First Aid

First Aid 12/12/16

As some of you may know, I was forced to relocate to a new town in Ethiopia due to circumstances out of my control. I have been in my new rain forest-mountain town for a little over a month now, and, thanks to amazing counterparts and a year of rough ‘n tough Ethiopian experience under my belt, I have been able to get projects started right away! I’ve got a stomach full of fresh, Ethiopian coffee (kindly offered to me by my compound family) and the tangy smell of drying/rotting coffee beans wafting into my home (it’s coffee harvesting time and the line between drying and rotting is quite thin). Now seems as good a time as ever to tell you about my most recent project!

My town is located about 8 hours away from the biggest city in my region. Those 8 hours are hot, mostly unpaved, nauseating, hot, beautiful, unpredictable, hot, filled with sparsely located towns, full of interesting conversations, oh, and, hot. Within this list of fairly subjective adjectives, I’ll be focusing on the “sparsely located towns.” Some towns can be up to 3 hours apart from each other with absolutely nothing in between. This presents a problem for emergency situations. For instance, in my travels throughout Ethiopia, I have witnessed anything from nosebleeds to seizures while on local transportation. Similar to many people in America, I found that many people here were unaware of basic first aid practices. As you can imagine, having first aid knowledge can be especially helpful in those situations when you’re on a bus, 3-4 hours away from the nearest health care facility. This became the exigency for my next training- a basic first aid crash course.

At first glance, it seems as though this kind of training would be pretty straight forward. However, considering I am a foreigner in this country, I was faced with a huge, impaling obstacle: culture. For almost all of the first aid topics, there was a cultural method of resolution. In order to respect and be sensitive to these sacred cultural practices, I was hesitant to stomp into the training room with my giant “‘MURICA” hat and tell everyone they were wrong. I combated this obstacle by working with people in my town.

My amazing counterpart and I

My counterpart for this project is the physical education teacher at my high school. He was very eager to take on this training considering first aid is especially related to his line of work. Together we established the most salient topics to cover: burns, cuts, nosebleeds, fainting, seizures, sprains/strains and choking. These events are very common and are often seen weekly, if not, daily. I then did interviews with several other teachers in order to gain more information about the cultural first response practices. My counterpart and I decided it was best to only emphasize the cultural practices that would worsen the injury or prevent recovery. For example, burns are commonly treated with oil or butter in my community. These substances actually keep in the heat rather than releasing it. Consequently, this can worsen the injury. In contrast, if people wanted to say a prayer or drink a certain tea in order to help with the injuries, we did not counter these practices as long as they preformed the proper first aid steps beforehand. With the help of Peace Corps resources and my counterpart’s cultural knowledge, we put together a simple training going over what causes each injury, what the injury looks like, what the caregiver should do, and ideas for prevention. Co-facilitating this training in the local language, with a respected Ethiopian helped to create rapport with our audience and allowed for us to deliver the information in a way that was not only educational, but also respectful of the culture.

Students preforming dramas to apply their knowledge: cuts

For this first round, we had about 30 participants. The training was a huge success! The students were very engaged and had a lot of questions. They also helped to model the first aid practices so their peers can see, first hand, what the initial care of each injury looks like. In order to evaluate the students’ knowledge, we divided them into groups and assigned each group one of the first aid topics. The students were instructed to create a drama including the cause for the injury, the proper first aid practice and advice for preventing the injury in the future. To my surprise, the students really delve into their acting roles. They scoured the school compound for props and wailed ever so convincingly when each injury occurred. Their dramas showed both and understanding of basic first aid, as well as Oscar-worthy acting! One student approached my counterpart and I after the training to express his appreciation. He said he was a sports instructor in the community and has seen some of the injuries we covered while at work. He wanted to share with us that he had learned a lot and was looking forward to implementing his new found knowledge in his workplace, as needed. My counterpart and I hope to repeat this training for different groups in the future. Teachers, students and administrators have all expressed vehement interest!

Students preforming dramas to apply their knowledge: nosebleeds

Students preforming dramas to apply their knowledge: sprains/strains

A student explaining to his peers healthy practices that can help prevent fainting

My counterpart reviewing the material for the students

As I reflect back on this project, I realize that this experience was an particularly valuable learning opportunity for me. After Peace Corps, I intend to get a career in the medical field. Considering the melting pot that is the United States, I’m sure I will be forced to tread the line between western medicine and cultural practices quite often. Throughout my Peace Corps journey, I have learned and will continue to learn more about how incredibly important it is to have awareness and sensitivity to one’s culture. This will certainly translate well in my future work as a health care provider.

As always, thank you for reading! Also, I’d like to send explosive, dancing, colorful thank-yous to all of the amazing humans who continue to support me as I enter my 19th month of service in Ethiopia! Galatoomaa!

-Marianna

The Importance of Sitting

9/25/16

As a well-seasoned volunteer one year into their service, there are many things that I have learned to be unimportant. For instance:

• Hot water: not important
• Electricity: insignificant
• Bed bugs/fleas: trivial
• Mud up to your ankles during rainy season: hey, at least we have water
• Discomfort on local transportation: whatever
• Bugs falling on your face at night: so boring
• Gastrointestinal disturbances: over it

However, if there is anything I am sure of, it is this:

• Sitting: VERY important

Here in Ethiopia, sitting can manifest itself in many different forms. Sitting in the grass with your students...sitting on a mud floor peeling carrots with a spoon...sitting with all of my teachers during class break...sitting on a mattress in the dark because the power is out and your neighbors invited you to drink 3 cups of coffee at 10 p.m... Sitting awkwardly in a stranger's home who just invited you in for a meal and a coffee ceremony...sitting on your doorstep with your 5 year old best friend while she strokes your leg hair and you "culture share" your 90's R&B collection...

Ostensibly, sitting seems rather insignificant. As an American coming from a fast-paced-to-go-cup-express-lane-why-is-this-red-light-taking-forever lifestyle, sitting definitely took some getting used to. 

So, why is sitting important? Going out of your way to sit, even in silence, with your friends is one of the greatest possible gestures to show that you care. Accepting invitations to sit and drink coffee, even from strangers, allows for my Ethiopian friends to exercise their deeply rooted values of hospitality an kindness. Sitting allows me to really listen and observe and soak up everything around me. Sitting breaks the barrier between "foreigner" and "Ethiopian," and fosters unforgettable, meaningful relationships with people in my town. Sitting can snowball beautifully into infinite conversations, laughs, personal growth, perspective sharing, and mutual appreciation. I become humbled everyday from my experiences I have while sitting. I cannot wait to sit a whole lot more this upcoming year. 

My best friend and I sitting.

A Model Classroom

March, 2016

So, I wear a lot of hats in my tiny town. And by hats, I mean metaphorical hats, or roles. For example, I am a neighbor, a daughter, a sister, a cultural diplomat, a learner, and observer, a friend, a customer, a teacher, a potato peeler, a facilitator, etc…

This blog is about my teacher hat. I teach English to two sections of grade 9 students. In total, I have about 100 students between the two classes. In addition, I have two grade 9 clubs, a grade 10 club, teacher trainings, student tutorials, an elementary school club, and I also work with a special abilities class. Naturally, having my own space would immensely help with carrying out my tasks.

Plans don’t necessarily go from A to B here. So after many other letters of the alphabet, I finally received a model classroom! The classroom granted to me was quite shabby. The few desks present were falling apart. Dust carpeted the cement floor. Spider webs were in surplus. Not to mention, the blackboards were pretty run-down. I rallied up some of my students and we immediately got to work.

Students scaled the walls in order to clean up cobwebs from the ceiling and walls.  We scrubbed down desks with water and bleach and transported them to and from other classrooms. Chalkboards, windows, doors and walls were cleaned up and made more presentable. Finally, we added some flare and color to make the classroom even more beautiful. After about 3 days of work, we were finally finished! We had our very own classroom to utilize.

Before...

After!

Having the students help with the set-up created a sense of pride for the classroom. They contributed to our new space and thus, respect and appreciate it. Not only is the classroom used for the things listed above, but I also try to spend as much time in the class as possible. I use the class for my own “office hours.” When I have work to do, I leave the door open so students can freely come and go as they please. The classroom is an excellent way to strike students’ curiosity and open the door (literally and figuratively) for them to practice English. Most students are very hesitant to practice their spoken English, but the classroom creates a laid back setting for them to do so. I have also prepared mini activities for students to practice their English. I printed out culturally appropriate photos and students who come in to chat, work together to describe the photos and learn some new nouns and verbs. I also have children’s books that are at about their reading level. They love to practice!

HIV/AIDS Corner

My walls have various different teaching aids such as adjectives, adverbs, and activities from clubs. Students come in and ask questions and practice their knowledge. Additionally, I have an HIV/AIDS corner. There is a cultural stigma in my town associated with talking about sex or condom usage, so, in an attempt to reduce the stigma, I have different visuals depicting how HIV is transmitted and how to properly use a condom. Students see this every day and have become more and more comfortable with talking to me about it. They ask me questions and clarifications about HIV transmission and condom usage. Opening this conversation is awesome! Some students even sit down and take notes on the things they see on the walls. There is also a wall dedicated to exemplary work from my students. They feel proud to see their work displayed for all to see. It also encourages them to keep up the good work! Simple motivators such as this are not existent in the typical classroom setting.

The amount of visitors I get on a daily basis is really amazing. It is a constant reminder of the dedication and motivation of the students at my school. Ironically, they are the ones who teach me so much! This classroom has provided the students with unique, informal ways to practice English outside of the often intimidating classroom setting. I am so grateful to have this space and I look forward to the opportunities it can present in the future. 

-Teacher Marianna

Great work!

Adjective Wall

Grade 9 club practicing their reading skills

Primary School Club matching sentences

Coloring with my students with special abilities!

                                   

                                        Some of my students and I

The Banana Man

The Banana Man 3.28.16

“So you kind of walk straight along this road for a while and look for a tiny sign about bananas. Then you turn left and walk down a dirt road for 15 minutes. It’s a small house on the right. You’ll knock, and when it feels like he’s not going to answer, he’ll show up.”

Without Google maps or street signs or streets, my sense of direction has gotten pretty phenomenal. These are the directions I received in order to find an ambiguous banana art museum. The name alone was enough to spike my interest.

The museum is in a city about 4 hours south of my town, Shashamene- uniquely home to a large Rastafari community. (Bus rides under 8 hours are considered excellent in my book. Bonus if I can get a window open without someone immediately shutting it.) I was only about 54% confident with where I was going, but my friends and I were determined to find the banana art.

Two bajaj rides, 0 liters of water, 3 misleading escorts, and a 45 minute walk later, we came across a tin fence on the right of a dirt road with a shabby sign indicating we have arrived. I knocked, waited a while, and, finally, the door screeched opened. A man with long grey dreadlocks answered with an ambivalent look on his face.

Me: Hi.

Banana Man: Hi, how can I help you?

Me: Um, we want to see the museum?

Banana Man: (*Looks up at the sign above his head entitled “Banana Art Museum-Always Open” and then looks back at us) I am the Banana Man. Come in.

We enter the front yard filled with different gardens, plants, and, of course, banana trees. The Banana Man is a one of a kind artist who makes his art strictly using material from banana trees. The leaves, bark and flowers of the banana tree add life to his art. His process is very methodical as he carefully chooses precise textures, tones to create his work. He beautifully captures different aspects of Ethiopian culture with a unique medium. The gallery was astounding! His personality as well as his art was all a part of the experience. He has a captivating way of telling stories that allowed him to express both his genuineness and his wonderfully dry humor. He told us he is made from love and fire and things like stress are not allowed in his home. He claimed to be 65, but didn’t look a day over 40. That’s probably why.  As we were wrapping up our visit, he insisted to sign one of our cards, saying it may be worth millions one day. How could I say no? In mine he wrote:

“To a queen- I am carrying my name on your heart instead on a tombstone.”

He escorted us out, and we shared mutual appreciation for each other. Before I reached to open the door, he immediately stopped me. He then pulled a television remote control out of his pocket, pointed it at the door, pushed some buttons, made some beeping sounds, and opened the door for us.

Thanks for sharing your passion and peace with us, Banana Man. 

Sounds

Sounds

Dawn in my town of Ali, Ethiopia

12:00a.m.-3:00a.m. - The stray dogs have their daily business meeting. I’m not quite sure what they are barking about, but it sure is opinionated.

4:00a.m.-6:00a.m. - The echoing of the churches and mosques begins. All 5 mosques and 2 churches have their very own loud speakers for all to hear.

6:00a.m.-7:00a.m. - Commence the bird songs! No power? No Alarm? No problem. Bird songs are usually coupled with the slightly less pleasant donkey screeches.

7:30a.m. - Metronomic, hollow thud of fresh coffee being pounded with a wooden mortal and pistol. If this blog weren’t about sounds, I would tell you about the aromatic smells of perfectly roasted coffee beans that dance into my room.

8:00a.m. -School alarm (and by alarm, I mean metal cylinder on a tree branch being hit with a metal stick) clinging.

8:00a.m. à- Teacher! Teacher! Barsistuu! As I walk into school like a cheesy celebrity, I am greeted left and right by my students. They like to summon me in order to practice their English. Please, please, no autographs. 

After 12p.m. - The determined pitter patter of a stampede of children released from elementary school quakes the pebbles near my feet. If I’m out, they try to catch up for a well-earned fist pound and a chance to practice their “HOWAREYOU.MYNAMEIS…” monologue.

3:00p.m. - Chiff! Chiff! Horse carts, cattle, goats, you name it. This is the sound you use to get them in line.

Dusk in my town

5:00p.m. - The skin on my face peels back from the blasting Ethiopian music coming from different shops. I’m now partial to it. Their knobs go to 11.

6:00p.m.à: Mayanna! Mayanna! Pees! Cuba! (This translates into, “Marianna, please give me the ball.”) My compound siblings dash towards me and koala embrace my legs like a eucalyptus tree. We play until the only light that’s left is from the smoldering embers of charcoal fires and a dense sneeze of stars splattered in the sky. 

"Mayanna, Cuba!"

My compound family

Let Me Introduce You To...

2.12.16

This blog is dedicated to some really admirable people I’ve come across here in Ethiopia. I am enamored! It would be my pleasure to introduce you to them.

Fenet<<

Meet my neighbor and one of my best friends! She was really embarrassed that she had to get her head shaved. I asked her if I could take her picture, and upon showing it to her she got the biggest smile on her face. I asked her if it was beautiful (sitti bareeduu?), and she agreed! We like to play soccer and dance to Tears for Fears together.

 Abayneh>>

Meet on of my grade 9 students. The improvement he has exhibited in the past 4 months is phenomenal. He just received his highest exam score yet! What I find truly inspiring is the confidence he displays in his mistakes. He proudly puts in an effort now more than ever, and humbly accepts feedback. English is not the second, but the third language my students must learn- on top of 11 other courses + harvest season + house work + taking care of siblings + looking after animals + etc. Needless to say, I am astounded every day. I learn far more from my students than I could ever possibly hope to teach.

 

Fenet and Mustaria<<

Meet my ladies. I recently introduced them to glitter, which they have given the name of "bilbillittii." We count to three, throw it in the air, and spin around in the glitter shower. I'm not quite sure if there is any other way to handle glitter. This is what I do in my free time.

 

My Boys>>

I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I'd like you to meet my biggest fans. These little dudes run to me every single day and give me an engulfing hug around my legs. Afterwards, they giggle, run away and say, “Bye! Bye, Marianna! Bye!” Today one of them grabbed my hand, kissed it, and escorted me home. What can I say, I'm smitten.

Shawaye<<

Meet my 3^rd mother. She is a fellow English teacher and one of my best friends. My female teacher friends are especially amazing because they take on double duty of school work and work at the home, both exceptionally taxing. We’ve had some incredible conversations and have drunk a ton of buna! She provides more meals for me than I cook for myself. She’s taught to me not ever let personal relationships drown in work because they should take priority. I’ve also learned that, sometimes, hanging out means peeling carrots with a spoon without talking because the rain is too loud on the tin roof. I’m content with that.

Micky>>

Meet one of the most influential I’ve encountered on my journey thus far. I spent about five days visiting a town in eastern Ethiopia called Harar and met him on my first day. As a white visitor in a foreign area, I was initially skeptical of the intentions of his cordialness. He soon proved himself to be a trusted friend. He was an expert historian of the ancient city, an attentive listener to our conversations, a patient guide throughout our Harar adventures, and a genuine spirited fellow. He would not take monetary compensation for everything he did for us, so our group presented him with a prayer flag to highlight some of his admirable attributes, introduce him to some new English words, and thank him. Here’s to Micky- for showing me raw, whole-hearted, unadulterated kindness without expecting anything sort of compensation in return. Something to strive for, I think…

-Marianna