The Road Less Paved

The other week we had In-Service Training (IST) in Sodere. Sodere is the place where monkeys and Addis Ababians vacation, as well as Peace Corps Volunteers. It is nice area with hot springs, which is not so nice when I tried to get a morning work out. There is a reason why the manufacturers advise against exercising in hot tubs (…learned that the hard way). IST was fun though. We all got to see each other, which is always a pleasure. We also learned some helpful things that will help us be more effective or just effective in general. The food was decent too. Can't really go wrong with french fries.

After that week was over, a friend and I decided to accompany another volunteer down South to her site since she had been having a hard time. It takes two and a half days to get to her house. That is two and half days using public transportation. I have noted my fear and apprehension with in-country traveling, but I have become accustomed. I wouldn't say I enjoy it, but I am finding the humor in it. Most of the roads we traveled on were unpaved. Thus I was constantly regretting not double layering my sports bra (or just wearing all of them in that case). I also wondered why I ever complained about our annual road trips to North Carolina to our family reunions. What I would give for leg space, open windows, beef jerky and juice boxes, and on demand pit stops because I didn't have any of that for the whole week. We would literally get into town, go to sleep, wake up at 4 am and do it all over again. I like being on the go and moreover, I like adventure. We experienced it all, from flat tires, group singing with the passengers, arguments with the bus driver to get going already or to give us a fair price, rushing to get seats, filming documentary segments, Ethiopian staring contests, unwelcomed conversations, and so on. That was only the bus. We managed to visit six different places and dropped off friends on the way. Most of the days were filled with walking around town sight-seeing or riding in a bus and the nights ended in dance parties, which I always enjoy. Towards the end of the trip was one of the volunteer's birthday party. Other volunteers met us there and like usual, we danced the night away. So much so, that my friend borrowed my cell phone as a light to use the bathroom and subsequently dropped it down the latrine. He made a valiant effort to retrieve it, but to no avail. Another one bites the dust (or human waste in this case…gross). The last stop was in Debre Markos or as we call it, Club Peace Corps. We wined and dined—a great way to end an action-packed, sleepless, and bumpy adventure. If you asked me during the trip how it was I would tell you the only reason why I am enduring this is because I love and care about my friend, but in retrospect, it was quite fun.

After all this pandemonium, I came home. I was eager to get there. It really felt like home too. People actually noticed my absence, which was a bonus. After two weeks on the go, it was nice to be able to snuggle with my pillow (my most prized possession here) and wake up after the sun does. Since then, I have been busy trying to find work. I have met with several people. In the near future, I will be teaching English classes to high school students and a HIV/AIDS education course to primary students. I also have met with one of the PLWHA (People Living with HIV/AIDS) organization and there are talks about starting IGAs (Income Generating Activity). I have already become aware of many barriers that come in the way of starting programs in the town. Maintaining motivation will be the key. We will see how it all goes!