Site visit and the only Ethiopian I dislike

After learning about my future home in Wolliso, Peace Corps set up small cross country trips for all 70 volunteers-in-training to visit their future sites. We all left for Addis Ababa, and from there we would go our separate ways, some flying, and others busing to our new locations. We of course weren't going to be traveling alone, well not yet. Peace Corps had set up English speaking members of our community to meet us in Addis and eventually travel with us to our sites to show us around.

My community member, who shall remain unnamed was very.... odd.

"Hi its so nice to meet you!" I greeted him with a big smile and handshake.
"Hello, wow you are so beautiful!" He replied

Ha ha, I laughed nervously.
"So what do you do in Wolliso?" I inquired.

" I am an English teacher. You will be teaching at the same highschool I work at!" He said with a big grin. "I will show you everything you need to know, and you will be warmly welcomed", he continued as he grabbed both my hands.

"The town will love you. You are so fortunate to be coming to Wolliso! And we are so fortunate to have you!"

There was a lack of personal space during this encounter, and it didnt help that this mans breath was not on point. I have walked passed things on the street that smelled better than his breath. I began timing my breathing to his own inhales and exhales, as to avoid smelling the stench that escaped from his mouth.

"oh wow ok, that sounds so nice."
"Are you married Ashley?" He asked.
"Oh, uhm no I'm not" I replied, reminding myself that asking about marital status was a norm here in Ethiopia and meant nothing special.

"I am not married either!." He said, "Just living the single life!"

I looked at my community liaison again, he clearly was in his late 40's - 50's. Why isn't this man married I wondered... Its very odd for a man his age to be single.

"So have you lived in Wolliso your entire life?" I asked
"Oh no, my family is from Addis Ababa....

and he continued telling me his life story. Every few seconds, as he spoke he would touch my arm, as if to get my attention, but I was already face to face with him, so the touchy-ness bothered me. In the middle of his sentence he pulls out a pen and drops it on the floor. I bend down on one knee to retrieve it for him.

"Oh wow Ashley, you look flexible. This is good." He said with a smile and kind eyes.

What? I wonder to myself. Why is this man telling me I'm flexible?! It's not like I just did the splits! This is just too weird and hes too toucy-feely and I dont like that he's not married. I was just getting weird vibes, so I decided to complain to Peace Corps staff.

"Hey Ayu, my community Liaison is kind of weird and I think hes being very unprofessional. He made a few unsettling comments, told me I was pretty, and flexible, and that hes single, and he keeps touching me! I dont want to overreact, but it makes me feel uncomfortable and I just want to know if this is culturally normal, or if hes trying to hint towards something?" I reported.

"It is very normal to mention marital status and to ask you of yours, but I will speak with him to make sure, and to tell him that the touching makes you uncomfortable, ok?"

The next day things seemed much better. My liaison did not touch me one time, he did not call me pretty or make weird comments, but he was incredibly rude and demanding, and very passive aggressive.

Peace Corps instructed all volunteers and their liaisons to discuss the plan for the following days site visit and to get an idea on our future teaching assignments.

"So what are my options for grades I can teach at the school?" I asked.
"I have already chosen the grade you will teach" my liaison announced. "You will teach grade 9!"

"Oh ok, well that's one idea, but I was hoping I could teach grades 11 and 12" I replied. "I think I would be a better fit - My liaison held his hand up to stop me mid sentence.

"You will teach grade 9, they need it the most. I have discussed it with the principal. Now during the first week you are to watch an Ethiopian teacher to see how they teach a classroom.." he said.

I cant believe this funky breath man, just cut me off mid sentence and already "chose" my grade. Who does he think this is?!  I thought to myself.... Whatever, hes only another English teacher. I'll discuss this with the principal when I visit my site...

"ok I guess we can discuss the grade I will teach later, but as far as observing Ethiopian teachers.. I would prefer to watch a female teacher, to see how a female teacher handles her students".

"No, you will watch me."

"But I think seeing a female teacher will be most beneficial" I said, I was not going down without a fight.

"No, you will watch me."

"I'm sure you are a great teacher, so maybe I will watch you for the first 2 days, and then I will watch a Female teacher."

"Maybe,  that might be good. I might allow it."

Extremely annoyed with my liaison and his lack of respect towards me, I decided to avoid him during lunch and all the breaks we had between sessions. Whenever I saw him, I would smile, and so would he, but there was hate behind both of our eyes. During every conversation when I would discuss what I wanted, he would cut me off mid sentence by holding up his hand. I didn't know if Ayu had talked to him and this is why he was so rude towards me, or if it was just because he was an older man dealing with a younger woman, and he didn't respect me as a coworker due to my age and sex.

"You will love Wolliso!" He enthusiastically said "And the students will love you because you look Ethiopian! Your brown skin and your curly hair, you look just like an Ethiopian, the only difference is that you are HUGE!" He said loudly and with a straight face.

I busted out laughing.

This man thinks he is slick. Culturally Ethiopians often tell their loved ones or friends that they are fat, skinny, ugly or that they have pimples. It is not considered rude to make remarks based on someones appearance. But this guy... I know he doesn't like me. Hes been rude all day and he has worked with peace corps and Americans often enough to know that this is considered mean.

Homeboy just called me fat and thinks he can get away with it under "his culture". I can not believe this.

I just kept laughing.
"Well thank you" I replied.

The following day during site visits I completely ignored the man. He took me to set up a bank account, to meet the Mayor of my soon to be home town, Wolisso,  and to meet the principal and director of my school. I spoke to everyone I encountered in my new town,  I made small talk, I smiled and chatted with them all. But I did not even put on a fake smile for my liaison. After viewing the high school where I will be teaching, and meeting the school director, my liaison did something that still confuses me.

"So, it is my opinion that Ashleys schedule should be the exact same as mine. All her classes should be placed near mine and if I work in the morning shift, she should work in the morning shift!" He told our school director.

What is this dudes deal! I clearly despise him, and he hates me... but why is he telling our director this?! I thought to myself. There is no way I want to work with or near this man, is he just trying to make my next 2 years a living hell?!

As soon as my liaison left the office. I spoke to the director.

"Hi, I heard my liaison say that I should have classes near him and at the same time.. I'm wondering why?"

"uhmm, for social purposes I guess. I think since you both speak good English, that he thinks it will be beneficial for you! You can arrive at school with him and leave for home with him and it will be easier."

"Oh, well you see I would rather work on my Amharic..."

"You do not want to work with him?" My director asked

"Its not that.. its just I already know him. I would much rather work with the other teachers in the school and get to know them..."

"Ok. I understand. Whatever you want!" My director said with a smile.

Thank God I got out of that situation. I never want to see that man and his funky breath again.

I stayed  4 days in Wolisso, walking around and getting to know my community, but after that first day in town with my liaison, I never worked or saw him those entire 4 days. I think he thought I went back to Addis or Butajira by myself. I don't really know and I don't really care. One awesome thing that came from my site visit was briefly seeing my future home! (Pics below)

I move into this house, late September. It is a 1 bedroom home and I am very excited about it.