I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul...

I re-read my last blog post- let’s be real, it was kinda intense. Given, it was exactly how I was feeling at the time, but I figured I should update and let you know that I’m doing just fine!

Thank you so much for the encouraging messages and prayers because something did the trick! One of the most inspiring messages I got was from Don, the initial contact I made with IFESH. He messaged me, and said some wonderful things, including the quote he was reminded of when he read my blog, "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.." which is the last line in a poem written in the context of Nelson Mandella's incarceration. I'm a quote person, so this fit perfectly :) 

After sleeping Tuesday night, everything got much more manageable. I’ve been taking bucket showers in the kitchen and trying to go to the bathroom as little as possible. It’s definitely not anything like Americans live like, but when in Rome…If anything else, I’m going to be one hardcore camper after living here for a year!

Some things I’m thankful for

1. Other Peace Corp Volunteers- There are three living in Gondar that I’ve met so far and they are all friends and have adopted me into their group. Mitch, Heather and Usman are their names, and they are all great. This weekend, a group of other PCVs came into town from some rural villages to visit, so last night was spent at the Dashen Brewery where we got TOWERS of beer (coolest thing ever) for 60 birr (less than 4$...) and then went and drank tej at a local shoulder dancing house. Tej is a homemade honey wine that they make here, it made me feel kinda sick though so not on my favorite list. Either way, it was great to get out and about and meet new people.

2.    A Fridge and Stove! Since Wednesday I’ve been trying to get one but my bank account was acting up! Finally the funds went through and I bought both a fridge and stove today and couldn’t be more excited to get some food in it and start cooking. (Today, I’ve eaten a bowl of oatmeal and some saltine crackers….) The stove is just a small 2-burner unit that plugs into the wall, similar to a camping stove. The fridge is smaller than in the US but will be perfect for me. I’m also thankful that IFESH reimbursed me for the cost.

3.  The staff at the college. They are wonderful people and are so excited that I’m here. I’ve made friends with the cleaning ladies whose main station is right outside of my apartment and they love to listen to me try to speak Amharic. We all sit and laugh, gesturing and they try to teach me new words. They are all older women with quite a lot of energy! I’ve been introduced to many people on campus and everyone seems so kind and helpful. I’ve also made good friends with the personal drivers, and Fanta the electrician. He came and fixed my lights yesterday so I can see at night and fixed my closet today. That means I finally put away my clothes and things look half way organized in here. Now I just need to print of pictures, get some decorations and I’ll be set.

The school year for the students I’ll be teaching starts later here. I won’t actually begin to teach my classes for 3 weeks, which gives me plenty of time to plan! But, in the meantime I’ll be helping the peace corp volunteer in the English Language Improvement Center (ELIC) and plan out the other trainings I’ll be doing. I’ve made some good contacts and will be getting into the primary schools training  teachers on how to instruct English. I also want to start a woman’s group of some sort because gender inequality is such a huge deal here. It’s exciting that the peace corp and VSO (volunteer services abroad)  is here so that we can collaborate on projects.

Well, that’s all for now. Tomorrow I’m going to visit the castle that is located in the Piazza, or the center of town, which will be awesome.  I just wanted to update and give some good news of good things going on here.

Hope all is well my friends

<3  

No toilet, no shower, no lights, no problem.

Seriously, if you could only see me now. Friends and family reading this...you would be proud of me today. To be honest, I'm proud of myself.

The day started with a 4am wake up call in the hotel. After getting ready, I packed up my bags, put them in the car and we drove to the airport. Luckily, my supervisor from Gondar was flying back with me so it was nice to have him there since people don't speak much English here. We got through all of the long lines at the airport and needless to say, developing countries have much different airports than we do in the US...

We got on the plane, and an hour plus a sandwich later we arrived in the tiny airport of Gondar. My supervisor had somewhere to go so we dropped him off, and the driver took me to my new, "home" at Gondar College for Teacher Education. We pulled up to the college where the streets were filled with unknown faces who were all staring at me and I'm sure wondering who the heck I was. It's tough to be stared at, and talked about especially when you have no idea what they are saying. We eventually pulled up, unloaded the van and I was finally "home."

I put home in quotes because it definitely did not look, feel, smell or sound like my home, or really any place I'd ever seen before. The electricity was out when I arrived but luckily it was only 9am so there was plenty of light for me to see how filthy my new "home" was. I have two square rooms. One of the rooms has a bed, table and set of drawers. The other room is like my living room and has a sofa a few chairs and another wooden storage compartment. The walls are cement but painted white, and extremely dirty. It smells old and unlived in, but I guess my supervisor did warn me.

Even though he warned me, nothing could have braced me for the bathroom situation. Literally, I almost broke down in tears. It's disgusting. It's a 2 minute walk away which isn't too far, but it is the teachers public bathroom. I have a key to my own stall and my own shower but faculty come in and out of the bathroom on a regular basis-both male and female. It smells like an out house that has been sitting in the hot sun for 6 months. The ground is terribly dirty and the shower is just a tiny square with a door that locks, with a spicket.  Don't get me wrong, I know that I didn't come to Ethiopia thinking I would have American accommodations. I wasn't expecting it, and I'm not above what these people are used to, but it is SO different from how we live.

I talked to my supervisor and for a number of reasons asked if there were any other options. I know that they are planning to build a bathroom closer, but until them I just don't know if I can do it. He said that we would talk to the Dean, so that we did. It was an...interesting...first impression while meeting with the Dean (that's another story) but he insisted that I stay in a hotel. That was that, I was going to a hotel. He was planning on having me stay in the hotel for about a month until the new bathroom had been built.

I was so overwhelmed, exhausted, felt like a needy American, and also felt unheard because the Dean made a quick decision and that was that. My immediate supervisor (the one who flew with me from Addis) and I went to go check out the hotel. When we got there, I saw the room and I just said no, I don't want to stay here. I came to Africa to live in Africa, not live like I do in America. It would have been nice to stay in a hotel in some aspects, but I'm ready to make this place truly my new home...and I want to start by staying here tonight, not at some hotel.

Until the bathroom is constructed, I will take bucket showers in the kitchen. I'll just lock the door behind me, fill up a bucket and clean up over the drain in the floor. I've done bucket showers before, not pleasant but doable. In terms of using the toilet, I'm praying that I don't get sick and use the bathroom as I need to and just tough it out. It's a big change, but if other people can do it, I can too. I'll cover the toilet.

Today, after we went to the hotel we headed to the bank. The bank was a whole other fiasco and after an hour or so I walked out with my own account at Ethiopian Commercial bank. Then my supervisor, myself and the peace corp volunteer named Mitch (who had been with us all day) all shared a pizza at a local restaurant.  Afterwards, we walked around downtown Gondar, bought a few groceries and took a taxibus back to the college. The taxibus are the big mini vans that they shove 20 people into. I was too scared (and too spoiled taking taxis instead) to ride these types of rides in Tanzania but here, first night I was on one!

We made it home for only 2birr (around 8 cents) and when we got there all the electricity in the college was out because there weren't even street lights which Mitch said there usually are. I took out my head lamp from my purse, and we walked to our places. I lit a candle, and in candle light I sit here writing this blog. In a bit I will crawl into my sleeping bag and lay down on my makeshift pillow I created using extra clothes of mine. I'm all alone, and listening to my music that calms me down and I'm actually quite content.

There's no doubt in my mind that this is going to be hard...maybe the hardest adventure I've had but great achievement requires great risk. As I sit here unwinding from my day and debriefing it in my head I come back to the idea of my gratitude journal. There were so many things that were frustrating today, so many reasons I felt like I wasn't going to be able to make it here, and I'm just so exhausted. I feel like it's important to go back to the root of where happiness and contentment comes from and that to me is gratitude.

Today I'm thankful for human beings. I WOULD NOT have made it through today without my everyone around me helping out and supporting me, especially my supervisor and Mitch. They were amazing...they were patient, understanding and we worked through to day as a team. So fantastic to have them around and I'm excited to see the friendships continue. Apart from those two, I was reminded today at how good people are. Someone always offered to help when I was struggling with luggage, the Dean arranged a car to take us to the hotel and bank, people were patient with my crappy Amharic...all around, I'm just thankful for other people because the world would not be as grand as it is without the generosity of others.

That's the end of my rant for the evening. I'm sorry if there are typos and if it's sporadically written but that's just where my mind is right now. It's almost 9pm, and it's time for bed for this girl.

If you're a person of prayer, please send some up for me..specifically for strength, perseverance and extra love when I may not be loving my bathroom situation. :)

<3

Welcome to Addis

Well, week 1 is complete plus a few days. It's been a busy, exciting, exhausting but an invigorating week. I leave for my post in Gondar, Ethiopia on Tuesday early morning. 

1. And   One is the number of nights that I’ve slept completely through the night.  This time difference and jet lag is kickin my butt! The chanting of the Orthodox churches doesn't help!

2. Hulat Two is the number of times per day that we receive, “health breaks.” AKA- a half hour break in the morning, and in the afternoon to drink tea or coffee, eat snacks and converse with each other. We are fed a ridiculous amount of food, but that will all change soon! The health breaks especially are pretty great actually.   

3.   Sost  Three is the number of “field trips” or cultural outings we’ve been on. The first to the largest festival in Ethiopia called, “The True Cross.” After receiving VIP badges to watch the festival in Meskal Square, the festivities continued at our hotel where there was a cultural, “Coffee Ceremony” and bonfire. The bonfires are held on this festival day all over the country, small and large. The second outing was to an Ethiopian restaurant with entertainment of Ethiopian dancers and an authentic band. The main singer of the band came over to our area, pulled me out of my seat and needless to say, I impressed my new friends with my shoulder dancing skills. Hahaha…so much fun with everyone dancing the night away. Lastly, the third outing was this morning when walked up a mountain outside of Addis, up to a historical church/palace/museum. It is also where there is, “holy water” thought to cure HIV/AIDS and other ailments is located, so many people who are sick travel to this place for healing. It was interesting to be there and see it.

4. Arat The number of days until I move to my site in Gondar. I am flying in a plane to the city on 

Tuesday morning! I'll be living on campus there in a "studio." I'm just praying that there is a working fridge and stove, hot water would be a plus. 

5. Amist  Five is T=the number of times I’ve been able to successfully get online-although it may be for just a few minutes at a time and in between power outages. It's funny because power goes out here, and it's just second nature. No one worries, just the way it all works. BUT, now I have an internet device so it should be more reliable from here on out...hopefully.

6. Sidist The number out of 10, or 60% of Ethiopians who are illiterate. Incredible isn't it? Can you imagine the what the US would be like if 60% of it's people couldn't read or write? We had speakers this week come in from USAID, Peace Corps, VSO, the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, Public Health representatives and other professionals who discussed the current state of Ethiopia, and the small role that we play in the big puzzle. 

7. Sabat  The number of my team members who have their doctorate degrees. The degrees vary from Urban Higher Education to Engineering. I'm actually the only one on my team with out a masters degree...it's a little intimidating!  7 is also the number of times I’ve heard my supervisor Ato Mamo say, “We sent you a job description just to get you here…” meaning that the job description isn't entirely true because we truly create our own position based upon the needs of our institution. Exciting, yet terrifying all at the same time.

     8. Simint The percent, (7.8%) of Ethiopians living in the Amhara region (where I’ll be living) infected with HIV/AIDS.

9.   Zatan The number of hours we’ve spent learning Amharic- one of the many languages spoken in Ethiopia. I’m hoping I’ll be fairly fluent by the time I leave. I will at least be able to do the basic functions and not have locals laugh at me!  

10. Asir The number of glasses of South African red wine I’ve had with my colleagues at the hotel we’re staying at over the past week. The wine is lovely, and even better when sitting on a rooftop, decompressing long days, getting to know amazing people, with the sound of a busy street and prayer chants from a local mosque in the background. 

Overall, it's been a great week and it's been fantastic getting to know such amazing people. I'm looking forward to heading to my site in Gondar where I'll call home for the next 10 months. Here's a few pictures from the festival we attended. More pictures will come later, but I need to get back to a meeting!

The sea of people as we entered the festival...

 Drumming away :) Such amazing colors

Umbrellas are customary- they worked well for the rain too! 

Our group, plus or minus a few

Bahera and Douglas- married for 30 some years, met while volunteering in Africa. Lovely people, and Bahera has taken the role as my mother away from home :) 

Lighting our own bonfire

Hope everyone is doing well! :)

<3 

In Transit

Exhausted after 10 hours....but another 10 or so to go..

Well, thank God my plane didn’t crash, although there were a few times I thought it might. Let’s just say, it was an eventful flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam and at one point there were a few yelps (none coming from me), flight attendants running down the isle into their seats, me in tears, and my new Russian friend (who didn’t speak very good English, but we had a great time talking still) and I holding on to the front of our seats. At one point, the entire plane felt like it just dropped, that feeling that you get on a rollercoaster when your stomach sinks-not the best feeling to have on an air bus while over the ocean. One of the flight attendants described it as turbulence like she’d never been through before, but luckily it only lasted about an hour and we eventually landed safely. (Don’t worry Mom, I’m safe I promise, and the tears only lasted for about 5 minutes…)

Now I’m sitting in the Amsterdam airport drinking a skinny vanilla latte and eating a blueberry muffin. For the record, this is the most expensive Starbucks I’ve ever had…$12.00…damn Euro exchange rate. BUT, I figured since I’ll be without my person sidekick Starbucks for a while, it was ok to splurge. After my near-death flight, I deserve it.

I love airports, I really do. I typically enjoy flying but my favorite part is the people watching. Airports are the best for that and everyone is in transit, one way or the other. I like to sit and watch people, and make up stories in my head of who I think they are, or where they might have been, or where they are headed off to next. You have the business-men in their suits, the families and crying babies, the Jamaican go-ers or heading to Hawaii, the European backpackers…the list goes on. Then, you have just the ordinary Joe who you can’t tell just by looking at them, exactly what they are doing in the airport or at what point in their journey they’re on.

I wish that everyone entering into the airport had to wear a tag around their neck with a short bio of themselves. Given this may violate personal space for some but I would appreciate it! Watching all of these people, I’m just so curious as to who they are, where they are going, where they came from, what they’re passionate about and what their reason is for being in transit today.

It’s been nice to sit here for a while, in a comfortable decent sized chair and watch people, but I just finished my latte and it’s time to go through security. I’m praying that my next flight is less eventful than the first. Exciting times ahead. First a layover in Sudan, and then to Ethiopia. I will update as soon as I’m safe and sound. 

<3

Go Do.

I woke up this morning and thought, "Hey! Let's go to Africa today!?" Actually, I woke up and began to sing Shakira's Waka Waka, which main verse is, "It's time for Africa!!" :) haha...

PS- if you havn't yet, click PLAY on the song above..

Pretty surreal the way it's all worked out, but I am off for an adventure of a lifetime today. I have lots of last minute errands to run this morning, and then I'm off to the airport around noon with my sister and parents for them to send me off and hug them one last time before I see them again this summer.

If you're a person of prayer and faith, I have a favor to ask, and it's that you keep me in you prayers today and the next few days. If you are a person of good thoughts, send them my way. It's going to be 26 hours or so of transit (through Amsterdam, layover in Khartoum, Sudan, and then finally to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) and I'm sure many emotions over the full day of traveling will arise. My bags are all packed- 2 items to be checked...both of which we weighed a million times to get under 50lbs each! Then I have my carry on, plus my backpack so needless to say, it's going to be interesting trying to manage it all myself once I get into Addis. Let's hope there are carts available!

I truly am feeling good about it and the sense of excitment has finally hit me instead of nerves (or maybe just in addition to nerves...) Last night, I had my closest girlfriends over for dinner and to hug them goodbye. It was hard to watch them go, not because I won't see them again or because I'm afraid I'll lose touch with them, but because it's hard knowing I can't be a part of their lives in the same medium I have been for the next 10 months. Whether it's Alex and Annie who tell me their daily happenings down to what they ate for breakfast, or if it's Chloe and Bekah when we get together and have quality time, or if it's my sister whose just irreplaceable in my life. It's going to be hard for me to not hold that same place that I have, but I'll be back in July. I'm just so thankful to have such amazing people in my life, that's for dang sure.

The song above (which I hope you clicked before you read this) is called "Go Do" by Jonsi. It just may be my new favorite song and my mantra for this trip. I plan to listen to it on repeat today...

I keep reminding myself that God calls us to live life in abundance, and I have every intention of living mine out to the fullest. Pretty sure this 10 month venture to Africa is a step in the right direction.

Well, my sister just woke up and got me some coffee so I'm going to drink my last cup of coffee in the Rath house for a while (In a mug that read "I LOVE MY DAD") and spend some quality time with the sister. Then it's off for a busy next day or 2 :)

I'll be using this blog again as I live, work, learn, teach and serve in Ethiopia so please follow me on here. I'll most likely post another blog as I sit in Amsterdam 12 or so hours from now :)

God Bless!

<3

You've Got to Come in Right...

In one week from today I'll be probably half way to Ethiopia, sitting in the Amsterdam airport, drinking my last Starbucks for a while and getting ready to board my next plane for the last leg of my journey...

Crazy to think this is the journey I've chosen, or has been chosen for me. An adventure it will be. As I prepare myself to get ready to go this week, and as I board the plane and enter Ethiopia, I need to remember, "to come in right."

I'm reading a book called, Never Give Up:Vignettes from Sub-Sarahan Africa in the Age of Aids and author Kevin Wings talks about entering new countries, specifically ones he's visited in sub-sarahan Africa. I agreed with Wings as I read the words on the page, and it was so well explained. It was thought provoking to read his advice and although I have pure intentions, I need to be clear and intentional as I step from American soil, into the unknown.

I need to set aside pre-conceived notions of what I think it may be like and enter with a clear head and open mind. This seems like a simple task, but when jumping into the unknown it's so much easier to assume what it will be like. You hear stories, read articles in the newspaper, watch a clip online about a country and they cloud my mind and lead me to assumptions. When I am there, and especially as I enter, my goals need to be clear. To observe. To listen. To see. To learn. And then, To serve. In order to do those things and in order to serve with my full ability, I need to "come in right."

I am not some white woman coming in to save the day. I am not there to give simple solutions for complex problems, or complex solutions for simple problems.  I am not there to take our standards of what works in America and assume it will work there. I am going to Ethiopia to serve, to serve teachers and educators in hopes to form a cohesive relationship where we learn from each other. Yes, teachers in Ethiopia have a lot to learn about teaching methods, how to teach English, classroom management etc which is why this organization is in place. BUT, it is NOT about me going to "help these people."

Some words of wisdom that I am going to keep in mind as I enter, (directly from Wings)

* Listen more than you speak

*Ask more than you tell

*Resist the temptation to fix things; you might not have the tools to do so, and the thing might not be broken in the first place

*Cast off your American lens

*Live with your experiences

*If moved to act, ask what is needed. Don't assume you know.

*Be willing to make a leap of faith..

What it boils down to, is that "You've got to come in right..."

<3

18 Days

18 Days before Ethiopia and a lot to do before the big day. The mental list of things to do is a little overwhelming...that's why I'm choosing to enjoy this labor day cuddled up on my couch with a blanket, coffee and a book. Later, quality time with my mom and sister. Sounds perfect to me.

Things on my mind right now...

-How great my friends are and how much I love quality time with them..especially my 2 best friends, Alex and Annie...this weekend was fantastic.
- How much I love Fall, and how I wish it could come early so I could enjoy it all. Pumpkin Spice Lattes, sweaters, scarves, leaves, blankets, baking...so wonderful.
- How much fun this week and weekend is going to be...dinner or coffee dates every night of the week, then a freshman year reunion this weekend with Lillie, Alison, MelKel and I...which is bound to be nothing but an amazing time.

I'm one thankful lady today. So many great things going on and 18 days to enjoy every minute of it before I put a hold on these wonderful things for the wonderful unknown  :)

A few pictures of a great weekend at the cabin with my 2 favorite people..