Ruthie’s Blog

Being Home–The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Ok, I hope you’re able to view these pictures better than you could on my last post.  So, these pics show you most of the GREAT things about being home in California—seeing good friends, seeing family members, spending time backpacking with my sister in the redwoods, seeing the Pacific Ocean which I’ve really missed, celebrating our freedoms on the 4th of July, eating good tasty food like cheesecake, IN-N-OUT hambugers, and Mexican food, etc. etc.  I’ve loved connecting with people and I’m so thankful for all of the wonderful people I have here in California who love me so much.  It has been great to be home in California!!!

THE BAD—Well, I still really miss my Ethiopia–my students, my roommate, my church, and all of the friends I’ve made there.  Sometimes I wish I could be there instead of here and that’s the truth.  I am way more used to being in Ethiopia than California.  California feels so very very individualistic at times and I miss the sense of community I had in Ethiopia.  It’s just not the same.  I’m just being honest.  And I knew this going into it.  I knew that moving to Ethiopia would mean that I would always be missing somebody and someplace.  It’s just par for the course when God calls you to be in another country for any given length of time.  These are the facts.  

THE (downright) UGLY–Oh, the comments people make can be so very very frustrating, but the top one was “Are there black people in Ethiopia??”  It makes me mad and sad that someone could be this ignorant, but then that leads me to pray for this person and hope that God will change their heart and open their mind which in turn builds my character.  (If you’re interested, other comments include “Is that friend you have in Ethiopia black?” “Africa is so unsafe.  Did you feel safe there?”  (Africa is a huge continent and it’s really inaccurate to say that an entire continent is unsafe.  Would it makes sense to say that the whole of Europe or North America is unsafe?))

I Miss My Roommate!!

Saturday, July 4th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments

celebrating the end of the school year

Cindy and I have been like family to each other this year.  We’ve helped each other when we were sick.  We’ve shared our frustrations, joys, pains, and tears with each other.  I said goodbye to her on Wednesday and I didn’t cry then, but now that I’m without her I realize just how much I miss her.  So, thank you Cindy for a great year of being roomies together.  Miss you and see you soon in The Netherlands and Ethiopia!

Ode to My Yosiyay (I Will Miss Him So Much!!!)

Saturday, July 4th, 2009 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments

My Yosiyay and I at my students' Graduation

I know teachers aren’t supposed to have favorite students, or at least not show that they have a favorite, but….Eyosiyas is my favorite student from this year.  

I call Eyosiyas My Yosiyay.  Adding the ending “yay” to someone’s name is like saying that they belong to you.  For example, some of my friends in Ethiopia call me Ruthieyay as a term of love and endearment.   if I could have adopted only one of my students, Eyosiyas would have definitely been the one.  I just really really love this little boy.

I first noticed My Yosiyay when I accidentally got on the topic of love with my students.  Eyosiyas raised his hand and said “Jesus loves us!”  All I could do in my secular, private school was just smile and nod at that point.  Eyosiyas always struck me as a rather confident boy and now I knew why.  Eyosiyas knows that he is loved by God.  Later I went up to him by myself and told him that I believed that Jesus loves me and others as well.  He gave me this face as if to say “Well, of course He does!” I hope I can have this kind of confidence in God’s love as My Yosiyay does. 

On graduation day this woman came up to me and said “I’m Eyosiyas’ mother.”  All I could think to say to her was “You are one lucky woman.  And just between you and me, your son Eyosiyas is my favorite student.” She answered, “I know.  He told me.”  Eyosiyas has this confidence in the love of God and the love of others and I hope that I can have this same level of confidence too!  As his teacher, he has taught me a lot!!  I really miss him so much already!!

Closing Day at GYA

Saturday, July 4th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments

singing the national anthem in traditional clothesSome of my students getting ready to do some traditional dances