Permanent Address and Care Package Tips

Care Package Tips

 

·         FLAT RATE BOXES from Post Office are cheapest or First-Class International via USPS; also talk to your Post Office-see what they suggest is cheapest

·         Number or Date letters, letters can come in various order

·         Generally takes 2-4 weeks for me to receive any mail (letters or packages)

·         Label clearly “AIRMAIL/Par Avion”

·         Write “PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER”

·         Don’t use packing peanuts or other filler, be creative send use items I want/need as filler

·         Please don’t send anything irreplaceable or of amazing quality

·         Be vague/general on customs forms

·         Use Religious Symbols on package

·         Put food in Ziploc bags or Tupperware so it doesn’t get ruined

·         Something to always add: GUM (peppermint, fruity), hand sanitizer, tissues, every once in a while throw in a flash drive (hide the flash drive as much as possible, also add some music-any is good, I need some kids songs!, TV shows, or movies)

 

Permanent Address:

Chaye Estep

Peace Corps Volunteer

PO Box #7

Injibara

Amhara Region

Ethiopia

My phone # is +2510920580038, check out Google Voice, Rebtel or Skype

Wish List

Wish list!!!!

Always good to send:  hand sanitizer, tissues and gum (peppermint and fruity)

Candy: gobstoppers, chewy sweet tarts, Swedish fish, starburst, peanut M&Ms, anything chocolate, Hershey

Instant pouches (just add water): pudding, mash potatoes, mac’n’cheese, etc. 

Meat: Slim Jims, beef jerky, salami, pepperoni or any cured meat

Cheese: Velveeta, there are others you can send that won’t go bad, I just don’t remember which ones

Nuts: almonds, pistachios, cashews

Dried fruit: raisins, cranberries, etc.

Poptarts: chocolate, cookies and cream, s’mores

Oreos

Marshmallows

Graham Crackers

Welsh’s fruit snacks

Chocolate chips

Peanut Butter (Jiffy to go, 4 for $1.00 at Dollar Tree)

Seasonings: butter flakes, cinnamon, garlic powder/salt, brown sugar, sweet’n’low, baking soda

Anything you feel I’ll like. There are slim pickings for American type foods and snacks.

Panty liners

Baby powder, baby wipes

Pictures (family and friends....I'll need to decorate my house!!)

SURPRISE ME!!!!!!

Site Visit

Site Visit August 11-18

Sunday, August 11^th I traveled to Addis Ababa around 3pm. In the morning I had to sweep my room, pull my sheets off the bed and fold them, and put everything on my bed, oh and spray my room with bug spray, my host dad wanted me to do all this before I left. I got to Addis and checked into the hotel and headed to the Frenji store (Fantu). I had a cheeseburger for dinner and it was amazing. On Monday, I met my community liaison (CL) and had sessions. Monday night I went for pizza and ice cream. My flight to BahirDar, which is my hub town, was scheduled for 7:00am. Upon arriving at the airport the flight was delayed due to weather. We finally departed around 9:15ish. The flight was around 50 minutes. Once we arrived in BahirDar, we walked by Lake Tana and saw the Blue Nile River. Then we (Deborah, her CL, and my CL) got on a bus and headed for Injibara! The bus was around 2 hours, so not too bad. Tuesday I saw a little of town. Upon arriving we went to the hotel, checked in then headed for buna (coffee). After coffee we split up (Deborah and her liaison went on way, while my liaison and I went another). My CL took me to his house, where I ate and had more buna. Then when the rain stopped he took me to the school compound. The school compound is huge! After seeing that, I went back to the hotel where I stayed for a little then Deborah and I headed out for dinner.

Wednesday: Deborah and I had breakfast then headed out to walk around town in search of peanut butter, we were unsuccessful. My CL arrived around 11:45; at that time we headed to the bank to open accounts. That took about 30-40 minutes. While leaving Deborah’s CL showed up. He took just to lunch, while my CL went home. After lunch we opened a bank account, then tried to visit with the major (it was successful). My CL met up with us and took me back to the school to meet the director. I met with the director and was introduced to a couple other people. After talking for a while and when the rain died down, the director and my CL took me to see my house. It is still being built, but from what I saw it looks nice. I have 2 rooms, a big window in the small room and a small window in the big room (I didn’t take pictures). I met my landlord and his son who is adorable and when he learned my name, he kept saying it.

Thursday: My CL took us to the mayor’s office, education office, kebele (community) office, police station and health center. Once that was done Deborah and I headed to the hotel because we had a lunch date with a PCV about 40 minutes from us (Kiristen). She introduced us to her counterpart and a friend (Shmeles) she has in Injibara. We had lunch then went to Shmeles’ job for buna, always buna. After spending some time with Kiristen and Shmeles, Deborah and I headed for the internet café, which is every important to know. Thursday night after dinner we were heading back to the hotel, because my CL was there to check on us, when we ran into this Shmeles. After saying goodbye to my CL, we headed for our rooms to get ready to go out with Shmeles. Yes, I am saying I snuck out of the hotel, because I didn’t want my CL to see me. We had a nice night and got to know someone in our town. I now have a friend!

Friday: We left Injibara around 9:30 and arrived in BahirDar around 11:30. There were some PCVs who came in to meet us and spend the day/afternoon with us (PCTs). For lunch I had a cheeseburger and ice cream cone (YUMMY)! Then Katelyn (PCV) took me and few others around town, she showed us the best fergni stores and where to buy produce in the market. A PCVL who works in the PC BahirDar office showed the whole group the PC Office and a little of town. We then all went to eat, like 20 or so of us. It was a fun night. The hotel was right on the lake and a beautiful setting. Only down fall was I got eaten alive in BahirDar.

Saturday: Our plane was scheduled for 8:50am. We got to the airport at 7:30 and were told it’s been delayed until 1:00pm. That didn’t bother any of us because we didn’t have breakfast and we could spend more time walking around. Some even went to the spa and got messages and pedicures. I choose not to spend my money, but to relax at the hotel, which had wifi. So 11:00 rolls around and we’re ready to head to the airport. We get there, go through 3 different security checks (1 at the front gate, 2nd entering the building and the 3 going through the terminal), site down relax and at 1:00 are told the plane is delayed again. This time the airline gives us a voucher for lunch and shuttles us to a really nice airport. I had a fried chicken burger and fries. It was good. At this time it’s about 2:45 and we are still at the hotel eating. The shuttles comes for us, takes us back to the airport where we have to go through security all over again. This time the plane did leave, take off was around 3:30. We arrived in Addis Ababa around 4:30 and were thankful we would be able to stay at the hotel instead of heading straight back to Butajira. Didn’t do much Saturday night, attempted to find a really good burger place but got caught in the rain instead. Took two hot showers!!!!

Sunday: I went to Fantu (fergni) grocery and bought 4 chocolate bars. Then to a café and had ice cream and 10:00am (3 scoops, cookies’n’cream, chocolate and cappuccino), it was amazing. I then went with a group of people across town to this cupcake place. I bought 2 cupcakes and a croissant. I also had a chicken Caesar salad for lunch. Let’s just say it was amazing. Some of the group wanted beers so we headed to Beer Gardens after (a hotel). We got back to the hotel around 2:00 and I took another shower. The bus left for Butajira at 3:30 and here I am sitting in my room, enjoying my computer and music.

I have a new address I need to upload and a wish list of items.

Site assignment

Site Announcement!!! I will be living in Injibara, Ethiopia for the next two years beginning in mid-September! I will work in the primary school. Injibara is a 2.5 hour bus ride south of Bahir Dar. Injibara is the capital of the Awi Zone. I don't know much else about my site. I travel to site for a few days on Tuesday. I will have more information next weekend.

August 9th

Friday, August 9, 2013

I went to the hospital today. I called medical in Addis Ababa and they called Almaz (homestay coordinator). She picked me up and said we were going to the hospital, because she didn’t like how they did things at the clinic last week (when I went). So the hospital is interesting. It was crowded with people and the compound is huge. Luckily one of the host fathers works at the hospital (I think he’s a doctor, but I’m not sure) and he helped Almaz and I get where we needed to go. So the first doctor I spoke with asked me what was wrong and questions relating to why I was there. Oh by the way I had to go because I am having diarrhea, as many know I went last week to the clinic because I had diarrhea for five days. So my call to medical this morning went something like this.

Dr.: Chaye how are you feeling? When did the diarrhea begin this time?

Me: I was feeling fine with maybe some diarrhea every other day this past week, but it started consistently yesterday.

Dr.: I think the medicine you took last week helped with your problem, but you now have something else. I will have someone call you and come take you to the hospital.

Me: okay.

Then the PC doctor asked me a few other questions. Back to the hospital, this time around I not only had to give a stool sample, but I had blood drawn. The lady who took by blood really hurt and left a decent bruise. When she poked me I started bleeding over the needle, so nothing was going into the tube, because it was coming out of my skin. Finally after pumping the shot thing she got some blood to flow. It was painful and I didn’t even get a Band-Aid even though I was still bleeding. Almaz took me back to the PC Office to do my business with the stool sample. Back that the hospital, my labs were being done. I’m not exactly sure what I have, I read the stool prescription paper thing and the lab tech circled ova/parasite, I know it doesn’t sound good. I don’t remember what the blood work prescription thing said, because I couldn’t read it. So as far as I know I have a parasite, sounds horrible I know, luckily I have medicine to get rid of it. One of the main reasons I called medical is because last night I had a hard time sleeping. Every time I rolled on my side, my stomach would cramp up and I would be in massive pain. So I had to sleep on my back or I’d be in pain.

No worries for those of you who may be freaking out about me being sick. I am in good hands with PC doctors, which I will see in a couple days.

I also have something on my big toe near my toenail. When I described it to the PC doctor he said it sounds like an infection, but no worries he told me what to do and like I mentioned I will see him in a couple days to confirm what it is. The sore, which looks sort of like a blood blister with puss, is only painful at certain times.

I know this post sounds horrible, but people please realize I am in a country where people get sick all the time. This won’t be the last time I have to go to the hospital or the last time I have to take medicine. This is just the beginning of the next two years of my life. Just keep me in your prayers, my safety and health. If you have any concerns or anything, comment, FB, or email me.

week of July 29-Aug. 4

Okay, so I had a cold last week, which I am still getting over. However, on Friday I started having diarrhea, not really bad twice maybe three times a day. So I finally called medical Tuesday. I didn’t think anything of it, however my language teacher was concerned. Back track, on Sunday network went down and didn’t come back until Tuesday morning, so I couldn’t call in the first place. So I called medical and they told me I needed to go to the clinic. My homestay coordinator, Almaz, said she would take me. So during lunch Almaz came to get me to take me to the Health Center right around the corner from my house. The doctor said I needed to give a stool sample. How in the world was I going to give a stool sample right then right there, if I didn’t have to go? This was my thought. Apparently the sample has to be in the lab within 10-15 minutes to look at. So I got the necessary items (the cup) to get the sample and returned to the clinic Wednesday morning. In the end, I have some sort of I have no clue. The doctor who read my lab results asked me if I drank the water without filtering it. The thing is no I always filter my water, however the first week I was in Butajira, I didn’t use chlorine, because I didn’t know I had to. All in all, I started a medicine Wednesday morning that I take for 3 days, 2 pills twice a day. So I am getting over whatever GI issue I had. Apparently the medicine has side effects such as stomach cramps and stomach churning, which my stomach hasn’t felt the same in a little over a week now. I hope to finally feel better within the next few days!

Practicum is going well. On Monday I taught Grade 8 and they were rude and very talkative. Tuesday I taught Grade 3 and really enjoyed it. I had a PCVL observe me and he said I did a great job and had amazing patience. Grade 3 is way below the level they should be in the text book. The books are hard to work with in general. Wednesday I taught Grade 4 and the kids were talkative again. I had to be a strict and move some around the class or I wouldn’t have been able to do my lesson. In both Grade 3 and 4, I thought I had a really good lesson. Lesson planning is difficult and PC has a format they use, which I in turn have to use. Thursday I taught grade 5 and just wasn’t into it. I got frustrated half way through my lesson for no reason at all. Friday I was getting frustrated during lesson planning time and knew I needed to calm down and know that its practice and I can do it. It worked out though to where I didn’t have to teach at all!

Thursday and Friday were rough for me. I was emotional and wanted to cry several times. I think it’s because I’m still not feeling 100% and I just wanted to curl up and pretend I was back home in my bed watching TV. However, that is not going to happen and I need to suck it up and get over it. I’m still feeling a bit run down and like crying at times, but I’m managing to keep things together.

I’ve watched a few movies this week, because I didn’t feel like socializing. My family has had cousins (or at least I think they’re cousins) over. It’s been all males about my age and when I’m socializing the cousins quiz me on my Amharic and then laugh because of how I say it. The laughing doesn’t bother me; it’s the consistent staring and telling me to talk. Apparently I am to quiet. My host dad informed me on Friday night that I need to talk more, I am to quiet. I don’t speak enough Amharic, even to try and practice. I turn into an introvert when I’m around new people, I know this about myself and I am trying to be more outgoing with my family, I just don’t always have things to say.

On Saturday, PC set up a meeting with this organization in Agro-forestry. The organization works with the Israli and USAID (which I can’t remember what it stands for) germinating Ethiopian agricultural with Israli agricultural. It was interesting, but not that interesting when it began raining. Almost the whole group was there including LCF (language cultural facilitators) and some PC staff. I didn’t do much after that except read.

On Sunday, I woke up early to attend church. Saturday night my sisters asked if I wanted to go and I said sure why not. I had to wear a head scarf which is called a nutella (spelling wrong), but you get the point. Church was interesting. I sat outside the building with everyone else for like 2 hours listening to the loud speaker, there were songs, prayers and I’m not sure what else, it was in a language I couldn’t understand (which everything is, but I think this language is different). After church, I returned home with my sisters and cousins, oh my older sister and her 2 kids we met at church; they came back to the house with us. We had breakfast with tea, then 20-30 minutes later coffee (3 small cups, one day I’ll take a picture). I did laundry, well attempted, then my mom and sisters took over. The soap I was given by PC apparently isn’t any good. I also had to get my bed sheets to be washed. Nothing dried on Sunday; it rained most of the day. I took a bucket bath, which I think I’m getting better at, but I still don’t think my hair gets clean. Then my sisters wanted to watch “Breaking Dawn part 2” so we did. My day is pretty boring after that, just watching TV and reading.

On Saturday I find out my site!!!!

July 27-28

This weekend was fun. I learned a lot about Ethiopian life. In language on Saturday (July 27^th), my teacher gave us homework to learn how to make buna (coffee). So I had to learn, which I already told my sisters I wanted to learn this weekend anyway. After lunch on Saturday, I was able to see the kitchen (where everything is cooked at least) it’s nothing you would expect being Americans. While watching Mekides started making Injera (I know you don’t know what it is, but it’s complicated). She and my sister Tsiyon then asked if I wanted to try. I did and it was harder than it looked. Mekides just poured the mix over the stove in a circle and made it look easy. I however made an oval shaped Injera, but I was told by everyone it wasn’t bad for my first time.

On Sunday I learned to make coffee. Tsiyon taught me from roasting the beans, to smashing in the beans, then boiling the water. We let the water boil over a few times, but I didn’t know what I was doing, so I wasn’t sure what to do. The process all together takes about an hour. It is labor intense also. I only smashed the beans for maybe a minute and then Tsiyon took over. While Tsiyon was smashing, my mom and Mekides were cleaning the chicken parts. I’m assuming the chicken died this morning, because when I got up, they were cutting the parts and cleaning them really good. I helped to flavor/season the chicken I guess. I’m not sure what the process I helped with. But I was asked if I wanted to try and I said yes. So I got my hands into the chicken parts bucket that also had lime and onions and started mixing everything together. It was interesting to say the least. After helping for a minute or so I returned to my coffee making.

My oldest sister and her two children were visiting today. She has a 2 year old and a 5 month old (I think). The 2 year old doesn’t know what to think of me, but I think she’s finally warming up to me. Oh another important thing happened today. I figured out the best way to shower/bucket bathe. I’ve been taking cold showers, because my family does have a shower; however I think that’s one of the reason I got a cold. So today, I asked my family to boil some water and then I added that water to cold water and took a warm bucket bath. It was actually nice, I feel like I got clean and my hair actually looks clean!