Matt is home!!!

Ok so guess what!? I'm am officially a player of raquetball, or in other words, I play racquetball...if that makes sense. I try to play most mornings with my friend from the branch Curtis and I'm finally getting pretty good at it. So I'm excited. Still nothing new from Post regaurding my new job doing some secretarial stuff, I really don't know what I'll be doing, but it is a 9-5 job and is a steady pay, and then hopefully i can see my family sometimes and friends since my schedule seems to be the exact opposite of everyones. But Applebee's is still going and is actually looking up. I'm slowly collecting quite the fan club and am beginning to have regulars and people asking for me, so it is nice. I have one of the waiters and one of the cooks who keep asking me out, so we have a bit of fun too.

Jonathan is driving me crazy and it makes me so sick of dealing with boys. Even though we're "friends" it seems like we were dating with all the time we spent together and now I don't even know him anymore it seems. But it is ok, because MATT IS HOME!!!!! It is nice having him back and all his knowledge with computers and everything, and to just have someone else around the house now that Dad is working everyday. I also did get a little surprise, Jed, the son of the family that I lived with who is out at school at BYU-Idaho and worked for the same company I went to Ethiopia with, we have been talking a lot and his Dad keeps trying to set us up....well he emailed me the other day to inform me he is coming home for Thanksgiving, and I'm so excited to finally meet this guy. I know we'll be fast friends.

I am still working hard at the piano and find it is easy for me to get lost in practicing and playing just the hymns everyday to keep me focussed and looking forward. I am also taking classes online through BYU independant study to keep busy and to keep up on my work, and also because it looks better for PA school.....6 more to hear from!!! I find I'm stretching myself to try new things and to reach out of myself, this is a time when I really can better who I am and it seems that the Lord is working hard to prepare me for the future. I'm working hard as the Enrichment counselor but we had our quarterly enrichment two weeks ago and no one showed up, and when i try to talk to them they seem to tune me out. So i'm praying alot about what this branch needs from me and what I can do to help this program, because it is suffering. it seems like I am rambling, and I am, but again life is progressing and going forward and things are looking up!!

Searching

So I'm still waiting to hear back from PA school, but I've already gotten two rejections, but funny, none of them are the 5 that are in Philly, which is where I really really want to go to school. But I'm still working at Applebee's as a waitress and I've pretty much gone as far as you can go in the world of waitressing at applebees, sad that I did it in less then two months. I feel more like I'm babysitting and I work with some pretty immature people, but then I meet some great people and work with some wonderful people. I'm still looking for another job though, just for my own sanity really.

Our new house is absolutely beautiful and we love it. Dad works on it all day though just because any house built in 1850 has a lot of work that needs done. He's been working alot on the electrical and today got it so our door could actually open. Nate and Mari are coming out for when Matt gets home and we're having a Halloween party in the Ballroom.

Right now I'm just trying to make sure I'm doing what the Lord wants of me and I'm having trouble distinguishing it. I spent the day watching taped General Conference and all I got out of it was that whatever he wants of me I'm supposed to obey with a broken and contrite heart. Sometimes I get scared when I get these feelings, this is how I ended up in Ethiopia, Austria, DC, EFY, pretty much everything I've done in my life. but I just feel that this is something big. So anyways, just trying to get my thoughts down and figure out what I'm thinking really. But I am searching daily right now for the right answer.

Dear Kansas City

so I thought it was about time I let everyone know that I'm still alive. Things are going pretty well here in Leavenworth, KS and I love the Kansas City area. There is so much to do here!! I went to the Royals vs. Yankees game Friday night, will be going to the Royals vs. Indians game in two weeks, went to a Chiefs preseason football game and got to watch John Beck QB for the Dolphins, I'm going to a KU vs. Ohio State basketball game, Wizards MLS game...like I said, tons of stuff to do. Even the art museum here is incredible and ranked 15th in the world. It is beautiful here and there are also tons of church sites in the area as well. I love the singles branch and there are two brothers, Jonathan and James that I do everything with and we've fast become friends. They both call me their sister, and it has been fun. I was also set apart last week as the Enrichment counselor in the Relief Society Presidency. This will be my 5th presidency in just over 3 years. I think the Lord is trying to tell me something!!!! But I'm also excited that Matt will be coming home in a little over a month, it will be so nice to have him here too.
I'm still working as a waitress at Applebees and looking for another job somewhere in the Medical Field here, which hasn't proven very promising, but I'm not giving up. I so like working as a waitress, it has its ups and downs. I love the people, especially my friend Matt. When I'm not with the Griffith Brothers I'm with Matt. But I think everybody should be a waitress or work some form of customer service in their life. It would make a lot more jobs more enjoyable. I did have the creepiest guy wait for 5 hours at his table before he finally asked me to "meet him somewhere private in 5 min" and he's lucky I didn't slug him. I've never been hit on so much in my life!! But I've met some amazing people as well.

We are moving into our house this weekend!! Sept 15th and I'm so excited!!! It is beautiful and only 3 min from work and even though I love the Stephensens and will miss both of them terribly, I can't wait to have my own room again and to not have to feel like we are imposing anymore. But we sure have made great friends and I will consider them as parents for the rest of my life.

Well, I think that is about it. I'll try to do this thing more often, so we'll see. Life is great!!!

At last

http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u111/abeayant/ Here is the link to pictures, they still have not been updated, but it is something. :)

So I know quite a few of you have been insisting that I tell my story. I'm not going to lie, it has been hard for me and I'm finally falling back into the swing of things here in the good old US of A. I made it sound like Ethiopia was so hard, and it was, but it was an amazing blessing and I'm considering going back sometime, hopefully before my VISA runs out in the next two years. I know that once I get my Physician Assistant degree I'd like to go back now that I have a better idea of what is needed and can perhaps do what I can to improve the horrible conditions in the hospitals and clinics, at least teaching the importance of cleanliness and sterile techniques. There are so many great lessons I learned while there to help make me stronger and give me a greater perspective in life. Most of all I learned that the little things in life don't matter, what truly matters is that I am doing what my Savior wants me to do and following the path He has set out for me. The day-to-day things get in the way too often and hinder our work and take our eyes of the ultimate goal, and that is eternal life. I learned the importance of gratitude and what we have, we have opportunity, and education, and transportation, and electricity, flushing toilets, and running water, clothes...so much!! Most of all we have a chance for good treatment and medical care. They have no choice but to go to those horrible places and most spend their entire months earnings on one malaria shot.
So what really happened. Sarah and I had been communicating with Salt Lake about a few things we saw, like no work getting done, and them sitting around and doing nothing. Or the missing supplies that had been donated and things they had been using for personal gain. Or even some discrepancies we found in financial endeavors. So on Friday we had a meeting with Nigatu where he asked for a day-to-day report of what they had accomplished the past week. Dejene, realizing that they had been caught, walked out and quit. Things got really sticky, but Sarah and I went to our new house Nigatu had found for us and packed up to leave for Addis early in the morning. Jennelle from Village of Hope came with us since there was room due to the fact that the day before they had found something wrong with the truck and needed to take it to Addis for repairs. On the way up we saw that someone had damaged the training center property and broken the cinder block fence....we all have no doubt that it was Dejene. So Nigatu stayed behind and we continued to Addis for the soccer game. We met the three boy interns in Debre Ziet and went to lunch and on the way to the soccer game Nigatu called. Meiso had refused to call the police and investigate the vandalism and had said he was also resigning.

Sarah and I had some decisions to make and after meeting with Nigatu Monday morning, we decided for our safety and his it was best to cancel the expedition the next week and for us to go home as soon as possible since threats had been made on our lives. Sarah and I were then sent to stay with the boys on their compound until things were further settled. Talking with Salt Lake proved frustrating as they refused to send us home and ignored all our arguments and pleadings. They were insistent that we stay in country, but remain with the boys or be moving permanently to the Addis office. Due to circumstances, Sarah was the one elected to go back to Arsi to fetch our things, and passports, etc. with Jenelle, Nigatu, the driver Tagay, and the accountant with her. She ran into trouble and our dear guard Gemedo turned on us and she barely got away and had to remain hidden at the Village of Hope while Nigatu attempted to do damage control as the community workers were breaking in homes and destroying the projects we had worked so hard to build. I was stuck on the boys compound with no money, no clothes, or anything, and had to just sit and wait for Sarah to contact me, and continue to attempt contacting Salt Lake about our removal. They still ignored me. On Thursday morning Sarah returned and had told me about the attack and even Wondu came to find her because there had been men looking for the "Americans" who intended to do us harm. Everyone blamed us for what happened. So Sarah and I called and switched our flights ourselves, figuring that if we could at least get to DC, we'd pay for the difference, it wasn't worth our lives, and we didn't know how much longer we'd be safe in Debre Ziet. We prepared to sneak out and didn't want any of the staff to know so they could not get in trouble. Right before we left we got an email from Sallee saying they'd switched our flights, and we believe it was because they had been informed that our flights had been changed and finally realized that we were leaving, and needed to save their own tales and agree to get us out. So Sarah and I took a bus up to Addis the next morning, did a bit of shopping for souvenirs and then left that night at 11pm. I have never been so relieved to take off in an airplane before.

So there you have it, the quick and easy version of the story. I am grateful to Nigatu and the boys and Kidane for protecting us and putting their own jobs on the line. The expedition went on, despite our pleas, but it was relocated and the schedule changed and it ended up going well. I miss the people and I miss the opportunity, but I know I can do so much more once I further my education. Now I'm in transition moving from Iowa to Kansas city, Kansas, and looking for a job. If you know of anyone that is in the medical field in that area I'd love to pass along my resume. I know the Lord sent me to Ethiopia for a reason and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity I had while there.

yes I'm back

So I know this may seem realy sudden that I'm back in the US, but it really isn't. Things have been going on in Ethiopia but I tried to keep it quiet because I didn't want to worry anyone. But I'm currently staying with my Grandma in DC and I'm now sure what my plans are from there. I'm still trying to adjust and to not cry. It is a lot harder to be back then I thought. I miss Ethiopia. I know I complained because it was hard, but there are things there that I can do, and work to be done, and I sort of feel like I could have done so much more. I know you are all expressing concern, but know I'm having a hard time and not really ready to talk quite yet. I'll write more about my adventures and fleeing the country for my life, but right now I just wanted you all to know I'm safe.

I love them, but sometimes they make it so hard!!

So sorry that I haven't been able to write in a week, but the precious time I do have on the computer has been devoted the past few days to working on PA school applications (in particular my essays) and my resume since I'm trying to apply now for jobs in Leavenworth, Kansas, so that when I get back at least my resume should be circulating, at least I hope. We'll see how it goes.

Anyways, things have been pretty eventful, as eventful as they come here I guess. After emailing and talking with some of the people in Salt Lake and telling them the truth about the ridiculous things that go on down here, the head country coordinator mad ea little trip these past few days to Arsi Negelle. In one day he has us a laptop, had them unlock the phone so we could dial out, found us a new house, figured things out with the car, and got us approved to get our licence and the company to pay for it, so we'll make a trip to the capital next weekend. Then in all the busy busy time, he also got us soccer tickets for a game next weekend!! yeah!! That was the one thing I for sure wanted to do while I was here, so check!!

Oh, and more about the crazy women we live with and these people, we constantly see one of the boys in his underwear now, more awkward for me I think. But the other night at midnight Bezeyehu went on another tirade and started knocking on Sarah's door waking us both up because her son had called and she was so excited she wanted us to talk to him. When we said we were going back to bed and started ignoring her, she kept knocking on Sarah's door and pacing the hall between our two rooms, for at least 20 min. Then they started throwing things at my room late at night to inform me that Wandu was there or that I should shut my window, even though I purposefully left it open. Or turning music on full blast at 5am. And even though we live with a guy who sounds just like Fozzy Bear, he is up laughing and talking right outside my window until very late some nights. And between the dogs barking all night long and the cow mooing back, and our poor guard having to sleep with the cows, we're so excited to leave. I can't take any more knocking on my door late at night to deliver any more notes from Wandu, upset that we don't have time for him, or people asking for money or help. In two days we had three people write us letters asking to sponsor them coming to the states, pay for their children's schooling, or help them find a place to live. All very good things and I'm trying, but my resources are stretched. Now I'm just trying to send them to other agencies that specialize in those things and make contacts for them, but it really does seem to consume all your time. Because I truly do want to help, but I can't financially back up all of Arsi Negelle. It is hard to explain how hard it is, to see good people, with real problems, and who truly are searching for help, but not being able to offer it to them. The resources just aren't here. Because there are good people here who work hard, but even with our guard, he spent his entire month's salary on a shot for his son who caught malaria. So then when these guys contact me saying they want to help and send 300 mosquito nets for only 5 U.S. Dollars per net and wants to know what colors they would like best I want to poke my eyes out. That is a months school tuition,or half of a month salary for a school teacher here. And that is for only one net, considering the families here have at least 5 children, some 10 or 11, that is a whole two months worth of food, if not more!!! The government gives out mosquito nets for free. So I talked to him and he is now looking into getting them transported to here from the capital, because they can't even afford to travel to pick up the free ones. It is hard...I just don't know how else to say it. You can't come in and save Africa. Learn the resources, get to know and love the people, and then see what you can do. Flying in and handing out medications that are just going to make them need more and not giving them a resource when they leave, or giving them one shot of a three shot series and having no follow up to make sure they can get those two other shots, just isn't plausible here.

We did visit Shakito's again, and I swear and need to learn the names of her nephews, because we of course had some more quality bonding time, I'm telling you they are cute!! If you don't believe me, I'll show you the pictures when I get home. She did make this wonderful flat bread that you eat with some cooked spinach and it was divine.


On Friday we taught the first class at the Village of Hope to the little kids, there were I think 9 of them there. And they were so cute talking about Germi Germs and how bad they were and then I did a little presentation where I covered my hands in honey and then shook their hands and used a door and wrote with a pen, and touched their faces, so they could see everything they touch leaves behind germs when they don't wash their hands. Then they colored their own germs and we put them up where they needed to be reminded the most to wash their hands. Those kids really are cute and I love them. Then we went to Shashemene with Jenelle and Steff and had a grand old time since I had an upset stomach again while they ate things such as raw meat and apparently this kidney and liver wat they said tasted like baby barf. As you can tell I'm really sorry I missed it. However, we did visit the Rastafarian end of town and go to a bakery and have the best Guava and Mango Juice (if you ever to make it to Ethiopia please try their fruit juices, they are the best!). While we were sitting guys kept coming up to Steff (she is 35 and just as sweet as ever, but you can tell she is the older one in the group) and one even offered her some weed. However, she thought he said wheat and went on about how we don't cook and perhaps sometimes she'll take him up on it when we want to bake. Then he started pulling some out of his jacket and we all died laughing because she had no idea he meant weed. Oh Steff. You have to meet her to understand, but she has ADD and even today walking back from church went from singing "Mambo Number 5" and in one line was singing a primary song about praying, and then the next line was singing song from Les Mis. Speaking of which, I finished book 4 in the "Wheel of Time" and am now taking a break and attaching the unabridged Les Mis, little did I know what I was getting myself into!

We did go visit our new friend, the local nurse here, Zabidar, and her husband (who also owns one of the local schools) Fikade on Saturday for lunch, and I'm not kidding, it was for certain the best food I've had here. I couldn't get enough of it and it was very hard to control going back for more. Shikito's spinach didn't even come close. The only problem is when I asked them what it was called and how to make it they just said it was roasted meat wat and you just roast the meat. They just don't do recipes here and it drives me crazy sometimes!! but the beats and sweet potatoes and carrots, it was so nice to eat a well rounded meal!! They are such an amazing family and I can't express how much I appreciate all they have done for us. We will be teaching a biology class in two weeks and he is teaching us Amharic and we are already learning how to read it. They really do remind me about why I'm here and how I can help those who are in need, trust me they are the perfect example of giving people. Between her clinic and his school they cover most of the people here.

I still get mobbed every day and people scream "you! money!" or "Where are you go?" non-stop, but yesterday while walking the market I decided that somethings had to change, and it is probably me. This women started following me and kept showing me her shoes, and grabbing my coat and wouldn't go away and multiple times she pointed at shoes and said money, trying to get me to buy her a new pair. After trying countless times to get her to leave me alone I just gave up and she followed us around the market for at least 20 min. When we were leaving she made her way to Sarah and when Sarah saw her foot she had our friend translate trying to help her since the women had Elephantitis. However, no matter what help or advice Sarah offered she wouldn't listen and just kept saying her husband was poor and wanted money from us. It is just so hard for me to see people in need and for us to try to help them, and helping them take care of themselves, but for them to not even listen past the part when we say we won't give them money. Not to mention that by the time we had finished our 2 min conversation we had caused a traffic jam and were surrounded by 30 people, young and old and couldn't even move to try and get out. If you stop anywhere here to talk to someone, they get so nosey, and even though they can't understand they push you out of the way and little kids butte into the middle of the circle because they want to see what is so interesting. They just don't have any sense what-so-ever of space and today talking with a friend I almost lost it when a guy just came up and put his arm around me and just listened. But thank goodness for moms. When I told mom how frustrated I was about not getting anything done and our projects falling apart and the people not wanting help, she reminded me that even if I don't "save lives" or have an influence, the greatest thing is that I became stronger and am a better person for it. See, moms are great!

Thank goodness for church!

So these past few days have been interesting like always. There are great days, there are hard dyas, and there are some really hard days. Things have gotten more frustrating at our house with the invasion of privacy, the screaming, and just trying to meld two very different cultures. But on the plus side, our absolutely amazing guard Gemedo (who seems to be the only reliable person in our lives right now) found two houses for us, which Mieso will cheick out on Monday.

Friday was the day we were to meet with the community workers and have our first lesson of the health program Sarah and I are attempting to implement. Thanks to the advice from the former intern Aaron, we have been able to get a few more things rolling, and we are finally feeling busy at work. Dejene translated, and we started 45 min late because we waited for community workers to show up, and some even showed up 2 hours late in fact, but we figured that was better then not showing up at all. Dejene kept adding things in translation and then took the whole meeting over and turned it from the importance of clean water to a lesson on how they needed to work harder to get more latrines made in the villages. They never have meetings with the community workers anymore, which is ridiculous, but then they took our organized meeting and made it theirs, and we ended up on the side sitting while they scolded them.

Then the problems with the truck. Sarah and I tried to drive it somewhere but that turned into a huge fiasco. No matter what we did to prove them that we could drive the truck, even legally (and we were right and had proof of all our arguments from driver's liscence to my insurance policy), Mieso said no. It all came down to the fact that he was afraid his boss Nigatu would fire him if something happened, even though we got permission from NIgatu himself. Mieso is so afraid of getting fired and that even if Nigatu found out he was afraid of getting fired he would get fired. So he made us promise that we wouldn't tell, and any solution we can think of to get us to drive the truck involves mentioning that he is afraid Nigatu would fire him for anything that happened to the truck, even if we took full responsibility, and so now we're stuck between a rock and a hard place. I've never felt so trapped in a place in all my life, no phone, no car, in a village in the middle of no where, they won't let us go out without our gaurd or someone becuase we're girls....Anyways, so things kept piling up, problems that I couldn't fix, and problems with this organization...too many to go into right now.

However, basically the entire point of the blog is that I've come to peace and realize that those little, and big things don't matter. It was so nice to walk this morning and think on the way to church, and to sit and take the sacrament and then listen to the words of the prophet (we are watching last years conference for sacrament meeting) and realize that this is not it, this is not the reward, this is the test. I am here for a reason, that I cannot say enough. And I just can't get mad that the people for begging and screaming "you!" at me and everything else. Everyone is arriving from a journey and I do not know that journey. I don't know what has happened these past few weeks to make me harden my heart so much to these people and get so mad at them for making me feel like I'm not even a human being. Shame on me!! I'm doing the very same thing that I claim they are doing to me. I know this gospel is true and I'm grateful for my Savior and the Atonement and the fact that I know I can read the scriptures and learn from His example. This church defines who I am and I need to remember that and to be proud of the fact that I am a daughter of God and these people that I'm struggling so hard to serve and help are His children also.

And how could I forget...Friday was Wandu's 20th Birthday and Sarah and I were invited to come to his house at 1pm so we took off for lunch, ran home to get a few things to eat and were about 10 min late because we got lost and ended up at his cousins. I think we were 10 min late. He came running out wondering why we were late and said everyone has been waiting for us to start. When he found out we didn't have a camera he had to call a photographer, and we waited for 30 min for the party to actually start. While waiting we found out that Ethiopians don't really celebrate their birthday past the age of 6, if they do at all. Then he said he wanted to be American and so he was having his American Birthday with a cake and candles and everything. The photographer came and Wandu made Sarah and I stand there with him while they took pictures of us by his cake and candles. Keep in mind his family was there and he did not get a single picture with them, not even with his mom who has spent so much time preparing everything, and in fact he totally forgot to invite his Dad. We were the guests of honor and they made us sit in the middle, and we were the only ones who got a pop and were the first ones served. Sarah and I didn't realize that it was a full meal and they gave us enjira and potatoes. After we ate more then I could ever want, he informed us that we were the entertainment and everyone sat around waiting for us to do something. So I sang Happy Birthday in German and Sarah did the Marilyn Monroe Happy Birthday, and then they wanted us to dance for them and put on music and everything....I decided I might as well live it up while I was there, besides it was Wandu's Birthday and he was telling everyone how he was American now....so I danced and behaved like the idiot I am and had some fun with it. I just blows my mind that this thing was planned about us, and we weren't even informed. Wandu sure keeps us on our toes!

Nicki the Freak Show!

So I finally made french toast and Banana bread yesterday and it was so good!! Today has been a pretty normal day. I spent yet another day in the store room trying to go through all the old medicne and random things left behind by old expeditions. We are having a medical expedition in June and in order to try and stop another occurance of then bringing tons of old broad spectrum anti-biotics that are ineffective here and leaving them in the storage room to expire, we're doing an inventory and then what the next expedition doesn't use we'll donatae to local pharmacy's. We even went to a clinic today and met the husband of the nurse who owns the clinic. Then we also made more mango salsa...it was so good today!!

Ok so I really am not kidding when I say I feel like a freak show here sometimes. You stand around talking and the next thing you know 30 people are standing around staring at you. Or you go to a restaurant and they just sit and blatently stare at you. We even started going to this one cafe who when we get there plays the same three backstreet boys songs. I think it is the only American CD they own. Or yesterday these two guys probably in their late 20s, early 30s, just showed up at the office wanted to take us out for a soda or something. I even went to get bananas for the bread and everyone started laughing when I walked in. My favorite today is that while we were sitting down for a sandwich these guys came up and took pictures of Sarah and I on his camera phone. So if you see random pictures posted on the internet with me about midnight tonight....you know why!! I even have not only a fan club of males following us, but when I went running this morning, I started a running club too. I wouldn't be surprised if they showed up outside my house at 6am tomorrow. I learned a new trick that some old interns apparently suggested. If you turn around to the crowd of 20 kids following you and start teaching them astrophysics or I teach them some complex chemistry concept, they tend to disperse.

I do have to little boys that I hang out with and are my buddies. I met them at a friend we have named Shikito's house when we went there for dinner. They are her nephews. And for the life of me I can't say their names. :) But they are 10 and 7 and I love them!! They remind me of why I'm here. Ok, there are lots of things that remind me why I'm here, they are just a bonus.

The long awaited photos!

So here is a link to photobucket which is Sarah's website where she keeps our pictures updated. http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u111/abeayant/
I am still behind in the times and use film. Sad I know! But we will be adding some more pictures with in the next day or so. Just something to look forward to!

Probably the biggest wonder since I have arrived here has been the fact that men are the easiest thing to get in Ethiopia. Sarah and I have frequently wondered why it is so hard in the United States. We both have our fan clubs and stalkers. One guy visits because he wants to borrow my library of five books I brought from America. Honestly, I don't know if he wants to tackle the unabridged version of Les Mis. But my favorite siting happened last night. When we got home there were some boys watching TV in the living room and I introduced myself. Keep in mind I had been in the sun all day, and had left the house with wet hair, a huge t-shirt, not make-up and a bandanna. One of the boys took particular interest and I found out he is Buzeyahu's nephew. Then the next morning when I just got back from my run he was waiting in the living room again and we talked for a few minutes but I told him I had to get ready for work and so he asked me for my email address. Just being nice I figured why not and rushed to the shower. After running back to my room and trying to hurry to get dressed since I was running late there was a knock at my door. I figured it was just Bezuyahu's helper and so I grabbed the first thing I could find which just happened to be a spaghetti strap shirt. No, it was Fikadu! He was giving me a journal that Wandu had just dropped off even though we were planning on seeing him after work. Totally embarrassed by my attire and wet hair and again still running late from our talk 10 min ago he proceeded to tell me how he was in 12th grade, and trying to go to University in America and how he would like to see me there. He also laughed at everything I said, even when I told him I studied Exercise Science at University. And the story goes on. I got an email from him only three hours later once he got back to school. It really has been this bad, worse actually. I am now just considered their American Sugar Mama and the fastest ticket to America. Sometimes I think this is worse then the kids who follow you everywhere begging for money!

Today we went to Kumudu and checked out a water pump project and then took more pictures of stoves and latrines. As you can see another exciting day. It was nice to see Kumudu. The beauty of this country is so different from anything I've ever seen, but it can be empowering. There really is beauty in simplicity. I never would have thought before that rolling hills covered in plowed fields dotted with trees and small huts could take my breath away.

We did have a visit from the head honcho in Addis, Nigatu. He solved our problem with living with Buzeyehu. We should be out of the house and in our own within a week. Things still move so slowly here and we are still struggling to fill our time, but progress we have progress! We finished our proposals for teaching women's health to a mother's group and also general health to the community workers. Hopefully these will begin next week. But this will only take care of about 10 hours of our week, so we are still working on the other 30. But we've learned to celebrate every little success and this was a big one in our minds. So yeah!

We almost died when Nigatu suggested that the three new boy interns in Debre Ziet wanted to come spend a week with us because they think we are so busy here. I sometimes really wonder what on earth Salt Lake is thinking, this isn't an internship, this is more like following around two workers and then figuring out what to do with our time while the write up reports and such. We read an old newsletter Salt Lake published and I wanted to puke. One of the expedition projects they considered a success was...ok I can't summarize it but I'll quote it: "Participants set up an assembly line of hygiene stations to help nearly 75 children. Participants blew their noses, washed their little faces, gave them haircuts, a clean t-shirt and sent them out the door with a treat. Much fun was had by all, while witnessing the sometimes dramatic changes that would take place after a little "fix-up!"" Perhaps now you'll get a feeling of what we're working with. We try to get things done here, but we don't have the resources or they just move slow, but if we try to work with Salt Lake they would think handing out tissues is a success. The entire purpose and motto of Ascend is to help others help themselves and their children ascend out of poverty. How is washing their face and giving them a lollipop going to help them learn to improve their life and "ascend" out of poverty? I have to take things day by day and Sarah and I learned that we just have to take things into our own hands because if our main office thinks that giving out chapstick and lotion to people who have chronic problems with dry skin is a success I don't know what is. Sarah and I figured out in 5 minutes a way to teach them how to make lotion for themselves or lip balm using resources here readily available to all the villages - aloe. It is everywhere! This is what I was given the impression I would be doing. Trust me when I say we are trying.

Sarah and I have been experimenting with the food and made Mango Salsa today we just ate as a salad and some avocados. We have been very pleased with our thrown together recipes lately. We made this great tomato salad and our favorite has been a chicken salad. We're thinking of starting our own recipe book!

The Kamikaze Rats

Sarah and I spent this past weekend at the Village of Hope, an orphanage and compound for another non profit organization since the three girls that usually run the compound were at the capital. Little did we know what we were getting ourselves into. We didn't leave the grounds for two full days because between the twin 18 month old girls, Balditu and Margitu, we had our hands in up to our elbows in dirty diapers and bottles and baby food. I promise all the clothing I brought is now covered in either pee, poop, or injera. Then all we ate were potatoes and injera, or some form of carb. I swear I've never eaten so many carbs in my life. The only thing we ate that was really healthy was this corn mush, which is still full of starch, and a scoop of this tomato salad. That was it for the whole weekend. Bread, pasta, injera. Seriously I can't even try to explain what it tastes like beside a very thick crepe soaked in vinegar. But besides the kamikaze rats running around trying to kill us in the middle of the night, it was a pretty uneventful weekend. Honestly though these rats were huge and for the first night I swore someone was in the house and so I didn't sleep because I was so terrified. I kept telling myself the only that mattered were the babies and Sarah. They could take everything else. These rats were climbing pipes and in the rafters above our heads, no fear let me tell you!! They are relatives of Mighty Mouse. I did get my first official braided hair do while I was there and I looked so sexy. I'll post some pictures of that too.

So Sarah and I talked to our supervisor in Salt Lake and we figured out a few things we could do. We are going to teach a mother's group women's health and try and get a female translator and just pray that they tell their friends and spread the word so we can start teaching the lessons to other women's groups. It is just hard to actually get the women alone without the men there. And despite my rantings about people begging for money, they really are a very shy and withdrawn people. And trying to get women to talk about their health issues has been impossible. Then we are also teaching the community workers general health twice a month. Besides that we're trying to work on this program where they give orphans a pregnant goat and they have to learn how to take care of the goat and then give us the offspring in return. But even getting that data has been near impossible. Ok, so here is an explanation of how slow things run here. I got here at 8am with Sarah and Mieso comes in a little after 8am and we tell him we want to have our Monday morning meetings that we are supposed to have every Monday. When he says ok we wait an hour for Dejene to get there and then they do things with the car and keep disappearing. Then around 10:30 we finally get all together and I say lets start the meeting and they say that they have lunch soon, and we should have it at 2pm instead. So we then go and have a cup of coffee....well they have their coffee and I have my warm milk. Which is actually very very good. So anyways, we finally had the meeting and then we went and had another coffee (this time I just sat and talked with them instead of another hot milk. It is really good, but it is hot here! And you can only drink so much hot milk in one day).

Sarah and I did go crazy trying to find some place to eat and we went to this shop where we were told they had hamburgers and french fries, but they didn't get us any and didn' t understand even after sitting there for 45 min. Then we went to another place and when we asked about fish they thought we meant juice. But all in all it worked out because they found someone who spoke English and got us an egg sandwich which was very good and even invited us back into the special rose garden. They really like white people I guess. We'll go back tomorrow when it isn't so cold!! Another thing, it is the rainy season here and it is stinking hot where your clothes stick to you in the day and then around 4 or 5 every single day it rains and gets absolutely freezing. And it just doesn't rain, it storms all night. And then the power goes out, which means you can't use the toilet or shower because the water is run through electricity somehow. I swear I don't get it sometimes, but we cope.

Sarah did hurt her ankle and we are pretty sure it is a stress fracture and so the poor girl has been limping everywhere, which is hard because we literally walk everywhere. It is three miles just to the Village of Hope and we go there all the time. Anyways, she was limping this weekend and so we figured out why guys do that ghetto strut of theirs. They saw a Farenjii walking who had a hurt ankle and thought it was cool because that is what people do in America and it just spread from there. We saw it this weekend. By the time we left the kids were limping like Sarah thinking they were cool. It was too funny!

The side effects of malaria medicine

So for those of you who know me pretty much at all you know how bad I sunburn...well I found out today that there is also a side effect of the malaria medicine I am taking, sensitivity to the sun. Oh yes, it makes you sunburn. So lets add the fact that I'm constantly in the sun here, but only wearing a t-shirt and a long skirt and sandals, so what is there to burn...my toes! My toes are burnt to a crisp and I can tell you it is not a pleasant experience. I mean who does that!?

Also today while having yet another busy busy day at the office, I was going through cleaning out the documents on the computer, when a monkey walked into our yard! I kid you not a monkey! He turned and looked straight at me through the window and darted away! I had not even seen a monkey here but one just waltzes into my front yard. Lets just say I was excited. I will now call him my monkey, and he shall be mine, my own little monkey. Come here little monkey!

Oh, and we had fresh rolls and orange marmalade for breakfast and it was oh so good! I love my life.

If I can change one thing

Ok so I never thought I would be so grateful for indoor plumbing! Sarah and I caught something and are frequently frequenting the restroom. And only days after we moved into our new house with an actually toilet that actually flushes...we sang praises and exclamations of joy about that.

Today we actually made some progress and visited an Orphanage called the Village of Hope a few miles down the road. It is run by some girls we met because they helped us to church on Sunday. We were able to see two sick babies and help them out a little bit.

So I'm now going to attempt to explain what it is like to be a white person in Ethiopia. Also in my attempt I want to assist Americans in realizing that giving handouts to these people is not "helping them". It makes them literally rely more on begging and does not lift them in any way out of poverty. Teach them, help them learn, give them loans and make them pay it back once they get their education...anything but giving them money. This is skewed their minds to a point where now they don't even listen to us trying to truly help them and teach them because they turn of their minds to us once we tell them we aren't giving them money. Everyone here when they see us pass stare at us and some even took pictures of us on their cell phones to show their friends that they actually saw a farenji. Then if we walk anywhere they scream "you you you" forcefully trying to make us look and then hand out their hands and say "money money money". Mother's push their kids at us and try to get our money. One kid actually in front of our eyes started rolling on the ground in front of us asking for money. Kids here have a radar from a mile away and smell us and come running in hoards. We just have to stand there for 2 minutes before we are surrounded with people trying to get our attention and asking for money. Walking to the orphanage kids came running from the fields and followed us just saying "money". We ended up with at least 15 kids behind us. Then we hear the adults talking about us and saying rude things about us not giving their children money. This is what "saving Africa" and Duffie bag medicine and handouts has done to these people. They think they have no chance to live a good life here...well they do!! There are people who are well off with a college education that live comfortably and are happy, until we tell them otherwise. I have met kids here whose dream it is to go to America because they say there are no poor there and it is the most beautiful. Then when you ask them what they want to do they don't know, anything to save their family. This is so wrong, America is a land of opportunity, but it isn't the land of milk and honey and the streets aren't lined with gold as they think. Even those who try to befriend us we find sometimes are just using us as their "golden ticket" like charlie in the chocolate factory. If I can do anything with this blog, it is to help others understand that we aren't helping them! It is debilitating them and taking away their own freedom in a way. I'm going to go crazy with the people in the streets everywhere screaming money and you you you like I owe it to them because it is my duty and right because I'm white and I have money and they don't. What kind of a perception of life is that?

The Clown Bus

First, with the high tech systems I have here in Ethiopia I am not able to read the comments on my blog, so you can just email them to me at NicoleMShepherd@gmail.com

Second, I haven't written in a few days because the electricity keeps going out. It is the beginning of rainy season and rains every afternoon now and of course then the electricity goes out everytime it rains, sometimes multiple times. And I've just been trying to cope with everything and to just let it all compute and process in my mind. Honestly, things that I thought I would be doing aren't happening or aren't even possible because resources are so different here and things we are used to having as easy access in the United States aren't even able to be found here. For example, we have seen so many runny noses here and there aren't tissues to wipe them and the mothers just use their hands and then wipe them on her skirt and then touches the food and stuff.

So random happenings here? The culture? Lets just say Sarah and I have to joke and continuously try to find the humor in the situations to remain sane. For example the mini buses, or taxis here. We went to church this morning and had to take the bus. First the driving here in Ethiopia. The main road is a one lane road with semis and trucks, donkey carts, horses, cattle, bikes, and people. Going from 80 to 0 in .5 seconds isn't uncommon due to cattle wandering or just chillin in the road. Or people crossing, or a donkey cart accident, or big rocks left in the middle of the road from the last bus breaking down and surrounding them with rocks to they "couldn't get hit" and then taking off after fixing the bus and leaving the rocks there. Then they honk at every person, cart, creature, bug, bus, every god creation there is to say get out of my way. There are only two regulations, at least two wheels and a horn and your automobile passes government inspection. Then they pass everyone on the other side of the road playing chicken with on coming traffic, but they put their blinker on so it is ok. Now the actually mini busses. They are built to seat seat 12, but at one point we had 21 people in the bus...I kid you not. Then they think that if they close the windows they save money on gas. But imagine the mix of 100 degree weather, muggyness from rainy season, body odor, human waste, vomit, and every other horrible smell you can think of sitting and cooking in this van. And you can't move because you are pinned between one person and the next. Your only saving grace is when the boy who collects the money hangs out the window screaming "Sheshamene, Sheshamene" and although the breeze smells of BO, it is better then cooking in your own body juices, and the body juices of five other people. And yes, we road this thing for an hour and a half, and even sat while they filled the tires and gas tank, with the windows still closed, but they put in a music tape of Ethiopian Techno music...which is all they play here and it all sounds the same.

Besides that it has been a good day. We saw a mother group yesterday and climbed some trees and Dejene taught us how to make Shiro Wat, even though we couldn't even eat us because our mom decided to welcome us by feeding us...and feeding us...and feeding us. I don't think I ate that much at Thanksgiving. Then they she gave us sour, chucky, nastyness, which they called milk. I'm not a picky eater and I'll try at least everything, but that was nasty. You even have to eat the chunks with a spoon. That is all I can say on that subject.

But between quoting "finding Nemo" and taking pictures of me being a beaver, and attempting to eat sugar cane and getting all sticky, Sarah and I amazingly get through each day. We do laugh a lot. The computer is slow so I can't post pictures, but I'll post a link to Sarah's photo website so you can look it up. OH, I did learn one saying here that should be implemented into everyone's lives. Vultures are also known as psychologists here. Because when you see them circling you know something is dead and is makes you happy that at least you are alive. Oh so true. Thank you to our gaurd Ammanuel for that advice. Yes, we have a guard.

I know when I get home I'll never want to see ingira again or wat, but thank goodness for the fruit juice and peanut butter I found in the closet here. I sing praises to the person who forgot to bring that home. We also found some randoms Foster Clark's Orange Flavored Vitamin C Flakes...also known as Tang, or as we like to call it, scurvey provention. Signing off.

Pepe the beef

Today we went to a village and went to check up on some technology projects. We went and saw the new adobe stoves and latrines and talked to the people about what they thought. The women loved their new stoves! They could bake enchira (their flat bread that is good but has a sour taste because of vinegar and they let it ferment, but you get used to it) all day standing which is much better then on the ground and it has a pipe to bring the smoke outside the hut and takes less fuel and also heats water and makes wat (the stew they eat with the enchira) at the same time. It really has improved their life style and it was good to see how happy they were. They kept shaking our hands and saying ishi ishi (ok ok) and Galatomi (thank you).

Then we went and saw the house that Meiso is looking to rent for us while Sarah and I are here. It is perfect! It has running water and a shower and a sink and a toilet that flushes...we were in heaven just thinking about it! There is alo a cow we named Pepe. We have been calling the cows beef because when I first got here all the guys were teasing me about eating fon and I said I'd try it...until they told me it was raw beef cut into chunks. And Sarah has a hard time distinguishing between the goats and sheep here...trust me I still struggle, they look the same and are different from what we think of as goats and sheep. So we now say beef and geeps (trust me Ethiopia and strange singing can do strange things to you).

The only thing I'm really struggling with is the noise that keeps me up at night. Sarah and I get up at 5am because of the cars, which honk whenever they see someone or a donkey cart, or the hiennas. But the worst is the loud speaker. In Ethiopia they are allowed to pray on load speaker, but it is more like chanting, and they can do it whenever they want. It usually starts at 5am, but this morning is started at 3am and pretty much went on all day. And is it loud!!!

We are meeting with a mother group to morrow to hand out micro loans so it should be good!

My world turned up-side-down

Today was an interesting day. We went to a school that Ascend hepled to rebuild to check in the progress. It was wonderful and reminded me why I am here. I also played soccer with the kids in the school yard and I think it was good for them so see that we are people. This morning we also went running with Wandu and he kicked my trash but is going to whip me into shape. He does calisthetics and different exercises while he runs.

The biggest lesson I learned today sit he skewed perception I had and Americans have about "saving Africa". After what people have done to come in and send medicine and just some immunizations, things that I see now are not at all practical, everyone here expects handouts and they try to be your friend because they know you can give them stuff. Everywhere we go there are people staring bluntly...like every single person in the market place was looking at us and then the kids follow us and just say over and over "money money money". They have been given too many handouts by "Farengiis" or white people (that is what they all call us). It was just such a difference walking this afternoon then from working with Dejene and Meiso in the office and going to the school. Sarah (the other inten and I) took Dejene and Meiso to lunch and I had my frist real Ethiopian food experience. Then they had coffee while I drank this really good milk (hot milk with seasonings) they ordered for me and had a really good talk. It really is just night and day here. All these perceptions I had are totally different then I thought actually being here. Dejene talked about how education really and truly is the best thing and how it helps them help themselves and also effects their posterity. I can't emphasize how critical education is. I could go on forever about the things I've seen just in two days and I know I have so much more to learn. I'm just impressed by the guys in the office and the things they have done to bring themselves up and what they have done with their life. They live a good life and are successful in their eyes. But stupid Americans have come in convinced so many that they need more and they have to change when really their quality of life suits them and they are happy. They got an education, have a good job, a house, and are well fed. What more could they want?

I'm Alive

So I made it finally! My Visa came the day before I left because I called the post office and the post master helped find it for me. But I swear that was the longest flight of my life. I left Iowa at 9 am and didn't leave Washington DC until 8:30pm and then it was a 16 hour flight. When I arrived at the airport no one was there to pick me up so I looked like a freak wandering around not knowing where I was going and not knowing anything but Akaam, which is Hello in Oromo. But I found a phone and got a hold of Nagatu who came and picked me up.
I slept in a bed at the office and was grateful to see a toilet that flushed. The two things I will struggle to get over is my huge fear of germs and my obsession with smelling good all the time. But I'll learn. The driver then drove me the four hours to Arsi Negelle. I was so happy to see Sarah, the other intern. We ended up going out with Wandu, one of the local boys here who has taken a liking to the interns. So he showed us around and is taking us running in the morning. This is going to be good for me. Tomorrow we are going to a school to help teach and see how things are going.

still no visa!

Ok so I still haven't gotten my visa and I leave on Saturday! And they said they mailed it two days ago! ah!

No Visa

4/30/07- so I was scheduled to fly out today, but my visa didn't get here on time, so now I am flying out on Saturday May 5th, we'll see how it goes! Cross your fingers!