Ethiopia Facts

I've just compared Ethiopia with the UK in a couple of areas. It's pretty grim reading:

	UK	Ethiopia
Land Area:	241,590km2	1,119,683km2 (4.6x)
Life expectancy at birth:	79	49
Infant mortality:	5/1000	92/1000
Median age:	40	18
% population aged 0-14 years:	17%	43%
Paved road:	388,000km	7,000km

(Facts from CIA World Fact Book (see link on right) )

Malaria

What a nightmare this disease is. I have been reading a book I got at the training course + websites including this one: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/malaria/en/index.html.
I will be having to take anti-malarial tablets for the whole two years - and that doesn't even guarantee you won't get it! Great!!!

Medical

Just got back from the doctors. I was with the nurse for a pre-check. She's not worried about my slightly high body-mass index as I'll soon be losing that when I don't have access to chocolate!!! Then to the docs for almost half an hour checking ears, eyes, reaction tests, going through my medical history etc. Luckily I didn't hear the sound of a rubber glove snapping on, so didn't have that test. He passed me, just have to hope that the VSO medical unit agree!

"Preparing to Volunteer" Course

Just got back from a very busy weekend training course in Harborne, near Birmingham.

Friday night was until 21:15, Saturday and Sunday were 09:00 - 20:00, and I didn't leave until about 15:00 today.

Stayed at the training center "Harborne Hall" in a room with a basin. Smelt like fly spray! Good food though, and a resource library with net access.

Course was very interesting. We covered the history of developing countries and how they got like they did. About how the rich countries get richer at the expense of the poorer ones.

Interesting facts like: sending your second-hand clothes to developing countries can actually wipe out that country's own textile industries as people buy and sell their "donated" clothes and have no need for their home produced clothes.

Then we learnt about how to cope with culture shock by doing role plays etc. How what you think the reason for people behaving like they do might not be the reason at all. The reason half a class doesn't attend a session might be because they all have to gather the harvest etc.

We also looked at our own reasons for volunteering, how you should not expect to "change the world."

Also how HIV/AIDS affects everything, like the reason a teacher is away for 5 days is that they have to travel across the country on poor transport to attend the funeral of a relative who has dies of AIDS.

There were 17 of us, a couple going to Ethiopia at the same time as me. It was great being with people who all had the same goal - a great bunch!

Accepted Ethiopia

After lots of research about the country, contacting people that have been there, and watching a documentary on teacher's tv (http://www.teachers.tv/video/20386- which is really good, by the way - really helps you to see what it's all about) I have filled in my form and accepted the placement. Now I have to wait and see if the director in the country accepts me.

Resignation

After weeks of indecision, talking with family, teachers and friends, I have finally decided to resign from school with the aim of being placed by VSO in September. Right up to the last, it seems to have been 50:50. Both staying at school, and volunteering both appeal.

I handed in my letter of resignation this morning. The staff and governors were told. We have been told to keep it confidential until decisions have been made about other matters.

Maldives cancelled but Ethiopia Offer

Unfortunately, the Maldives has been accepted by the couple. Bit dissapointing, but I have recieved an offer for a place called Gilgel Beles in NW Ethiopia. Sounds interesting.

Maldives offer

This isn't a firm offer. A couple might get it. Sounds idyllic though, and a remote desert island with 1500 people. Although of course Maldives is about the 80th in the list of poor countries and although it has the posh, exclusive tourist resort islands, there is a lot of poverty on some of the others where even meat is difficult to obtain and you drink rain water collect from your roof.

Ghana offer

I have been offered a placement as a teacher trainer / gender officer in Tamale, Ghana. It's to do with running a programme to promote education for girls (who get a raw deal in lots of developing countries as they are needed at home.)

Looking at the weather site, it says it is 39ºC each day this week!!!

Tamale is a pretty town / city and I don't really want that. I want to be remote.

CV on the database

I've sent my CV to Eva (my placement advisor) and it's going on the VSO database today. Hopefully I will be matched to a placement soon.