It really is. I know it’s a cheesy, overused line from one
of the greatest love stories ever told (at least in some people’s opinions… or
maybe just in mine), but the line is used so much because of the truth it has
to it. This past week I had to part with two very good friends, and though I
was incredibly sad to see them go (and losing them both in the same week REALLY
sucked), I couldn’t help but reflect on the time we had together and be grateful.
Today I want to dedicate this post to these two outstanding individuals and the
difference they have made to my Peace Corps experience.
Last Monday, I had to say good-bye to my best friend and
tutor, Getachew. I met Getachew during site visit way back in October. He was
already best friends with Mike, the awesome Canadian VSO volunteer in town, and
it was only natural that Mike would introduce us. I liked Getachew from the
start: he was smart, kind, and just as excited to have me in Maichew as I was
to be there. Of all the Ethiopians I’d met in country, he was the first one I
automatically hit it off with. Ethiopian culture is so different than our own,
that it makes it difficult to make great friends. The obvious language barrier
combined with the overfriendliness, lack of similar interests, and completely
different sense of humor (Ethiopians really do laugh at the strangest things)
makes Ethiopians fun to hang out with, but only for a little while before
things get awkward. Getachew was different, partially because he has met and
befriended many foreigners in his life but mostly because he’s just so dang
awesome. He’s funny, smart and hard-working, understands that foreigners
are not that touchy-feely, and knows that when we politely decline kolo (a delicious snack
of roasted grains) it’s because we really don’t want any and asking 568 more
times will not change our mind.
Once I moved to site for good, Getachew was instrumental in
my acclimation to Maichew. He helped me out so much in the beginning, going to
market with me, teaching me Tigrena, introducing me to people, and just showing
me around in general. We hung out so much over the past few months, and really
got to be close friends. What impressed me so much about Getachew was his
kindness: he would drop whatever he was doing and help me whenever I needed it.
An English teacher at the local preparatory school, he even invited me to class to help out, an activity I enjoyed
tremendously. So when Getachew told me he wanted to apply to be an LCF
(language and culture facilitator, the people who taught us PCV's the language and
culture during our first three months of training) and that he wanted me to
write him a recommendation letter, I was only more than happy to. When Getachew
got the job about a month later, I was ecstatic! I was sad because this meant
he would move and I would lose a good friend, but I was more happy than
anything that this kind and clever friend of mine was finally getting the
opportunity to see new places and do something great. He was a hard worker, and
deserved this amazing opportunity he got.
Christina I met about a month after I’d been living in
Maichew, during the Tigray Olympics. She was a young, 19 year old German who
just finished school and wanted to do something amazing before starting
college. Through connections her godfather had in the Catholic church, she came
here in October (eerily, only a day before we arrived) to be an English teacher
at the local Catholic primary school. Over the last 8 months, she’s been
teaching English and helping out with other projects in the community, volunteering her
time and money to help out. It’s quite amazing some of the projects she’s been
able to help with (including a seed distribution project in the community), and
even more amazing how well she incorporated into the community. Christina loves
kids, and was so awesome with them even though some of these kids are nasty. I’m sorry but
it’s true (the 5 year old in my compound has blown snot rockets bigger than I
ever could). Yet Christina would always shake their hands and play with them,
no matter how dirty they were. She knew so many people in Maichew, and was
another instrumental person in helping me meet and incorporate into my
community.
And, of course, she was also a great friend. Since we became
friends we hung out almost every day. Life in Ethiopia is rough (remember the
emotional roller coaster?), and it was great to be able to have someone to
talk, joke, and just relax with when things weren’t going great. It was such a
relief to have a good friend in town who understood the frustrations of living
in a culture so unlike your own. And she was just cool in general. We spent a
lot of time together hanging out, talking about the future, practicing my
German, and discussing what was going to happen next on One Tree Hill… Not that
we watched it every Monday thru Friday when it came on at 5:30pm on FoxMovies.
I mean she would, but I would go outside and do push-ups (which is why I did so
well in the push-up competition). She left Friday morning, and I was definitely
very sad to see her go.
Sometimes I feel like life is just a series of good-byes.
You meet someone, you become friends, and before you know it you’re saying
good-bye to them, whether it be temporary or for an unknown length of time. It
has especially felt that way to me lately, what with how much I moved as a kid,
then leaving for college, and then four years later leaving for here. Every
time I meet someone really awesome, it seems our time is up before we really
even started being friends. This really bothered me at first, but then I came
to realize the blessing it was because of an important revelation I had. Though
I’ve said a lot of goodbyes, I’ve also been able to meet and learn a lot from
quite a variety of people. Meeting all these different people from different
cultures has really made me better as a person, because it was what taught me
how important it is to look at the world through a different pair of eyes other
than your own. I’m grateful for everyone that’s been in my life, no matter how
short, because all of them taught me or gave me something important. Getachew
showed me the best part of Ethiopian culture, which is its kindness. During my
hardest, most frustrating moments when I’m sick of Ethiopia and annoyed with
every person here, I reflect on the overabundant kindness and genuine love
those like Getachew have shown me and remember how good these people ultimately are. Christina was
what helped keep me sane: she was that person I could have fun with, vent to
every once in a while, and talk with about life outside of the Peace Corps when
you just need a break. And even more, her love and helping attitude was a
constant reaffirmation of my own goal here, which was to help others and be a
part of something bigger than yourself.
It sucks to see people go, but in the end you have to be
grateful for the time you were given. Christina and Getachew made my first few
months here in Ethiopia easier and more fun than I could have ever imagined. I
love them both for it, and will miss them every day they’re out exploring and
making the world a better place to live.
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