Pre- Service Training

Pre-Service Training (PST) has been referred to more often than not as Peace Corps’ Boot Camp. The directors claim to “own us” for this 12 week training is definitely apparent in the rigorous and somewhat daunting syllabus packets. Everyday is marked out with various classes from 8-5 Monday through Friday and 8-12 on Saturday. Though last weekend we had all day on Saturday and all day on Sunday. However, amongst the color-coded packets, and slideshows, PST is a lot of fun!

            All of our classes are taught in the basement of the hotel we are staying at. (If you want to check it out on the World Wide Web it is King’s Hotel in Addis Ababa).  We, 70 young gullible half crazy adults, sit on yellow and red chairs in a horseshoe formation around our presenters. Our presenters are pretty legit and totally know their stuff. They are also really passionate about what they are teaching which makes long sessions enjoyable. Our classes are divide the day similarly to what they would be in high school. We are taking: CORE TOPICS, which includes policies, administration, role of volunteer, etc.; Medical & Safety so we stay well and happy; Language and Culture, where we are learning Amharic and the culture of Ethiopia; Education Technical Training where we learn about our roles of high school English teachers. We start at 8 am, have shybuna (translated to tea and coffee. Used for “break”) at 10, classes at 10:30, lunch at 12:30, classes resume at 1:30, shybuna at 3:30, final classes at 4, and on own for dinner after 5:30pm. (FYI: To know when that is on the West Coast add two hours to all those time and switch am to pm or pm to am. Ex: 8 am = 10pm previous night West Coast) So pretty much, while all of you are sleeping I am getting some pretty intense knowledge going on!

            As mentioned before, I am one of 70 Peace Corps Trainees or PCTs. We average to be the youngest group of volunteers. (If I remember correctly the average age of this group is 24. I know that the youngest is 20.)  It has been a blast getting to know everyone and hearing about where they are from. Think Young Life camp with half the games, but with lots of meals together. I can’t believe that I’ve only known some of these people for a week! WHAT?! I guess that’s what happens when we eat, study, learn, get over jet lag, and explore together!

            Speaking of exploring, that has been limited, but existent. One of the more memorable things a couple of my friends and I did was play soccer with some hotel staff and a local teenager boy out in the courtyard of the hotel. We didn’t have to go far, but we played and played and played until the sun went down and we almost missed dinner. It was really great to learn new Amharic from them in practical and fun ways.  We have explored the area more recently as dinners are not mandatory at the hotel since Thursday. I love seeing the street life of Addis in the evening. Kids go around playing with these sticks to keep circular hoops in motion. Some adults set up little open flame charcoal burners to roast corn on to take the places of the shoe shiners that were there during the day. Every other streetlight comes on. Music can be heard wafting in many directions. (Last night LMFAO’s “I’m Sexy and I know it” was blaring out of a 3^rd story floor gym.) We are told to get back to the hotel around seven and do a pretty good job of that. That is the time the hyenas traditionally come out. It also gets dark around then and safety is key for a bunch of ferenji.

            Let’s see…any other random things to get out while internet is still working….. Oh, I have yet to drink coffee. There are some amazing teas here! Cinnamon was my new surprise this morning and it is by far my favorite! I’m reading Anne of Green Gables. I went to the National Museum on Sunday and saw Lucy! Not Narnia’s youngest queen Lucy, but the old bones Lucy. It was pretty fantastic to look at a national museum that goes back to the first century! Ethiopia is so old and cool! It makes a history geek like me happy! There have been a couple of really bad sicknesses going around and our group right now that could use prayers. I had a 24-hour bug that is completely gone now, but some are still battling it…whatever “it” is. 

            Thank you so much for all your support. I’m not sure when I will post again, but here is a quick modified schedule of what my life of PST is going to look like for a while:

            12 July: Travel to Butijira. Unite with Host Families

            14-20 July: Language classes 2-4 hours a day

            21-27 July: Language classes 2 hrs a day; Start Practicum!!!!!

            28 July – 15 August: Language classes 2 hrs a day; Practicum!!

            3 Aug: Learn to make coffee

            10 Aug: Day Trip to Lake Langano

            16 Aug: Find out permanent site location; Travel back to Addis

            19 Aug – 22: Visit Future Site

            23 Aug: Back in Butijira; learn to make fire/charcoal

            25 Aug – 14 Sept: Language classes 4 hrs a day; other classes

            11 Sept: Ethiopian New Year

            15 Sept: Language Proficiency Test

            16 Sept: Leave Butijira and get to Addis

            19 Sept: Go to Embassy for Swearing in Ceremony (if I don’t fail something)

            20 Sept: Travel to new site.

           

Current song of encouragement (on repeat): Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle”