What remains, forced move, and the currency

PROCESS

With the successes outlined in the previous entry, Rakeb really only faces two more hurdles in the process…

1)    The second payment of $3,800. This payment is due to Amicus on April 5^th. To fully disclose what is happening with funds… At the time the first payment was due, we had received $1,600 from family and friends, and Amanda and I pitched in the rest. Since then we have again been setting all donations aside to be ready for the upcoming payment.

2)    The J-1 visa. As a reminder, for Rakeb to be granted the visa (which is required for her to enter the United States) she must first complete the visa application, take that to the US Embassy in Ethiopia, pay a fee, and then go through a 30 minute interview with a US Consular. It is then up to that Consular if she will be given the Visa or not. We are hoping that having the Amicus name behind Rakeb and a whole host of American’s, in the US and abroad, assisting her in process.

RAKEB

While Rakeb’s home is not immaculate, it is a home. Think of what your home means to you. Her family has made it their own over the past two decades. It is where the majority of their memories can be traced back to, it is where she has grown up, it is all she knows. Set that feeling aside for a moment.

The Ethiopian government somewhat recently decided that it would be a good idea to host the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa. This brings continental and international attention to the country, and a fair amount of income. The building is by far the most elaborate in the city. It is amazing!

Rakeb’s home is in the shadows of the African Union (AU), and as that continues to grow, the neighborhoods close by are being evacuated, torn down, and expanded into by the AU. Until recently her neighborhood had been spared, but recently the government notified them that they have to move to make way for a new AU parking lot. Since the government technically owns all land in Ethiopia, they have no choice. In fact they had to enter a lottery to be awarded a new place to live. This seems okay until you realize that the place they now have to move is an hour away from their current home and they have to pay for their new space!

Another view of the African Union

ETHIOPIA

 

The Ethiopian currency is the birr. At the moment the exchange rate is right about 18 birr to $1 USD. To get a feel for the costs of some basics… A cup of coffee runs about 5 birr, a shoeshine costs 3 birr, you can see a current Hollywood movie for 45 birr, and you can get a really nice meal for 60 birr. 

Enjoying a 3 birr coffee with friends in rural Ethiopia

Successes, Home, and Culture

PROCESS

Last weeks blog entry leads us into informing you of two huge successes that occurred late last week!

·      Rakeb was accepted into the Amicus program! Thank you to your generous support, we were able to make the initial $3,800 payment that they require to process the application, and obviously that investment paid off!

·      Our Amicus representative visited East High School last Friday and was able to get all of the required paperwork signed and accepted. Despite boasting a student body of nearly 2,200, there are only10 seats reserved annually for international students and Rakeb’s name is now on one of them!

East High School: In 1968 it ranked in the top ten schools in the nation!

RAKEB

Rakeb’s family lives in a cozy little home pretty much in the center of Addis Ababa. A rusty tin barrier gives them some privacy from the stone footpath that leads further into their neighborhood. Upon entering the gate, one is welcomed with a small clay yard that hosts an outdoor sink used for washing dishes and a fire pit where they make bread, bagels, and injera. Entering the front door of the house leads you into a cozy living room. Two large couches surround a coffee table. The room is dark, but eyes adjust to the light. It is almost a given that Rakeb’s mom will have a pot of coffee brewing for anyone who stumbles into their home, so the tantalizing smell of coffee and frankincense fills the air. If the power is working, then the TV in the corner of the room will be playing some American movie. Beyond this room lies the rest of the home; the kitchen, the bedroom, and the bathroom. I never got to see it though, as the whole family stated that they were too embarrassed to have me see it.

ETHIOPIA

One of the things that Amanda and I wished there was more of in Panama was culture. Panama, especially Panama City, was very “Americanized”. You can easily find many American restaurants including McDonalds, Taco Bell, and even TGI Friday’s! The U.S. Dollar was their currency of choice. American’s living, visiting, and working in Panama was a common site. For me, Ethiopia had everything I had craved in Panama. The language is so foreign, the food is like nothing I had ever had before, public transport was insane, and each region of Ethiopia is completely different from the others. That goes for the people, the language, the food… everything! I know that I only scratched the surface in regards to seeing what Ethiopia has to offer. 

Talk about culture! Where else would you see a guy carrying 14 mattresses through traffic?

Young Life, Sightseeing, and Language

PROCESS

With all of her documents in order, Rakeb completed the application for East High School. This application is actually going through the Amicus branch of Young Life. The organization’s Amicus branch caters to bringing international students to the United States for a study abroad experience. Usually these students come from more developed countries like France, the UK, and Germany, but some exceptions are made… Rakeb is one of those. If Rakeb is accepted into this program, she would get a J-1 visa and have the ability to be in the US for about 9 months.

Rakeb in the middle of a roundabout on one of our sightseeing expeditions

RAKEB

A week or two after meeting Rakeb for the first time, we took an adventure to go around Addis Ababa and try to find an English/Amharic dictionary. What sounds like a simple trip was actually quite complicated! After trying a variety of locations where books were said to be sold, we finally found a legit bookstore. It was the only one I ever saw in Ethiopia. I purchased my dictionary, but the best part of the experience was getting to see the city through Rakeb’s eyes. She dragged me around and showed me all of the schools she had been to before, all the “malls” she liked to go to with her friends, and even a couple museums.

The chaos that is public transportation in Addis Ababa

ETHIOPIA

The main language of Ethiopia is Amharic. From what I understand it is somewhat similar to Arabic. Whatever it is similar to, it is complicated! The written form of the language is based in symbols, contains over 70 different ones to signify different sounds! If you want to see just how difficult it appears at the onset, check out this link.  On top of this, Amharic is the official language, but there are 10+ other “main” languages and many less common ones spoken in the country. All told, it is accepted that about 90 different languages are spoken in the country.