Well, my friends, the excitement that accompanies the newness of my new home is slowly disappearing as my life starts to settle into a routine. And with this routine comes predictability and a reducing number of new adventures to share with you. Trust I can keep you interested and coming back to learn more.
Thank you for your positive feedback about my blog. Much appreciated! Keeps me motivated to keep on writing!
Internet Bliss Returns
First - the rumors of the internet apocalypse for the last week in Ethiopia were greater overstated. Our compound did have pretty much continuous internet access through WiFi for the entire week. Just a few power outages during the week; of course, the outages always happens when you are trying to do something. Yikes. Internet access through the phone network mysteriously reappeared late last week as well.
Meanwhile, back at Regional Health Bureau
Unfortunately, as my fourth week in Assosa came to end, I am sorry to report that I have yet to do anything in support of my partner organization. The Planning team leader was out of the office the entire week along with majority of the people on the team. Makes for a very long day. Have decided to create a modified 'work arrangement' for myself. I show up at the office in the morning sometime between 8:30 and 9:00; have coffee at 10:30 and go back to the compound for lunch around 12:30. I spend the afternoon at the compound.
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| Buna bet (coffee house) - Where we have our coffee breaks at the Health Bureau |
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| Meet Hagare - owns our version of Starbucks She serves the best coffee in the world! |
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| Meet Wendi - wonderful woman who works with Hagare |
I spent my mornings at the Bureau, over the past week, completing a daily journal and updating my Facebook page to share my Ethiopian experiences. While I've benefited personally from the 'free' time over the past four weeks through daily journalling, exercising and spiritual growth; starting to question if this is the most effective place in the world for making my contribution.
Let me share some challenges that may influence our work together. I'm going to start with a sample of what I have learned about the technology infrastructure/capabilities found within the Health Bureau:
- Health Bureau stopped using a main server over 2.5 years ago because they were unable to manage it (reason TBD). Means every person in the Bureau (about 150 people) carries their work independently on their own computers. Flash drives are used to share files.
- Everyone uses their own personal email for work as the Bureau is lacking a network infrastructure and email system.
- Every computer is seriously infected with viruses making it very risky to exchange files between computers
- Most people at the Bureau have basic computer skills (tbc); taking advanced computer courses requires a personal investment
Language is another key barrier to partnering effectively. While many documents prepared by the Federal Ministry of Health are in English; the Regional Health Bureau are written in Amharic. Trying to understand the existing mandate, priorities, the business practices, the business processes and all the information I would typically would need to know to be of help has to be obtained through conversations with my colleagues who have varying levels of knowledge about the Bureau along with gaps in their English language skills.
My colleagues, Terry (Addis Ababa), Nancy (Assosa) and Jennica (Pawe), are experiencing similar challenges in their assignments. Very proud of how the four of us have been proactive in supporting each other over the past five weeks. I am very grateful for all the life lessons that are being reinforced and/or learned in my time here. Also appreciative for the education I am getting about the complexity of working in and providing help for a country like Ethiopia. Agree that patience is important, and it is only a small part of the overall formula for being 'successful'.
I will see what the upcoming week has to offer. Always the optimist:
Assosa Sights and Sounds
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| Rush hour - Assosa style |
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| Taxi stand - Busy Saturday morning for the bajajs |
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| Cleaning the sewers |
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| Our bakery |
Breakfast Adventures
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| My first attempt with making pancakes (in Ethiopia, that is!) |
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| Oh yes! Success |
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| Successfully made French Toast by slicing this bun in half. You see, loaves of bread are unavailable in Ethiopia |
My Mini Mental Vacation
And my mind wandered during the week to another place and time:
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| Yes, that's the Andes in the background What I saw while drinking lattes and Malbec during a visit to a Chilean vineyard (2011) |
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| The Perfect Latte Vineyard in Southern Chile (2011) |
Til Next Week
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| Happy 18th Birthday Brendan (June 9) Miss you! Lots of love Dad |
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| Cheers from Assosa Thanks to TJXC French Translation Team for my Scottish Travel Companion |
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