some final images

Here I am, back in Boston. It's nice to be back, starting to settle into my new apartment, seeing friends again, enjoying lovely summer evenings... I like this city. A lot. It just feels very, very far removed from all that I experienced in the last 10 weeks. Upon returning, it's easy to jump right back into former patterns and habits and schedules. I'm always surprised by how simple that can be...
I wanted to share a few last pictures before signing off (I don't imagine that the fall semester's overwhelming schedule will be conducive to regular blogging...).
-The first is an example of the women's group interviews we performed as part of the field assessment. In this village, we settled in the shade - which grew less and less as the morning wore on - of the local school.
-I mentioned a traditional Borana wedding in Negele, on my way home. Two of the "groomsmen" were coworkers/friends of the other North American SC intern I met in Negele, and the four of us posed for a picture during the official wedding photo shoot. In fact, Julia and I were forced into more photos than we found to be comfortable.
-During the photo shoot, small children herding their animals were attracted by the spectacle and fun of a wedding party and guests. This boy - wearing a jacketless hood - followed me around until I took his picture (which thus initiated an onslaught of requests from his friends).
-On my last day in the office in Addis, he staff held a small farewell party for me. Here, Ali hands me a small gift. The event was a kind gesture, if not a bit uncomfortable, as we sat around eating our cake in silence...
-And on my very last day in the city, I finally paid a visit to the ethnographic museum, on the campus of Addis Ababa University, with two European friends. The grounds of the university were beautiful - very green and peaceful, filled with tropical plants, colorful birds, and many many students. After the museum, I spent my last Birr on coffee and gifts, bought what I hoped would be light yet entertaining airplane reading from the government-controlled bookstore (it was so bad I left it on the airplane after reading only the first 10 pages), finished packing my suitcase, and was delivered to the airport by a friend in time for my 10:30 p.m. flight.

Well folks, I guess that's about all there is to say! I would be very happy to show pictures or tell stories to anyone who's interested - just let me know. All in all, it was a very good summer. When people ask me if I met my "objectives" I say yes: I learned that I enjoy the developing couuntry experience and can imagine working in that context again for a longer period. I'm less sure that I single-handedly saved any children, but maybe that will come somewhere farther down the road...
Thanks for reading this summer, and please be in touch!
Elizabeth