Photos from Awash National Park Dec1,2012

Happy at the hotsprings

Big ol croc in the river

Pet ostrich and new thatched roof

The amazing oasis hot springs

Pair of oryx- so cool!

Lovely Awash river (crocodiles on the other shore)

Africa Amazingness!

December 4th, 2012

Wowzers! This past weekend was the best yet. On Friday the environment group- 16 of us got to go camping at Awash national park. We drove down into the Great Rift Valley through old lava fields and past a big lake for 5 hours to the north east into the Afar region. The lodge we stayed at was perched right over a huge waterfall- “Ethiopia’s Victoria Falls”. From cozy thatched huts perched on the edge we could see monkeys and crocodiles down in the river below. A trail led down to the river and at one point a few of us were standing about 50 feet away from a smallish crocodile!

The first evening there we went on a safari and spotted the beautiful Oryx- large antelope with long straight pointy antlers. We also saw warthogs with their little tails pointed high. Sunset was gorgeous in the classic African terrain- thorn bushes and Acacia trees. We drove to a spot where 3 tributaries joined the Awash River in a huge gorge the Grand Canyon of Ethiopia.   That night we had a campfire and stayed up late under the full moon. Luckily there were guards to protect us from any random baboon hyena that might wander into camp.

Waking up to crazy bird and monkey sounds I smiled knowing I was in Africa. Saturday morning we drove a long bumpy road into the Afar region spotting Dikdik (small antelope), warthogs and many cool birds including Toucans.  Our destination was an incredible oasis in the scrub- palm trees and grassy marshes. Walking for a little ways we came upon a fairy tale like hot springs. Turquoise blue deep pool lined with palm trees. The water was very hot but felt incredible. Probably the closest thing to a bath I will have while in Ethiopia. Some local tribe’s people came and watched us and they had beautiful facial markings. We weren’t allowed to take photos but I have one image burned in my mind of a young girl hiding in the grass wearing a bright red-orange scarf. Walking back I had fun geeking out looking at all the beautiful exotic birds.

Later that day we went on another excursion, this time to a long crack in the earth. This fault line ran for over a kilometer, was about 10 feet wide, and in some parts was bottomless. It was very eerie and super cool. Sometimes I could see bats flying deep down in crack. As the sun started setting we snuck up to a spot that was over a large cave and soon started seeing hyena’s coming out for the evening.  We silently watched about 20 hyenas come out of the cave and go out into the bush. Some were lactating females, small cubs, and large males. It was incredible, especially as the golden sun sank into the horizon. I was in awestruck bliss!

To top it off while we were eating dinner (super yummy fish) the local tribe’s people did a special dance for us. They sang songs and performed traditional dances. The men wore white cloth skirts and shawls, and the women wore the same white cloth and long beads. The women were sweetly shy as they sang beautiful songs. The tribe is doing this as an alternative way to earn money as their land gets more confined due to the park and grazing restrictions.

Sunday we drove back happy and tired. Along the way I saw endless straw houses, some camels and men working in the fields harvesting the wheat by hand. As I said it was an incredible weekend that filled me with excitement and awe in being here. It was a wonderful rejuvenation and experience. Yay to Ethiopia and Africa! One more week until swearing in and moving to Goba!

From now on my address is: Laresa Kerstetter, PO Box 340, Goba, Ethiopia. I would love any letters or packages (chocolate, fruit snacks, games, books, magazines…fun stuff and food!).

Also if anyone wants to call my phone number is (251) 9 22 530 489. I am 11 hours ahead of the west coast. Sending happy Ethiopian hugs to all! ~Laresa~

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
We just ate a fabulous meal of many of the classic Thanksgiving items- minus turkey and pumpkin pie and cornbread, but it was delicious. Everyone in the G8 group pulled together to make fun decorations and food. My group in Bekoji and I learned how difficult it can be to get some basic ingredients here but we managed to make peanut butter banana cookies- with milk from a cow 20 minuets old, and very fresh butter. I have only two weeks left before swearing in an becoming a true volunteer. Before that happens I have to pass the language test which is making me study and practice a lot, good but challenging. I'm thinking of everyone on this wonderful holiday - very thankful for the love and support that I feel. Happy Turkey Day! May it be filled with yummy food and fill your heart with joy. 

From sickness to joy

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

Hello from Paradise

Hello from the amazing town of Hawasa!
I am sitting in a ritzy hotel on the shore of the beautiful lake Hawasa gazing over tropical gardens and catching glimpses of huge cranes, hornbills, and many many different exotic birds. Today is a special bonus vacation day as I make my way back from my site visit in Goba to my current home in Bekoji. I am excited to discover this "ferengi" tourist spot as a nice break from normal Ethiopian lifestyle- flush toilets and internet! I have 5 weeks left at my homestay in Bekoji until I move out to Goba. I am extra motivated to learn the language knowing now how important it will be to learn a second language once I get to Goba.
Yesterday I got to walk along the edge of lake Hawasa and was grinning as I took photos of the super abundant Maribou stork - a huge gangly stork, beautiful kingfishers many other fun tropical birds. From my hotel I can watch the storks (over 6 ft wingspan) build their nests and clack their bills in the tree above me.
Three days ago I was able to travel into Bale National park to visit a small rural town for a potential project on helping teach how to sustainably harvest the native bamboo. The mountains are gorgeous- a combination of Alaskan tundra up on the Segeti plateau at 10,000 ft where I even saw the small endemic Ethiopian wolf skulking in the bushes, to the hobbit like trees of the cloud forest. The vegetation can change so quickly here as the elevation changes - which is also so very dramatic (and scary driving down).
Any time I get to go out into some of the remaining nature here my heart fills with joy, excitement and wonder! A wonderful rejuvenation that fuels me through the hassles of dealing with public transport and endless attention from strangers. I'm getting used to being a "celebrity" or called "ferengi", "china", "you,you,you" or "money, money, money" and hopefully soon I will learn better ways to communicate with people. Overall though I have been extremely fortunate in not being really harassed, both Bekoji and Goba are wonderful laid back towns with friendly people.
Ok time to go enjoy this beautiful paradise - wonder down to the lake shore and bird watch. Chao from the tropics and wonder of Africa! And good job America on re-electing Obama!!!! All the Ethiopians were celebrating!

A few photos_Nov5,2012

Learning to make injera

Driving up into the Bale mountains and dodging endless obstacles on the road

                                   A spectacular view from the cloud forest of Bale mountains- inside the park.

From the beauty of Goba_November 5, 2012

From the beautiful darkness of Goba

 

 Hello from the dark in Goba! I sit on a comfy couch in the pitch dark as it pours outside and the power is out. This is my second night visiting Goba- the town in which I will spend the next two years starting December 15^th. Being here makes me realize that 2 years is quite a long time. But can go so quickly. I am so excited and happy that Goba is my town- it is beautiful, comfortable and has many wonderful people that I am just beginning to meet. For Ethiopia there is a very minimal amount of harassment from kids and locals. So refereshing to walk around town and not be constantly stared or shouted at. I’ve actually been very lucky- Bekoji is also a very pleasant beautiful town. I also feel so fortunate that there has already been an environment volunteer here to get the ball rolling. I will take over for her in various functions and I feel that there are many roots that I can cultivate for potential projects. The Bale mountains are simply stunning- mystical green peaks and knobs. In a few days I get to go venture inside the park! Already as we drove into the park from the south I saw mountain Nyala- a large ungulate, a troop of baboons, and a posse of warthog- all just along the main road! Another major bonus is that my house is great. It had a little green yard out front and is already set up with furniture (a rarity here). Today I set up my bank account which went smoothly enough.,…. I quickly learned how to shove my way to the front of the line and not get shoved out of place. Just standard business here. Tomorrow I get to go look at the local tree nursery and nature preserve, more potential for great projects. Oh yay for Ethiopia and all the amazing factors that have put me here. Love to all.