In a Nutshell

Inspired by another Peace Corps married couple, Scott and I decided to chronicle every month of our service. Here it is...

June 2012

Leading up to the departure from Ft. Lauderdale International on June 4^th, our families had pulled out all the stops and we gorged ourselves on good food and drink. We landed in D.C. and met the other volunteers for Staging. We had our “last dinner” with the married couples (including Brett and Adam) then headed to Ethiopia for a 14-hour flight. Channeling Dan from Staging, we were “really excited”. We were met by Dan Baker and Bob Gingrich who tried to give us a mini tour of Addis Ababa but that went over all our heads because of all the excitement. Next were the constant introductory training at King’s Hotel with the added experience of injera. We were shipped off to Debre Berhan for Demystification with another married couple, Erin and Tony. This trip included a lot of firsts: Aracai (local grain alcohol), lews chai (peanut butter tea), juice spritz (avocado/mango juice), G.I. problems (not the first for Jessi), and Ethiopian “hotels”. We had a blast and so did “Drunk Dan”. More training then we went to live and love Tigist, Solomon, and the girls.

July 2012

July is the month of Bekoji. Actual training for PST (for some of us the second time around), language classes, cultural misunderstandings, and market day. We started with the LCF Abera (or Borat) and ended with Herr Biniam playing musical chairs and the ladder game. We still dread that shintbet. Shai/Buna at the “Bekoji Bosses” preferred spot with our favorite server, Dawit. We had the G7 Site Ceremony and Tigist asked us if we chose Mek’ele. We had Site Visit where we thought it would be the end of us due to several landing attempts. Finally we landed safely…in Axum. How did that guy get off the plane? We were able to get to Mekelle. All night we tried to kill a mouse and had t’hilo for the first time with Diane. Back to Addis with a UTI and Scott got typhoid. WTF. Health, wealth, we have our first birthdays in country. Sodere. We don’t need to discuss Sodere except warm pool, dirty springs, diving board, and lots of monkeys. God bless America, the Olympics were awesome. Go Dibaba from Bekoji!

August 2012

August is the “what just happened to us?” month. We were winding down our last weeks in Bekoji and ready to get out of the rain. Started to feel at home with the family and now we don’t want to leave them or our friends. Scott hits 10k on his runs uphill, there is the greatest Murder Mystery party of all time, and we begin to pack our bags…again. Had lunch/dinner with some of the host families and had the Host-Family appreciation ceremony complete with kitfo. We had our interviews with Daniel O. and Greg. We say teary good-byes to our family and head back to Addis. Swearing-In and Tigray volunteers find out that we have to stay an extra week due to Ashenda (a holiday where girls ask for money for the churches). Ashenda ends up not happening because the Prime Minister Meles Zenawi dies. Still hanging out in Addis. No complaints because of awesome food. Before we leave we have desert and tea at Country Director Greg’s house. Time to go home top Mekelle.

September 2012

We both joined the “Shit Your Pants Club” in September- the first month at site. Change of scene and dirty water equals countless visits to the “cleanest shintbet in country” and a host of new experiences. The “New Year” came and went along with Jamee, diane, and Linda. We met some bloody good Brits and celebrated the torch ceremony of Meskel. Volunteers from Ethiopia in 1964 shared their service experience and their lives with us. The beginning brought us hiking to a waterfall and beers at beer/creepy amusement park garden. School began, and then officialy began. Jessi gets an office with a computer (hopefully) and Scott gets a lot of setbacks. Finally people pull through and Scott gets busy. Kind of. Watching movies and playing “Asshole” at the St. Georges Club, T’ihlo whenever we want, and friends (habesha and ferengi). Mek’elle is beginning to feel like home.

October 2012

October is the month of “getting to work”, sometimes. We began the month by observing every teacher  in every school and ended by looking  little too forward to In-Service Training. Jessi went to an Ethiopian wedding at the invite of one of her teachers and was honored as the “ferengi” guest. Lord of the Rings marathon with Sarunas because we just couldn’t seem to face the day after the night of too much wine.  More work getting to know our schools and what’s possible. Operation Smile came to Mek’elle bringing with it other PCV’s that we hadn’t met yet. The last night of Op Smile gave us a lot of new friends and we danced the night away at Axum hotel then Lazoreea +. We also got to see an “older” plastic surgeon get down like a teenager (from 1955). The next morning we were both dealthy ill with the flu and had to stay in bed for a couple of days. After recovery came the Halloween party when Sam was reintroduced to civil society and finally got a decent haircut. The party was a success thanks to great food and Dan Baker. Last visits to the farther way schools and we are ready to begin the CENA. Next stop, IST in Ambo.

November 2012

November is the month of IST. We began the month at the local internet bet, spending countless hours (and birr) preparing CENA’s (Community Educational Needs Assessment). We slowly realized the insane challenges that lie before us. On November 12^th, we travelled to Addis for one night before Ambo. We left the airport and headed straight for delicious cupcakes. On the way, Scott was spat on for the fourth time in country by a thief with a get-away car! The scene which seemed like it was in slow motion almost came to a fight but in the end everyone kept their Peace Corps “cool”. When we made it to Bole road, all of our worries and furies were forgotten in cupcakes, tuna fish sandwiches, bratwurst, and “German” beer. We got to see our friends again. Night, night at King’s and then off to Ambo. We got the Penthouse Suite and took glorious, glorious baths. The food was delicious, yet poisonous and gave everyone bacterial infections. The public pool was cool until we were surrounded by ogling habesha who ended up asking us for money. The chubby kid and dinner with the “Bekoji Bosses”- minus Linda- provided lots of laughter. Beer pong, high-stakes poker, and paper football were among the festivities. Training was fun too. Quicker than we knew it, came Thanksgiving at Loti with Rachel, Shayna, Sam, and Nathan. Went to Bekoji to see Tigist and Solomon and hung with G8. Back in Mekelle just in time for Mike to teach us that we have the right to oppose.

December 2012

December is the month of new site mates and the end of a great year. Scott and Jessi receive three new people in Mekelle: Elle, Becca, and Hannah. With that came new restaurants and media. We started the Teacher Mentor Program at our schools and everything went really well. Igziharia had to stop being Jessi’s counterpart but that didn’t stop her from being a friend. Being in front of the classroom taught us a lot about the education program and our schools. The holidays caught up with us and then passed us by. Ben’s parents brought us our lap top and our salvation. Christine and Jessi started the Harry Potter Book Club then we went on the treacherous road to spend Christmas with her, Joel, and Jenny in Axum. We had dinner with Greg and his family where we met some habesha from Lancaster, PA. She has a great tattoo. New Year’s was hectic, fun, and full of “whiskey”. We missed family but friends were good to be with.

January 2013

January is the New Year. Everyone in Tigray came to perform the biggest show Mekelle has ever seen. Hannah proved, once again, that she is the coolest girl in the world by dancing with fire and we set off actual fireworks at midnight. Ethiopian Christmas (Genna) was yet another holiday where we swore off food. Kinfe and his family made sure we celebrated in the true Ethiopian fashion. After our food comas Scott attempted to start his English clubs. After tons of copied essays his attempts failed. Try again next semester. We got a visit from two RPCV’s who are friends with Greg. We gave them the gift of white honey and t’ihlo. Jessi had her first PAC meeting in Addis just as Timket was kicking off. Scott partied with Meta Beer and ended the night with a food fight at Hannah’s house. We completed Battlestar Gallactica, Jessi finally got the computer and printer in her office, and we began Rosetta Stone…again. Ethiopia played and lost in the African Cup of Nations, we finally saw Dad and Karla, and Tigray police gave us a night to think about. Big month. Didn’t realize that until we relived it.

February 2013

February was a heartbeat. Well, more like a heart attack. A lot happened and then it was all over. We started out with the Super Bowl spending all night at the Winter Bar watching Beyonce and whoever was playing. We’re getting too old for this shit. Sam invited us to Maichew so we could hike, play Civilization, and have some tejj. On our return home, Scott finally got his English clubs going. We ran a 10k for Meles’s Vision. We celebrated by making burgers and traipsing around everyone’s houses. Greg and Maureen came to visit, we finally found the pool, and we started what we hope will be, a great World Map Project. Regional IST was busy, fun, and full of Continual Professional Development. Not so bad for eight months in country.

March 2013

March was a quiet month if 200 volunteers in one city can be considered quiet. The CPD project started and then took off. Scott began his warden training and Jessi had another PAC meeting. We all met up at the Ghion Hotel and headed traight for the pool which was not something we were missing. A lot of people began the weekend at the Hakim Stout bar and we were able to talk with old friends and make new ones. Training began; we played catch, and participated in the Talent Show. 200 volunteers made the Harlem Shake a traditional dance and some people got into trouble at Illusions. St. Patrick’s Day was legendary. Bailey left but we were able to throw her Peace Corps party. We are almost done with the World Map and we started preparations for G9. Work and play was the theme for March 2013. Just ask Sam.

April 2013

April was one of those months that we were just trying to get through. It had its ups like Scott starting six English clubs and making a breakthrough for camp planning. The downs were Jessi getting amoebas and the schools having exams. We had our first camp meeting that lasted for hours. Tigray played some basketball in honor of the Final Four and Earth Week went pretty well. Hishe and Hawot payed us a visit and Tim and Rose had a chili night where we got to sit on some real couches. We met a German who drove around the country on a motorcycle and Scott helped with GIZed’s field day. We hit 10 months in country. April wasn’t that exciting but at least we got some good work done.

May 2013

May’s big event was the (H)Awassa Race. We left Mekelle for Maichew because Sam was going to America. We said good-bye for a couple of weeks and headed to Kombolcha on an empty bus!! The bus guy was nice and gave us our change. Kombolcha is a good city and Nathan was a terrible tour guide. The next day we headed to Debre Berhan (late) to see Tony and Erin for the last time. On the way to (H)Awassa we just had to stop in Addis to haggle for an “illegal” bus. Everyone did well in the race and Bernard was out by 8 am. Peace Corps had a good time at the Beer Garden but then it was time to head our spate ways. Iron Man III and PAC. Scott got obsessed with Permagarden training and made our garden beautiful. Ben and Andrew celebrated their birthdays with volleyball, Indian food at the German’s house, and Scott and Thor ran the beer pong table. We celebrated three years of marriage and discovered Tasty Soya Pieces. Adult women sleepovers and having “Chili Night” at Rose’s with chocolate pudding pie rounded off our 11 month in country. Hello one year! Oh yeah, single-barrel Jack Daniels. Thanks Sam!

June 2013

June was the marking of our one year in country. We celebrated by having dinner with Sarunas and Elle. We reflected, reviewed, and resolved ourselves to another year. Chili nights and Downtown Abbey season three were more important because Rose left us. Gone are the days of hanging out in a normal house with couches! For some reason- we will never know- we planned and failed desert which resulted in the brownie incident of 2013. Keith let us play volleyball and then rented a bus to Atsbi for G5’s Pig Roast. So much pig! Scott loved Jano Band and Elle’s birthday dinner came with a side of Zebib. We finally made it to Abyi Adyi to visit Ally and King Thor. Best tagamino ever! Straight from the worst bus ride ever, Jessi spent days in Addis only to discover she has developed Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Yep, IBS. A very “decent” souvenir from Ethiopia. Made it back for Mary’s surprise going away party at Marta’s. We found out that we may have to move to another house but enough about that. It’s time for camp! School’s out for the summer.

July 2013

July was meant to be a relaxing month but we were busier than ever. We started off American by having what was to be our last cook-out at our first house. Deviled eggs dyed red, white, and blue (thanks to Becca) coupled with burgers and beer made for a great second Independence Day in country. Sham became part of the Mekelle Crew while Kevin did not. G9 stumbled exhaustively out of the airport and were confused by our excitement. Pete and Merre and Terry and Ellen are our new “marrieds”. One afternoon, after having lunch, we moved into our new apartment. Then we proceeded to have zero water experiencing how “real” volunteers live. Camp started and we met Ato Condom, got gorshad so many times we don’t know how to eat properly anymore, and Jessi got to lead the Green Team to 2^nd place (out of three teams). Scott put on a flawless Field Day, there was a belis incident, and MC Alulla made us forget all the drama at the Talent Show. Sarunas became homeless after his vacation to Lithuania and we had to say goodbye to G5. We got Dustin as PCVL! Now it’s time to figure out what to do with the rest of lives. Happy birthday we are one year older!

August 2013

August was packed with “lackluster ambience” as it rounded off our third column. Jessi went to help G9 with their highly useful Practicum for two weeks in Butajira. G’iners were stressed but came through better than when they started and Logan fell through an old shintbet hole. That’s what we thought at first which makes for a better story than “he fell through a big hole” (which is what actually happened). We made plans to see a lot of rocks and Shayna’s site. Rock churches, monkeys, and seeing some of the 2013 Green Team was amazing and there are no pictures to show for it. Tigray celebrated our “One Year After Swear-In” by having a “nice” dinner at Green Fire Grille. The G’iners helped celebrate by clubbing with us the night before. Ashenda actually happened this year and we took family photos for Becca. We met some kick-ass Dutch girls and said good-bye to our Germans. Go Clemens! Our house developed a spectacular black mold problem and the Regional PC Office is just about ready. Free wifi here we come! We ended the month by travelling to Bahir Dar to see the Arnolds and some touristy place called the Blue Nile Falls. Mid-Service Conference is before us, but let it be known that you cannot throw a banana peel at Scott McAllister’s wife without that same banana peel being rubbed in your face.

September 2013

September was the month of MSC and our second round of Ethiopian holidays. G7 decended upon Addis and we began some of the most useless trainings yet. Us veterans just wanted to spend time together eating delicious food and sharing horror stories. Jessi presented CPD and did the double dragon while Scott had Sishu for the first time and almost got caught at Kaldi’s while skipping sessions. We went to a masquerade ball with too many ferengis and cold food.  We finished the trainings and stayed for medical. Scott may have a bacterial infection and Jessi got stitches. Good food, movies, and friends ended MSC and started our second round of holidays. We brought in the New Year (2006) with, again, too many ferengi’s before flying back to Mekelle. The Peace Corps office is open and nonoperational. Dustin joined the ranks and we had a wicked Harry Potter/Going Away party for Becca, Nicole, and Carla. Cauldron cakes and butterbeer helped Jessi dominate trivia while Sam cried in a corner licking Becca’s hairy legs. Jodi came to visit and left us with a lot of memories (all 1,300 of them). The Dutch girls left us but not before making us bandits in the night to retrieve their belongings. We missed Meskel due to being stupid and now our days will be filled with GRE studying, personal statement writing, and work at our schools. We will return to battle dragons and sorcerer’s in D&D and look forward to Thailand. 10 more months to go!

 October 2013

October was our last October in Ethiopia. Dustin moved to Mekelle and started the D&D revolution. We celebrated Sarunas’s birthday a week early and Jessi had to buckle down for the GRE. Becca left our group, left some great furniture, and left a huge hole in our hearts. Life goes on and so does work. Scott finally finished his personal statements and English Clubs are in full swing. Jessi had her first CPD training and we both proposed a PDM training for Mekelle supervisors. GRS Training was a blast and Sarah was a superstar. On the last night Andrew threw a sandwich at a drunk driver and then that same driver backed into Leslye. We met another group of Israeli volunteers and had our last great Halloween party. Scott was Sarunas and Jessi was the white and black swan. Nothing beats Dan Baker though. We booked the tickets for Thailand (12 more weeks!). Time is flying so keep enjoying the ride.

November 2013

November flew like those chickens never will again. We popped things off with Tigray Trek at Adi Haki school. Everyone was dead tired and the speakers didn’t work. Scott finished his grad school applications and Jessi, Pam, and Shayna took the GRE. Nathan had a fight with the proctor about his U.S. Citizenship. Jessi got her bottom wisdom teeth taken out and was awake for the whole thing. Teeth flying and pill taking can sum up that experience. Yabet created an English club for Scott and the Cloth Book workshop came with Nazi Anne. “The Magic Buna Tree” gets picked to be published and Dustin gets an Xbox. There go romantic nights at home. We still don’t have water and Sarah turned 15. Pop rocks are not her favorite candy. Rachel came to Mekelle and we celebrated Thanksgiving by killing three chickens and breaking in the PC Office shower. Avak will never bring a quarter kilo of green beans anywhere and we learned how angels get their wings. Kicked off GRS and we have to say good-bye to Rachel, for now. Sam is still in our house. 18 months in country.

December 2013

Another December, come and gone, along with another year. We finished our grad school applications and now we just have to wait. Jessi started Grassroots Soccer with Sarah and the camera’s battery died at the graduation ceremony. Clever Jessi. Scott received a hand-made, amazing, Christmas present house from a betami gobez student and we reignited the World Map Project. The computer took its last shit but continues in a vegetative state thanks to Michael and Dustin. No more West Wing. The office was officially opened by Greg, Bob, and the president of Tigray. Scott’s speech garnered him a presidential hand shake and we got computers and some internet access in the VRC. Christmas Eve with Jerry’s pizza and “A Christmas Story” drinking game. Christmas day saw pesto, eggplant parmesan, and delicious deserts. Whitney had to leave us and we gave each other crazy pants. New Year’s Eve at Winter Bar- two fire dancers and one hell of a night brought in 2014. Beers with the Country Director, peanut butter dressing, and Thailand around the corner. Thank you, December. We had fun.

January 2014

Welcome to a New Year and the last one we spend in Ethiopia. Stories from the night before helped us recover and we continued on with work. Genna or second Christmas with Berhana and we hope she can figure out that puzzle. Timket with Sam and Mike in Maichew. The boys “bro-ed” out through song and Jessi learned to never drink gin with that fruity monstrosity again. The “parade” was thousands of people marching and we finally got to see the Arc of the Covenant. We couldn’t figure out how the Arc was in so many cities on one day. Now, forget everything we just wrote (because we did) and focus on Thailand! Qatar Airways is a vacation in itself. Best brownie ever. Sorry Elle. Met a nice bloke named Daniel and we shared a cab to Phuket Town. 7/11 is everywhere. 400 Baht for a hot shower, clean white sheets, and A/C. Thailand is the best country ever. Singha was our first beer at a blue’s bar with live music. Thank you to Roxy’s staff for welcoming us and being our Thai watering hole. Buses to Karon and Kata beach beach run on time and have no windows! Next toTakua Pa to see Evan. Live music, motor bikes, and first encounters with lady boys. Scott manages to get hurt while opening a fence and we stayed in a beautiful house. Khao Sok National Park gave us vertical hiking, jungle trekking to waterfalls, cave swimming, and floating bungalows on the lake. Green curry can make your lips fall off and the staff worry that you’ll die in front of them. The “Big Man” made the whole trip. From Khao Sok we were invited to Surat Thani with Evan to meet some UF Alums and go to the most epic beach party. Kha Nam and Jam Bay Bar hosted about 100 hundred Ferang living in Thailand. Red Bull and Sam Song rum started the night right. It was an all night beach party that met the sun rise and it was gorgeous. We welcomed February on the beach. Thank you Evan, Susan and Fiona.

Feburary 2014

After the epic beach party on Kha Nam we were ready to spend a week on the beach relaxing. One night in Surat Thani contemplating KFC and buying clothes. Krabi boat rides are especially touristy and stressful but Ton Sai on first sight was beautiful. Jungle Huts and Anadaman Nature Resort, wifi, monkeys on rooftops, and Small World drink wonders. We went deep water soloing for a day and had lunch with a dragon. Chill Out Bar is exactly what it sounds like and we got ready for two days of Beach Clean-Up 2014. Live concerts, tent food, fire dancing competitions (for the record, Hannah would have killed it.), and fireworks rounded off our beach lounging days on Ton Sai. One last hike to scare Jessi senseless then it was back to Krabi. Smile Guesthouse, ravioli, and more meat with a stick. Tiger Temple was worth it and long walks made us buy more clothes and more toasties. Air-conditioned ride back to Phuket and we finally stayed at Peng Man. Never mind the rats, the food was great. Subway on the beach, foot and back massages, and Guiness draft we are feeling like normal again. We had a crazy Thai night out with Evan, Eben, Chow, and good looking lady boys. Thai Supremes with indie chick glasses and passed out 15 year-olds. The night is not over until the fat lady sings, literally. It’s a rule. Leaving sucked and Ethiopian airlines did it again. Nathan came for a very welcome visit and we celebrated Forrest’s birthday in Abi Adi. We had a great sunset hike and Thai rum. Avoiding school and losing the camera made coming back to Ethiopia kind of difficult. We’re back and ready to leave.

March 2014

Nathan left Mekelle in March. It’s cool because we get to see him three weeks later at the All-Volunteer Conference. It was agony waiting to hear back from grad schools and what would be the next step in our lives. Jessi had a heart-attack due to all the stress. Just kidding it was a pectoral injury blown out of proportion. Jessi went to Freweini/Sinkata for International Women’s Day only to turn around immediately to Mekelle to take some tests. Several tests and one uncomfortable ECHO reveal the torn pectoral. Scott went six for six in acceptance letters while Jessi gets her number one choice. Still waiting for a few more. Went in early for AVC to transfer PAC powers to Pete in G9. The Ambassador’s dinner was very diplomatic. 200 volunteers in Addis seemed bitter-sweet this year because we will never see some people again. We celebrated at Hakim Stout and the 2^nd Annual Talent Show. Scott got into Illusions for free using his Tigrinya and we got to see what we missed in America thanks to Brett Chandler. Cronuts? What!? We sang karaoke and had our first camp meeting. Camp starts July 6-July 12 and we leave two weeks later. G10 came to visit their sites and we thinkwe are leaving Tigray in good hands with Kristen and Evan. We almost have a decision on grad school. Stay tuned for next month’s edition.

April 2014

April dragged by like a sick horse in the street. Good things were scattered about the month but it was still crazy slow. We had our first official camp meeting at the Peace Corps office and Jessi became the Counterpart Liaison and TOT Coordinator. Dustin started hosting UFC fight nights and now we have more excuses to waste insane amounts of time at the office. Scott and Jessi got the news they have been waiting for. Scott got a full tuition scholarship and a $13,000 stipend to attend Pitt and Jessi got a tuition scholarship and $10,000 to attend Duquesne. We’re moving to Pittsburgh! Time to find an apartment. Raymond and his white cultural outfit came to stay for Easter (Fasika). We ate amazing tibs and doro wat at Berhana’s then trucked our fat asses to the next Meat Marathon at Kinfe’s house. Brendan was here to visit and found a new meat house. The cockroaches pretty much run the place but what do we care? We celebrated Nicole’s birthday and are waiting for G10 to arrive this weekend. Less than three months to go. So ready yet so not ready to go home. Next up, COS Conference.

 May 2014

May started off with a satisfying bang. Our Project, Design, and Management training at Adi Haki School was a huge success. Now we just have to drop off those manuals. We thanked Berhana by going to Habesha 2000 for dinner and discovered, much too late, Gored Gored. Exams have started which means that work, as we know it, has ended. G10 needed furniture so we amply supplied. We have been successfully married for four years. Four more years! Four more years! Korean food was deliciously expensive and Brendan pulled out the port. The familiar ride to Bekoji was surreal. The kids are huge and so is Tigist (because she’s pregnant!) Braided hair, muddy baseball, bed bugs, and playing with puppies made us feel at home. Us and Nathan said good-bye for now and headed to our COS Conference. Beer and hearing about everyone’s next steps was a must. The next morning we headed to Lake Langano. Feeling like deprived children, we flooded the Africa Lodge and wondered when we would be able to do cannon balls into the pool. Scott said F- it and got in. Feelings, admin stuff, more feelings, that became genuine, and a massage rounded off our stay at Africa Lodge. Sabana gave us soft-serve, spa treatments, and more feelings. Fireside chats helped us say good-bye. Back to Addis for medical with a little TB scare. We pooped in cups and had our last beers with some damn good people. Gonging out is real. “To Do Lists” and then we too, need to be ready to leave.

June 2014

June was the last full month in Ethiopia before we go home. COS Conference was fun but COS medical was even more fun. Scott made Wuhib laugh (and cry) by filling up his poop cup all the way to the top. We did a double feature, double date with Brett and Ashley that ended in Lebanese food. X-Men was awesome while Maleficent was in 3-D. Our last time coming back to Mekelle was strange but exhilarating. We got the apartment in Pittsburgh! Scott took pictures with his English clubs and had a hard time saying good-bye. Camp TOT was a success and it was nice bringing everyone together. We watched America tie Portugal at 3 am (such a waste to trade for a full night’s sleep). At least we’re still in the cup. Jessi went off to Maichew to watch movies while Scott went to run a half marathon. We met back up in Alamata for Michael’s going Away Goat Roast. Slaughtering animals just doesn’t get old for us. Cases of Meta and questionable babysitting meant that we had a typical, yet amazing party. The bus ride to Korem had to be expected after too many bus rides without issues. The bus overheated and we had to walk a tiny ways until we got picked up by another bus. Two hours to Korem for 19 kilometers. Lunch for Pam’s Going Away party and then back to Maichew. We summated Sebet. Yep, 26,000 (I mean 13,000 feet). Tired and sore limbs accompanied well deserved beers. Good times still to be had before we jet off. Two full years! We did it!

July 2014

Our last three weeks in country! On our way back to Mekelle our bus got a flat tire. We hung out with a good view for about an hour and then luckily, another bus drove by with a spare. A little rigging and then we were on our way. We completely forgot about Independence Day but then remembered. We watched France vs. Germany and displayed our patriotism with sparklers. Camp started on July 6^th and it went by in a flash. Jessi was leader of the Green Team and Scott was the leader of the Black Team. Except for some water issues we had a very successful camp. Scott facilitated the Gender Roles session and Jessi made Staying in School a priority for girls. Scott and the Black Team won the Color Team Competition and the kids were crying once again because they didn’t want to leave camp. The G7 Pig roast is up next and then we are out of here! Family, here we come!