or, you know a lot of the western people I knew while I was there were actually doing their practicums for their masters in public health so maybe if you choose grad school you could still do a year in Ethiopia? Okay I’ll butt out now haha

Lol, no worries!

Yeah, I was thinking that too. Some programs have 6 month practicums so in that case maybe I could pass up the 1 year trip??

It’s so funny actually, yesterday I was doing a little research on Colorado State’s Master’s Int’l program with the Peace Corps and they actually do lots of work in Ethiopia meaning that those who do the MPH/MI program there have an almost guaranteed chance of doing work in Ethiopia. I recently decided that maybe the MPH/MI program wasn’t for me but now it’s coming back as a feasible option! 

I think you should definitely try to go if you can! There are so many opportunities for working or volunteering with NGOs there, I would even just try shooting some emails around and you might come up w something! Even if you don’t work, what I great exp!

thanks for the tip! i’m really leaning towards Ethiopia but we’ll see!

College, Graduate School, Ethiopia! What to do?!

So, I’ll be entering my last year of college this August and I know that I want to do graduate school for my MPH in Global Health. This past couple of months though, I’ve kept debating whether or not I should go straight into grad school or take a year off. Everyone I ask tells me to go straight through but my thoughts lie elsewhere. 

A part of me really wants to defer enrollment and spend a year in Ethiopia. I’ve only been there once, in 2001, and I really miss it (Its funny how a country can make such an impact on a girl that was only eight years old at the time). My reasons for going are more personal, here are a few:

• I’d like to improve my skills in Tigrinya and Amharic which are quite horrible at the moment and/or nonexistent depending on the context and who’s speaking! What a shame! 
• Spend time with family
• And just get a little closure after the death of my father by getting to know his side of the family who all live in Ethiopia (Let’s add Afaan Oromo to bullet point #1!)

And it’s not like I would sit on my ass the whole year. Maybe I could find an internship or volunteer with an organization. I know I have tons of options especially considering my interests and career goals. I just don’t know what to do guys. Thoughts? Tips? Anyone in a similar situation?

On the bright side, if I don’t get accepted into any of my choices, it would make my situation a whole lot easier! :) Actually, that might be a devastating reality.

We’ll see. 

I was chatting with a friend from Tunisia earlier and she asked me if I was in love/engaged and I told her no but behind the screen I was cracking up!

Just thinking about it, I can’t imagine myself engaged anytime soon which is weird because a couple years back my stance was totally opposite. 

Anyways, she proceeded to tell me that I have a good heart and I deserve a good man. She’s so sweet, mashAllah! 

Inshallah khayr.

This morning I woke up feeling pressure under my armpits as if someone was touching me. 

But nobody was there. It was freaky. 

My Reads

Though this summer might be packed classes, GRE prep and studying, and other things relating to school or other extra-curricular activities on my to do list, I want to create a series of My Reads posts in hopes that it will allow me to stay on track on reading for leisure (or class if it’s that interesting). 

Who knows, maybe you’ll find it interesting enough to grab the book as well!

I’m done with the school year yall!

Alhamdulilah! But I don’t want to see my grades at all. This has been the worst year yet. 

Anyways, I’ll be back to school on the 6th for summer classes. Really didn’t want to do it but its gonna help me be productive. 

Rumor is out that Mengistu Haile Mariam died today.

I don’t know if it’s true though. 

I would have loved for him to get justice. In my wildest dreams, right? He’s probably the man I hate the most. 

And yet people on Facebook are telling him to RIP. I’m baffled. 

Sometimes I wish I could just start over. 

WHERE WE LIVE YALL

the capitalist imperialist nation of the United States of America 

Something is going on yall…

It’s like every other day, I’m hearing of another girl (at my college) getting engaged. 

Mabrook to you but I can’t see myself doing that anytime soon which is weird because I’ve done a complete 360 since coming to college. 

Idk. When Allah wills, iA.