Happy Holidays from Haile Resort

Happy Holidays from Haile Resort in Hawassa! My holiday gift from family was money for two nights in this paradise! After this, I'll go to Addis for "Resource Volunteer" training (serving as a resource for the incoming group of Peace Corps Trainees). Ethiopian Christmas is January 8, so I'll be at site for that celebration.

Grassroots Soccer club graduated

Today our Grassroots Soccer club graduated! For 11 sessions my counterpart and I used soccer to teach about HIV, lifeskills and gender. Today the students role played situations where they resisted risks to HIV, then we had speeches and certificate distribution. We had a lot of fun in this program and the students also learned about and discussed many important things. So proud of them!

sambusas

Tea shop at my site (with owner) where I buy sambusas - delicious fried things with lentils and onion inside.

inset

One step in making food from inset, the false banana plant, is fermenting it in containers made from its leaves and bark. Inset is a staple food in Sidama and in other parts of southern Ethiopia.

Health Post

This is one of the Health Posts at my site, where Health Extension Workers weigh babies, administer vaccinations, counsel about and provide family planning methods, keep family health records, and provide health education on water, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition.

This week's produce from Hawassa.

Today I made a cauliflower, tomato, garlic stew with quinoa that my parents brought.

Blue Nile day trip

Debre Libanos monastery, Blue Nile Gorge, Portuguese Bridge and Gelada monkeys! Took a fantastic day trip with Debbie Ward and Mark Ward.

Comment from dad: "An incredible place, one of the oldest churches in Africa & we were given a tour by a monk during a service in the church's poorly lit basement, men dressed in white, chanting praise."

From mom 11/4

How many coffee ceremonies have we been to in Ethiopia? MANY!

From dad 11/4

The most important food grain in Ethiopia is one that most westerners don’t know: tef. Ethiopians grind it up & make a thin batter, pour it on a large pan on the fire& when it’s done it becomes injera, a flat kind of pancake that is the basis of most meals. Today we saw tef growing. So, from our time in Ethiopia, here is tef growing, the batter being poured in a restaurant & what a basic meal looks like.

From mom 11/3

Goodbye beautiful Hawassa.

Some views from the bus on the way back to Addis:

We are staying at this friendly hostel for our last two nights in Addis:

From mom, 10/31

Fresh passion fruit from a street seller who came on the bus.

Anyone who has visited a third world country will understand my relief at seeing this sight 😊

Artwork is everywhere in the beautiful Haile resort.

From dad 10/31

Relaxing at Haile Resort on the banks of beautiful Lake Hawassa.

From mom 10/30

With Erica’s host mother at her site in Tugo.

Two of these girls are the daughters of the health education worker whom Erica has worked with for over a year. They love having photos taken and then looking at them. So sweet

So many beautiful children in Tugo.

The coffee ceremony is an important part of life in Ethiopia. We were served coffee at every home we visited. The beans are roasted, ground and brewed as you chat. In Tugo coffee is often served with salt instead of sugar.

It’s fortunate that we both like coffee although I don’t need to try it again with salt!

From dad 10/30

A few images from a visit to Erica’s site near Tugo, Ethiopia: her home, the road down the village & Debbie with new friends.

Sleeping arrangement at Erica's.

It was fascinating accompanying Erica on a home visit in her role as Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia: meet with family, be welcomed with coffee ceremony, surrounded by children.

From dad 10/28

Morning visitor outside our room at the Lewis Resort in Hawassa, Ethiopia

Scenes from Hawassa, Ethiopia: Main Street & sculpture of False Banana plant, symbol of Hawassa w/Mosaic of Sidama cultural scenes.

We’re enjoying the Lewis Resort in Hawassa, Ethiopia with a beautiful lakefront room.

Dining pleasures in Hawassa: lunch in a hut-style room & wonderful cup of coffee in coffee shop.

Animals in Hawassa: Mirabou stork & monkeys everywhere.