The taxi bounced down the side street over large rocks and dips in the road. Through the window I could feel the hot humid African sun beating down…
I slowly opened the car door and when I got out I couldn’t believe where I was standing. Is this really it? Am I actually here? The sign in front of me read Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital. It was hard to believe that only a few months ago I was on my patio in my small town of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, entrenched in my book, reading about a hospital in Africa that provides care for women with childbirth injuries. Never in a million years did I imagine I would ever be at this hospital!
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I traveled to Ethiopia earlier this summer with my Mom and stayed with friends from the U.S. who were working in Ethiopia. We had many plans including volunteering and learning about the culture of the Ethiopian people. I came across the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital while reading the book Half the Sky, written by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. I was so fascinated by this book that I couldn’t stop reading it! The book focuses on the oppression of women all around the world and calls for an end to violence and injustices against women.
Luckily we were able to arrange a tour of the Fistula Hospital! I couldn’t believe it! Nervous! Anxious! Excited! I didn’t know what to expect, partly because I have a hard time going to hospitals in general. But this wasn’t a typical hospital. The Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital is the only hospital of its kind in the world dedicated exclusively to women with obstetric fistula, a condition common in developing countries where maternal health care is poor. Women who develop fistula are often abandoned by their husbands and communities, and forced to live in isolation.
Inside the hospital grounds I saw luscious green gardens and I could hear beautiful chirping from the birds. This was in stark contrast to the loud and crowded streets of the city marked with shacks and tents that many called home. I instantly felt peaceful, inspired, and witnessed a sense of empowerment by the women I met. I learned about the fistula surgeries that are performed at the hospital, the therapies provided, and classes that the women take to learn about personal empowerment and advocacy. I was in awe by the sense of contentment and even joy I saw on the faces of these women despite the devastating emotional and physical injuries they experienced. The hospital was the cleanest of any I have ever seen and everyone was so kind and helpful. In a country with so much poverty, I learned of the hope that is present even in the middle of despair.
I have discovered that the more I talk about my Ethiopian experiences, the more I talk about the Fistula Hospital and the less I mention the experience of having my camera stolen out of my hand by a group of young boys while walking along the street. For me, the latter is merely a footnote in a story that reaffirms my belief in the power to make a difference.
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Great information. I love travelling and the winter holidays are best to go out with family and friends. there are many places in India for the best winter holiday. here is the list 5 Best Winter Holiday Destinations In India
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Hi There,
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visiting california is always enjoyable. thanks for sharing your feelings about california. Have traveled any other countries? I’ve been travelling for last 2 years and I would like to share some of my great experinces with you. do you accept guest post?
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First of all, you need to find out what type of vacation each member of your family prefers. At lunch, dinner, or watching your favorite TV show in the evening, try discussing your upcoming vacation together. Listen to suggestions from everyone, remember where you have already visited and, taking into account the interests of the child, try to choose the right direction. It should be borne in mind all the details: the possibility of excess spending, the size of the vacation budget, the presence of health problems, interests, hobbies and hobbies. If you are organizing a trip with your child, you will have a wonderful joint vacation!
NYC is a great place to celebrate Halloween, and good opportunities for celebrity sightings too!
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Hello Charles,
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The moon landing marked the culmination of America’s Cold War human spaceflight program and positioned itself as a global leader in science and technology. Apollo 11, the mission Armstrong and Aldrin flew with colleague Michael Collins, represented the U.S. accomplishing a seemingly impossible goal on a seemingly impossible timeline. Fifty years later, the world is remembering the historic mission and its impact on society and science, thanks to all these 50 COSMIC WAYS TO CELEBRATE SPACE.
I am also a collector of space memorabilia and I run a website dedicated to Space Exploration memorabilia https://www.space-collectibles.com . In fact, I leave in Paris, France. (Yes, that does mean I drink too much wine and eat too much cheese) . Since the age of 21, I became a big fan of Space Exploration as I studied in Cap Canaveral Florida, and worked with the engineers that put Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon. So, this is perhaps the reason why I became a pasionate Space Collectioner of photos from the space race in the 60’s from Nasa and Soviet programs. I whish I could be in all these 50 COSMIC WAYS TO CELEBRATE SPACE
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Hey, Grandparents are the blessing of God to there kids and I am a professional travel agent of “Thia’s Travel Services” planned lots of successful tourism if you are planning or looking for more luxury trip and affordable tours with your friends and family feel free to keep in touch
Hey thanks for such a nice article, there is nothing better than getting away with the fam or group of mates into the wilderness and just relaxing while staring into those embers. I go camping regularly and I know you stated unplugged but if you dont play an instrument I highly recommend bringing along a nice loud Bluetooth speaker to jam away with all of you friends into the late night. That and beer ofcourse.
Thanks again and keep up the good work
Hershey is such a fun town to visit with so many family-friendly activities. We loved driving up to spend the weekend when we lived in Maryland.
Excellent post, Firsta! I enjoy reading about your travel experiences! Can’t wait to read your next blog post!
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Doing so saves money on your shipping costs. Most travelers are charged for gas as they are free. Tourists save money on car rentals and pay for their travels.