The Countdown has started!!!! I'm a bit nervous... This last semester has been awesome, and for the first time in four years I feel at home. The last 4 years have been all about constant change, every few months i'm in a new place, or new classes and with new people. Having a few months to reconnect with my family and friends in San Diego has been a blessing, yet now it's time to uproot again. I suppose that's the life of a fresh college grad.
Getting ready for departure has both taken forever and been a whirl wind. Sometimes I had nothing to do but wait for two weeks to get called back by medical offices other times I have had to drive all over town getting signatures and checkups. though it has been a long road, and though on a few occasions I worried about weather id be able to make the deadlines I finally got every thing in! Now in less than two days I will be leaving for staging in our capital of Washington DC. Then on Tuesday will be Leaving the country for good.
Unfortunate for me I also came down with the Flu just now, which makes my packing more stressful than it needs to be, and forced me to postpone my "All American Going Away Party" to Saturday, just half a day before my departure. Hopefully I'll be well enough by then....
To answer a few questions:
Where will you be staying in Ethiopia?
In the first 10 days I will be stationed in the Capital City of Addis Ababa. after witch i will be moved a few hours south to a Town called Butajira. in this town i will be placed with a host family during my 10 week stay. afterwards there is some ambiguity. I will be placed in either Tigaray, Oromia or Amhara Region. I could be placed in a large town or a rural village, my location will be assigned me later.
What language will you be learning?
The country of Ethiopia speak LOTS of languages. However there are 3 languages that I may have to attempt, depending on my final placement. Oromia speaks Oromifa, Tigaray speaks Tigrinya and Amhara region speaks Amharic. there is a 30% chance I'll speak each language. however Amharic is the Official Language due to the Capital City being in the Amhara Region. As a result I will learn at least emergency Amharic Language skills.
What will you be doing?
I will be assigned Forestry. What that means is a little vague. I'll probably do some teaching, some aggro forestry, some tree nursery and replanting. I'll be keeping you updated when I find out more specifics.
Will you be in Danger of EBOLA?
No. Ebola is in West Africa I'll be in East Africa. There are no recorded cases of Ebola in Ethiopia at all. Africa is a BIG place, and they travel less than us Americans do, so the likely hood is very low. however there are plenty of other fascinating diseases I will need to be weary of, hence the innumerable vaccinations I've already had, and more medicine I'll be on when I arrive in country.
Will you be able to visit home?
Well yes and no. the Peace Corps pays for my flight out. And I will get 2 vacation days accumulated each month after swearing in. I can use them to visit home, but travel is on my own dime... Considering I'm working as a volunteer, travel home would need support from people in US to get me the ticket. As a result I'm not planing on it. similarly people are welcome to came visit me in Ethiopia, I'd be happy to show people around, just not in the first 6 months.
Can we send you packages?
Yes you can! Packages would make me very happy, to get a peace of home would be awesome. For the first three months my address will be:
Nicole Stinchcomb
c/o Peace Corps Ethiopia
P.O. Box 7788,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Phone #: 113-200-316
Phone #: 113-200-316
After I get my final assignment I'll get a separate address which I'll then share with you all.
Please leave comments, and if you have any questions I'll try to answer them for you.
