Today is the day! There are two big bags packed to the brims in the dining room waiting to be hoisted and rolled to check-in. Camera, computer, iPad are charged and ready for the two flights and a lay over. Am I ready? It's more like a "ready-or-not-here-I-come" situation.
Here's what I do know: I fly out of Spokane (where I will be leaving my phone) at 10:30 to Seattle where I will have a two hour lay over. Then I fly to DC where I arrive at 10 pm local time (7 Spokane time). Tomorrow morning will probably be spent exploring the city and getting to know the other early arrivals before starting orientation at noon. Then meetings. Tuesday morning we wake up bright and early to go 12.5 hours to Ethiopia. No lay overs! When we get Addis Ababa, the capital, at 6:30 in the morning local time (8 pm the night before Spokane time) we go to the hotel, eat breakfast, and start training! We are at the capital for 10 days before going to Butijira for the rest of the 11 week training. During that part we will be staying at home stays. I'm praying mine have small children. After lots of work and training we are sworn in on Sept. 19 and start teaching the following day.
I'm also looking forward to finding out what I don't know: Where will I be placed? Which language will I learn? Will I teach high school English or at a teachers' college? Is the food spicy? What kind of teas do they drink? What's the weather really like? How is snail mail going to be? Who am I going to meet? How is God going to shape, mold, and change me? What kind of churches will I go to?
Questions can seem pretty daunting. So does 27 months away from familiarity. But, the words of Joshua 1:9 keep playing in my head: Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged for the LORD your God goes with you wherever you go. Oh what an adventure this is going to be!
Thank you all for your support and prayers. I will try to keep you all updated as much as I can. God bless you all.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Where Are You Going Now? ETHIOPIA!
Although this country is one of the more well-known African countries, it is still unfamiliar to many of you. As I get ready to live in this country for 2.25 years as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I am fascinated by the history, culture, dynamics and overall interesting facts I've found. Although a country isn't made up entirely of facts found on the World Wide Web, they're a great scaffold to base further experiences and knowledge. By understanding and learning about a country's broad dynamics I will be better prepared to interact with individuals who will teach me more than I could ever research. Learning should be a community event. Here is what I've learned so far.
The Peace Corps In Ethiopia
In September 1962, 279 secondary school teacher PCV entered into Ethiopia for the first time. For the next 15 years this program grew to be the one of the largest. However, in March of 2000 the program was suspended due to hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea. After a throughout assessment process in October 2007, 43 health Volunteers returned to the county reopening the program. Approximately 3,500 volunteers have served in Ethiopia living in the Amhara, Oromiya, Southern Nations or Tigray in either education, health or ag-environmental projects.
Geography
Ethiopia is a land locked country in the Horn of Africa slightly less than twice the size of Texas (Ethiopia 437,600 square miles. Texas is 268,580 sq. ft.).The Great Rift Valley, one of the landmarks able to identify from space, splits the high central plateau diagonally. It's on this high plateau where Addis Ababa, the capital, resides at a towering 8,000 feet (2,400 meters) making it the highest capital city on the African continent. Muslims tend to inhabit the lowlands while Christians live in the highlands illustrating how geography can impact religious and cultural tendencies.
Language
Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia. Tigrinya, Orominga, and Arabic are other primary languages for different states in Ethiopia. There are 89 individual languages listed; however, two of them are extinct and five are dying. In 2007 there was a 29% literacy rate according to UNESCO. In 2009 the Education for All (EFA) posted that 42% of men over 15 are literate while only 18% of women are. A large reason this could be is because males (on average) go to school for 8 years while women only go for 6.
Education
Four comprehensive Education Sector Development Programs (ESDPs) were established in 1997 as a 20-year kick-off to education reform. They are currently on ESDP IV which goes from 2007-2015 (part of the time I will be there). More than 1/4 of children drop out before completign first year of school. Approximately 3 million children remain out of school while 15.8 million are enrolled in the 8-year primary cycle. However, completion rates are increasing. In 2009 only 44% of students completely primary school. In 2010 that rose to 48%. Out of these 79% finished secondary school.
Government is stepping up to combate this issue, too. In 2011, 27% of their overall budget was designated for education. The Global Partnership for Educaton (GPE) provided $168 million to strengthen Ethiopia's General Education Quality Improvement Program (EGEQIP) who focuses on teachers, textbooks and other activities to help students succeed.
Cultural Etiquette
Some things are the same (offer to assits, great others, respect elderly), but here are some fun new ones .
- It is impolite to decline a cup of coffee. You will always be offered a cup.
- Use only the right hand while eating.
- Eldest person takse food first from the communal plate .
- Meals end with the ritual of handwashing and drinking coffee.
- Gifts are given with two hands or the right hand only; never the left hand.
- Never rush greatings.
- Customary to bow when introducing someone who is obviously older
Coffee:
According to legend, coffee was founded in Ethiopia. As the story goes (summarized version), a shepherd, who was taking his goats out in the field, noticed that when they ate red berries they would get energized. When he ate it he no longer was tired. This red berry soon got roasted and into hot water where we get coffee. Ethiopians love and are very proud of their coffee. Here are some interesting facts about this world wide bean:
- The Kaffa province in Ethiopia is renowned for its coffee.
- Coffee is a national drink and its drinking is a ritualized process that generally takes at least an hour.
- If invited for a formal coffee you may be seated on pillows or grass and flower-strewn floor with frankincense burning in the background.
- A woman or young boy enters the room to wash and roast the beans over charcoal.
- The roasted beans are then hand-ground and added to boiling water.
- Sugar is put into small cups without handles and the water/coffee mixture is added.
- Inhale the aroma of the coffee before sipping.
- The first round (called "awol") is served, starting with the eldest.
- When the first cup is finished, the "jebena" (coffee pot) is refilled with water.
- The second round (called "tona") is then served. It is weaker than the first since the same ground beans are used.
- The third round (called "baraka") is served after boiling water is again added to the jebena.
- Always sip the coffee slowly
Although I do not currently like the taste of coffee (much to the disgrace of my family), I can only imagine how this is going to change in the next two years. The Peace Corps empathizes the importance of taking part in local culture and customs. Coffee drinking is one of those that might take time, but I will learn to accept and delight in.
More Info At:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/et.html
Saturday, March 2, 2013
A State Side Jambo
It's been a year... a year since I felt the fullest I have ever felt. I was teaching in a school where students rose and greeted me every morning with "Good morning Teacher" and the biggest smiles imaginable. I was covered in dust, hot, and living every day for the glory of God.
Now.
Now I am teaching in a fifth grade classroom in Spokane. Every morning I am greeted by 26 smiling faces and "Good morning Ms. Sexton." I am clean, happy, planning lessons left and right, and relying on the luxuries America has to offer. I am still living every day to use the gifts God has graced me with.
Many people have asked me what I feel about graduating in three months. I am pumped!! I look forward to finding new fun ways to teach my crazy loud 5th graders, balancing 19 credits, and building relationships that will last past graduation. Although, I want to have everything planned out (as some of my classmates do) I am having to practice patience as I don't know where God is taking me next year. I am opening up as many doors as possible to get back to Tanzania, but also looking state side. I am praying that God builds the brick walls to lead me to what He wants me to do.
Well, that's about all this little hello is about. :)
Now.
Now I am teaching in a fifth grade classroom in Spokane. Every morning I am greeted by 26 smiling faces and "Good morning Ms. Sexton." I am clean, happy, planning lessons left and right, and relying on the luxuries America has to offer. I am still living every day to use the gifts God has graced me with.
Many people have asked me what I feel about graduating in three months. I am pumped!! I look forward to finding new fun ways to teach my crazy loud 5th graders, balancing 19 credits, and building relationships that will last past graduation. Although, I want to have everything planned out (as some of my classmates do) I am having to practice patience as I don't know where God is taking me next year. I am opening up as many doors as possible to get back to Tanzania, but also looking state side. I am praying that God builds the brick walls to lead me to what He wants me to do.
Well, that's about all this little hello is about. :)
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Dar-Es-Salaam
(Written on April 16, 2012, but not
published due to internet delay)
The hours had been starting to take a toll.
Although the countryside and even assigned reading were interesting they
couldn’t comfort the dull ache of leaving Arusha earlier that morning. Arusha,
with its cool temperatures, beautiful green rolling hills, and wonderful people
who had become family, had completely and utterly felt like home. I was
comfortable walking around the big busy town without a worry, ordering and
eating food uncommon to most Americans, and talking with locals. All of that
was being left like the dust settling behind us.
When we finally reached Dar-Es-Salaam
(after a delay by police wanting a bribe) my heart sunk. This
is a city of 6 million people. Skyscrapers blocked out the stars, cars jammed
together closer than sardines, homeless people slept on cardboard beds and lots
of noise overcrowded me. Oh how I cried for just wanting to be someplace away
from the big city…I was never more Mill City-sick than on the first night in
Dar-Es-Salaam.
I fell on the
bed utterly exhausted emotionally. Krista and I had waited for 6+ hours to go
home with our new host family that would hopefully start making Dar bearable
for the next moth. Our wishes had been crushed. We did get placed with a host
family, but (due to unseen complications) our professor and his wife would also
be with us. After having a wonderful father figure in Arusha for January who
was gone most of March I was looking forward to seeing another. After dinner I
was positive that was not going to be possible. Instead of building personal
relations with Baba, I listened to my professor question him on his role and
history as Arch Bishop of Tanzania. The wonderfully big luxurious house (on
American and Tanzanian standards) felt more like a prison with all the
formality. It seemed all had a certain role to play with a painted mask instead
of being oneself and building relationships.
The first
couple days of being with the host family was hard and the worst part was no
one else would understand. Bailey is living in a family with no running water,
how can she (or others in the group) understand that a modern housing
arrangement doesn’t mean it’s a comfortable home with no relationship tensions?
Although I
dislike pessimism, it would be lying to say at this point I was very optimistic
about the month in Dar. But sometimes when we hit our bottom and question what
good could come, God reminds us that His timing and ways are not always ours.
Story sharing
with Mama in two-hour traffic jams to go 20 km home each day lead to many
unexpected good times. Stories, humor and understandings are so important for
becoming familiar with another person. Although it would take a long time to
tell all the stories here, the important thing I can communicate now is that
these stories started to break the ice. It started with Mama Grace laughing at
our awkward stories from the previous three months and then further back. Then
with Baba Askofu (that means bishop) telling stories. It started to be
comfortable to talk to him as just another person rather than an important
bishop. With our two younger brothers Jeremiah “Jerry” and Joseph “Jo” it was
easer to connect (even though Jo has autism). Never doubt the importance of
humor!
Krista had an
American friend coming from Mozambique and all the housing plans she had
arranged in February fell through a few days before he was to come. However,
Mama was understanding and insisted on picking him up from the airport, having
him over for dinner, and later found a hotel for him very close to our house.
We three were able to have so much fun and break more ice with the family. One
of the major ways was through food!
In order to
show appreciation to Mama and family we three (slightly crazy and ambitious)
Americans made a Mexican burrito dinner including: 2 salsas, special bean mix,
rice, cheese, guacamole, flour tortillas (from scratch), meat and an amazing
dessert. Oh, it was wonderful to have fellowship together. Now we all feel like
friends and family with no more play masks being put on.
When the sun
shone I realized that God had even blessed the location of our home. Anytime
during the day if one is silent (yes, I can even do this) no traffic horns,
people yelling or music blaring can be heard. Instead the birds chirp in trees
by day and crickets compose new melodies by night. Sure, classes by day are
still in downtown Dar, but every night home is a haven for a tired traveler.
It’s hard to think only a week and half has
passed since coming to Dar. It’s hot (not as bad as Zanzibar), but there is so
much to be happy for that there isn’t much room to be bummed out about. The
hours are flying by way to fast, but light and happy as cool whip. God really
does know how to change situations that cause tears, into those that warm the
heart with smiles. J
Monday, April 30, 2012
From Tears To Smiles
(Written on April 16, 2012,
but not published due to internet delay)
The hours had been starting to take a toll. Although
the countryside and even assigned reading were interesting they couldn’t
comfort the dull ache of leaving Arusha earlier that morning. Arusha, with its
cool temperatures, beautiful green rolling hills, and wonderful people who had
become family, had completely and utterly felt like home. I was comfortable
walking around the big busy town without a worry, ordering and eating food
uncommon to most Americans, and talking with locals. All of that was being left
like the dust settling behind us. When we finally reached Dar-Es-Salaam (after
a delay by policy wanting a bribe) my heart sunk.
This
is a city of 6 million people. Skyscrapers block out the stars, cars jammed
together closer than sardines, homeless people slept on cardboard beds and lots
of noise overcrowded me. Oh how I cried for just wanting to be someplace away
from the big city…I was never more Mill City-sick than on the first night in
Dar-Es-Salaam.
I
fell on the bed utterly exhausted emotionally. Krista and I had waited for 6+
hours to go home with our new host family that would hopefully start making Dar
bearable for the next moth. Our wishes had been crushed. We did get placed with
a host family, but (due to unseen complications) our professor and his wife
would also be with us. After having a wonderful father figure in Arusha for
January who was gone most of March I was looking forward to seeing another.
After dinner I was positive that was not going to be possible. Instead of
building personal relations with Baba, I listened to my professor question him
on his role and history as Arch Bishop of Tanzania. The wonderfully big
luxurious house (on American and Tanzanian standards) felt more like a prison
with all the formality. It seemed all had a certain role to play with a painted
mask instead of being oneself and building relationships.
The
first couple days of being with the host family was hard and the worst part was
no one else would understand. Bailey is living in a family with no running
water how can she (or others in the group) understand that a modern housing
arrangement doesn’t mean it’s a comfortable home with no relationship tensions?
Although
I dislike pessimism, it would be lying to say at this point I was very
optimistic about the month in Dar. But sometimes when we hit our bottom and
question what good could come from this, God reminds us that his timing and
ways are not always ours.
Story
sharing with Mama in two-hour traffic jams to go 20 km home each day lead to
many unexpected good times. Stories, humor and understandings are so important
for becoming familiar with another person. Although it would take a long time
to tell all the stories here, the important thing I can communicate now is that
these stories started to break the ice. It started with Mama Grace laughing at
our awkward stories from the previous three months and then further back. Then
with Baba Askofu (that means bishop) telling stories. It started to be
comfortable to talk to him as just another person rather than an important
bishop. With our two younger brothers Jeremiah “Jerry” and Joseph “Jo” it was
easer to connect with (even though Jo has autism). Never doubt the importance
of humor!
Krista
had an American friend coming from Mozambique and all the housing plans she had
arranged in February fell through a few days before he was to come. However,
Mama was understand and insisted on picking him up from the airport, having him
over for dinner, and late found a hotel for him very close to our house. Us
three were able to have so much fun and break more ice with the family. One of
the major ways was through food!
In
order to show appreciation to Mama and family we three (slightly crazy and
ambitions) Americans made a Mexican burrito dinner including: 2 salsas, special
bean mix, rice, cheese, guacamole, flour tortillas (from scratch), meat and an
amazing dessert. Oh it was wonderful to have fellowship together. Now we all
feel like friends and family with no more play masks being put on.
When
the sun shone I realized that God had even blessed the location of our home.
Anytime during the day if one is silent (yes I can even do this) no traffic
horns, people yelling or music blaring can be heard. Instead the birds chirp in
trees by day and crickets compose new melodies by night. Sure classes by day
are still in downtown Dar, but every night home is a haven for a tired
traveler.
It’s
hard to think only a week and half has passed since coming to Dar. Sure it’s
hot (not as bad as Zanzibar), but there is so much to be happy for that there
isn’t much room to be bummed out about. The hours are flying by way to fast,
but light as happy as cool whip. God really does know how to change situations
that cause tears into those that warm the heart with smiles. J
From Tears To Smiles
(Written on April 16, 2012,
but not published due to internet delay)
The hours had been starting to take a toll. Although
the countryside and even assigned reading were interesting they couldn’t
comfort the dull ache of leaving Arusha earlier that morning. Arusha, with its
cool temperatures, beautiful green rolling hills, and wonderful people who had
become family, had completely and utterly felt like home. I was comfortable
walking around the big busy town without a worry, ordering and eating food
uncommon to most Americans, and talking with locals. All of that was being left
like the dust settling behind us. When we finally reached Dar-Es-Salaam (after
a delay by policy wanting a bribe) my heart sunk.
This
is a city of 6 million people. Skyscrapers block out the stars, cars jammed
together closer than sardines, homeless people slept on cardboard beds and lots
of noise overcrowded me. Oh how I cried for just wanting to be someplace away
from the big city…I was never more Mill City-sick than on the first night in
Dar-Es-Salaam.
I
fell on the bed utterly exhausted emotionally. Krista and I had waited for 6+
hours to go home with our new host family that would hopefully start making Dar
bearable for the next moth. Our wishes had been crushed. We did get placed with
a host family, but (due to unseen complications) our professor and his wife
would also be with us. After having a wonderful father figure in Arusha for
January who was gone most of March I was looking forward to seeing another.
After dinner I was positive that was not going to be possible. Instead of
building personal relations with Baba, I listened to my professor question him
on his role and history as Arch Bishop of Tanzania. The wonderfully big
luxurious house (on American and Tanzanian standards) felt more like a prison
with all the formality. It seemed all had a certain role to play with a painted
mask instead of being oneself and building relationships.
The
first couple days of being with the host family was hard and the worst part was
no one else would understand. Bailey is living in a family with no running
water how can she (or others in the group) understand that a modern housing
arrangement doesn’t mean it’s a comfortable home with no relationship tensions?
Although
I dislike pessimism, it would be lying to say at this point I was very
optimistic about the month in Dar. But sometimes when we hit our bottom and
question what good could come from this, God reminds us that his timing and
ways are not always ours.
Story
sharing with Mama in two-hour traffic jams to go 20 km home each day lead to
many unexpected good times. Stories, humor and understandings are so important
for becoming familiar with another person. Although it would take a long time
to tell all the stories here, the important thing I can communicate now is that
these stories started to break the ice. It started with Mama Grace laughing at
our awkward stories from the previous three months and then further back. Then
with Baba Askofu (that means bishop) telling stories. It started to be
comfortable to talk to him as just another person rather than an important
bishop. With our two younger brothers Jeremiah “Jerry” and Joseph “Jo” it was
easer to connect with (even though Jo has autism). Never doubt the importance
of humor!
Krista
had an American friend coming from Mozambique and all the housing plans she had
arranged in February fell through a few days before he was to come. However,
Mama was understand and insisted on picking him up from the airport, having him
over for dinner, and late found a hotel for him very close to our house. Us
three were able to have so much fun and break more ice with the family. One of
the major ways was through food!
In
order to show appreciation to Mama and family we three (slightly crazy and
ambitions) Americans made a Mexican burrito dinner including: 2 salsas, special
bean mix, rice, cheese, guacamole, flour tortillas (from scratch), meat and an
amazing dessert. Oh it was wonderful to have fellowship together. Now we all
feel like friends and family with no more play masks being put on.
When
the sun shone I realized that God had even blessed the location of our home.
Anytime during the day if one is silent (yes I can even do this) no traffic
horns, people yelling or music blaring can be heard. Instead the birds chirp in
trees by day and crickets compose new melodies by night. Sure classes by day
are still in downtown Dar, but every night home is a haven for a tired
traveler.
It’s
hard to think only a week and half has passed since coming to Dar. Sure it’s
hot (not as bad as Zanzibar), but there is so much to be happy for that there
isn’t much room to be bummed out about. The hours are flying by way to fast,
but light as happy as cool whip. God really does know how to change situations
that cause tears into those that warm the heart with smiles. J
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Teaching is Learning
(Wrote on Friday)
The desks are empty. The floor is swept. The rooms are quiet. The blackboard is blank. Memories float like ghosts throughout the warm rays of afternoon light floating in. A child’s smile. Another’s tears. Quiet times with testing minds working hard. Loud times with preposition learning way back on day one….It is hard to think I have one more bus ride till I too am leaving school. Dust will soon settle in the month long vacation that started today at noon. However, this past month has opened so many windows and doors that have helped me learn so much on a profession and personal level. Lessons that will forever influence me as a teacher.
Individual desk; computers; lined, poster, colored, loose leaf paper; tape; laminators; roll call sheets; books; printers; copiers; break period; glue. In any of the schools and lesson plans I’ve ever had before these are just some of the many assumed resources available to use. That is not the case here. One of the biggest things I’ve learned this month concerning my profession is the need to teach to the students’ needs with the resources available. There is no corner store you can pop over to or a fully stocked supply room just down the hall. However, just because resources may seem limited doesn’t mean to give less to students. With an old puzzle book (missing its pieces), a thin cover over a sample big book, two pieces of old cardboard from calendars, 8 brass brackets, old letter head paper from Minnesota stuffed in old boxes, and markers I was able to create a small class set of clocks to help teach time. Most of this was either in the garbage or just a quick look around. Sometimes the best resource one has is their commonsense and focus on topic. I have never taught or researched any of the lessons I did throughout this month. I just knew there was a purpose that needed to be grasped in 70 minds and prepped for that…and sometimes I abandoned the written plan and adapted to haw the students were responding. That is the second thing I learned: adaptability is not spontaneity and need to follow the purpose one is wanting to achieve. This could be in confirming to existing order or other teachers’ ideas on some things or adapting own style to order, lesson structure and activities as the students’ learning requires it. This could also include getting out of the teachers’ lounge to do fun class community bonding experiences to strengthen teacher-student relations. I have really learned professionally how important it is to have positive relationships and communication between students, teachers, and administration. This helps so much with classroom management and the learning environment. Instead of a teacher just holding power (mostly in the form of the cane) over students to either fear or not care, trust, respect, and understand of each other is needed. Using resources wisely, adapting with a purpose and emphasizing positive student-teacher relations are three things that I learned in the professional setting.
Sitting in a lecture with undivided attention is hard. Jumping into conversations with new acquaintance is petrifying. Letting anyone know about me without safety walls is unthinkable. Whenever I’m in a classroom these feeling melt away and I am at a confident peace in what I am doing. One of the things I’ve personally been affirmed is how alive I feel around students. No matter how little sleep I got or how bad a morning I dealt with, I don’t feel (or remember) any of it until after I return home for the day. When there is a student around, it doesn’t matter that they ask repetitive questions or need to go to the toilet, but that they can learn and understand what is required of them. At school it’s not about me, but the students. Along with focusing on students’ needs, I also have learned to set aside nay thoughts of peoples’ judgment and jump into something new and goofy with a fun attitude and high energy. This was most apparent to me when I taught the students an new repeat-after-me-song called “Pizza Man” and we did it while other teachers, administrators and students roamed about. It may not make MTV’s top 20 song list, but the kids love getting into it. Now whenever I see them I do the Pizza Man sign and they copy it silently to the bewilderment of those around them. This also has strengthened my relationship with the students as they know I allow time for fun and noise, but also require silence and diligence to work at others. I am more comfortable being myself and having confidence in my abilities with interacting with students than I do anywhere else.
No one chooses a major and spends three years at a private liberal arts school working for it without an inner drive. When I was a freshman in high school I had the assignment of researching something that related to me personally. While I was watching a commercial with beautiful African children’s faces on it, I heard a voice as close to my ear and as deep as my heart saying: “This is what I want you to do.” I did my project on HIV and AIDS orphans in Africa and have spent the past seven years working towards the goal of teaching someday in East Africa. Finally being here, if only for a month, has positively and completely confirmed my perspective of teaching. I feel such freedom in doing God’s will and knowing He gives me peace and confidence to keep going. This trip has come at a perfect place in my life as I still have a year at Whitworth where I can use 1st world country’s resources to prepare me to return here after graduation. I feel more at home here than I have in many other settings in the states. When I’ve designed lessons and taught for practicum in the states I’ve always had the moto “This is helping me somehow to prepare for God’s will” and it’s been reaffirming to see how it has prepared me and how eager I m to learn even more.
The courtyard is silent. The canes are idol. The lunchroom is vacant. The buses are parked. Warm air rustles the leaves. Time keeps going. Sometime it is slow (pole pole) like a chameleon, while other times it is fast (haraka haraka) like a cheetah. Throughout it all I have learned more about myself professionally, personally and my future as a teacher.
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