So I know it’s been quite some time since my last blog update, and for that I apologize. It’s been a hectic few weeks here in Ethiopia, though, and it’s only in the past few days that I’ve finally been able to breathe again.
The culprit for my busyness was IST, or In-Service Training. It was just over two weeks of really intensive, but extremely helpful, technical training for our group. We learned about how to start/manage tree nurseries, how to effectively design and implement projects, how to build effective soil and water conservation structures, and much, much more. We had training every day for 15 days (including weekends)! Training was in Hawassa, which is deep in the south of Ethiopia. Since I am far to the north, there was a lot of traveling involved over several days to get us there and back (including a brief detour to visit our old host families in Addis Alem).
All of the traveling to and from IST definitely wore me out. While I love Ethiopia, my least favorite thing to do in this country is to travel. Everything about it spells nightmare for anyone daring to test the waters. From the incredibly small buses (which I’m convinced were actually designed for pygmies, since I have yet to find one that even fits Ethiopians, who are quite short), to the annoying people in the bus station screaming “WHERE ARE YOU GO?!?” as soon as you are within a 25 foot radius of the entrance, to the insane amounts of switchbacks, unplanned stops, and puking people that plague every 4 hour journey of 120 km, traveling in this country just plain out sucks.
Now, I know I’m no guru when it comes to patience, but I would say that I have grown quite patient indeed over my 6 months here in Ethiopia. I can spend hours at a time just sitting around waiting for stuff to happen (which is often the case when you are travelling or simply bored at site) quite easily without really freaking out or getting angry. Needless to say, however, after travelling so much over the past few weeks, I was just about fed up by the time I was on the final stretch. I spent 9 hours on the bus in just ONE day while travelling, so by the time I was almost to Maychew my patience was stretched less than thin. People were annoying me all day, my knees hurt, I was angry and extremely tired, and I just missed the comforts of the US. I wanted to be home. I knew that the next Ethiopian who even looked at me wrong was about to experience some ferenji wrath unlike anything they had ever seen before…
And then I finally got to Maychew. And I saw all the friends and people I knew. And kids called my name in the streets. And I sat my stuff down in my house and fell onto my bed with a sigh of relief. And my second family told me just how much they missed me and invited me over for food and bunna. And I thought about how there really is no place like home.... And it was at that moment that I knew no matter how much I missed my family, friends, food, and everything else the US has to offer, for now I feel at home right here in Maychew, nestled under the watchful gaze of Mt. S’ibet. And I was happy.
