Day 3: Vomiting

I spent my 3^rd day in Ethiopia and 2^nd in the field visiting with farmers from Farmer Field School (FFS) groups who are part of our Farmers First program. Many of you may have heard me reference this program as I spend 2 months a year writing a report for it. It’s a big program and it’s a good. As such, there is a great deal to see and many people to meet with to hear their stories of successes, challenges, progress and change. I made it through a rather hectic morning of visits before succumbing to the nagging in my stomach and throwing up outside of the Migro Grain Cooperative’s storage facility.

The Migro Grain Coop is one of the great successes of Farmers First. They are a group of 100+ farmers, from 4 FFS groups who have obtained legal registration with the Ethiopian government and are able to buy and sell grain – mainly teff and wheat – to whomever they choose. They have negotiated a contract with a large grain supplier based in Addis and have worked hard to improve the road into their storage facility to improve access. Although I only lasted about 10 minutes (maybe 4) into my meeting with two of the members, I learned some exciting stuff in that time. The group itself has been recognized as an outstanding cooperative, the chairman – a dynamic farmer, whom I wish I could have spent more time with – won an award for motivating, encouraging and mobilizing farmers. I met with this group a year ago and even in that time it was exciting to see the improvements.

Unfortunately, throwing up in a field in Jarso, Ethiopia is not conducive to continuing monitoring visits. We packed it up and I was taken to a clinic…after stopping the truck on the side of the road in town to throw up again. At the clinic I was given some oral drops ‘to stop the throwing up’, some antacid pills, some cipro and an injection of who knows what. You can guess where the injection went.

A sneak peak of some photos - this woman Sisay, pictured here with my colleague Moges - is growing teff for seed multiplication - that is, to sell the seed, which obtains a higher profit than selling the grain. I could stand to learn how to say 'smile' in Amharic but of course, I'd actually have to learn it in a number of dialects so...

I returned to the field office to rest, receiving a great deal of attention from the entire staff. I was continuously encouraged to eat, which was not the top of my list. When I threw up the juice and water I’d taken, we started on a dramatic 30km drive to the nearest hospital. We picked up some friends along the way who would help me jump the queue (despite me knowing full well I did not need to be at the front of the line). I was seen by a nurse and a lovely female doctor who I got the sense was not totally impressed to be treating a farenji who was overreacting to a bug. I got another shot, left buttock this time, and some other pills I’m not too clear on. (Fiona, expect an email). The concern and care of my colleagues was above and beyond, and they continue to worry and lose sleep over my well-being. Hard to take that kind of special attention but of course, very, very kind.

All this to say, I’m feeling significantly better but for those 6-10 hours I thought I couldn’t hack it out here and was quite ashamed to be ill only 3 days in. I thought I might have to come home. Here’s hoping for a better time in the very rural, electricity-free, hot hot town of Guba.