Comments on: Nervous for my Nirvana http://abesheet.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/nervous-abt-my-nirvana/ Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:04:08 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Knock-knock-knockin’ on.. « My e-Shoe Box http://abesheet.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/nervous-abt-my-nirvana/#comment-1810 Knock-knock-knockin’ on.. « My e-Shoe Box Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:08:52 +0000 http://abesheet.wordpress.com/?p=906#comment-1810 [...] Related Post: Nervous for my Nirvanna [...] [...] Related Post: Nervous for my Nirvanna [...]

]]> By: abesheet http://abesheet.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/nervous-abt-my-nirvana/#comment-679 abesheet Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:00:08 +0000 http://abesheet.wordpress.com/?p=906#comment-679 Thank you, mitti, for your response. I guess things would have been easier if I hadn't felt there were things i'd risk losing by going to america. I earn the best salary Ethiopia could afford in my profession; I have only about 10 more courses before completing my study in literature and language (a childhood dream); i have a family & younger kins whose company i've just started enjoying and need me; and.. i can walk home at night without the fear of being cut to slices by a serial killer who didn't like the color of my eyes! Even the rats in Ethiopia, i was telling a friend, seem to be abeshas. You show a foot, and they're out the door before you can say "rat ran out". Losing a toe to a rodent in america, i heard, isn't the worst that can happen to a kitchen-cabinet owner. And I have almost a phobic to rats and falling. My dreams are haunted by them. And trust me, the odds aren't showing any improvement as the day goes by. However, from your and most of the comments in here, I have learned something that would help me win half the battle. That i should grid up my loins to not be surprised if life becomes most unpleasant for some time. But that if i got what it takes, i'll be able to make it. Thank you, mitti, for your response. I guess things would have been easier if I hadn’t felt there were things i’d risk losing by going to america. I earn the best salary Ethiopia could afford in my profession; I have only about 10 more courses before completing my study in literature and language (a childhood dream); i have a family & younger kins whose company i’ve just started enjoying and need me; and.. i can walk home at night without the fear of being cut to slices by a serial killer who didn’t like the color of my eyes! Even the rats in Ethiopia, i was telling a friend, seem to be abeshas. You show a foot, and they’re out the door before you can say “rat ran out”. Losing a toe to a rodent in america, i heard, isn’t the worst that can happen to a kitchen-cabinet owner. And I have almost a phobic to rats and falling. My dreams are haunted by them.

And trust me, the odds aren’t showing any improvement as the day goes by.

However, from your and most of the comments in here, I have learned something that would help me win half the battle. That i should grid up my loins to not be surprised if life becomes most unpleasant for some time. But that if i got what it takes, i’ll be able to make it.

]]> By: mitti http://abesheet.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/nervous-abt-my-nirvana/#comment-674 mitti Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:14:13 +0000 http://abesheet.wordpress.com/?p=906#comment-674 Exactly a month ago was the anniversary of four years of my life here in the states. I won't sugar coat anything, I've had nothing but wonderful experiences since I came here. The first year was baaaaaaaddddddd ... I regretted ever picking up that SAT book or pestering my dad to have enough confidence in me to let me go. That first year, all I wanted for him to say was "It's ok, you can come back and we'll give it a shot later". Of course he never said it, and knowing myself I wouldn't have accepted. I'm done with college now, work at a reputable organization, have great friends and family here ... all ingredients for a great life right? They should be but instead I am always thinking about home and what a traitor I turned out to be ... you know ... having the opportunity to study abroad but not having the guts to go back .... I'll admit America is great in many regards, and I do know home is where the heart is ... but my real home, Ethiopia, is always on my mind and I pray to God that one day I'd muster the strength root myself back again All this to say, do keep in mind those four points because oftentimes we are more dictated by what others see as Nirvana and not our definitions of it Exactly a month ago was the anniversary of four years of my life here in the states. I won’t sugar coat anything, I’ve had nothing but wonderful experiences since I came here. The first year was baaaaaaaddddddd … I regretted ever picking up that SAT book or pestering my dad to have enough confidence in me to let me go. That first year, all I wanted for him to say was “It’s ok, you can come back and we’ll give it a shot later”. Of course he never said it, and knowing myself I wouldn’t have accepted. I’m done with college now, work at a reputable organization, have great friends and family here … all ingredients for a great life right? They should be but instead I am always thinking about home and what a traitor I turned out to be … you know … having the opportunity to study abroad but not having the guts to go back …. I’ll admit America is great in many regards, and I do know home is where the heart is … but my real home, Ethiopia, is always on my mind and I pray to God that one day I’d muster the strength root myself back again
All this to say, do keep in mind those four points because oftentimes we are more dictated by what others see as Nirvana and not our definitions of it

]]> By: GarrrXella http://abesheet.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/nervous-abt-my-nirvana/#comment-585 GarrrXella Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:45:40 +0000 http://abesheet.wordpress.com/?p=906#comment-585 girl how do you do it? Show me posts longer than two paragraphs and I look the other way. With yours I can't help but want to read it. I agree with what ethiocentric said, life here is awesome! You can be and do anything your heart desires. You cannot wait for a handout, you must be a go getter. One downfall is, the more you have, the more you want. Could be bad, could be good but for some, it is the cause of dissapointment. As long as you have your head screwed on right (which you do) you can steer yourself away from the craziness and into something wonderful for yourself. Cheers! girl how do you do it? Show me posts longer than two paragraphs and I look the other way. With yours I can’t help but want to read it. I agree with what ethiocentric said, life here is awesome! You can be and do anything your heart desires. You cannot wait for a handout, you must be a go getter. One downfall is, the more you have, the more you want. Could be bad, could be good but for some, it is the cause of dissapointment. As long as you have your head screwed on right (which you do) you can steer yourself away from the craziness and into something wonderful for yourself. Cheers!

]]> By: abyssinia http://abesheet.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/nervous-abt-my-nirvana/#comment-580 abyssinia Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:44:18 +0000 http://abesheet.wordpress.com/?p=906#comment-580 Exactly, think of the fun stuff…it’s a great place for adventurerious people like you. Oh yeah, I read about your SATC post! My thoughts…the film was funny but the movie was too long and some of the “life lessons” in the movie I found to be total nonsense. But really that isn’t important. The movie is about the 4 characters and what they think. Their life lessons were consistent with the characters from the show, and that’s what’s important I guess. <i>I think there will be a sequel.</i> Exactly, think of the fun stuff…it’s a great place for adventurerious people like you.

Oh yeah, I read about your SATC post! My thoughts…the film was funny but the movie was too long and some of the “life lessons” in the movie I found to be total nonsense. But really that isn’t important. The movie is about the 4 characters and what they think. Their life lessons were consistent with the characters from the show, and that’s what’s important I guess. I think there will be a sequel.

]]> By: abesheet http://abesheet.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/nervous-abt-my-nirvana/#comment-577 abesheet Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:20:29 +0000 http://abesheet.wordpress.com/?p=906#comment-577 Thank you so much guys, for the help and support. Spacefog, I love your insight. You've made the ensuing travel (if i can have the american embassy approve it) something to look forward to. I guess i only saw all the difficulties i might face and not the opportunities. I'm a very adventurerious person by nature, or so I'd like (or used) to think. I always wait to try it before i knocked it down. But this america thing, it's been scaring the shit out of me. Maybe because i haven't done much travelling, Gondar and Harar is as far away from home i got. Or maybe because it's a really huge step and cold feets are to be expected. Whichever happens, though, you've made it sound worth while! Abbiye konjo: wow! Forest Gump. Love that movie! Did you read my SATC post? I was so disappointed by the movie that i had nightmares all night. Maybe I should go to america. I clearly need to get a life ;) . That said, my e-shoe box, i hope, would continue being my e-shoe box. I would definitely need a place to vent on for the first 6 months, right? Before i wet my feet and got used to the way things are? It might actually be worth reading. Because i wouldn't need to "come up" with what to write then. I just write my experiences in a strange land. Atleast from what i can get when Chris comes back from work. He's more excited about me going there than I am. Talks about nothing else but all the places he'd show me and all the experiences we will have. Like taking me skiing, now that's one expereince an Ethiopian would like to write back home about. Definitely, something to look forward to. All this, ofcourse, is IF i got a visa. Pray for me :) . Coz although some of us don't believe in dieties, we don't mind them extending helping hands from time to time! 8) Thank you so much guys, for the help and support. Spacefog, I love your insight. You’ve made the ensuing travel (if i can have the american embassy approve it) something to look forward to. I guess i only saw all the difficulties i might face and not the opportunities. I’m a very adventurerious person by nature, or so I’d like (or used) to think. I always wait to try it before i knocked it down. But this america thing, it’s been scaring the shit out of me. Maybe because i haven’t done much travelling, Gondar and Harar is as far away from home i got. Or maybe because it’s a really huge step and cold feets are to be expected. Whichever happens, though, you’ve made it sound worth while!

Abbiye konjo: wow! Forest Gump. Love that movie! Did you read my SATC post? I was so disappointed by the movie that i had nightmares all night. Maybe I should go to america. I clearly need to get a life ;) . That said, my e-shoe box, i hope, would continue being my e-shoe box. I would definitely need a place to vent on for the first 6 months, right? Before i wet my feet and got used to the way things are? It might actually be worth reading. Because i wouldn’t need to “come up” with what to write then. I just write my experiences in a strange land. Atleast from what i can get when Chris comes back from work. He’s more excited about me going there than I am. Talks about nothing else but all the places he’d show me and all the experiences we will have. Like taking me skiing, now that’s one expereince an Ethiopian would like to write back home about. Definitely, something to look forward to. All this, ofcourse, is IF i got a visa. Pray for me :) . Coz although some of us don’t believe in dieties, we don’t mind them extending helping hands from time to time! 8)

]]> By: Spacefog http://abesheet.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/nervous-abt-my-nirvana/#comment-576 Spacefog Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:59:14 +0000 http://abesheet.wordpress.com/?p=906#comment-576 Okey here is what I think, i don´t live in the States but I know it. I have travelled enough to compare countries and Ethiopia as well. there is always fear to leave behind what you are used to. I am one of those ppl who get really attached to places. Send me some where for two weeks. First its really hard to pack and leave ,at least psychologically. Second its really hard to leave the other place after the two weeks. That always happnes to me no matter how oftern I travel. that being said, the states is not a bad place to live in. it has lots of opportunities. I like the freedom . i like the fact that everything is very well thought of. I like the ppl and how easy going they are and how they mind their own business. On the contrary , as you said , its a very unequal society. Specially interms of class and race. Americans in general are very uninformed ,annoyingly naive and very corporate minded.Not to add racists.But much better than ppl from other parts of the west. But still that doesn´t mean you can´t make your way up. I don´t like the way you said “washing of toilets” or “old lady’s bottom” . You might be forced to do that but that shouldn´t define you. Its a step to other opportunities. There is something I don´t agree with Ethiopians often. We think we are the end of the world. We consider our culture and livign conditions the best. We are so into our selves.But I can assure you there are great cultures and people out there. So try to learn from every experiance. Don´t let your ´pride´define you. Believe me there are a lot of things in this world you have yet to find out about both personally and professionally. Okey here is what I think, i don´t live in the States but I know it. I have travelled enough to compare countries and Ethiopia as well.

there is always fear to leave behind what you are used to. I am one of those ppl who get really attached to places. Send me some where for two weeks. First its really hard to pack and leave ,at least psychologically. Second its really hard to leave the other place after the two weeks. That always happnes to me no matter how oftern I travel.

that being said, the states is not a bad place to live in. it has lots of opportunities. I like the freedom . i like the fact that everything is very well thought of. I like the ppl and how easy going they are and how they mind their own business.

On the contrary , as you said , its a very unequal society. Specially interms of class and race. Americans in general are very uninformed ,annoyingly naive and very corporate minded.Not to add racists.But much better than ppl from other parts of the west.
But still that doesn´t mean you can´t make your way up. I don´t like the way you said “washing of toilets” or “old lady’s bottom” . You might be forced to do that but that shouldn´t define you. Its a step to other opportunities.

There is something I don´t agree with Ethiopians often. We think we are the end of the world. We consider our culture and livign conditions the best. We are so into our selves.But I can assure you there are great cultures and people out there. So try to learn from every experiance.

Don´t let your ´pride´define you. Believe me there are a lot of things in this world you have yet to find out about both personally and professionally.

]]> By: abyssinia http://abesheet.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/nervous-abt-my-nirvana/#comment-575 abyssinia Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:44:53 +0000 http://abesheet.wordpress.com/?p=906#comment-575 Congratulations!!! I’m happy to hear that you will be reuniting with your hubby soon. As far as life in America, is like “a box of chocolate. You never know what you're gonna get." I think what most people lack at the early stage of their life in states is guidance. Especially for those who come out of their parents’ house and suddenly take all kinda responsibilities in a foreign land. That could be very stressful… For you tho, the pros are you are educated, professional, responsible, well informed and most of all have someone to support and guide you thru the transition period…the cons are you have a good life in Ethiopia, good job/salary, stress free/laid-back lifestyle, great social life, etc. and you are going to give up/leave behind all that for the unknown. However we all have different experience and different take on life, so good luck! Btw, what is the future of e-Shoe box? Congratulations!!! I’m happy to hear that you will be reuniting with your hubby soon. As far as life in America, is like “a box of chocolate. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

I think what most people lack at the early stage of their life in states is guidance. Especially for those who come out of their parents’ house and suddenly take all kinda responsibilities in a foreign land. That could be very stressful…

For you tho, the pros are you are educated, professional, responsible, well informed and most of all have someone to support and guide you thru the transition period…the cons are you have a good life in Ethiopia, good job/salary, stress free/laid-back lifestyle, great social life, etc. and you are going to give up/leave behind all that for the unknown.

However we all have different experience and different take on life, so good luck!

Btw, what is the future of e-Shoe box?

]]> By: ONELUV http://abesheet.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/nervous-abt-my-nirvana/#comment-573 ONELUV Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:13:00 +0000 http://abesheet.wordpress.com/?p=906#comment-573 well written sis...i must say, from the sound of it, it looks like you are well informed about life in america, which gives you a head start than most of us since you know what to expect. my view of american before i set foot here was all the goods, and not much of the bads. i expected glamorous, beautiful things about this country and boy was that a set up for dissapointment and heartache. Its true you might be hit up by bills from all around the cornor, but the beauty of this country is that you don't have to limit yourself to wiping toilets or asses, you can be whatever it is that you want to be. of course life abroad isn't easy, but then again when is life every easy, ya know? congrats on the approval :) peace well written sis…i must say, from the sound of it, it looks like you are well informed about life in america, which gives you a head start than most of us since you know what to expect. my view of american before i set foot here was all the goods, and not much of the bads. i expected glamorous, beautiful things about this country and boy was that a set up for dissapointment and heartache. Its true you might be hit up by bills from all around the cornor, but the beauty of this country is that you don’t have to limit yourself to wiping toilets or asses, you can be whatever it is that you want to be. of course life abroad isn’t easy, but then again when is life every easy, ya know? congrats on the approval :)

peace

]]> By: ethiocentric http://abesheet.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/nervous-abt-my-nirvana/#comment-574 ethiocentric Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:34:41 +0000 http://abesheet.wordpress.com/?p=906#comment-574 lollllllllllll.......you. My god you just made me think about my life in the USA. Lucky for me I haven't tasted to good sides of living in Ethiopia much (I was a kid)..and I have seen Sicko too by the way. What I can tell you is 30 isn't anything and since u seem to have figured your interests out you just take the opportunity and make it happen. Life here just sucks if you don't have a goal. If you do it is the best place on earth to be. So off with those cold feet. lollllllllllll…….you. My god you just made me think about my life in the USA. Lucky for me I haven’t tasted to good sides of living in Ethiopia much (I was a kid)..and I have seen Sicko too by the way. What I can tell you is 30 isn’t anything and since u seem to have figured your interests out you just take the opportunity and make it happen. Life here just sucks if you don’t have a goal. If you do it is the best place on earth to be. So off with those cold feet.

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