VSO Leavers’ Conference

Last week Thursday, there was a VSO Leavers’ Conference in Addis for all volunteers who are finishing their placements in the next few months. I am one of those as I plan to finish my placement and leave Ethiopia in July. The conference was mainly about the practicalities of leaving the country, exit visas, closing accounts, getting references and so on. But as always it was great to see the other volunteers – especially those who I came to the country with in September, and haven’t seen since.

It was also a chance for us to reflect on our experiences in the country – the highs, lows, achievements and challenges. For me, the most interesting part was listening to other volunteers’ reflections.

Mine are as follows (the ones that immediately come to mind anyway):

Highs:

ELIC Clubs celebration day. The coffee ceremony we had in the ELIC (which I previously wrote about on my blog).
Seeing different parts of Ethiopia.

Lows:

The first few months where there seemed to be nothing happening in the ELIC.

Missing my family and friends at home.
Having mice take over my whole house.

Achievements:

Working together to set up the ELIC from virtually nothing. Now it is a working centre with clubs and events that students are enthusiastic about.
Working with the Gender Club in the college and organising events and programmes.

Challenges:

Getting teachers to work together with us at the ELIC.

The fact that it takes so long to get things done here because of the bureaucratic process of everything.
Having no water sometimes (like now).
The fleas!
Keeping things in perspective and constantly reminding myself why I am here and that no matter what my challenges are, most of the people here have it so much worse.