Busy Week

1/22
It has been a busy week.  A new group of volunteers, G12, have arrived in Ethiopia.  I was asked to come help give them some training on life in Ethiopia.  It was a fun getting to know them.  I was able to show some of them around the fun places in Addis, and others I introduced to T'ej (locally brewed honey wine), and Arake (local moonshine).   Others volunteers and  I  took the newbies to see Timket (Epiphany).  Here it is celebrated by the churches taking their model ark of the covenants to be blessed.  People parade with them to the locations, then after the blessing with holy water, they are taken back to the churches.  Addis is the second largest celebration site in Ethiopia. The roads were closed and thousands of people came out to see the procession.  Along with all the work, dental, and things I had to do in Addis, I barely even slept.  It was really fun getting to know the new volunteers. I am excited to see who I get at my site. 
The GAD comittee is preparing for the AGE summit, that's the Action For Gender Equality summit.  It is a run in Addis to promote equality for women.  GAD is bringing a group of ten volunteers and twenty of the kids they work with at site to Addis.  While there, we will teach gender-related lessons, promote good health, etc, as well as of course running in the event.  We have already booked people like the US ambassador to Ethiopia, and one of the girls empowerment groups working in Ethiopia to speak to the girls.  The idea is that the girls and boys will take what they learn in Addis and become change agents in their towns promoting equality and working with their volunteers in the clubs.  Since this is such a big event it is taking a lot of planning and work, we are having another meeting this coming week to finish the major planning.  That means I am travelling BACK to Addis.  It is a lot of traveling to go from Addis on Tuesday, arrive at site on Wednesday, going to Robe to say goodbye to friends on Saturday, then back to Addis on Tuesday.  Still I am going to make the most of it, and since my programs are on hold at the moment it is a good time to get out and about. 
Last but certainly not least.  I found out this week that some of my best friends got engaged!  I am so excited for them, not only that though, but I have been asked to officiate the wedding when I get back from Ethiopia!  I can't wait to do it, right after I get some Krispy Kreme doughnuts of course.  ;)

The holidays are almost over

1/6
The holidays are almost over.  Tomorrow is the Ethiopian Christmas, then it things will get back to normal.  The schools are gearing up for mid-terms, then the break.  So I have not club meetings for about a month.  That means that I have NOTHING to do.  The beekeeping season is over.  The person I was working with to try to do the banana disease training has changed offices so I can't do it with him anymore.  So right now I am bored.  I decided to get some chickens so I have been building a chicken coupe.  It is almost done now, I just have to buid the doors and it will be finished.  It has been interesting building it, and I remembered how much I HATE carpentry.  Especially since the most sophisticated tool I have is a tape measure.  If I ever decided to do something like this again it wouldn't be with out at LEAST a drill.  But, when I finish with this I will be back to nothing to do.  I really need to add another project so I can at least stay a bit busy.  That being said the next few weeks shouldn't be too bad.  A NGO worker who lives near here is coming this weekend to see my area.  In a week and a half I am going to Addis to do a training, and to have a tooth checked out.  Then I am thinking about a mini vacation.  By that time the schools will be about ready to start back up, so I will be back to having two days a week with things to do.  But, I still want to add something on to my schedule. 
Last week PC came to assess my site for a new volunteer.  They approved a health volunteer!  So in about three months I will have someone to keep me company.  I have to work on finding a house for them now though.  It is going to be interesting since all the people I usually work with have been busy or not very helpful recently.  I don't know when PC is coming out to approve the housing either so that adds on a little complication.  But, regardless, I am excited to see who comes.  Since I am giving the new group training in the next few weeks my plan is to try to find the person I would like to come, then request them.  I am hopefull that we will be able to do a few projects together, and I am going to have them start up a few new clubs so the schools should be happy about that. 
I will be in Addis a lot over the next few months, giving trainings, going to trainings, and doing comittee stuff.  So I am in a way looking forward to that. I don't really like Addis, but being able to have great internet, and forenji food is exciting.  Plus, getting to hang out with my friends is always nice.  Otherwise, it is the same old.  I am drinking way too much coffee, and hanging out with some friends.  That is about it for now.  Hopefully things get busy again so I can keep what little sanity I have left!
Miss you all, and I hope you had a great holiday season.