Reflecting on a life changing 2014

As 2014 draws to a close and 2015 comes around, I have had a chance to really reflect on my life-changing year. 2014 has probably been the biggest year of my life to date with the graduating college and beginning my journey as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia.

2014 was full of many memories, laughs, excitement, tears, and frustrations. I worked for a short time at Justice with some amazing coworkers and bosses before realizing I just could not handle taking classes, working retail, being in Chi Omega, and student teaching full time. I had the opportunity to be a coteacher in the Bandelier program and that gave me the good fortune to meet and work with some of my amazing classmates. I also had the privilege to coteach with Kathleen Cole and learn so many things that I didn’t even realize until I left her classroom. Even though those kids drove me crazy, I miss them everyday over here.

I completed living in 1810 Mesa Vista Rd for 4 years and I completed my incredible time in Chi Omega with a great semester of “lasts”. I was asked to be the spring babies GWO and was able to write letters to them every week, hoping that inspired them to continue on their Chi Omega journey. I hold so many memories from that last semester in Chi Omega that I can’t even begin to count. I got to see a wish granted through Make-A-Wish and got to celebrate my last active Eleusinian with my entire blood Chi Omega family.

This semester even though I am far away my Chi Omega family doubled in size and I am so grateful to have added Stephani, Misha, Kadisha, Aubriana, Kaitie, (and Stephanie) to my family that I already hold so dear. Even though I have never met them in person, they have helped me more than they know. I also was very excited to see my Grandlittle Meagan get elected President of Pi Gamma, my GGL Yvan get elected Secretary and my GGL Jordan get elected Personnel Chair. I can not wait to see how them and the rest of the new exec board help grows the chapter.

I was able to take 2 incredible trips during 2014. One during my spring break to visit Laura in California where I was able to spend a few days relaxing, meeting new friends, taking in my last few college times, and spending the day releasing my inner child at Disneyland. I was also able to visit New York City with my mom for the first time, see Broadway shows, and do all the touristy things while eating good food and making memories.

This brings me to my life changing moments: walking across the stage to receive my diploma and swearing into Peace Corps. I was so grateful to be able to not only graduate in 4 years with a degree I love, but I was able to graduate with all of my family there. All 4 of my grandparents were able to watch me graduate with honors and I was able to see some of my cousins and aunts and uncles who I hadn’t seen in a long time. It felt so good to hold that diploma in my hand and know I was done with undergrad (I’m still torturing myself with more school and plan to go to grad school when I get back to the US).

I also decided to embark upon this crazy 27 month long journey in Ethiopia. I had no idea what to expect and up until I got on the plane to come to Ethiopia I was second guessing myself: I have never been away from home for more than 2 weeks, what was I thinking?

I got here and realized that even though it was going to be the hardest thing I will ever do, that this is what I am meant to do. The culture is so different, teaching is hard, and sometimes I roll up in a ball and cry. Missing my birthday and the holidays at home were hard. But the random little moments like seeing my students get it, or seeing my compound kids run up to me, or just something as simple as a good cup of buna reminds me why I am doing this.

I have met some absolutely unbelievable people here. Training was good because I got to see them every day, and it’s been really hard not being able to see my friends I became so close to on a daily basis, but I am grateful to be able to text them whenever I need them and they understand more than anybody what I am going through.

2014 brought me lots of new friends that have grown to become some of my best friends. It also showed me who is really in my life, who is always supportive, and who I can count on no matter what. I can’t mention everybody who has made a difference in my life. Just know that if you have ever sent me a message, written on my wall, sent me a letter, or just liked something that has been enough to let me know that you are thinking about me.

The love and support I have received and been shown in this past year is unmeasarable and I am more grateful for that than you will ever know. I especially want to give a shout out to my AMAZING family- especially my parents, grandparents, and siblings. You all have made me who I am. Thank you.

To the rest of my family, my Chi Omega sisters, and my friends: Thank you as well for helping me through 2014. I’m going to need your help a lot in 2015, so don’t go anywhere.

I can’t “shout out” to everyone who has helped me, but here are the people who I think deserve a name recognition: Mom, dad, Parker, Erin, Aly, Erin, Matthew, grandma and grandpa, grandma and granddad, Aunt Karen, Uncle Ernie, Amanda, Katie, Chris, Braxton, Aunt Ginger, Uncle Jack, Aaron, Brandon, Paige, Aunt Terri, Uncle Dwight, Seth, Tad, Joy.

Aunt Nicole, Big Kara, GL Cassandra, GL Stephanie, GL Meagan, GGL Kaitie, GGL Misha, GGL Yvan, GGL Jordan, GGGL Stephani, GGGL Aubriana. Alex Grandia, Kayla Lo, Bet, Courtney D, Clare S, Delia, Gen R, Shannon G, Nicole H, Alyssa H, RyAnne W, Alysa B, Val R, Maggie L, Patty H, Missy S, Monica M, Ashley M, Sam M, Jillian M, Danielle R, Devon L, Cailee H, Gabriela G, Krissy F, Suzanne F, Sarah C, Kayleigh R, Kristen S.

Alex B, Lynda V, Loren K, Abby N, Jeremiah H, Carson R, Rachel H, Kami H, Ashley P, Ben M, Jamie K, Barbara S, Penny E, Melissa B, Godmother Betsy, Dawn G, Louise L, Pam P-M, Ruth N, Joan E, Tammy D, Kathy C, Claudia C, Kathleen C, Mary E, Jane A, Clint P, Tyler E, Raquel L, William G, Dustin W.

I am looking forward to 2015. Barring unforeseen or extreme circumstances, I will spend the entire year outside of the US without stepping foot on US soil. I have 2 more semesters of teaching (this years spring and next years fall), I have a summer break where (hopefully) my dad will come to visit me in Ethiopia and I will (definitely) be meeting my mom and stepdad in Europe where I will travel there for the first time. I will be taking the GRE and applying to grad schools for 2016. I will hopefully be doing some fun projects over here, including English and Gender clubs, permagardening (if I get picked for training), and working with a health organization called Nala Foundation. I hope to continue to make new friends over here and make lots of memories. I know it will probably be a more challenging, difficult, and trying year than 2014, but I hope it will also be a more inspirational, different, and fun one too.

Here’s to an incredible 2014 and an even better 2015!

First [American] Christmas Away From Home

Merry (late) Christmas everyone! 

Thank you to everyone that sent me greetings, wishes, and Merry Christmas from around the world. This was my first Christmas away from home, and I didn’t know how I was going to handle it, but thanks to having so many friends over here who are going through the same thing it was fun.

I was back to settling into life in Adwa after IST last week. On Wednesday night (Christmas eve) I didn’t do anything too exciting. I bought a bottle of wine and made noodles and watched Elf. Thursday morning I went to the post office just to see if I had any other packages. I did have one from my Hill Grandparents! So I was able to go home and open 3 packages. They were all perfect in different ways. 1 had a bunch of food, 1 had a bunch of beauty supplies, and 1 had a mixture of both. I had a great Christmas with those. I’m just hoping my mom’s gets here at some point.

On Thursday in my classes I had this whole grand plan for a Christmas lesson. I was able to do part of it, but not all of my lesson I had planned. I drew a picture of a decorated Christmas tree and presents and wrote the lyrics to the first verse of “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”. I taught them to sing it and recorded them. I uploaded one of my classes singing it.

Then I handed out a star sticker to each student as a way to show them “giving gifts” without putting that idea in their minds that the firenji gives gifts. I then read them “The Night Before Christmas”. I would read a line in the old version, then explain it basic and simple terms that they would understand. I also learned a lot of Tigrinia words because I would ask what things were. They actually understood most everything, but reindeer ha.

Natalie and Swathi, 2 PCV’s from the other side of Tigray, were visiting over here so I met up with them for drinks at the draft house, then we met Jon (a VSO here), Alexa (a VSO in another town in Tigray), and Connor for dinner at the nice hotel in town because they all wanted “firenji food” for Christmas. We had a good time just hanging out and celebrating Christmas a little differently than at home.

I was able to “see” almost all of my family over the past few days. I FaceTimed into my dad’s family during our (now) annual White Elephant gift exchange. It was amazing to talk to all of them and join in on the festivities (even though they took a selfie after I was off, so I wasn’t able to be in the family picture). Waking up at 1:30am was totally worth it. Then Christmas evening I was able to Facetime into my mom’s family just to say a quick hello to the other grandparents.

Seeing my parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins was difficult because I miss them so much, but I’m so glad I have the ability to see them so often.

Jessie came in on Friday afternoon and we hung out Friday evening, all day Saturday, and she is going back to her town today. We went to Jon’s for a “Christmas party” on Saturday. It was supposed to be this huge thing with a bunch of VSO’s and PCV’s from around Ethiopia and so he bought a ton of alcohol and meat, but most everyone ended up cancelling. It was still fun with just Rachelle, Jon, Connor, Jessie, Gebre and me.

Jessie and I left to meet her teacher friend from her town whose family lives in Adwa. We walked around Adwa and then had the best dinner ever. We finally made all the Thanksgiving food that my mom sent me for Thanksgiving. We made mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, and mac and cheese. It was the most delicious thing ever.

After that we made hot cocoa and watched “Elf”. She hasn’t seen a lot of movies that I deem are very important, so I have written down all the ones I have that she hasn’t seen, and we are going to start watching them when we see each other. Ha.

Getting on FaceBook the past few days I have seen my entire newsfeed taken up mostly with engagements and some weddings. I guess I am at that age where things are going to start happening, it’s just crazy to me when I am not even close to thinking about that. But anyways, to anyone who is engaged or married: congratulations from across the world! I am thinking of everyone back home!

New Years is soon, but of course they don’t celebrate it here (their New Years is our September 11) and it’s in the middle of the week, so like Christmas and Thanksgiving I will be teaching on both New Years Eve and New Years Day. Maybe I will do something the weekend after, but I am not entirely sure what will happen with that.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year from Ethiopia! <3

25 Things I Learned At IST

1-Being able to speak for a whole week in fast English is amazing

2-I am beginning to lose my pop culture references (my brain is actually being taken up with useful information now)

3-Food in Addis (well firenji food) is more than triple the price of Ethiopian food at site

4-One of the best feelings in the world is crawling into a comfy bed after a long day of training and dinner out in Addis

5-Knowing Tigrinia is great when you live in Tigray, but unhelpful once you get to Addis and everyone speaks Amharic

6-Always bring bags that have extra room when you go to Peace Corps trainings, I about doubled my amount of stuff with books and materials given

7-It’s interesting to hear others stories from their first 3 months at site and realizing most challenges are the same for everyone

8-Staying in and watching a movie with friends is more enjoyable than going out- there is nothing to regret in the morning

9-Being in country is tough and some people can’t handle it. That’s ok. It’s not a shame if you go home because you aren’t happy

10-There are so many cool opportunities to be a part of from Peace Corps in your community- including camps, contests, and trainings

11-After being in site for 3 months, everyone became more cynical about life

12-When a store tells you they will order something, call to make sure they actually do instead of just assuming they will, or else they won’t have it when you come in for a computer battery that you desperately need

13-PCVs can have entire conversations in not proper English or full sentences and still completely understand what is going on

14-After 3 months at site, our version of dressing up professionally is more about which clothes don’t have stains or dirt on them

15-Computer virus’s spread quicker than anything else, and Kacey K is our miracle computer healer and wiz

16-We get very competitive with games in sessions

17-Sometimes a listening ear and a smiling face is all someone needs to see to make their day better

18-There is ice in Ethiopia, you just have to go to Addis to find it

19-Wifi at Ghion hotel works great, until 59 Peace Corps volunteers all try to get on at the same time

20-It is possible to strain a foot muscle when walking around Addis for 2 hours at night with all your stuff trying to find your hotel from the airport

21-Addis water tastes disgusting, Adwa has the best water

22-Getting stuff off other people’s harddrives is still amazing—gotta love getting all of Grey’s Anatomy and at least 100 TED talks

23-Sometimes the people you were close to during PST become distant friends based off of geographical region, but it’s ok because there are plenty of people to hang out with

24-It’s seriously the little things in life- like sliced bread with butter, bacon, ice cream, big cups of buna, and cool mornings

25-Unless something changes, I won’t see the rest of my group until October for our MST (mid service training), meaning we are on our own until then