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.