to their friends & pickup football (soccer)
matches. Feeling happy & purposeful, I begin the 20 min. walk back to
my room. For the first time in awhile, it really hits me. I am in
Ethiopia. And I love it.
Similarities between the Gelada Baboon & Americans
On Sunday (6 days ago), Tiffany & I took a cab into the city
centre. We visited the National Museum, which is famous for being
home to the 2 oldest hominid skeletons, Lucy (3.2 million years old &
40% complete) & Selam (3.4 million years old & 60% complete). Lucy is
currently touring the U.S., & Selam is still being studied, but we saw
tons of cool things like a pair of dice from 500 A.D.
Next, we visited the Lion Zoo, which houses the Absynnian Lions &
endemic Gelada Baboons. We knew this zoo would be depressing, but
honestly, nothing could have prepared me for what I saw. The visitors
took great pleasure in taunting the animals, who were clearly
frightened. When their harassment caused a lion to roar or a baboon
to bare its teeth, the crowd would cheer. I don't think i could
recommend this zoo to anyone.
While walking around downtown, I couldn't help feeling like a
Gelada baboon in the zoo. Obviously, ferengis (foreigners) are quite
an attraction here in Addis. Many people approach us asking for money
or food. Others approach us hoping to practice their English.
Sometimes, however, people approach us with the intention of treating
us like a Gelada baboon in the zoo. One little girl slapped my arm
when I ignored her requests for birr (the Ethiopian currency). One
time I thought a man was reaching his arm out in an attempt to steal
my bag. As I turned my back towards him, he punched my arm. I'm
assuming these acts were merely done to get a rise out of me. Please
don't worry, these instances are incredibly rare and I haven't really
experienced this type of behavior around my neighborhood. Most people
don't even notice us. Only once did a man grab my arm as he was
asking for birr, but a second man quickly stepped in & yelled at him.
Addis is truly safe, but it is interesting (and important) to take
notice of the few who are fascinated by us ferengis.
centre. We visited the National Museum, which is famous for being
home to the 2 oldest hominid skeletons, Lucy (3.2 million years old &
40% complete) & Selam (3.4 million years old & 60% complete). Lucy is
currently touring the U.S., & Selam is still being studied, but we saw
tons of cool things like a pair of dice from 500 A.D.
Next, we visited the Lion Zoo, which houses the Absynnian Lions &
endemic Gelada Baboons. We knew this zoo would be depressing, but
honestly, nothing could have prepared me for what I saw. The visitors
took great pleasure in taunting the animals, who were clearly
frightened. When their harassment caused a lion to roar or a baboon
to bare its teeth, the crowd would cheer. I don't think i could
recommend this zoo to anyone.
While walking around downtown, I couldn't help feeling like a
Gelada baboon in the zoo. Obviously, ferengis (foreigners) are quite
an attraction here in Addis. Many people approach us asking for money
or food. Others approach us hoping to practice their English.
Sometimes, however, people approach us with the intention of treating
us like a Gelada baboon in the zoo. One little girl slapped my arm
when I ignored her requests for birr (the Ethiopian currency). One
time I thought a man was reaching his arm out in an attempt to steal
my bag. As I turned my back towards him, he punched my arm. I'm
assuming these acts were merely done to get a rise out of me. Please
don't worry, these instances are incredibly rare and I haven't really
experienced this type of behavior around my neighborhood. Most people
don't even notice us. Only once did a man grab my arm as he was
asking for birr, but a second man quickly stepped in & yelled at him.
Addis is truly safe, but it is interesting (and important) to take
notice of the few who are fascinated by us ferengis.
Ethiopian Celebrity Sightings
My 1st weekend in Ethiopia was great! On Saturday (a week ago from
today), the other volunteer, Tiffany, & I supported a dozen of the
Ahope kids at the Sports Bridge Gigathlon. This yearly festival
celebrates orphans & street children. It is actually sponsored by the
famous Ethiopian marathoner, Haile Gelabrassie! You have probably
seen him run before as he is always a big contender at Chicago,
Boston, & the other big races. He gave a big speech at the beginning,
and as he was leaving, he was less than 10 ft. from me! I sure hope
some of his speed wore off on me!
The gigathlon consisted of 4 events (although we are only sure that
1 took place): running 2 km with a pinwheel made of wood & paper,
running while using a stick to keep a tire rolling, running with a
very tiny soccer ball, & running competitively. We only saw the kids
running with a pinwheel, but we assume the other events took place
since we did see random tires and soccer balls. Through out the 2
hours, Ethiopian & Sudanese music played while traditional dancers
entertained the adults. Ethiopians sure can dance! When we left, we
only forgot one kid (oops)! Luckily, we only traveled a few blocks
before realizing he was missing. Overall, we had a fantastic time.
today), the other volunteer, Tiffany, & I supported a dozen of the
Ahope kids at the Sports Bridge Gigathlon. This yearly festival
celebrates orphans & street children. It is actually sponsored by the
famous Ethiopian marathoner, Haile Gelabrassie! You have probably
seen him run before as he is always a big contender at Chicago,
Boston, & the other big races. He gave a big speech at the beginning,
and as he was leaving, he was less than 10 ft. from me! I sure hope
some of his speed wore off on me!
The gigathlon consisted of 4 events (although we are only sure that
1 took place): running 2 km with a pinwheel made of wood & paper,
running while using a stick to keep a tire rolling, running with a
very tiny soccer ball, & running competitively. We only saw the kids
running with a pinwheel, but we assume the other events took place
since we did see random tires and soccer balls. Through out the 2
hours, Ethiopian & Sudanese music played while traditional dancers
entertained the adults. Ethiopians sure can dance! When we left, we
only forgot one kid (oops)! Luckily, we only traveled a few blocks
before realizing he was missing. Overall, we had a fantastic time.
Friday, June 12, 2009
What I'm Up To
Hi everyone! I've written 3 posts today, so be sure to scroll down
and read them all!
and read them all!
I need everyone's help!!! I just found out yesterday that I am going
to be an English teacher! I was a little unprepared for this, and I
have NO teaching experience! If anyone has any ideas on fun games or
different ways to teach English, please email me! I just want to do a
great job and I have no clue what I'm doing! It should be a great
challenge though :).
Right now I have been spending every day at Little Ahope (0-7 years).
The kids are sooooo sweet!!!! I love them all. I get there at 9 am
and we spend a lot of time playing kwassa (soccer), tickling, and
playing chase. I am growing attached to them so quickly! They have
lunch at noon and then nap from 1-4. This is when I eat lunch and
wander about (or check email!). At 4:30, the older ones return from
school and then we begin a serious kwassa match. By the time I return
home, my skills will be on fire! I normally stay until 6-6:30.
These kids are seriously adorable! One little girl laughs every time
I look at her. Her whole body shakes and the look on her face is of
pure joy! Another little boy is really shy, but each time I smile at
him, he gives me a huge grin and quickly turns away. It didn't take
him long to start following me everywhere. For their privacy, I will
not be posting any pictures of these sweet kids or their names. You
will just have to see me in person so you can see their sweet faces!
Trust me, they are adorable!
Next week I will hopefully be moving in to my more permanent schedule.
3 mornings a week I will be teaching English at Big Ahope (8-15
years). I am a little nervous about this. The other 2 mornings I
will be working at the community center. Every afternoon I will drop
in at Little Ahope. I just can't imagine going a whole day without
seeing them!!!
The guest house that I am staying at is great! We have a wonderful
breakfast each morning! We also have guards that stand at our gate
24/7. I feel very important, haha. Right now, we only have
electricity every other day. Yesterday was our first day without
water. It came back today. Yay!
I have a few fun things tentatively lined up for this weekend. I will
tell you about them soon! I hope everyone is doing well! Please
email me and let me know what is going on with you!
Gladney
Pretty much everyone that knows me is aware of how much I adore the
Gladney Center for Adoption. Ever since my agency visit last
November, I have been pretty sure that I would like to work for them
one day. As if I needed another reason to love them, they gave me a
new one anyway!
Gladney Center for Adoption. Ever since my agency visit last
November, I have been pretty sure that I would like to work for them
one day. As if I needed another reason to love them, they gave me a
new one anyway!
My plane in Addis 2 hours late, and my driver did not meet me at the
airport. They were unsure of when I would be arriving. Normally,
this would have worried me, but Gladney saved the day! As I was
standing by myself looking for an "Ahope" sign, the only white male
around approached me asking if I was volunteering at Gladney!!!
Immediately, I shouted "YES!". Then I realized, that I wasn't (hey, I
was really tired), and corrected myself. He turned out to be their
in-country rep and a few of their volunteers were on my flight. When
I told him I was coming to Ahope, he took their number from me &
called them himself! Ahope sent their driver immediately. Then, this
kind man stood with me for as long as he could. When he finally had
to leave, he gave me his business card & told me to call him if I run
in to any problems while I'm here.
Is it a coincidence that in a city of 4 million people I ran into
Gladney's in-country rep? I don't think so. He didn't have to help
me out (he actually had to make quite a few calls), but everyone seems
to be this way at Gladney! I would be incredibly honored to work at
an agency like this, which is why they will receive my first
application once I have my MSW.
Day 1 Highlights
Hi everyone!
On Monday, June 8th I arrived here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia! Here are
some highlights from my first day!
- Had yummy crepes & a croissant for breakfast while looking down at
Sudan. Saw lots of desert & the fertile area around the Nile. This
made me miss Egypt.
- Ahope's Social Worker picked me up from the airport along with a
nurse and 2 of the sweet girls from Ahope.
- While driving to the guest house, we passed the UNHCR's regional
office. I not so secretly dream of working with the UNHCR someday!
I've seen their headquarters in Geneva & I was excited to see them in
Addis!
- Had injera, rice, & chickpeas for lunch with the staff at Ahope. Yum!
- Had 2 cups of, hands down, the BEST coffee I have ever tasted! I'm
not a fan of coffee, but Ethiopian coffee is amazing!
- Took a tour of Little Ahope (7 and under). The youngest is 20 days old.
- Took a tour of Big Ahope (8-15 years). Met Mom & Ralph's sponsored
child. Sweet girl!
More posts are on their way!!!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
On my way!
Today is the day that I finally leave for Ethiopia! I can't believe it is actually here :)
Thank you to everyone who donated supplies to Ahope! I really appreciate your help!!!
Hopefully I will be able to update soon. My goal is to post once per week. I'm not sure if I will be able to upload pictures, but if I can, I'll put them on facebook and post the link for everyone.
I will be able to check my email, so make sure to email me and tell me how your summer is going!
I will miss you all!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
