My new office is in the ELIC (English Language Improvement Center) room and the door is always left open so that students can come in and use the available resources (language software, dictionaries, English word games, etc.). For this reason, I've met a lot of different people, both staff and students. Oftentimes, when someone is walking down the hall, they will see the door open, and just walk in to see who I am and what I am doing here. One of the people I met this way, is Mesfin. He is a PhD student in the soil chemistry department. His laboratory is right down the hall, so he comes in to say "hi" almost every day. After he told me about his experiment/research in one of the campus greenhouses, I asked if he'd be able to get me some soil. I brought along some basil and cilantro seeds when I came here and had been hoping to plant them.
Mesfin and I finally found a time we were both free and he took me to the greenhouse. We had to walk to the area of campus where all of the fields/crops are. There were several greenhouses, but his experiment was set up in the first one. He had over 300 different planters; they were divided into groups. Each group had a different kind of soil from various areas of Ethiopia. Within each group, the soils have different amounts of fertilizers. He planted soybeans in each of them and will measure their growth. After 45 days or so, he will harvest some of the leaves to analyze the levels of various nutrients and chemicals.
It's been about one week now since I planted the seeds. I have 4 basil seeds that have sprouted and just 1 cilantro seed. I am optimistic that more seedlings are on the way!
A couple of weeks ago, I had my Intermediate Writing students write a 150-word response to the following prompt:
"What would be one good thing about being the opposite gender?"
The responses were so interesting to read. They gave a lot of insight into Ethiopian's views of typical gender roles. There were also a few responses that revealed great maturity and empathy among my students...although most were more light-hearted and several made me laugh out loud. Here are some of my favorite responses:
Male Student Responses:
“Our supper nature make us different sex, that we identify from each other. This sex can not life alone (separated) by itself, because to improve their life one can depend on other. This sex have their own character that make them different from each other. There are: nature of body and work. For example, female body is very fat more than male and also females are good and active at their work; specially at saving money and giving treat to child as well as cooking food. If I were a female, I like to wear short clothes which show my body to my boy friend when I walk with him. I wash my body with my husband for playing and enjoing and also I prepare food which have a very sweet test and give energy for him. The other what I would like to do save all things from our income that we get from our salary. Generally, if I were female I do many activity what female do and show all behavior that they should and wear different clothes which attract human as a fashion and also show good character to my family and others.”
“Ther are a lot of things that girls are impresed by. For example they got big love for talking and being seprised. They spend mach time do take care of themselves befor leaving ther home. They are always worried about how to walk because they think that there are alot of people out there looking at them. They overthink than boys. They are very kind in love matter and they are herted easly becouse they are series about such kinds of things. They like shoping and being wher many people avilable. They are shine like a brighter dimoned when they move in party with saxy clouth.”
"If I were a girl there are some things that would interest me, like takeing a walk, talking on the phone and texting, hair styles, dressing styles, gossip, and some other things. Some girls like to be at home and get their boyfriend work and give them money for their cloths and hair dos. But some girls want to be indipendent, get their own money, get their own car and their own place without expecting from their man. Girls spend so much money on fation cloths, hair styles and pedicures. So mostly I like the “miss indipendent” women. In the love matter I think girls are more interested than boys. That is why there is a lot of gossip going on.”
“As we all know females differ from males by many things. Among them, the very important thing is giving birth. Giving birth makes them loved and respected. When I see the respection and love they have in the society due to giving birth, I always wishes to be females. But it is a wishes which never comes true. Concerning the wishes to be females, some research were made. The research stated that many peoples wishes to be a females due to they give birth. In addition, for example, in my family, we love and respect our mom more than everyone because of she gave birth to us. When I see the love and respection she has, I always wishes to be a female. Moreover, many singers also sing their mom about how she gave birth to them. Generally, the love and respection females have in the society due to give birth makes me as I wish to be females.”
“In human life there are many things that makes diffrent male and female. When I see such diffrence things, I am very happy to the creature of the God because it surprises me until I lives in this world. The female human is much more beautiful than men. Men will spend hours putting on there makeup. Female don’t need make up. One things I prefer about female is to have long black hair, large dark eyes and lovely big smile which are very beatiful than males. Women needs creams and lotion to keep their faces clean and free of blemish. Most of the time, the dressing style of females are more beatiful than males. For example, whenever they wearing trousers with very short t-shirt they look like a pegion (a kinds of birds wich painted with diffrent color by her nature). I was simply stating a fact. I believe that society has ruined the lives of many females. The things that make my opposite sex bad is, in traditional peoples blief in a male superior in every matter and way of life where by sexual attributes is used to justify men’s higher status and priorities in certain posts and jobs. As its most extreme, gender discrimination can lead to son preference. In the labour market, unequal pay, occupational exclusion or segregation into low skill and paid work limit female’s earning in comparison to those of male of similar education levels. Females lack of representation and voice in participating in the community.”
“I always imagine that if I can be a girl just for a day and do what a man can’t do, now that would be great! but, that is a wish that never come true. There are plently of good things about being a girl but, for now I will mention only one “Affirmative Action.” Affirmative action means simply the attension women get because of women’s slavery and broken rights. Women because of this are getting to much attension on everything. for example, job opportunities, medical care, education, and so on...I know it is kind of respect w give to them because they are women and they deserve loyality but, I always wish to see that respect given to me, like presents: it can be roses, chocolate etc., but me a custom made Rolex or take me out for a date and giving me the last pack of cerial at the market. Who wouldn’t want that?? These issues are what makes me want to be a girl. Finally, in my oppineane if men could get similar respect which is given to women divorce, chiled custody and domestic disturbance wouldn’t be a serius problem.”
Female Student Responses:
“Hello ladies and gentel men I am _________. In today epesods am going to peresent to you about a good things of a boys wait with me. Boys can be a good father and a good hasband. They love thir childern and protect them. They are hard worker. They are willing to help every one. They are very enjoyable and pleasant. Boys can be a good brother and boys can be a good uncle and a good boyfriend. Behayind this boys can be every thing. Finally I want to say boys esantial especially for women. I finish my presentation. Tank you for waiting. By by.”
“I am _______________ today I present about being boy or its good side. God create every of us equally, but boys are free from nature gift like, pregnancy, menstruation, or feeding baby. thats why they’r lucky dog. Besides, I admire boys for their true or pure heart (good hearted). When we compare within grows. Further more, they’r open more than girls. When we take example, when they fall in love. they have ability to explain what they want to transfer. Finally, boys are not complex like girls because they’r far from frighten anything but, not at all. I am saying that when they want to go out at midnight they can go, but girls are totally different, even if she is strong or never afraid of darkness, they faced problem because she is not a boy. Generally, being boy are good for above and other reason.”
And here is a quick summary of all of the students' responses:
Mesfin and I finally found a time we were both free and he took me to the greenhouse. We had to walk to the area of campus where all of the fields/crops are. There were several greenhouses, but his experiment was set up in the first one. He had over 300 different planters; they were divided into groups. Each group had a different kind of soil from various areas of Ethiopia. Within each group, the soils have different amounts of fertilizers. He planted soybeans in each of them and will measure their growth. After 45 days or so, he will harvest some of the leaves to analyze the levels of various nutrients and chemicals.
It's been about one week now since I planted the seeds. I have 4 basil seeds that have sprouted and just 1 cilantro seed. I am optimistic that more seedlings are on the way!
A couple of weeks ago, I had my Intermediate Writing students write a 150-word response to the following prompt:
"What would be one good thing about being the opposite gender?"
The responses were so interesting to read. They gave a lot of insight into Ethiopian's views of typical gender roles. There were also a few responses that revealed great maturity and empathy among my students...although most were more light-hearted and several made me laugh out loud. Here are some of my favorite responses:
Male Student Responses:
“Our supper nature make us different sex, that we identify from each other. This sex can not life alone (separated) by itself, because to improve their life one can depend on other. This sex have their own character that make them different from each other. There are: nature of body and work. For example, female body is very fat more than male and also females are good and active at their work; specially at saving money and giving treat to child as well as cooking food. If I were a female, I like to wear short clothes which show my body to my boy friend when I walk with him. I wash my body with my husband for playing and enjoing and also I prepare food which have a very sweet test and give energy for him. The other what I would like to do save all things from our income that we get from our salary. Generally, if I were female I do many activity what female do and show all behavior that they should and wear different clothes which attract human as a fashion and also show good character to my family and others.”
“Ther are a lot of things that girls are impresed by. For example they got big love for talking and being seprised. They spend mach time do take care of themselves befor leaving ther home. They are always worried about how to walk because they think that there are alot of people out there looking at them. They overthink than boys. They are very kind in love matter and they are herted easly becouse they are series about such kinds of things. They like shoping and being wher many people avilable. They are shine like a brighter dimoned when they move in party with saxy clouth.”
"If I were a girl there are some things that would interest me, like takeing a walk, talking on the phone and texting, hair styles, dressing styles, gossip, and some other things. Some girls like to be at home and get their boyfriend work and give them money for their cloths and hair dos. But some girls want to be indipendent, get their own money, get their own car and their own place without expecting from their man. Girls spend so much money on fation cloths, hair styles and pedicures. So mostly I like the “miss indipendent” women. In the love matter I think girls are more interested than boys. That is why there is a lot of gossip going on.”
“As we all know females differ from males by many things. Among them, the very important thing is giving birth. Giving birth makes them loved and respected. When I see the respection and love they have in the society due to giving birth, I always wishes to be females. But it is a wishes which never comes true. Concerning the wishes to be females, some research were made. The research stated that many peoples wishes to be a females due to they give birth. In addition, for example, in my family, we love and respect our mom more than everyone because of she gave birth to us. When I see the love and respection she has, I always wishes to be a female. Moreover, many singers also sing their mom about how she gave birth to them. Generally, the love and respection females have in the society due to give birth makes me as I wish to be females.”
“In human life there are many things that makes diffrent male and female. When I see such diffrence things, I am very happy to the creature of the God because it surprises me until I lives in this world. The female human is much more beautiful than men. Men will spend hours putting on there makeup. Female don’t need make up. One things I prefer about female is to have long black hair, large dark eyes and lovely big smile which are very beatiful than males. Women needs creams and lotion to keep their faces clean and free of blemish. Most of the time, the dressing style of females are more beatiful than males. For example, whenever they wearing trousers with very short t-shirt they look like a pegion (a kinds of birds wich painted with diffrent color by her nature). I was simply stating a fact. I believe that society has ruined the lives of many females. The things that make my opposite sex bad is, in traditional peoples blief in a male superior in every matter and way of life where by sexual attributes is used to justify men’s higher status and priorities in certain posts and jobs. As its most extreme, gender discrimination can lead to son preference. In the labour market, unequal pay, occupational exclusion or segregation into low skill and paid work limit female’s earning in comparison to those of male of similar education levels. Females lack of representation and voice in participating in the community.”
“I always imagine that if I can be a girl just for a day and do what a man can’t do, now that would be great! but, that is a wish that never come true. There are plently of good things about being a girl but, for now I will mention only one “Affirmative Action.” Affirmative action means simply the attension women get because of women’s slavery and broken rights. Women because of this are getting to much attension on everything. for example, job opportunities, medical care, education, and so on...I know it is kind of respect w give to them because they are women and they deserve loyality but, I always wish to see that respect given to me, like presents: it can be roses, chocolate etc., but me a custom made Rolex or take me out for a date and giving me the last pack of cerial at the market. Who wouldn’t want that?? These issues are what makes me want to be a girl. Finally, in my oppineane if men could get similar respect which is given to women divorce, chiled custody and domestic disturbance wouldn’t be a serius problem.”
Female Student Responses:
“Hello ladies and gentel men I am _________. In today epesods am going to peresent to you about a good things of a boys wait with me. Boys can be a good father and a good hasband. They love thir childern and protect them. They are hard worker. They are willing to help every one. They are very enjoyable and pleasant. Boys can be a good brother and boys can be a good uncle and a good boyfriend. Behayind this boys can be every thing. Finally I want to say boys esantial especially for women. I finish my presentation. Tank you for waiting. By by.”
“I am _______________ today I present about being boy or its good side. God create every of us equally, but boys are free from nature gift like, pregnancy, menstruation, or feeding baby. thats why they’r lucky dog. Besides, I admire boys for their true or pure heart (good hearted). When we compare within grows. Further more, they’r open more than girls. When we take example, when they fall in love. they have ability to explain what they want to transfer. Finally, boys are not complex like girls because they’r far from frighten anything but, not at all. I am saying that when they want to go out at midnight they can go, but girls are totally different, even if she is strong or never afraid of darkness, they faced problem because she is not a boy. Generally, being boy are good for above and other reason.”
And here is a quick summary of all of the students' responses: