Mid-Service Conference

 MSC (There are a LOT of acronyms in Peace Corps!), or Mid-Service Conference is a big milestone in Peace Corps Service.  It is one of the only times that all the volunteers in the same group get together in Addis Ababa.  I just spent a wonderful week in Addis, with G12, the group of volunteers who I came to Ethiopia with in January of 2015. 

Reunited with my wonderful friends, Jesse and Christine!!

We had the opportunity to share experiences from our last year in our villages, brainstorm solutions to challenges we have faced, and celebrate in our individual and group successes.

MSC involves a lot of reflection on the past year, and also looking ahead to the next year; a chance to recommit and have a fresh start.

A few thoughts from the week really stuck with me:

1.     To serve in Peace Corps is an honor and a privilege, and we can make it anything we want it to be.

a.     As I move into this second and final year of service I will take this with me and remember it as I strive to live in the moment (not focus all my energy on what will I do post-Peace Corps, or even what the next week will bring, but rather focus on what am I currently doing), take advantage of opportunities (partnerships with NGOs, invitations to birthdays or other events, going on home visits with the Health Extension Workers), and not let the small things bother me (children yelling “money, money” or “ferenji (foreigner)” at me, or people arriving two hours late for a meeting).  I am honored to be able to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia.

2.     Let go of what you thought it would be and let it become the experience you never thought it could be.

a.     I think this is a beautiful thought, because although I tried to come into Peace Corps with no expectations, I have formed some expectations over the past year because of things I have become accustomed to, and I will work to let go of those and instead allow this experience to unfold.  This will allow me to make the most of my experience here.

3.     The essence of service is the intangible moments that we cannot articulate.

a.     This is 100% correct; moments that have really been the essence of my service and will be with me for the rest of my life include those random invitations for a meal or coffee, or small acts of kindness such as a stranger helping me navigate a busy market to find what I need, or conversations about Ethiopian and American culture with my compound family in Mezezo, or practicing Ethiopian dance with a room full of 5-13 year olds at a birthday party.   It’s these moments that will always remain with me, and as I move into my second year of my Peace Corps Service I will strive to strengthen the relationships, connections and conversations that have much such a strong impact on me this past year.

And I want to say a huge thank you to all those who read my blog, send me letters and packages, and send me good thoughts and prayers.  Your support and encouragement has kept me going and I appreciate each of you; THANK YOU!!!

Cheers to year 2!

Cheers~!

Picture This...

Picture this....

A morning sunrise during one of my morning runs in Mezezo.

Gabi and wheat drying in the sun!

Washing my gabi with Zenebech!

Zenebech, my landlady, is a strong and wonderful woman.  Here we are washing my “gabi”- a traditional blanket/scarf that is worn by almost everyone each day.  It is very thick and difficult to wash, and so I am very thankful for Zenebech’s help J 

A great photo op: A high school student stopping on his way to school to play “wheelbarrow” with a goat!

  

This t-shirt, reading “Obama” comes in various colors and is worn by both males and females even in the most rural areas!

I spent an afternoon with this beautiful baby girl, Christina, and her mom Meskerem.  Eight months ago I had the opportunity to attend the baby’s christening ceremony (see the earlier blog post for reference!) and now she is almost walking, and loves dancing to Ethiopian music when it comes on!

Karate in Debre Birhan!

And a bonus pic:  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this one definitely is I think!

Living and Learning! Time flies when you’re a Peace Corps Volunteer..

My first year in Mezezo is in the books; I’ve officially lived in Mezezo for 12 months and am getting ready to celebrate my second Easter (Fasika in Amharic) here. Words can’t express what a life-changing and incredible experience this has been and continues to be.  I am committed to making this second year the best that it can be; finishing projects I have started, pursuing new opportunities both in and out of work, and strengthening the relationships I have made!

I’ve had the opportunity to pursue several different activities and projects here in Mezezo, and the past few weeks and months have been quite busy but also so rewarding and meaningful.

What I’ve been up to:

Students play the "HIV Limbo," to demonstrate that having an older partner increases your risk of HIV.

A great group of 24 graduates from the GRS program!

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With Aman, my counterpart from the Health Center, I taught the second round of Grassroot Soccer at the Mezezo Secondary School and 24 participants finished the program and graduated!  Using sports and games we taught about HIV/AIDS. We had a great five days together, and this time around we were blessed with beautiful and sunny weather.

In Amharic this says, "Welcome to the Nutrition Class for Mothers!"

A group of mothers at the first nutrition class meeting!

With my colleague, Bantayehu from the Health Center, we are leading a nutrition class for mothers.  We meet once at a week and the women come to the Health Center for an hour and we teach different topics related to nutrition, pregnancy and maternal health.

Daniel and Bereket teach about Gender Based Violence during Gender Equality Club!

After returning from the Age Summit with four Mezezo students, they have taken great initiative and decided they want to teach the Gender Equality Club each week, based on what they learned at the Age Summit event that they attended.  Last week Daniel and Bereket taught about Gender-Based Violence, they did such a great job and I am very proud of them!

Sosina, Bizu Alem and Misrek pose in front of their beautiful picture before class begins!

  

I’ve been working with the same 6 students about four days a week on their English, and the improvement in the past year is incredible.  Their eagerness motivation, hard work and sponge-like minds has made it possible for them to have massive improvement in their pronunciation, comprehension, and speaking ability! They are grades 3-8, and when we meet we sing various songs, read children’s books, do arts and crafts activities with crayons, and also various speaking activities.  There are 3 boys and 3 girls, and the boys always play soccer before “class,” but the 3 girls always arrive early and draw beautiful pictures on the board for Alex (my wonderful sitemate) and me. 

Here's to another year of living and learning in Mezezo! :)