Ethiopia has been really great thus far, to say the least. We spent ten days in Addis learning about Peace Corps policies, some technical training and survival Amharic (the most widely spoken language in Ethiopia). We have also been learning a lot about the Ethiopian history, the vast diversity and enjoying the amazing food. Ethiopia is home to over 70 different ethnic groups and there are over 70 languages spoken here. The history is long and rich, from Lucy to the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the roots run deep and it is an honor to serve in such a place. More about the history as we learn more and look forward to sharing with you (this is Peace Corps goal #3, by the way).
The food…..
we eat injeera every day, which is a flat, spongy, sour bread made from teff flour. This is the pride of Ethiopia and a staple of the diet. We even had a training session in which one of the medical officers told us about the great health benefits of injeera, and how 10% of our diet will be made up of it, so it is okay (it has to be, this stuff is everywhere). The bread acts not only has a source of protein and zinc, but also as the serving utensil in lieu of a fork or spoon. You will find the injeera covered in gomen (collard greens), cabbage and carrots, spicy chicken stew (duro wot), allecha (lentils), shiro (ground chickpea flower with berbere spice), tibs (chunks of beef, lamb or goat in spicy gravy) and a multitude of other amazing dishes. Each region has its own specialty and these are just the most popular dishes that we have eaten thus far. We eat injeera and pasta every day, so don’t worry, we are not lacking in carbohydrates. The first ten days in Addis we were sure to fill up on “ferenji (foreigner)” food since we would not see it for some time….and our stomachs may not react well next time we see it. We found great burgers, pizza and even fried chicken. I can’t wait to go back to the place with chocolate chip cookies. Our favorite Ethiopian meal was when our friend from Tigray took us out. He knew what to order!!
So our time with our host family has been great and challenging thus far. It has felt like visiting old family friends since day one, minus the ability to communicate thoroughly in the same language. It is odd being taken care of like a teen ager, walked to school and fed breakfast, lunch and dinner, but it is also an honor to be able to stay with them in their home. Sylvia and I are sharing a modest room, where we realized that we have brought way too many bags, but our new mother was quick to help us take some of our stuff to another room. The room is 8’x7’ and the bed is 8’x3.5’ so with the remainder of the area we stacked to luggage pieces and we have a table. That leaves a couple feet to change and move around in. We try to spend most of the time in the living room but 2.5 year old kids can get a bit nuts sometimes. PC usually has a larger room than this for couples but there were very few families in town that speak the Ethiopian language we are learning (there are many languages in Ethiopia). We are lucky to have the opportunity to get one of these families and get to practice when we get home! There appears to be a hay material in the walls covered with plaster. We are extremely blessed with a “western” toilet instead of the usual hole in the ground. Most of the volunteers do not have this luxury at their host homes….but they will be more prepared for our actual site!! The home is within a compound, meaning a small piece of land with a main house, and smaller rentals our mom also runs a small souk (shop) in the front. There seem to be two other families renting and we have seen them in the family home often. Our host Dad is an electrician manager in a nearby city. One of the greatest things that we have noticed is the sustainability of the way of life here. They are actually farm to table. Additionally, the city water is not constant, so since it is rainy season right now, every day when rains all of the buckets go outside and collect the rain water. This water is then used for filtering and drinking, showering, flushing the toilet, cooking, washing dishes and doing laundry. It really is amazing how sustainable this way of life is.
Additionally, it is remarkable how the community really helps each other out and works together for each other. In America, if someone walked into your home unannounced, whether family or friend, it would be considered rude. The individualistic way of life in America is such a vast contrast to the collectivist way of life here in Ethiopia, which is something which is so admirable, I believe. The children are raised by the community, and each member of the community does their part to help each other out. This does make it so there is a lack of alone time and privacy, but that is okay. This is what we signed up and each day has seemed like a life time of learning. Each walk down the street, or through the market has been a rich cultural exchange and we continue to feel lucky and blessed to be able to serve our country in this way. Though there have been difficulties and certainly more to come, Peace Corps Ethiopia is everything we thought it would be and much much more……
On Monday we begin our month long practicum of teaching English. We got our textbooks and are beginning our lesson plans. That is all for now….
Salam,
Jimi and Sylvia