The Gimbie Chronicles

 So I have been at the hospital for 4 weeks.  Since I have gotten hear,
 not counting the night I got in, we have had 19 days of power and 9
 without it.  It has rained every day since I got here.  I have done 5
 health lectures, cleaned out a room, taken countless vital signs,
 weeded part of the soccer field, had up to 3 glasses or fruit juices
 at Jimi Juice, tried meat three times, thrown up once (not related to
 the meat), no diarrhea, held more babies than I have the rest of my
 life combined, eaten bread with almost every meal, shared a house with
 up to 8 other people with at least 3 other people living with me, fed
 orphans, taken over 600 pictures, came within 5 feet of monkeys, paid
 money to have my shoes cleaned once, and overall have had an awesome
 time.

 Last night there was lightning and thunder.  It was very close.  I
 decided to go outside for some reason.  I got out there and I could
 see the lightning around me and above me.  Then I saw one extremely
 close.  I ran for the door.  The noise that followed was the single
 scariest weather experience I have ever had.  I opened the door
 literally screaming.  It was so intense. When I went back James, the
 med student thought I had been struck.  I explained and we decided to
 go back out.

 I thought as I stayed here for longer lest people would ask for money
 because I haven’t given any money but people still ask me a lot.  I am
 learning to give more definite answers.  Just saying “no” rather than
 saying I don’t think so or I will check.  Most of the others don’t get
 as many people asking them for money.  Maybe they see weakness in me.
 Maybe they feel like they can wear me down or maybe they see my
 kindness and figure that eventually I will give.

 I am going to meet the principal at the school I am going to teach
 English at tomorrow.  Later in October I am going to teach math to
 nurses also.  Today I went with The Gamechises (my translators for the
 health presentations) into town to get an Oromiffa to English
 dictionary.  I got one with over 88,000 words for just under 5
 dollars.  It took them out to Jimi Juice to show my gratitude to them.
 I really like it here.  I feel like I am really making a difference
 even if it is only in small ways at a time.  I feel like whatever I do
 I am making a difference.  I have lots of ideas for my book.  I really
 think if I go about it in the right way it could eventually be
 published but now I at least have some directions to go in.  If anyone
 has any ideas for things to put in my book please let me know.  I like
 how there is something always to do, and never a dull moment.
 After being in school at this time of the year (September) for 15
 years straight it feels sort of odd to not be in school but I think it
 is good for me.  I have a lot of time to plan, and reflect on what I
 really want to do with my life.  I have a lot of time to just think
 even though I have a lot of time to work also.

 People come and go.  Today 2 meds students are suppose to come.  In
 the last 2 weeks 3 med students have left out of the four that have
 been here since about the time arrived.  Mark, Trudy, and Jonah are
 leaving for a few months to go to the United States. They should be
 back in January.  Ansley, the head nurse took a few month break as
 well.  Things seem to change a lot here but throughout it all Gimbie
 Adventist Hospital has stayed standing.

 Sometimes I just miss random things.  The other day I missed going to
 the movie theater with my friends and I missed going to the bookstore.
 Sometimes I miss the structure of the United States.  The other day
 we went to a restaurant with someone that spoke the local language.
 Even though he was there we still waited for 40 minutes for our food
 and at the end of those 40 minutes the waiter informed us that they
 didn’t have what we were ordering that day.  In the US the vast
 majority of the time, if it is on the menu, it is available.

 Well thus far I have learned a lot about Ethiopian culture, language,
 lifestyle, and customs.  I have learned a lot about myself and what I
 want in life.  It has been a positive experience for me, something I
 would recommend to any student.  If you want to mail me anything you
 are more than welcome to do that.  Of course I would love to get some
 letters or packages from my family and friends and would appreciate
 cookies, snacks, pictures of people, things from home, such like that.
 If you do send me a package do not include anything electronic or
 valuable on the description of package contents.  Here is my mailing
 address:

 Jeremy Marinos
 Gimbie Adventist Hospital
 PO Box 228
 Gimbie
 West Wallega
 Ethiopia

 Well I miss all you my family, church family, and friends.  Thank you
 for reading my blog and I hope to hear your comments and continued
 messages on my email.