November 17, 2012
Well hello! I’m sitting cozy in my bed listening to the wind
howl outside, happily tired from my first day of really walking in the African
bush! It felt so good to get out and walk around in classic African terrain-
acacia trees and grassy hills. It was especially nice because I’ve spend the
last four days dealing with a stomach bacteria – not fun at all…let’s just say
both ends have been thoroughly flushed. But I am slowly getting better and
learning the art of not eating but staying well hydrated. My host mom was
extremely kind and concerned doing everything she could to help me get better.
When I finally did get better she held a little celebration by lighting
candles, making popcorn, baking special bread and burning incense- real frankincense.
It was very touching to see how much she cares.
Today was a special field trip to a nature preserve about 2
hours north of Bekoji. The whole G8 (the eighth group to be volunteers in
Ethiopia) gang went- all 47 of us. We split up into two groups and walked
through tall grass, giant thorn bushes, and flat topped acacia trees. The
highlight was seeing the Great Nayala – a large beautiful antelope with long
curved antlers- about the size of a moose with 3 ft. long spears on top of his
head. I also saw a praying mantis blending in with the vegetation and some very
colorful birds.
It’s funny how I can get into the routine of studying and
spending time with my family and then do a field trip like today and it hits me
again that I am living in Africa. I still have lots of moments of reminders but
it’s amazing how quick we can get used to things. Things like horses pulling
carts and cows standing in the roads, kids carrying littler kids on their backs
wrapped in cloth, cooking by an 8 inch charcoal stove, and seeing endless straw
thatched mud hut homes.
Hopefully as I learn the language better I can begin to
forget that I am a “ferengi” and continue to connect deeper to the beautiful
people that fill this land.
Sending love and hugs to all,
Laresa
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