how does it feel … to be without a home … a complete unknown … like a rolling stone ???

How about something less opinionated ???

Good idea.

 We are at about the mid-point of our training. I had a huge day today, with a Self-Esteem and Peer Pressure workshop all morning, a Problem Solving workshop in the afternoon, and an ESL workshop to end the day. There is also this brilliant little local kid I have been tutoring in English the past few days, so I spent an hour trying to explain to him the difference between lie, lied, lay, layed, laid etc.

All went very well. My self-esteem workshop that was not so good at first, and improved to pretty good in Debre Birhan, was a piece of art this time around. I went a bit long (which meant I had to dance in front of the group), but everyone seemed really engaged and their energy level was high throughout.

In previous workshops, Becky and I have taught Gender, while Jess and Laura did HIV. This time we switched it up, and I am excited to see how Laura and Jess pull off Gender tomorrow. They have this great little activity! When people first enter the room they are sat in a circle. Men are allowed to sit on chairs and wear their shoes, while women must sit on the ground and do not wear shoes. Men are fed first, and are fed by women, while women feed themselves.

The debrief involves asking people what they saw and how they interpret it. The common answer is that it is a strictly patriarchal society in which men are respected more than women. The revealed truth is that it is a patriarchal society in which the earth and food are considered spiritual. Women are the only ones allowed to sit close to the earth, and the only ones allowed to touch it directly. Women are also the only ones allowed to interact with food.

It is very powerful, and usually catches people totally off guard. The point is that gender roles and gender based assumptions are dynamic and rooted in the culture, not in universal absolutes. It’s a great way to stimulate a discussion of gender, especially in a culture where gender based traditions are so powerful, and I hope it blows them away.

The past 2 nights we have been invited to the houses of some of our trainees for the traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony. The food, the coffee, the company and the hospitality are second to none. It’s so cool that these people have only one room to call home (between 3 of them at that), yet they are more than willing to invite 7 “for-en-gees” and 15 fellow trainees to squeeze in together for a celebration of life and friendship. We cram together on the floor as food is passed around, incense is burned and 3 small cups of coffee are served to each person. It continues to amaze me how little the language barrier matters among friends, as we sit and laugh for hours, though we hardly understand each other.

Tonight we went to a friend’s house for dinner. Home-cooked Ethiopian food is even better than what you get in Restaurants. After dinner, as the coffee was being served, they brought out the bread. Oh my God! Picture a Frisbee made out of bread. Now make that Frisbee 6 inches tall and nearly a meter across. This comes AFTER a huge meal in which your plate is continually topped up for you with whatever you may be lacking. I repeat. Hospitality is second to none!

Much love to all from Debre Sina, Ethiopia!