Young Professionals Group and Jodi's Visit

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.

Deworming Meds at JDC Clinic

It's Movember

New Classroom at Chilo

Chilo Primary School after the Young Professionals got done with it

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. 

Happy Students at Chilo