Host Family

It's good to be in Ethiopia!  I don't have time to write much now, but I wanted to share a few pictures.  This is my home-stay family in their living room!  They only speak a few words of English, which is helpful for my Amharic practice! (We also use a lot of sign language). I will live with this family for the duration of Peace Corps Training, until swearing in as a Peace Corps Volunteer on April 13.  After April 13, I will move to my permanent site, where I will be for 2+ years.  My site will be in the Amhara region or the SNNPR (Southern Nations) region. My home-stay family calls me "Aireek" for Erica. Masresha, the father, is 36, Buzai, the mother is 27, the son, Yoseph, is 11, the daughter, Kalu, is 7, and the twin 10-month-old sons are Mantu and Eliyas.

Buzai and her twin boys and the front porch

Buzai pouring coffee in the living/dining room

Kalu and Eliyas

Yoseph and Mantu

Masresha is a tailer

Buzai sifting tef, used for making injira, a spongy bread that is the staple food in Ethiopia.

Where I take my bucket baths

The family pit latrine. 

My bed with mosquito net.

Shoes, manuals, medicine kit

Buckets for bucket baths, etc.  Bottled water for drinking.  I'll set up my water filtration system tomorrow. 

Clothes, etc 

A neighbor enjoying coffee.

A neighbor brought his donkey into the backyard.

We visited a health post. 

Landscape

I would love some letters!

If you're up for sending a care package, that would be wonderful too! Padded envelopes will likely be far cheaper than boxed packages. Here is my wish list:
1. Emergen-C (especially the pink lemonade flavor)
2. Nutritional yeast in sealed packaging
3. Lightweight children's books
4. Pro-biotics that don't need to be refrigerated (if they are not too heavy to mail)
5. Gum