Sunday, November 30, 2008
first day in Ethiopia - Visited the Shola school where the Cunningham Foundation sponsored their first library - we read to the kids and had our first experience of pulling out our cameras and got surrounded very quickly. The no gun sticker was on one of the land rovers - have no idea if that means the other ones have them .........
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
It's Wednesday
Its Wednesday - I have no idea what the date is. No cell phones. No tv and 5 minutes of internet a day............. every 3 days. I will update my blog in more depth when I get back to Addis Ababa on Friday. We fly out Saturday :-( I can't believe how much I love it here. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, we are in Butijara getting some bread for stuffing. Everything we have been eating is from the compound we are staying at. It is fully self sustaining. Veges, dairy, bread, meat etc is from the compound.............. yes why are we buying bread here for stuffing? I have absolutely no idea. At least its an excuse to get off the compound, watch 30 minutes of soccer on the BBC with dodgey reception and have a beer!!!!!!!!! at a hotel with roof top bar - picture a tree house, with wires everywhere for tv antena (sp?) and you have the visual of what it looks like. Hey did I mention they have beer.
Not going to lie, can hardly wait for a glass wine!
The kids all know my name now and they all scream it out when they see me in the morning and just about any chance they get.
The rest of the group went to Awasa and I decided to stay with my knitting girls. These kids are so smart - whether its glass bead making, wood work, the science building - international secret business going on - more in person......... and the knitting kids - they pick up everything we teach them in 5 minutes. THey are crazy for anything new or western.
More on Friday.
Julia
xoxoxoxoox
Friday, November 21, 2008
Day 1 in action
Mother Teresa orphanage
Today was an overload of the senses. It was like discovering a new color and trying to describe it. Utter disbelief, shock, culture shock, poverty.
We went to the Shola Library. No kids so the group is going back tomorrow.
We went to the Chavel Library. Wow. School full of kids. We had been warned about camera but didn’t believe it until we saw it. You pull out a camera and 20-30 kids run over with 30 smiles, pose and then they want to see it. I have great memories of today. We read to the kids and we had them read to us to practice their English. We donated some books on dreams. We asked the kids their dreams…….. teacher, artist, doctor, football player. Mainly teachers and doctors. The kids were the essence of joy.
Traffic and driving today was terrifying. Utter anxiety. There are no road rules here. No Accidents and actually by now I am used to it but the first four hours in the car was filled with white knuckles, screams and all of us uttering *oly *hit every 2nd sentence. I’m not afraid of my experience so far except for the driving/ traffic. Well that and the two guys who guard the gate of our hotel at night, dressed like militia, hell, they probably are.
Lunch today was at the Sheraton Hotel. It’s built like a palace and has 3 compounds within the border of the hotel. The food is all western food. Western portions. I ordered pizza, when it arrived I felt like crap. We all could only eat half and have decided here on in any meals, we’ll share. The poverty is unbearable. 50% of the population earn $100 per YEAR. 36% in the rural areas make $36 per year!. High security at the main western hotels, mirrors under the cars, complete sweep before you can go in. I am very glad we are not in the main tourist hotels!!
The Mother Teresa orphanage. First we entered the teeny tiny baby room. Most of them have been left at the gate of the compound by their mothers or by strangers who found them on the road. 90% of them have HIV and/or AIDS. Next we went to the infant room, 1, 2 and 3 years with no one but the nuns caring for them. The hardest and most fun room was the toddlers or kids around 5 & 6 – room was filled!!!!!!!!! With them, they would tug on your shirt, or just simply grab your and that child was basically yours until we left. I had lisa, she clung to me the whole and playing with the scarf I was wearing. She booted any kid who came near me. We went into their dorm where we were greeted with about 30 more. The kids were climbing all over us and just hugged us. Clung to us. Desperate for human contact. Hoping we would take them with us.
We met the doctors and volunteers, saw the adult kids make silk scarves. Then Tammy, Noel and I had a meeting with the head Sister. Tough cookie! From Czech Republic. Noel and Tammy went to request that I teach the older kids how to knit scarves because the re-sale in the US could earn them up to $100,000 to $150,000 in the first year. I’m headed back to the orphanage tomorrow to teach, along with Ruth, 18 year old Francie and anyone else I can teach tonight.
Unfortunately I will not have any photos from the Mother Teresa orphanage or my experience there. Photo’s are forbidden and the reason is tragic. Westerns were coming to the orphanage, taking photos, heading back to their country and raising money for the orphanage. Donors would come to Ethiopia and want to see what their money had done, they would meet with the head staff and inquire about the use of their $1000, $10,000……… the orphanage never saw a cent. It’s quite the racket where people use their photos of the orphanage to raise money for themselves.
Most of them will never be adopted, we met one child who has been adopted and headed for the US. Its rare. You have to be able to provide information on how you will pay for all the medical and pharmaceutical required to medicate a HIV child.
Tonight we are headed back to the Orphanage with Dr Hodes and his 17 kids for Shabas dinner. Yep a Jewish doctor in a catholic orphanage. Love it!! We ARE allowed to have camera tonight as it’s a private family dinner.
Highlights!!!!!
You have NO idea how much Obama is everywhere. Obama café, Obama store, t-shirts everywhere. When we visisted the grade 5 class at Mother Teresa orphanage one kid says where are you from? We say America, he smiles and says oh yes Obama Nation. A 9 year old kid in an aids orphanage in Ethiopia. He’s on every magazine cover and square inch of advertising. Truly amazing.
You cannot take photos of camels. We have not tried and will not. If you are seen pointing a camera at a camel it is death by stoning – it appears taking pictures of a camel makes them lose weight. And that’s a bad thing.
Goats are everywhere. EVERYWHERE. They travel in small herds by their owners. They hold up traffic. Not the goats the freak’n owners on their CELL PHONES!!!! I kid you not. This country is so full of contradictions.
Today was an overload of the senses. It was like discovering a new color and trying to describe it. Utter disbelief, shock, culture shock, poverty.
We went to the Shola Library. No kids so the group is going back tomorrow.
We went to the Chavel Library. Wow. School full of kids. We had been warned about camera but didn’t believe it until we saw it. You pull out a camera and 20-30 kids run over with 30 smiles, pose and then they want to see it. I have great memories of today. We read to the kids and we had them read to us to practice their English. We donated some books on dreams. We asked the kids their dreams…….. teacher, artist, doctor, football player. Mainly teachers and doctors. The kids were the essence of joy.
Traffic and driving today was terrifying. Utter anxiety. There are no road rules here. No Accidents and actually by now I am used to it but the first four hours in the car was filled with white knuckles, screams and all of us uttering *oly *hit every 2nd sentence. I’m not afraid of my experience so far except for the driving/ traffic. Well that and the two guys who guard the gate of our hotel at night, dressed like militia, hell, they probably are.
Lunch today was at the Sheraton Hotel. It’s built like a palace and has 3 compounds within the border of the hotel. The food is all western food. Western portions. I ordered pizza, when it arrived I felt like crap. We all could only eat half and have decided here on in any meals, we’ll share. The poverty is unbearable. 50% of the population earn $100 per YEAR. 36% in the rural areas make $36 per year!. High security at the main western hotels, mirrors under the cars, complete sweep before you can go in. I am very glad we are not in the main tourist hotels!!
The Mother Teresa orphanage. First we entered the teeny tiny baby room. Most of them have been left at the gate of the compound by their mothers or by strangers who found them on the road. 90% of them have HIV and/or AIDS. Next we went to the infant room, 1, 2 and 3 years with no one but the nuns caring for them. The hardest and most fun room was the toddlers or kids around 5 & 6 – room was filled!!!!!!!!! With them, they would tug on your shirt, or just simply grab your and that child was basically yours until we left. I had lisa, she clung to me the whole and playing with the scarf I was wearing. She booted any kid who came near me. We went into their dorm where we were greeted with about 30 more. The kids were climbing all over us and just hugged us. Clung to us. Desperate for human contact. Hoping we would take them with us.
We met the doctors and volunteers, saw the adult kids make silk scarves. Then Tammy, Noel and I had a meeting with the head Sister. Tough cookie! From Czech Republic. Noel and Tammy went to request that I teach the older kids how to knit scarves because the re-sale in the US could earn them up to $100,000 to $150,000 in the first year. I’m headed back to the orphanage tomorrow to teach, along with Ruth, 18 year old Francie and anyone else I can teach tonight.
Unfortunately I will not have any photos from the Mother Teresa orphanage or my experience there. Photo’s are forbidden and the reason is tragic. Westerns were coming to the orphanage, taking photos, heading back to their country and raising money for the orphanage. Donors would come to Ethiopia and want to see what their money had done, they would meet with the head staff and inquire about the use of their $1000, $10,000……… the orphanage never saw a cent. It’s quite the racket where people use their photos of the orphanage to raise money for themselves.
Most of them will never be adopted, we met one child who has been adopted and headed for the US. Its rare. You have to be able to provide information on how you will pay for all the medical and pharmaceutical required to medicate a HIV child.
Tonight we are headed back to the Orphanage with Dr Hodes and his 17 kids for Shabas dinner. Yep a Jewish doctor in a catholic orphanage. Love it!! We ARE allowed to have camera tonight as it’s a private family dinner.
Highlights!!!!!
You have NO idea how much Obama is everywhere. Obama café, Obama store, t-shirts everywhere. When we visisted the grade 5 class at Mother Teresa orphanage one kid says where are you from? We say America, he smiles and says oh yes Obama Nation. A 9 year old kid in an aids orphanage in Ethiopia. He’s on every magazine cover and square inch of advertising. Truly amazing.
You cannot take photos of camels. We have not tried and will not. If you are seen pointing a camera at a camel it is death by stoning – it appears taking pictures of a camel makes them lose weight. And that’s a bad thing.
Goats are everywhere. EVERYWHERE. They travel in small herds by their owners. They hold up traffic. Not the goats the freak’n owners on their CELL PHONES!!!! I kid you not. This country is so full of contradictions.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
First Morning Here
First morning here - its real now that its daylight. Goat herders sheperding down the street, I call it a street loosely and this is right out the front of our hotel.
For those of you who have seen the Sx in the City Movie - I have learnt well from Charlotte and kept my eyes and mouth closed during my entire shower this morning.
The airport experience last night was one I'll never forget. Wow Ethiopians have an amazing sense of family - for each person there was 50 people greeting them, I would have loved to have known their stories.
Today we are going to the Mother Teresa orphanage and having Shabis dinner with Dr Hodes and his 17 kids.
Food here at the hotel is of course very western - spaghetti last night, fried bread for breakfast and who doesn't love fried bread for breakfast. Apparently they think that's what a croissant is and hey, fat for fat content, probably is.
SOOOO excited to be here.
Mwah
Julia
xoxo
For those of you who have seen the Sx in the City Movie - I have learnt well from Charlotte and kept my eyes and mouth closed during my entire shower this morning.
The airport experience last night was one I'll never forget. Wow Ethiopians have an amazing sense of family - for each person there was 50 people greeting them, I would have loved to have known their stories.
Today we are going to the Mother Teresa orphanage and having Shabis dinner with Dr Hodes and his 17 kids.
Food here at the hotel is of course very western - spaghetti last night, fried bread for breakfast and who doesn't love fried bread for breakfast. Apparently they think that's what a croissant is and hey, fat for fat content, probably is.
SOOOO excited to be here.
Mwah
Julia
xoxo
I'm here! I'm in Ethiopia.
It was very strange getting off the plane and into the airport. A thousand difference experiences of culture shock all at once. The FIRST thing that hits you is the smell - a cross between charcoal, burnt wood and old wine. Lots of polution here and we landed at 10pm. The flight was great!!!! everyone slept really well. English is not as prominent as I thought it would be and I'm totally ok with that. In the first 3 hours of landing lots of fear came up, people just surround you, push you - like that do to Japanese train passengers.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
It was the night before Africa.............
So I leave tomorrow. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big things are happening. I just closed on my home, I officially have no debt any more. Closure to 9 years of my life and a big letting go of the past. Was soooo cool to meet the 25 year old kid who is now going to live in the house. I feel such a sense of relief. HUGE step in moving forward.
In other news I just took my first of four typhoid vaccine tablets - its a live virus - is it just me or does that just sound wrong. So I officially have the typhoid virus in me, nice! Also just took the first of 20 or so malaria meds - will take for 7 days after I get back to the US. Hoping I don't have the side effects of some people........... violent nightmares, nausea.
Also just got word from Noel that Project Mercy has one other knitter there and is excited to receive my 2 suitcases full of yarn. I'll take a video tonight of all the yarn I have. Americans are so generous!!
Big things are happening. I just closed on my home, I officially have no debt any more. Closure to 9 years of my life and a big letting go of the past. Was soooo cool to meet the 25 year old kid who is now going to live in the house. I feel such a sense of relief. HUGE step in moving forward.
In other news I just took my first of four typhoid vaccine tablets - its a live virus - is it just me or does that just sound wrong. So I officially have the typhoid virus in me, nice! Also just took the first of 20 or so malaria meds - will take for 7 days after I get back to the US. Hoping I don't have the side effects of some people........... violent nightmares, nausea.
Also just got word from Noel that Project Mercy has one other knitter there and is excited to receive my 2 suitcases full of yarn. I'll take a video tonight of all the yarn I have. Americans are so generous!!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Yohannes in town - Dinner Friday night!!
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/nov/13/ethiopia-reads-books-and-donkeys/
For anyone in Denver I am hosting a dinner at Strings tomorrow night for Yohannes and Ethiopia Reads. Its $100 per head. EVERY penny goes to Ethiopia Reads - Noel has once again generously donated all food and beverages.
Should be a great night.
For anyone in Denver I am hosting a dinner at Strings tomorrow night for Yohannes and Ethiopia Reads. Its $100 per head. EVERY penny goes to Ethiopia Reads - Noel has once again generously donated all food and beverages.
Should be a great night.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Its next week
Its here! I leave next Wednesday. Ahhhhhhhh I'm excited and nervous. The nervousness is actually about coming back into the US. The visa/ greencard stamp in my passport allows me in the US until December 20 - lets see if I can pull strings and get another stamp in my passport. I can't tell you how much I hate customs/ entering into the US - treated like a foreinger (which I am) but hey - its been 9 years - give me a break!!! And the stamp is also important because I want to go home for Christmas............... can I pull off the christmas miracle of last year.
Yes. 9 years ago today I left Australia for Denver, Colorado. Its been an amazing journey.
Yes. 9 years ago today I left Australia for Denver, Colorado. Its been an amazing journey.
I really am burnt out right now. So much has been going on this year, convention and working 15 hour days, selling the house, packing and moving. I'm exhausted. Mentally and emotionally exhausted. here's a great article that articulates campaign exhaustion - regardless of being a winner or loser (feels great to win though!!) - this is a great article.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/07/brazile.losers/index.html
While in Ethiopia - the dogs will be staying with a friend. They had a test run on Saturday and had a sleep over. They did great. The apartment felt empty without them. I think its great they we just moved house and they have adjusted, can stay at someone elses home and feel ok.
Ok, so to those of you picturing me sleeping in a hut with cockroaches - I can allay your fears to rest. This is the hotel where we will be for the first two nights, then onto Project Mercy.
http://www.ararathotelethiopia.com/index.html
Here's a great map of Ethiopia.
http://www.maps.com/map.aspx?pid=1571
Julia G
xo
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/07/brazile.losers/index.html
While in Ethiopia - the dogs will be staying with a friend. They had a test run on Saturday and had a sleep over. They did great. The apartment felt empty without them. I think its great they we just moved house and they have adjusted, can stay at someone elses home and feel ok.
Ok, so to those of you picturing me sleeping in a hut with cockroaches - I can allay your fears to rest. This is the hotel where we will be for the first two nights, then onto Project Mercy.
http://www.ararathotelethiopia.com/index.html
Here's a great map of Ethiopia.
http://www.maps.com/map.aspx?pid=1571
Julia G
xo
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