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.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
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?
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?
Sunday, May 13, 2007
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
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!
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!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
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?
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?
Monday, May 7, 2007
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
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!
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