I can’t believe that it’s been two weeks since my last post.
Time is really flying. School is great. The students are coming along. What’s
amazing is that the best students are not only distinguishing themselves
through in-class exercises and homework, but they are also helping the other
students.
The workings of our English Club are underway. We decided to
take two students from each class, one male and one female and are planning on
using a room at Fasiledes on Saturdays to hold an hour-long session. We have to
clear the weekend use of a classroom with the principal but I am hopeful he
will encourage us. We will use poetry to spark critical thinking with the students. Hopefully, students develop and speak their opinions. We
hope that they will also form a bond with each other that will last as they
progress in school. Lastly, we are going to teach some leadership. It is
important that the students help each other inside and outside of class. A
leadership role isn’t always obvious. It helps to point it out to people,
especially some that are so young.
A couple of weeks ago we had a JDC Young Professionals trip
come to town. These were some really amazing people. All of them engaging and
interesting. All of them fun. Liz and I had a blast spending a few days with them. I feel that they really got a taste of what we do here. The group painted
at Chilo Primary School (rural school outside of Gondar), we dewormed families
at the JDC Clinic, we dewormed students at Tantikura Elementary School, they
helped with construction at another school and we visited Ambober and some well
projects. It was a marathon couple of days but they all had a ton of fun. Words
can’t describe a lot of what we do; you’ve got to see it. They actually got to
see a lot of it. The young people that came are inspiring. These are people
that will remain active and interested and hopefully promote change.
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| Deworming Meds at JDC Clinic |
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| It's Movember |
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| New Classroom at Chilo |
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Chilo Primary School after the Young Professionals got done with it
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The weekend before last we visited Awra Amba with a group of
friends. Awra Amba is an egalitarian village about 3 hours outside of Gondar. It
was unique; something that's never been done in Ethiopia. I wouldn’t really call the village egalitarian but it was close. We
took a tour, read a lot and just hung out and enjoyed each other’s company. One
thing that scared me was that they put all of their elderly inside a ward. The
interior is made of cold, grey stone and there was no energy. It made me think about
getting older. I know my family well and I have confidence that they would
never put me in an elderly home. The one at Awra Amba scared me. If I do go to
an elderly home, it better have a basketball court and ping pong table….or
you’ll have to drag me there. They described the elderly as babies, which I
couldn’t disagree with more.
Liz’s mom, Jodi, was here with us the last few days. She
spent time in Gondar and Addis Ababa. We had a lot of fun. She is really an
amazing woman. It was great to have her here but really tough to see her leave.
While I’m so far away, it’s good to detach myself from home. It helps me focus on
being here and what I’m doing. That being said I am very happy that Jodi was
here and makes me look forward to when my family comes to visit…….if that ever
happens……
I really enjoy it here. Our free time is relaxing and we are
actively working. The students are the best. They just opened a new school
building at Fasiledes with four new classrooms. They moved the students out of
the dilapidated rooms and into the new building. It’s amazing, there are
currently three new buildings under construction at Fasiledes. I’m looking
forward to seeing what this school looks like by the time we leave. There's so much change taking place in my work and personal life. It's really an exciting time.
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| Happy Students at Chilo |
