I can't manage to change it on the 'contact' page of this blog, but this is my address going forward. I can still receive mail at the Addis PO Box - but only if I know something has been sent there so then I know to go and pick it up when I happen to be in Addis.
It's the little things... Like when I'm really looking forward to bathing and we have water! (We always have enough saved for drinking, cooking and hand washing but sometimes have to wait for the water to return before washing clothes etc.) Or the feeling when I first wake up in the morning and reach to turn on the light switch and it works! It's so nice to not have to get ready by flashlight. You never know when the electricity is going to be out. Luckily it's on more often than off. If it is the evening and the electricity returns you can hear the neighborhood give a collective cheer as their lights turn back on. A reminder that we are all in this together!
One of my favorite meals so far was a heaping plate of green beans with carrots and cabbage with potatoes (atop the mandatory biddeena, of course). This country knows how to do vegetables right.
And the not so little things... I have been feeling the love with the cards and packages I've received! I know it takes time, effort and hard earned money to send something across the globe to little old me. Your generosity, thoughtfulness and support is remarkable. And the emails, texts and phone calls (when I am able to get them) really keep me going especially when I'm having a "what am I doing here?" kind of day. How did I get so lucky to have such a great group of people in my life? I can feel the love from 8,000 miles away. Thanks a million!
What I've been doing these past few months... During pre-service training our days are full - we are in "class" from 8 to 5:30 Monday thru Friday and Saturday mornings. Most of our time is spent in language and health classes. Health topics include: the Ethiopian healthcare system, nutrition, maternal child health, family planning, HIV/AIDS, malaria, behavior change communication, neglected tropical diseases (trachoma, schistosomiasis, soil transmitted helminths, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, podoconiosis, leishmaniasis & Guinea worm) & WASH (water, sanitation & hygiene). A few weeks ago I presented a brief health lesson to a 9th grade class at the secondary school here in town. And this week in small groups we hosted a community education event where we invited members of the community to learn about nutrition. Both went surprisingly well. Permagardening is another thing we learned about and practiced doing. I love the concept and find it interesting that I learned a lot about permagardening and saw it in action when I went to Cuba and now here I am potentially teaching it in Ethiopia. Who knew.
Still no access to email or most of the Internet for now. If/when it returns you'll know because I'll finally respond and also be able to make phone calls!
Love from Ethiopia!
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