I Don't Want to Say Goodbye

Tonight was the final ELIC (English Language Improvement Center) program for the year. We had a coffee ceremony, special bread, and popcorn. We played Charades, Hangman, and had a Karaoke contest. The hot pepper and injera eating competition was hysterical and the Red Card punishments brought us to tears. One "disturber" had to propose marriage, one had to kiss someone in the room, and one had to sing a song. The final activities were sing-a-long and hugging program. A night to remember. Didn't get home until midnight.

Who Rules the World? GIRLS!

Student leaders from the ELIC were invited to Blue House, which is a compound which holds 36 girls who are being sponsored by Help a Life Foundation based in the U.S. We played English games like Red Light, Problem Solving, and charades. The girls in the home are all orphans from the countryside and are being sponsored from grade 9-university. This was the last experience sharing program of the year in Debre MArkos, but a few of my students will be volunteer tutors at the Blue House next year.

Bahir Dar or Bust

My counterpart and I in the English Language Improvement Center (ELIC) took the winners of the Debre Markos University Idol Talent Show to Bahir Dar for experience sharing. The trip, sponsored by the American Embassy and funds from the U.S. State Department, was meant as a reward for those students who took on leadership responsibilities in the ELIC and demonstrated their skill in English in the talent show. Everyone stayed at one of the local hotels for three nights, which was a treat for the students who were used to sleeping in crowded dorms. The experience sharing program was with the same private Catholic school that we went to after the last talent show. Singing, dancing, boasting, debate, literary arts, and drama were presented by the university students while the high schoolers hosted a spelling bee and some English songs. The following day, the entire group boarded a bus to the Nile Falls and spent the day together at the falls and taking pictures. Money was given to each student for meals and entertainment and we enjoyed Bahir Dar in small groups.

Quanqua Police Punish Students Who Speak Amharic!

Although the first two hours were chaotic, the rest of the day went like a dream. Te English Language Improvement Center hosted an English Day at the preparatory school. We invited two local high schools (grade 9-10) and the preparatory school to send 15 students each. The planning committee was made up of 7 universty students and 6 high schoolers. The participants were divided into three groups and roated into varius activities, all done in English. The Quanqua (language) Police were around to issue Red Cards and Yellow Cards to any student who was disturbing the class or speaking Amharic. The punishment consisted of things such as: "While blindfolded, touch a person in the class who is calling your name" or "sing and dance at the same time".  Two legged races, egg carrying competition (put spoon in your teeth and carry and egg without dropping it), and kickball were some of the outdoor activities. Indoors, students played "Honey Do you Love Me?", Red Light, Quarreling, Spelling Bee, Hot pepper eating contest, and dance competition.