"I came to Kino Hotel for wifi to send somethings from my ipad. The power is out. As I sit drinking my lukewarm Ambo and type through a growing film of dust I feel good. I like it here. This is all coming 8 months too late but it feels good here. The breeze and the sun and now the traditional music with a reggae beat coming from a young man's cell phone.. I will look back fondly and I am so so so glad."
It is nice to hear you say "it's not how you start the game but how you finish," I couldn't agree more. It is very relative to me here and now. Not to harp on the past but it was very difficult. I went for a walk with Dylan and Izzy and we talked about how much you learn from actually living in a place rather than just visiting. I was nervous I'd look poorly upon all Ethiopians because of those that I've been surrounded by here. As we passed Ethiopian immigrants on the streets of Tel Aviv, Max actually made the comment that, "people are a product of their environment". Overall, I think that it is realizing that I choose the way I see things while I am here. And, I am starting to see things in a better light. Granted, I needed a tangible and fast approaching end date in order to alter my view.
In the grand scheme of things, I think it is a lesson on how we perceive ourselves and others and the power we hold to change our outlook on everything in life.
It is unfortunate how little some teachers care about their profession, they finish teaching the text book and they are finished teaching. On the bright side, it is nice to see the students who do come to class, rain or shine, holiday or not. These kids want to learn, to decipher between right and wrong, good and bad... they want a future based on education. We have made a world of progress with our students and throughout the entire school. Kids raise their hand, they may just be coming to class because it is their day with Max and Elizabeth in class, they read out loud to us and they are more confident in their abilities. The teachers have seen us fulfill our duties and speak with us every chance they get to practice their English or brag about Ethiopian culture or hear about America or even ask for our help to get them books or visas from the states (something that would no doubt lead them to more opportunity but not necessarily a better life. Also something that deeply bothered me, the misunderstanding of a foreign volunteers purpose here, but now I think "how should they know my reasons for being here and on that note, why not give it a shot, I may hand them a visa on the spot").
I leave feeling fulfilled. I would have done things differently, no doubt. My relationship with Max has grown immeasurably, more than possible after years together in America, I think - and I am grateful we leave holding hands and with a better sense of communication and of one another.
I am grateful for this experience. I think it is very cool, I have grown, I have seen and done and eat and danced and all I can see from the past is that I had a really great time.
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