Tag Archives: volunteer

safari, so good

Posted on May 6, 2013 by lganjbakhsh

Living in Africa affords one great opportunities for travel, and I’ve been lucky enough to be able to take advantage of that. My latest excursion took me to the continent’s south, specifically, South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. I spent the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Apartheid Museum, Botswana, bush camping, Business Class, Cape Town, Emirates airlines, Ethiopia, lions, Okavango Delta, overlanding, Peace Corps, safari, South Africa, travel, Victoria Falls, volunteer, wildebeest, Zimbabwe | Leave a comment

home, harlem shaking and harar

Posted on April 2, 2013 by lganjbakhsh

One hundred ninety volunteers. Two days. One hotel. All volunteer conference. Peace Corps Ethiopia held its first AVC over St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Surprisingly, it went smoothly (no one was administratively separated anyway). Two kind of awesome things came from … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Addis Ababa, All Volunteer Conference, COS, Ethiopia, Harar, Harlem shake, I'm coming home!, jig or a shake, Peace Corps, The Good Doctor, volunteer, Wisconsin State Fair | 2 Comments

here’s how

Posted on March 12, 2013 by lganjbakhsh

I get asked often about what I’m doing in Ethiopia, in Peace Corps. Not in the “How the hell did they let you in?” way (usually), but “What the hell do you do every day?” er, way. The answer is: … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged donate, Ethiopia, how to help, Kids for Kids, Literacy, Microenterprise, Peace Corps, volunteer, volunteer projects, Youth Center | Leave a comment

of michael scott, blue tears, shinting, peeing, puking, being thrown backwards on a bus crashing into the blue nile gorge

Posted on May 15, 2012 by lganjbakhsh

It’s been about a year since I started this blog, so I thought I’d celebrate by posting a list of the best internet searches that led to this space. Post your favorite in the comments, if you please. Most hilariously, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bahir Dar, bajaj, blue tears in the rain, broken nose, bugs, cravings, Djibouti jokes, Ethiopia, hand sanitizer misuse, killer airplane pictures, Marla Fabishak, Michael Scott, Peace Corps, peace corps volunteer, puke on a bus, random internet searches, shint bet, The Good Doctor, volunteer | Leave a comment

ain’t no party like a gojam party

Posted on May 10, 2012 by lganjbakhsh

All I wanted to do was get home and watch Dexter. I hadn’t been feeling well since returning to Bahir Dar from my trip to Hawassa. I had spent yesterday afternoon at the PC office trying to get some work … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Amharic in America, Bahir Dar, bean/maize concoction, berbere, buna, chicken slaughter, coffee, Dashen beer, Dexter, doro, drunken weepiness, Ethiopia, forgetting names, Gojam, injera, Peace Corps, sheep stew, St. Mary's birthday?, tella, volunteer, wat | 2 Comments

what is the work

Posted on May 2, 2012 by lganjbakhsh

The most common question I’m asked by folks back home is “what are you working on?” This is followed closely by “what do you do?” While “you know, just saving the world” is the default tongue-in-cheek response, I’ll actually attempt … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged American Corner, Bahir Dar, Bahir Dar University, culture swap, Ethiopia, Gender Club, goals two and three, just saving the world, PSAs, volunteer, work, your tax dollars at work | 1 Comment

djibouti keeps me busy

Posted on February 13, 2012 by lganjbakhsh

Hello, blog audience! It’s been quite some time since my last post, and for that I apologize. I’ve been busy, yes, but that’s no excuse for neglecting you. So, you may be wondering, “what has she been doing that’s kept … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Addis Ababa, African Peace Caravan, bay of ghoubet, behavior change communication, bike bling, Djibouti, Djibouti jokes, Ethiopia, French Foreign Legion, great rift valley, intimate detail, Lake Assal, obesity, Peace Corps, Training, vacation, volunteer, whale sharks, Zambia | 1 Comment

a quick note on the new year

Posted on January 9, 2012 by lganjbakhsh

It’s a new year. Whew. I like the idea of a clean slate. 2012 is big in the Life of Leah. It’s my first full calendar year in Ethiopia (if all goes well). I’ll be turning 31 (yikes). I’ll miss my … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Amharic, Bahir Dar, books, Djibouti, end of the world, Ethiopia, guitar, Mayan calendar, movies, Peace Corps, sunscreen, volunteer | 1 Comment

ethiopia 2, lethiopiah 0

Posted on December 4, 2011 by lganjbakhsh

As I sit and think about it, if at the time I didn’t think I was being taken by bajaj to my horrific, untimely death, I might have asked for my ID. Getting a new one is such a pain … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bahir Dar, bajaj, bayonet, Ethiopia, hand sanitizer, kindle, Peace Corps, sweet ninjas, volunteer | 7 Comments

“that virgin, vital, beautiful day: today”

Posted on October 17, 2011 by lganjbakhsh

It’s 6:30am, 12:30 Habesha time. The pleasant sounds of my neighbor’s screaming baby stream through the window. It’s time to get up now. Get ready. I shimmy out from under my bednet and start my morning routine. It starts in … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Amos Lee, Bahir Dar, Bahir Dar University, batabasos, bednet, birr, bucket bath, care packages, community needs assessment, crossword puzzles, Ethiopia, food, hand sanitizer, injera, Modern Family, Peace Corps, Pizza, potholes, rain jacket, The Nation, volunteer | 2 Comments