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Published: December 30th 2008
Today was the first day since my last post that both the phone lines and the power were working at the same time. Ethiopia has made me realize how much I hate Dial-up. So all of the Volunteers brought gifts for a Dirty Santa game. The limit was 10 Birr or 1 dollar. I bought a chinese power converter that only works in China(it's useless here) and a DVD of The Cowboy Way, a horrible movie with Kiefer S. and Woody Harrelson. All in all a pretty terrible gift, I would say. Of the 40 volunteers, I drew number 33 and was able to walk away with a bag of Swedish Fish, that someone had decided they didn't like even after bringing them halfway across the world. Sucker!!! I have to say that I haven't really felt like John lately. The meds I am taking, I haven't gotten used to. Mood swings come more frequently and bad moods are harder to let go of. I am taking it in stride and realize that it has to get better. When I get really down, I think about all of the positive support I haven't gotten by the same people reading this right here. All of you have been huge for me in this process and I will not forget it. I am pretty excited because next week we find out where in Ethiopia we will be going. It will also determine what our next language we will learn is. That's right, I will not be learning just one language. Amharic is the Primary language of Ethiopia, but because of its tribal hertiage, each area has its own language. Some areas have already been ruled out because of security concerns like Afar, Hararr, SNPPR, and a few others. I am kind of hoping on the Tigray region in the North because the Simien Mountains are up there. I also think that is where the Great Rift Valley starts, ( I may be wrong on that). I don't know if you know this but the calendar year, here in Ethiopia is 2001. There is some story that after the death of Jesus, somebody took just over 7 years to get here and tell everyone to start counting. I am not to sure on the specifics but I thought it was an interesting concept. Just finished my first book, Into the Wild. I had heard a lot of people talk about it so I picked it up in the Airport. It was alright, nothing really jumped out at me. We are trying to organize a New Years Party for all of the volunteers. There have been worries about us, "Americans," getting out of hand so someone suggested wearing a placard of what happens when that person drinks too much to control the party. I was thinking of going naked and writing on mine that when I drink too much I put clothes on. Hah. I just also want to say that I am recieving a lot of technical training even though I don't include too much of it in my blogs. Best Wishes to all of you this Holiday Season.
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JKS
non-member comment
Happy New Year
You sound great with your humor intact. Don't push yourself, out of country successes come only with time. K.