Emily's Space

Yes, I know it has been awhile since my last blog. It’s been a bit hectic since my departure. But, as I got up early this morning, I’d thought I’d take the time to write the final blog!

Firstly, what have I been doing this past week? Well, the flight home was… long! 30 hours worth of traveling and over 22 hours of it spent up in the air. But I finally made it to San Francisco. All three flights went well. I also found the ultimate cure/prevention for jet lag. Stay awake for over 40 hours…no naps… just stay awake. You will no longer have an internal clock and by the time you reach your destination, you can reset the clock and everything will go well.

Oh, and my American cell phone went missing the day before I left. I don’t know exactly what happened, but it either got stolen or I missed placed it in our house. It was on its last leg, but I just don’t have anyone’s phone numbers now! Especially the people in NYC…

This past week the family has been amazing. Kate was up here most of the week and my brother was able to make it up for a couple days. First time the five us were together since Christmas! I think it was the anticipation to finally get together as a family that made the last couple days in Ethiopia hard. I wanted to stay, but I couldn’t wait to get home!

Yesterday, I did my presentation for Rotary in Santa Cruz (got to make my Grandfather proud and show off to his fellow Rotarians). It went well I think: only one person out of about 60 fell asleep… good considering the age of many. It was hard though to prepare for the presentation though. How does one get 3 months of great experience and countless of new knowledge into 25-30 minutes?? I felt as though I only brushed over the top layer and what I covered.

But one of the common questions I seem to be asked revolves around how this experience has changed my perspective/life. I always say that I’ve only been home for less than a week and thus cannot answer the questions fully yet. Obviously, it has changed some things. I have learned that I can work for NGOs if I wanted (before I questioned working for these organizations based on skills and interest). I have experienced a new culture. I now have people I can call friends in Ethiopia. I have discovered skills I didn’t know I had in relation to work. These are great things considering I was only there for 3 months!

As this was my first time living in a developing nation, I was able to see first hand what I have read about. I was able to break any stereotypes that have been placed on these countries. I have felt how it feels to stand out and be stereotyped. I have felt the pangs of grief and uselessness when I see a sick or handicapped child living on the street. I have felt the rays of optimism and community when I see humanity helping their fellow comrade even when they themselves have nothing. All of these things are priceless. I would not take back this experience for the world.

I am hearing stories now of other IFP experiences and I realize how unique and great mine was.

Well, I depart this blog with this: At least once in your life, get out of your comfort zone and go somewhere new. You’ll learn more about yourself and about the world.

Today marks the day. I am leaving Ethiopia in a few hours and heading home (via Dubai then New York City). What am I feeling right now? I’ll miss the people here naturally and Ethiopia as a whole. But I’m also happy to be heading back and getting back to family then school/work. I have learned a lot here and now it is time to take it back to the States.

Wednesday night we had a nice get together at our place with all the staff from Shola and the head office. Kind words were spoken, gifts were exchanged, and conversation had. Overall, it was nice. My work here has gone beyond being a school project. I have gone out of my bubble and learned new skills, lived in a new culture, and met great people. I have seen and experienced things I have never imagined. Has this experienced changed my outlook on life? Ask me when I’m home! I can’t think about it while packing, saying goodbye, and all those details of moving back.

Well… till later! (Probably during my layover in Dubai… 7.5 hours of it! Woo-hoo!) 30 hours of traveling...

I made it safely back from my trip down south. I must say that this trip was great! I wish I can write ever single detail about it. But like the Mekele Trip, I’ll try and condense everything I want to say!

Day 1:

· Plane supposed to take off at 830… We take off at 2pm and turns out to be a propeller plane. With a layover in Jimma, this flight was definitely not the smoothest!

· Realize at airport that there are no taxis, but found a ride that was dropping other tourists off nearby.

· Get to Swaynes Hotel, check in, book my programs (they thought it was funny that I had everything written out), and ate dinner (yummy fish)

Day 2:

· Nech Sar National Park (with hired driver and car)

· Animals: warthogs, more zebra than I can say, baboons, velvet monkeys, lots and lots of birds and raptors, Dik Diks, Great Kudos, Gazelle, Butterflies, hornbill

· Favorite moments: clearing the road of a Zebra herd on foot (I was surrounded by Zebra!) and “chasing” Kudo and being chased by Zebra who where running from Kudo trying to get a picture of the Great Kudo (eventually got it)

· Views were amazing!

Day 3:

· Boat trip on lake to visit hippos and crocodiles

· Hippos are huge and loud. Even saw one on land!

· The crocodiles were over 10 feet long! And please, never smile at a crocodile, for they will go hide in the water

· Relaxation and book reading in Arba Minch

Day 4:

· After hanging out at various gas stations for 2.5 hours waiting for gas (gotta love the gas shortage), drove an hour up to Dorze

· Saw typical Dorze houses, learned how they prepare enset (false banana tree), at Koncho (enset bread… delicious), and bought lots of cloth! The Dorze people are known for their houses and weaving. Great cloths!

Day 5:

· Plane arrived on time! But there seemed to be more security at the Arba Minch Airport but realized that they had no electronic equipment. Made me unpack all my bags!

Those are the highlights of my trip. There is plenty more! But then this will be a novel. I did get some great photos. And the people at Swaynes Hotel were amazing. Very nice and helped me with everything I wanted to do. But its time to go when you start knowing the staff and director and they set a table for you (by yourself) at your favorite spot.

The amount of illegal fisherman surprised me. There were quite a few, in complete view of everyone, out in the water fishing. Now, these ones using a simple homemade rod in the water amoungst the hippos and crocs are the ones I have mixed feelings about. I know that Nech Sar has problems with the people who use gigantic nets that trap crocs (which they kill and sell the parts). But what about those whose families for generations fished for their daily food here (fish that happens not to be endangered or threatened at all)? Yes, the government has worked with these tribes to relocate and find other means of substance beyond the endangered area.

I must say that the attention I got being a solo female traveler (especially staying at a place that is mainly tour groups staying for a day or two at most). Many were surprised at my willingness to do things myself. They were inviting me to their homes and to explore Arba Minch with them (but my days were packed). Also, these locally run resort type places need to learn more about travelers like I was. There to do stuff, but also to relax. The concept of staying at a place, relaxing with a book, and maybe a drink outside in the afternoon surprised them a bit. But they can make some money off of it if they build the infrastructure.

Anyways, in short: AMAZING!

P.S: Only 5 days left in Ethiopia

Tomorrow marks the day that I leave for my trip! I hope all goes well and that I can relax and see lots of animals and if I can afford some Dorze culture. I called to confirm the flight today, turns out the flight has been postponed from 8:30 to a 10:30 take off. Though that is two hours that could have been spent in Arba Minch, it’s not a problem at all! This is especially true if it’s the only thing that goes astray.

My tentative itinerary:

·         August 6^th (Wednesday): Arrive, check in at hotel, and book the rest of my days

·         August 7^th (Thursday): Hire car/driver and spend morning/afternoon with the animals at Nech Sar National Park

·         August 8^th (Friday): Boat tour to Crocodiles and Hippos and Hot Springs

·         August 9^th (Saturday): Hire car/drive and go to Dorze (depends on price) or hire scout and take nature walk or explore Arba Minch or more Hot Springs

·         August 10^th (Sunday): Go home on 10:30 flight

Wish me luck! Till Sunday!

Again, it’s been awhile since my last “real” blog! Life has been settled here the past two weeks. Work was keeping me fairly busy for most of the time. (Even had to take some work home with me and work on during dinner at Limetree Cafe. That’s a first.) I was getting new projects it seemed left and right! Then again, that is what I came here to do. I could have instead decided that as “free labor” (i.e. Intern), I might as well do the bare minimum and spend my time in other ways (i.e. “hanging out” and drinking). But I like what I am doing and in the process learning a lot about Africa and NGOs. I can do the other stuff in NYCQ. Plus, all that I am doing would look super on my resume!

On another note, I read a great book this weekend, Race Against Time: Searching for Hope in AIDS-Ravaged Africa by Stephen Lewis. It was dropped off by Ali to return back to Asfaha. And, as I had some free time that evening, I busted it open…then finished it the next day in Emily fashion. (This is why I must force myself not to read the book I bought for my Safari Trip…its hard…its sitting there wanting to be read…but must save it!) Besides the great commentary on the needs and future of Africa, it gave a unique perspective on the UN. Many might know that getting a position at the UN is “my dream job.” The response I get to this quite often is one of wonderment on why I would want to work for such an “outdated” “dysfunctional” “powerless” organization. But, I think the author put it down correctly. Though it has its flaws and bureaucracy, it has done great things in the past and great potential to do things in the future (if nations and people were to realize it and actually act). In short, this book just underlined my ambition to work there. Bring on UN bureaucracy and low-women employment!

It was also interesting reading this book while working at ASC in Ethiopia. Much of what Stephen Lewis had to say about the relationship between prevention and treatment, eliminating user-fees, and having development be bottom-up is what ASC is striving towards. But yet, ASC receives (as of right now) no national aid. The money promised by Bush to Africa goes to places like USAID or PEPHAR. The latter pushes the idea of abstinence over condom use (this has led to the provision of free condoms as bad as it promotes sex). This means, that to actually get a good chunk of funding from them, organizations must promote abstinence, even to Commercial Sex Workers. ASC has over 70 CSW who come in almost daily to get free condoms (and free VCT services). Abstinence campaigns will not suddenly stop these people; they and their families depend on the income to survive day-to-day. It would take income generating programs and social change. Why then a government would force this policy (one that doesn’t even work in their own country) on a different culture? We can’t even convince China to provide open internet access. We get mad when others tell us to roll back agriculture subsidies. Why do they think we can tell Africa to stop having sex?

So, in short, I recommend the book.

Oh, change of topic. Today (Aug. 3), in 3 hours, Asfaha is taking us out to have teresega (otherwise known as raw meat in English)! And as per my work with the deworming project, I say bring it! When in foreign lands, one must soak up as much culture and tradition as possible! I will tell more about it afterwards.

(3 days until Nech Sar National Park!)
UPDATE:  Raw meat dinner was amazingly good! Picture to come of it as soon as I upload it on my computer. And my tummy isn't too mad at me this morning (just trying to recover from the home remedy of garlic and wine overdose)