December 21, 1998: Headlines: COS - Ethiopia: Christmas: Northwest NEWS: Ellen Bek writes a Christmas letter from Ethiopia

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Ethiopia: Peace Corps Ethiopia : The Peace Corps in Ethiopia: December 21, 1998: Headlines: COS - Ethiopia: Christmas: Northwest NEWS: Ellen Bek writes a Christmas letter from Ethiopia

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-43-253.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.43.253) on Friday, December 24, 2004 - 5:04 pm: Edit Post

Ellen Bek writes a Christmas letter from Ethiopia

Ellen Bek writes a Christmas letter from Ethiopia

Ellen Bek writes a Christmas letter from Ethiopia

A Christmas letter from Ethiopia

At this time of year, the sight of twinkling lights on top of the Space Needle, egg nog lattes at every corner, turkeys on sale in every supermarket, and modern remakes of carols humming throughout every business remind us all that yet another Christmas season has quickly come upon us.

And now the parties and fun begin, the red and green festivities take off, and soon the stress, also. Feeling fortunate to forgo my gift lists and crazy shopping sprees this year, I am nevertheless beginning to feel that twinge of missing out on the family fun and cheery Northwest air this season.

Thus, here are my wishes from Africa for everyone at home for a very Merry Christmas and a super-happy New Year!

This is my second December here in Ethiopia, where I am teaching English as a Peace Corps volunteer. I arrived here in June 1997 with a group of about 30 volunteers, ready to see Africa, eager to experience another culture, a bit nervous to teach English grammar, sad to leave home, but way too curious to be on my own on the other side of the planet--not to mention for two years.

Yet now, more than a year later, I cannot believe where the time has gone. Regardless, it is at this time of the year that I'm reminded of that so-called "real world" out there.

We in Ethiopia might not have candy canes, jingle bells, or snow, but we do get to celebrate Christmas twice each year.

Somehow, after days of travel on rickety buses and scary roads, we American volunteers will manage to meet in a central location to have our December 25th celebration. But then, it's back to site, where we'll celebrate another Christmas on January 7: Ethiopian Christmas. It's one of the perks of having to operate on the Ethiopian Orthodox calendar.

My plans for "Brihane Lidet" (Christmas) this year are pretty basic and uncomplicated--quite African, indeed. Ethiopians celebrate Christmas in animal stables in this region, believing that to be the ultimate place to remember the birth of Jesus.

So, in a hut with straw, we will sit and share a meal of spicy chicken and lamb curries with "Injera," the traditional staple bread substance. We'll eat with our hands, everyone helping himself from one large platter, washing it all down with either "tela" or "arake," the local barley brews, which by the way, can be used as fuel.

Instead of Harry Connick Jr.'s jazzy, festive tunes, there will be a lulling beat of Sudanese drums and guitar playing on someone's decade-old tape recorder. Then, we'll end the meal with the traditionally famous Ethiopian "buna" coffee ceremony. The woman of the household will set up her fire and wash, roast, and grind the beans to prepare the thick, sandy, unbelievable coffee for which this region is popular.

After four cups of this, a full stomach, and with the air dense with humidity and clouds of "etan" (local incense), one begins to forget the time of day, let alone the fact that it's Christmas.

There might be a Christmas "tree," though this practice stems from our western influence and has no roots in Ethiopian tradition. If there is a tree, it will probably be a 10-foot long banana leaf propped against the wall, with lots of little holes punched throughout to hold sprouts of bright flowers and colorful pieces of plastic bags.

There won't be any gift exchanging; people consider being alive and healthy with family and food the only gifts worthy of celebration. Besides, Santa Claus would have a rough time landing on the straw/palm leaf roofs. It's getting hotter and hotter every day; we'll probably hit the tropical 90s by Christmas day--the middle of summer here.

And if all of this sounds bizarre to you, just imagine celebrating the New Year before Christmas. The Ethiopian New Year, "Enkutatash," began two months ago.

The Peace Corps experience that I've had these past fifteen months in Ethiopia has been absolutely magnificent. Yes, it is tough being "solo out in the sticks," teaching English in mud walled/floored classrooms, baking under those tin roofs with no textbooks, dealing with the endless threats of intestinal problems, boiling water like a fiend, and being so far away from my family in Woodinville with the worst telephone system imaginable. But the joy and abundant fulfillment flowing from each day cannot be paralleled.

What could be a better gift than a student's bright smile after she finally writes a complete and correct sentence in English, even though she walked five kilometers to school without shoes? I get that gift every day: bundles of them, each wrapped with painstaking effort, sacrifice, toil, and pride.

My gift to my students is to help them realize their worth, their importance, their significance, and their potential. My gift for my village is insight into our big world out there that they can but wonder and dream about.

In return, I have been enveloped in open arms and tender hearts, showered with trust, respect, hope, and love. This, to me, is the sole reason to celebrate, for whatever season.

During this Christmas time of happiness, I am thinking of Woodinville and home, offering you all a wish of peace from Ethiopia. Remember that stockings, turkey dinners, snowy vacations, and piles of expensive presents do not mean Christmas everywhere.

However, love, generosity, and peace mean Christmas in every corner of our world--and the most precious wrapping for these three simple gifts is the family and friends with whom you share them.

Merry Christmas, Mom, Dad, Margaret, Mike, Emily, and so many wonderful friends. Have an egg nog latte for me sometime.

Ellen Bek, Peace Corps Volunteer





When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Changing of the Guard Date: December 15 2004 No: 330 Changing of the Guard
With Lloyd Pierson's departure, Marie Wheat has been named acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations responsible for the day-to-day management of the Peace Corps. Although Wheat is not an RPCV and has limited overseas experience, in her two years at the agency she has come to be respected as someone with good political skills who listens and delegates authority and we wish her the best in her new position.

December 18, 2004: This Week's Top Stories Date: December 18 2004 No: 334 December 18, 2004: This Week's Top Stories
RPCV remembers Deborah Gardner's murder in Tonga 17 Dec
Maoist insurgents in Nepal release Swiss aid worker 17 Dec
RPCV Alison Williams exhibits portraits of Malian people 16 Dec
Former Brazil Medical Director convicted of drug charges 16 Dec
RPCV Joseph Opala researched slave trade in RI 15 Dec
Vasquez sees resurgent interest in PC 14 Dec
Senator who wanted duel with RPCV joins Fox 14 Dec
NPCA planning National Day of Action for PC funding 13 Dec
RPCV "Harry" Chandler votes in Electoral College 13 Dec
Critic says Moyers delivered neo-Marxist propaganda 13 Dec
Micronesia RPCV Walter Cavanagh has 1,496 credit cards 13 Dec
PC "Survivor" Julie Berry headed for California 11 Dec
more top stories...

Our debt to Bill Moyers Our debt to Bill Moyers
Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."
RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack
RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.
Is Gaddi Leaving? Is Gaddi Leaving?
Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.
The Birth of the Peace Corps The Birth of the Peace Corps
UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.
Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes
Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.
Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying
Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.
Your vote makes a difference Your vote makes a difference
Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

Read the stories and leave your comments.






Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Northwest NEWS

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Ethiopia; Christmas

PCOL15489
31

.


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: