When I found out Peace Corps was placing me in Ethiopia I
was so excited because of the country’s proximity to the equator. I love the
heat and the sun therefore I was thrilled that I would be living in a region
where the sun is out 9 months out of the year. When I arrived in Ethiopia on
July 3rd however the rainy season had begun and it was cold. It was
cloudy and grey every day, which made it even more difficult to go to training.
And each time the rain pounded down on the tin roof all I wanted to do was stay
in bed. So when the sun finally came out and revealed the beauty of Butajira I
was more than happy.
Well, now
I understand why Ethiopians don’t seem to mind the rainy season too much. I
actually miss the rain (I can’t believe I’m saying it). When the sun is out, it
is HOT. I can hear Abigail mimicking and laughing at my whining, “It’s sooo
hot.” And as I was walking home from school for lunch today, sweat dripping
down my face and along my back, I asked why I had once loved the heat so much
and why had I been looking forward to it? Probably because I lived in America
and warm weather where I am from means swimming in cold, clear water, getting a
lovely sun tan, driving in an air
conditioned car, or sitting in an air conditioned room, and drinking caramel
frappucinos from Starbucks and cherry limeades from Sonic. In America, when it’s
hot I can wear whatever I want. Shorts and a tank top with some flip flops. I
can find ice anywhere. In Ethiopia, this is not the case. I don’t even have a
fridge let alone a freezer. None of those things exist (well, you can buy a
fridge here but my Peace Corps salary won’t allow for that just yet). When I am
hot there is nowhere for me to escape since the sun directly faces my home in
the middle of the afternoon. Ethiopia is also quite conservative. You can’t
show your knees or your shoulders (well I could if I really wanted too but
that’s not really the image I want to pull off while I’m here. I am trying to
integrate), so I can kiss all of my tank tops goodbye, unless I wear them under
my non-revealing tops.
All this to say that I get the
feeling that I’m going to miss the seasons I am used to in America. It may be
October but it sure doesn’t feel like it to me because all the sensations I
associate with that time of year don’t exist here. Back home, I imagine the
weather is getting cooler and the leaves are changing colors. People are eating
pumpkin cheesecake and picking out pumpkins. I’m sure the Smokies look
beautiful right now. It’s funny the things you miss when you don’t have them. I
lived in Tennessee for 7 years and never appreciated the mountains. But I would
love to go on a hike right now and notice all the beautiful colors or sit on the
balcony at my parent’s cabin while the sun sets. Being here shows me all of the
things I took for granted while I was home. Butajira is surrounded by mountains
so I’m hoping I’ll be able to enjoy a beautiful hike soon and get to appreciate
and enjoy where I am at today.
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