The Blissfool

Live the life you deserve along with the challenges  I am finally living my dream life, that’s no doubt. But it would be a lie if I say certain things haven’t been hard. Some of the challenges are a lot harder for me to handle than others. Most, you just have to “smile and wave.” I have been slacking on my updates. We had a busy season at work and it was really hectic. It was a good amount of running around and a good balanced out stress. When it comes to my personal life, I think I still have a lot of work left. I need to do better on building better and healthier relationships. My new project for myself right now if finding a freelance position (any where in the world!) I want to continue getting challenged and although I’m getting that here in Ethiopia, some times is not the kind I’m looking for. (I.e. lack of internet) I want someone to take my writing skills on a test drive… So anyone of you reading this want a writer please reach out. Am I adulting yet? Sad to ...

So I get on facebook after not having been on there for a bit and come across this message. I think I teared up a little. I haven't had much time to blog due to the work schedule and me trying to find a second gig. I have so much that I want to accomplish that I really don't want to rest or take time off until I get everything where I want them to be. And of course I'm not forcing anything to happen. I'm just listening to my gut feeling and taking into account the world around me. There is so much left to tell you all about my experience that I will have to take a day out and post. Take you all for your love and support and can't wait to make you all proud! And a special THANK YOU to the beautiful young lady who wrote me this. I remember this girl in high school and I know she's going to do absolutely great in whatever she decides on. (I hope she feels encouraged to come to Ethiopia but none the less she's phenomenal). P.S. to any of my readers in...

Making the decision to move to Ethiopia without a job lined up was a bit scary but I believed in what the universe was telling me to do. Fast forward to a three months in and funds low with no job. I'm ready to purchase my plane ticket back to the States and just call my "dream"/ journey quits. And with people around me telling to do so, it made the decision seem like what needed to happen. I then told myself that I said a year and a year it will be. So I got to thinking... and planned a Young Professional Networking Event. Which I was also discouraged from doing.  It was way more successful than I had planned. And a week later I landed a job I could only dream about. So needless to say I am very very happy and glad that I waited for dawn.

There is soooo much I need to write on/ catch you up on. I was in the middle of giving up on my dream (after ONE month of unsuccessful job search) and was getting ready to pack my bags and move. I had a lot of challenges that kept hitting me and thought that Creator's way of telling me it's time to leave. I had advice from both ends. I was told to pack and leave/come and I had a few who kept repeating the Amharic version of "darkness before dawn" quote. And of course I kept at it because I told myself a year and a year I had to give it. I had to ask myself what can I do in the mean time... something I loved doing. So I put together a networking event for young professionals in Addis. In order to be somebody you have to know people so it was the best way for me to meet people. Needless to say it was way more successful than I thought. During the planning period I also had spoke with one of the top Ad agencies in Addis and thought me being inexperienced would be ...

Hey all, I've been going through a few changes as mentioned in the last post. I will try and do a huge update on all that I've been doing. I've been trying to keep my creative side up but seem to fail at doing that. I have decided to do "Project 54" all over again but different products per week. Project 54 was a into to advertising project that we did with one brand and we produced 54 "ads." It was what had me fall in love with advertising and hoping that I can tap into that. I've been so caught up on making sure that the bills get paid that I forgot to keep up with what made me happy and what I choose as a career path. I will start posting soon. I will go through an adjective a week and push out as much finished work as possible. Please provide me with feed back for this is both personal and professional development. Much love and appreciation to those who have been keeping up with me.

Everything happens for a reason... for a good reason. When making my decision to come to Ethiopia I had a couple of plans lined up. The way life works is you can't plan it. You set a goal for yourself and achieve it with all the twists and turns that come your way. Recently I had a huge change in my life, something happened unexpectedly and it was pretty major. It pushed my estimated plan about a month or so back. I believe that this is happening for a really great reason. I may not be able to see it at the moment but I'm sure I'll get to see the bigger picture in the end. I am now living at my grandmothers which is a little ways outside the city. The peaceful nights are one for the books. I am hoping to figure out a few things while I have this isolations. I have not been able to think straight but I am reminding myself of what my goal is. Will let you know what the good reason of this is soon as I find out.

April 3 - I got to spend the whole day with Lulit, who lived in Ethiopia for one and a half years. Background on her, she’s family, who I’ve never got to spend time with “for real for real.” We randomly talk via social media here and there and her energy spoke volume   (based on what she shared). I can’t say how much of a blessing it is to “meet” someone who’s such a breath of fresh air. I was told we look alike which is a complement since she’s absolutely beautiful! She’s the Lynn to my Joan (I don’t know who Maya and Toni are).   She is in the process of starting up a center in the neighborhood that we grew up in. And her vision for the place is just so incredible I’m so proud to be a part of it. Check out her website to get the full details on the place, the history and the vision. CLICK HERE So needless to say today was an absolute adventure. I met her in Bole which is like the Americanize part of Addis. We went to a café to eat and I saw how local Lul...

April 2 – I am pretty speechless this journey was well needed. I was told about this group in the states and the amazing work that they do. So glad I got to experience one of their works first hand. This trip was a large gubaye, but it was also to raise money for this small church in the Southern region that didn’t have the means to build a larger church. They were only able to have kidasay one a month, and that’s if they were lucky. A good deal was raised; it was so nice to see such a large crowed of people (200+ full of buses) coming together for a great cause.

April 1 – Got to go to Yaya Village, which is a resort build by a famous runner. Then it was time to turn up like a 10 year old. saved snap

March 29 - I got to hang out with my friend from the NYC trip! We went to Nazrate. You’re wondering why the title is Awassa if I’m in Nazrate. So he was taking a business trip to Nazrate and asked if I wanted join. I asked if it was a warm place since Addis had been a bit on the chilly side I wanted a place I could ware a dress and be fine. After being told that it’s hot I decided to join. Because I had talked about Awassa that day with my uncle or cousin I for some reason thought I was going there. Later that night at dinner I was with my Dad and step-mom and he asked where I was going. I said Awassa and he told me that it was an over night trip I said no it’s too close to be over night and argued the mess out of where I was going. I asked what the nearest hot city to Addis, but in the midst of arguing I decided to text Amare (the friend). Well you could only imagine my reaction to the answer. It’s good to humble thy self sometime. Non-the less it’s s...

March 25 and 26 – Saturday I got a chance to go to Entoto Kidane Meheret. My cousin came by and we walked there, it’s mainly uphill and muddy. A large number of people were there as well so we didn’t get to go to tsebel (holy water). It was great to go to a Kidane Meheret church and give thanks for a safe arrival, since my home church was also Kidane Meheret. Sunday I went to the church near us, which is where I got baptized. After we went to two christening parties.   At the second location, which was my cousin’s, I saw one of my “aunts.” She took me to her place for me to see the kids (who are all grown up now) and I had dinner with them.

March 23 – I got to meet our little sister Hiwot.

I’m in awe of the flower people give you when you arrive. We’re doing it wrong America. In love with my centerpieces! They’re a few days old so please forgive their droopiness.

I finally figured out how to get wifi at home!!! Yay!!!

I made it!!!  One of the best advice I received was to find a place to just exist. The advice was being given to College/ Rising College students. The lady advised that YOU should find a place where you don't have to fit in. Just exist. Whether that's an all women's college or HBCU find a place where you don't have to worry about fitting in. So you can concentrate on what's more important, which in this case is school/ one's education.  That said, it feels great to be home, in a country where majority look like me and speak the same language. But needless to say I found a place to fit in without trying. I look forward to the lessons I'm about to learn and can't wait for my personal growth. I hope part of that growth is through attending school here. I came here for change and change I hope to get.  Thank you again to all those who continue to encourage and support me on my journey. Much Love and appreciation.  P.S. Will post pictures soo...

I think I love Colorado! 

So the show I said started the chair reaction was invited to Penn State to perform.  It was a wonderful experience of meeting college students who were passionate and woke. The energy in the room was empowering, strong, vulnerable, open. It's not every day that you come across a show/ experience like this. Kweens is about to go international. Make sure you follow up to know what's going on.