Vlog #18

Vlog #18  - Teaching in PC Ethiopia

Vlog #17

 Natural Hair Care in Peace Corps

Mojo's nemesis

I walk my pup pup every singly day. Usually 2x a day to make sure hes exposed to all kinds of people. I want him to be well socialized. The thing about walking your dog when you live in rural Ethiopia is that there are many things a dog has to get used to.

1: The town crazies. Usually men walking around partially naked and chewing on Chat or smelling like alcohol. (mojo doesn't like these men, he automatically barks or gets more alert when we are around drunk men… which I kinda love because they don't bother me so much anymore)

2: Children on the street who either yell out “Ferenji!!” , “ Africa! ”, “Astamari!” Teacher “Ashley!” and now who yell out “Woosha!” Dog

These kids usually just want to touch and pet him but most are afraid too. Some muster up the strength after I encourage them and tell them that Mojo wont bite.

3: Livestock

Donkeys. Horses. Goats. Ox. Chickens. Sheep. Cows. Other wild dogs and cats… and this is where it gets interesting.

With most animals Mojo is cool, he is heck a chill. Cool as a cucumber. He shows interest, & curiosity and isn't barking or ferocious at all. Except for this one day when we ran into a family of Goats. The most adorable baby goats or “kids” and 2 adult ones.  Right outside the gate of my compound this family of Goats stood around lazily grazing the grass and mojo begins to bark at them as we walk by.

As soon as that bark escapes his lips. The mother Goat with these huge horns atop her head, and large swinging utters underneath turns her head and all her attention to Mojo.
She did not make a sound. She just stared for about 5 seconds until suddenly she starts charging at Mojo!

Teats swinging as she broke out into a little trot towards my sweet puppy! Mojo begins barking, very aware that this huge 50-70lb goat is charging at him. The baby goats go running off. The other adult goat starts making his way over to all the commotion.

I walk up between Mojo and the Goat, knowing my poor pup had no chance to survive this encounter if this thing tries to headbutt him or step on him. Once Im standing between them both of the goats comes to a stop, but the mother tries to walk around me in order to get to Mojo!

“Shoo!
“Shoo!
“Shoo!
 Im yelling at the goat and swinging my hand in a manner to tell it to back off, while standing in between it and Mojo.

But this thing is persistent! Even after gaining some distance from it and its babies, it still continues to follow Mojo! Just waiting for an opportunity to strike when my back is turned and when Im not there to ward it off from my puppy. So I end up just picking Mojo up and carrying him away.

Ever since this little encounter, whenever this Goat sees or smells Mojo it starts charging for him. Several days have passed and still, when we walk anywhere near this thing it starts trotting towards my pup.

 Im afraid Mojojojo has met his nemesis.

Vlogs #15 & #16

Vlog #15 - Dating in Peace Corps

Vlog #16 - My Home.. all decorated and everything :D

International Pen Pal Exchange

In an effort to make writing more fun, & engaging, I decided to organize an International Pen Pal Project with my classes and some of the English club students who showed interest. I utilized every social media outlet possible (lies, I only used Facebook) and I contacted my teacher friends in an effort to find American teachers that were teaching high school students and who were seriously interested in this project.
 
I was soooo pumped and excited for this exchange. It would give my kids a chance to experience life through another kids eyes, in another country, in another culture. It would get them to see pass their small world and limitations. It would give them a reason to improve their writing skills!!!  which are seriously lacking…

I managed to locate one 9th grade class in Nicaragua, one 9th grade class in Japan, one with my friend Chelsea another PCV serving in a different region of Ethiopia, and several in America (one of them being my Alma mater Palisades High School woot woot!)

 I thought I was the bees knees for organizing this project. (and i still think I kinda am) But what I didn't anticipate were all the problems this international exchange would present.

I managed to find many solutions for all these potential problems.

#1 make students OVER explain EVERYTHING. Remind them that the smallest detail of their lives might be fascinating to a child in another country. I also told my kids to use adjectives to describe the cultural items they mentioned or draw photos!

#2 I talked with each teacher ahead of time to ask them about taboo topics & we agreed to screen all letters and tell the kids what they could/ couldn't say. Another option is to let the kids share what they want willingly to challenge their mindset, & learn how to respect others differences. But I wasn't about to play this risky game with the LGBT stuff…

#3 The teachers that I’m working with and myself agreed to address common misconceptions about each country and culture. Innocent questions and curiosity is harmless, but hopefully we can remind our students not to be insensitive. The purpose of this cross cultural exchange is to share cultures and part of that will be dispelling myths and providing true insight.

#4 I don't know how many teachers I talked too before selecting the ones that I did. SO MANY interested parties just stopped responding to my emails, or would respond VERY late and I took that as a sign that they would be late with everything else. So I shopped around to find the teachers that were as serious about this project as I was. And I found some AMAZING teachers! One is already talking about helping me put on a book drives and getting donations to my school!

#5 I read & edit every one of my kids letters and I have them rewrite them with the corrections. All 200-ish of them. And the students struggling the most with writing are signed up to write their pen pal letters to other Ethiopian students. I also make our bimonthly letters include things we are currently learning and use it as a way to test my kids and get them serious about writing properly. (Proper grammar, adverbs, adjectives, new vocabulary words, and certain tenses (past, present, continuous)

These were the main problems that I could foresee with this project and that I experienced as I began to correct student letters.

One problem that I didn't consider at all until it started happening was plagiarism.

 

The above letter reads:

Dear Bankmoon the President of China, first of all may my peace reach you. As I have tried to remind you in the previous letter, concerning our peaceful relationship, our relationship shall continue with the feelings of brotherhood without any interruption.

      Our relationship shall be based on the exchange of: - various transactions, different mode of life, styles of learning.  And also, it shall be on the basis of mutual aid in the times of problem and emergency situations. All these conditions should be conducted in a faithful and brotherhood manner.

Additionally, the exchange of:- good cultures, good governing systems and models of economic development could be borrowed betwen us.

     Generally, our relationship shall be based upon exchange of :- various transactions, good cultures, good governing system and models of economic development in the faithfulness and brotherly hood manner.

With best regards,

Bold faced plagiarism! And its not even good plagiarism! How did this student ever think this would fly?!

1) I’ve graded your other test, I’ve seen what your capable of on a good day and a bad day. And I don't think you even know how to spell "models of economic development"     [-_-]

2) Who told you that you were writing to the President of China? THE PRESIDENT OF CHINA! lol Its great that you think so highly of yourself... apparently this isn't your first letter to Mr. Bankmoon, since you "reminded him in the previous letter" smh...

Two of my students wrote this letter to the President of China. It became abundantly clear to me that maybe my kids didn't know that they would be writing ACTUAL students. Although I told them several times and I told them what to write in their letters (name, age, family information, future goals...) Perhaps they thought I just wanted them to put together any letter for a grade... I really don't know... In addition to letters for the President of China, I also got this...

The above letter reads:

Dear Manager
Jimma Company
PO BOX
Jimma

Dear sir,
I am writing to apply for the post of clerical officer you have advertised in Ethiopia.
     I am responsible person and willing to work hard in the post. My father says that I deserve a good job as I have worked hard at school and passed all of my examination with distinction in English and maths. I incolsed detelid of may examination results and hope that you will consider me seutable    application for the posistion. I look forward to hearing from you.
    Your faithfully,


This kid decided to apply for a job!
I had a good laugh reading many of my kids letters. They were just SO RANDOM! Others looked like this:

At least this student didn't copy. The above print is how MOST of my kids letters, homework assignments & test papers look.

This student may not have completed the assignment, but it was authentic. I cant say the same for the others.

I soon discovered that the kids who were plagiarizing letters to the president, or job applications, or just copying random letters, were all students who are scoring pretty low in my class. These kids were soo intimidated by writing these letters that they only felt comfortable stealing written work from other sources and other people.

Here is another letter from a student in my 9th grade class who struggles with English but tries so hard to learn and has shown SO MUCH improvement. She makes my heart smile.

 

This letter reads:

Dear Pen Pal,

    My name is Seble Moges I'm so excited to get to know you! I live in Welisso my country name is Ethiopia. I am 23 years old. I have 3 brother and 3 sister. My father is dead two years ago. My interest is help my mother and sister and brother. My free time swming and different film watch. I funn to study my lesson. Finally my plan go to university then I study Ingereing b/c (because) I help to building my country. 

:) <3

Sebles writing is typical for the 9th graders in my class. Well for the majority of the class, there are another 25% of students who are below her writing level skill.

This letter is an example of the TOP  25%. The Gobez clever kids in my class.

 

This letter reads:

Dear Pen Pal,

    My name is Lemane. I come from Ethiopia, Wolisso town. I am 15 years old. I have a familey. My fathers name is Duguma and he is police man. my mothers name is Asrael and she is a teacher. I have a brother and a sister. They are claver students.

    I like to watch Amharic films, Amharic is the national language of Ethiopia. And I like to ride my bicycle in my free time. I like Injera and coffee. Injera is the traditional food of Ethiopia. It is very delicious food.

    My future plan is to go to university and graduate with a degree in medicine and then I will become to a doctor. I think you understand my name, my family, my favorite food and drink. Now what is your favorite food and drink Your future plans and what do you like in your free time. Thank you for every one

Best wishes

Your friend

I ended up providing a template for the students who needed it most. Providing something like...

Hello, My name is _________. I am ______ Years old and I am from _________.

Students who could barely write at all ended up using this template, but still wrote things like

Hello, My name is __Ashley_______.

Sometimes I just dont know what to do with my students haha God bless them. But this Pen pal exchange is in full effect :) I promise to keep yall updated on how it goes!

6 months in country & Vlog #14

Things you get used to after living 6 months in Ethiopia

#1
Being a celebrity

everywhere you go, you’re being watched. The townspeople know what you did last summer, yesterday, and this morning.

Kids on the school campus  hang outside of windows & stand outside your classroom door just to get glimpses of you. You get used to kids staring at you. In fact you learn how to classify the stares

The wait... are you speaking English?! But aren't you Ethiopian stare

The quick glances, side eye & I'm tryna be lowkey and not have you know I'm staring stare

The stare / winks / gestures that say "hey hot stuff, come over here" but their mouths actually say" ANCHI! you ANCHI! you ANCHI! you,  Where are you go?

The you don't speak Amharic.. but you're black so what part of Africa are you from kinda stare 

The I'm looking at you dead in the eye and not blinking cuz i have no shame staring kinda stare

The let me watch you walk down the block, turn the corner and look back to see me still staring at you stare

#2
You get used to living amongst livestock and seeing, smelling and avoiding stepping on poop everywhere. You also know that you must carry your own soap & toilet paper wherever you go, because restaurants, schools, offices and just every single place in Ethiopia refuses to provide you with these thngs.

Yeah we have a bathroom.
oh but you thought we'd provide the toilet paper for you.. awww, how cute

#3
Seeing men in women's clothing and shoes. A 40 year old man wearing ruby red Jellies will no longer leave you confused.

Nor will you be confused when that ruby red jellies man starts walking hand in hand down the street with another man. Or even when he places his hand on another mans thigh as they sit down. Yup male affection is a thing here.

Two male friends showing the world that they are besties

#4
You begin to slowly realize that you're feet will never look the same again. A lack of hot water, mani-pedis, and the fact that your town mainly has dirt roads has changed your feet for the worse.

#5
You embrace being known as the crazy foreigner.
Yup I'm 25, childless & not married
Yup Im a woman sitting alone in a restaurant, eating & paying for my own meal.
Yup I wear ALOT of pants. I walk my dog on a lease & sometimes I wear knee high socks - keep staring, maybe you’ll learn how not to give a crap one day too.

You learn a lot about yourself living in a new country and culture for 6 months…

 #6
 I’ve realized, for one that I am not that friendly

Sure I smile, I am polite, but while you’re sitting there mistaking my kindness for interest and babbling on and on about your life, im sitting here like...

I’ve always known that I needed my ME time, I need a lot of personal space. And this little fact about me has been highlighted in Ethiopia. Ethiopians are never really alone. These people are incredibly hospitable, friendly and sociable. And it wasn't until their culture of “lets always be together sunshine and rainbows” started to clash with my “loner mode” did I realize how inhospitable, unfriendly, and unwelcoming I could truly be.

Just leave me in my solitude

#7
I’ve realized that I am low-key brave

Family back home sometimes throw this word around like “Oh Ashley is so adventurous & brave for traveling solo, or for going to Africa, etc… And I never saw what they were talking about. I still don't when it comes to the traveling aspect of it all… But I’ve seen bravery in myself when I’m walking through town and that crazy guy down the street starts following me or bothering my friend. I’ll quickly push his hand away, or stand taller in any guys presence who seems threatening here…its probably because most Ethiopian men here are so small though lol

#8
I’ve realized that I am dirty

I sometimes go several weeks without a shower and Im ok with it. I’ll just baby wipe this area.. and that area..put on a clean pair of underwear and Ill call it a day. I kiss my dog, I sleep with him somedays, and oh.. wait is that a flea? It is… hmm, what Tv show should I watch next?

#9
I’ve realized how much I love my family and Church
Sometimes you don't realize the support system you have until its gone.

#10
And finally,

I’ve realized that I can totally do the remainder of my ~1.5 years left in Ethiopia

6 months down. 21 more to go.

Vlog #14 in Honor of reaching 6 months in country.

“Happiness is a warm puppy.”

The Hes so cute I could eat his little face off photo

Christmas puppy

He was given to me by another PC friend and although my run with animals hasn't been very good in Ethiopia...

Baby chick.... dead
Kitten... probably dead
lol

I promise this puppy will be different! Peace Corps Ethiopia volunteers aren't officially allowed to have animals as pets because rabies is so prevalent here.

BUT as a good mother, I've already found a vet in Addis and I'm just waiting for Mojojojo here to get old enough to take the rabies shot.

Oh yeah... Im awesome ;)

 

What wasn't very awesome was how Mojo ended up peeing on the woman who sat next to me on the bus as he rode to Wolisso for the first time.

 

Yeah that was very awkward... Mojo is from the town of Aleta Wondo in the South of Ethiopia. Hes Ethiopian born and bred. I've had several dogs in the past, so I didnt worry too much about bringing Mojo into my home and making him the newest member of my family.

But then I remembered that I live in Ethiopia...where do you buy dog food? flea collars? chew toys? and dog shampoo? It turns out that you dont. Not even in Addis.

I talked to Mojos new Vet, and he confirmed that all my pups food had to be homemade, and that if I wanted toys and flea collars and leashes and things of that sort then I would have to have them mailed to me.
 After a quick Google search the food problem quickly dissipated. Currently Mojo is eating boiled powdered milk with oats, scrambled, or boiled eggs. Corn flour with hot water and milk, injera, rice, CousCous, and some fruits, veggies and meat when I can afford to give it to him or mix it in his meal.

I know that culturally many Ethiopians, especially those living in rural towns, do not keep dogs as pets and my experience with Mojo thus far has shown me exactly how true this is. Dogs are used solely for protecting the house. They are commonly mistreated, chained up 24/7 and not given much affection. This makes them into very aggressive, yet very affective guard dogs. 

But it also means that I have now given the people of my town another reason to stare at me and think of me as the crazy foreigner.

I play with Mojo, I kiss him, and hold him, and pet him and even let him sleep in my house, sometimes on my bed.

This is exactly how my landlady, the kids in my compound and EVERYONE in town looks at me when Im interacting with my new pup.

Its quite hilarious actually. Im so accustomed to the stares and townspeople talking about me that it does not faze me in the slightest. In fact I've decided that maybe the people of Wolisso can learn a little something about dogs and how they can be more than just vicious biting machines.

Im teaching Mojo how to sit and follow other commands in both English and Amharic. So this way when I say "Sit" in Amharic the townspeople will understand the command and be that much more impressed when they see that the dog listens.

Im trying to show the kids in my compound how to play with him. Because currently they are either afraid to go near him, or they only kick & throw rocks at him because that's what they see other people doing to dogs in town.

 

I walk Mojo on a self made leashe all around Wolisso. People laugh and point at me, they jeer, and smile and shake their heads at "the crazy foreigner" with her dog on a rope.

Grown men and children see me walking with the dog, and now even without the dog and they yell out 

"Woosha!" dog

"Woosha!"  dog

"Woosha!" dog

 I prefer it to "YOU, YOU, YOU" or "Ferenji" haha But in addition to getting a kick out of laughing at me, these people are also seeing Mojo follow me happily with his talk wagging. They see him eager to greet and play with others who come near and they see him not growling or barking. Im going to make my pup into the worlds most friendliest and well behaved dog, in an effort to dispel the myths about dogs that people have here.

When I brought Mojo home, the first thing my landlady said to me was "I do not like dogs", and I was worried that she would make me get rid of him. But she didnt.. well not yet anyway.. so that makes me even more eager to properly train him.

My next door neighbor also approached me and said "Why did you get this dog? He is ugly. He is Ethiopian dog. You should have got American dog. Ethiopian dogs are not nice.  He will give you problem. I am afraid he will eat you."

I tried telling the man that all dogs can be trained and tamed and be great pets. But he just smiled at me, probably thinking "This ridiculous foreigner is gonna die when this pup gets bigger" 

Mojo playing with a new friend... who eventually gave him fleas and so now I've forbidden him from every seeing her again.

Update: Its been about a month since I brought Mojo home and THIS HAPPENED! :D

Kas by kas Seeing the kids play with mojo like this makes me so happy. A few weeks ago they would only throw things at him, and touch him with the soles of their shoes for fear of him biting them. When I brought mojo home I was told by my landlady and neighbors that he was ugly, that he would eat me, and that they didnt like dogs. I knew id have to change their perception and that it would take time.. but little by little I feel it happening :)

A video posted by Ashley Nicole (@ashleysayque) on Jan 15, 2015 at 3:36am PST