The MFT program is currently developing a trip to the United Kingdom to work with refugee families populatioins in the Spring/Summer of 2018.
Dr. Nickolas Jordan, of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program, along with Dr. Vachel Miller, Interim Program Director of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership headed a study abroad trip to Ethiopia in May 2015. Students spent roughly 2.5 weeks at Bahir Dar University, learning about family therapy in an Ethiopian context, learning about issues of social/educational change in East Africa, human rights, and social justices from a cross-cultural perspective. While there, students were immersed in Ethiopian culture with opportunities to explore rich historical and cultural sites.
Photo and Caption Credit: Dr. Nickolas A. Jordan
Traveling to Ethiopia
Next stop... Dulles, VA. (Dr. Vachel Miller and students waiting in the airport)
Denzel anxiously waiting for the plane to take off... also wondering why it's so early!
Ethiopian Air... Next stop, Ethiopia.
Here we go again: more airports, more waiting.
Adventures in Ethiopia
Day 1
First Meal in Addis Ababi, Ethiopia
They brought us way too much food
What happened to Dr. Jordan's face?
Getting checked for ebola upon arrival
The fancy hotel
The view from Jordan's room. Lake Tana.
Day 2
Juice bar for the win.
You don't want to know what we had to do to get phones for ourselves while we're in Ethiopia. Let's just say we're pretty sure Dr. Jordan is going to be charged with treason upon our return.
Day 3
Denzel, Kia and Jordan gambled on the porridge this morning. We lost.
This is our liaison to Bahir Dar University, Dr. Zewdu. He heads up the department of Quality Assurance (Research and IRB). He has been a fantastic guide and partner to the entire Reich College of Education.
Our took-took adventures! These things are everywhere.
We just visited a center for educating deaf children in Bahir Dar. They are doing amazing, community-based work. They use social workers to work with families and educate them about the struggles community children face.
This is how the center for work with deaf children welcomed us. Great coffee, barley, nuts, popcorn, and delicious bread.
This is how the center for work with deaf children welcomed us. Great coffee, barley, nuts, popcorn, and delicious bread.
Aynalem Ayalen (left), director of the Kal Center, shows us all the great work she's doing for community children and their families!
Newly constructed building at Bahir Dar University called the Wisdom Tower
Newly constructed building at Bahir Dar University called the Wisdom Tower
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Bahir Dar University Main Campus
Sign at the Bahir Dar University School of Journalism
Day 4
Kia and Bel are enjoying their morning Ethiopian Macchiatos.
Starting our Lake Tana adventure. We're visiting a couple monasteries today!
We're at the Entos Eyesu Monastery! Meanwhile, Bel awaits your order at the Loom of Fate.
We're at the Entos Eyesu Monastery! Meanwhile, Bel awaits your order at the Loom of Fate.
A Monk shows us a Holy Book written in ancient, Ethiopia dialect back in the 7th century.
A Monk shows us a Holy Book written in ancient, Ethiopia dialect back in the 7th century.
Entos Eyesu Monastery
Entos Eyesu Monastery
Entos Eyesu Monastery
Nicole is teaching Mylyia, and the rest of us, the Dead Man's Finger on the Blue Nile River. Try it. We dare you.
Day 5
We just had lunch and coffee with Dr. Zewdu and his lovely family. We thank them for inviting us to their home and showing tremendous love.
Dr. Zewdu's children and their friends sing songs for us during lunch. Out of the picture is Mylyia, totally overcome with baby fever.
Getting served the traditional three cups of coffee after lunch.
Day 6
Meeting with Alehubel Alemaw Bizuneh. He is the director of Health and Wholeness Ethiopia. He does amazing work with at risk and impoverished youth. He and his organization have won awards from Columbia University for their work with commercial sex workers.
We are at Bahir Dar University hearing a lecture and sharing ideas with faculty and students on Gender Development Studies in Ethiopia and abroad. We were honored to be included in this conversation.
We are at Bahir Dar University hearing a lecture and sharing ideas with faculty and students on Gender Development Studies in Ethiopia and abroad. We were honored to be included in this conversation.
Day 7
Meeting with Kibrom Mengitsu. We're talking about Bahir Dar University's Guidance and Counseling Center. They provide career counseling and psychotherapeutic services to university students.
Day 8
Today we had the honor of meeting with Dr. Matebie Tafere. He is the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Bahir Dar University. He shared the university’s strategic plan for enhancing curriculum quality and instruction delivery.
Day 9
Today, we presented to the Ethiopia Health and Wholeness Foundation! We held workshops for staff working with at risk youth, vulnerable children, and commercial sex workers.
Today, we presented to the Ethiopia Health and Wholeness Foundation! We held workshops for staff working with at risk youth, vulnerable children, and commercial sex workers.
Today, we presented to the Ethiopia Health and Wholeness Foundation! We held workshops for staff working with at risk youth, vulnerable children, and commercial sex workers.
Today, we presented to the Ethiopia Health and Wholeness Foundation! We held workshops for staff working with at risk youth, vulnerable children, and commercial sex workers.
Kia, AKA Born Ready, enjoys the view on our hike to Blue Nile Falls. Welcome home, Kia!
Careful, Bel! We’re at the Portuguese Bridge. This bridge runs across the Blue Nile.
During the entire rainy season, this entire area is filled with water!
During the entire rainy season, this entire area is filled with water!
During the entire rainy season, this entire area is filled with water!
Uuummmmmmm.... No.
Uuummmmmmm.... No.
Day 10
Denzel and Tiffany presenting at the Bahir Dar University Forum!
Day 11
Today we are at the Kuriftu Resort in Bahir Dar! Denzel is enjoying strawberry ice cream by the pool.
The resort faces Lake Tana. We all got massages, pedicures, and ate fantastic food. Dr. Jordan was wary of getting a massage in the beginning. He is now a believer.
The resort faces Lake Tana. We all got massages, pedicures, and ate fantastic food. Dr. Jordan was wary of getting a massage in the beginning. He is now a believer.
Day 12
It’s our last night in Bahir Dar. We invited all of our university and community friends to dinner at the Lake Shore restaurant. We had an amazing time in this great town on the lake.
It’s our last night in Bahir Dar. We invited all of our university and community friends to dinner at the Lake Shore restaurant. We had an amazing time in this great town on the lake.
It’s our last night in Bahir Dar. We invited all of our university and community friends to dinner at the Lake Shore restaurant. We had an amazing time in this great town on the lake.
Tonight we’re exploring Ethiopian night life. We are experiencing traditional music and dance. It is unbearably awesome! Bel, Denzel, Mylyia, and Kia got to dance on stage.
Tonight we’re exploring Ethiopian night life. We are experiencing traditional music and dance. It is unbearably awesome! Bel, Denzel, Mylyia, and Kia got to dance on stage.
Tonight we’re exploring Ethiopian night life. We are experiencing traditional music and dance. It is unbearably awesome! Bel, Denzel, Mylyia, and Kia got to dance on stage.
Day 13
One of the mothers at the Muday Home for Children in Addis Ababa makes the famed Ethiopian injera bread.
One of the mothers at the Muday Home for Children in Addis Ababa makes the famed Ethiopian injera bread.
We got to meet Lucy at the National Museum of Ethiopia! She is the earliest known human, estimated to have lived 3.2 million years ago.
We got to meet Lucy at the National Museum of Ethiopia! She is the earliest known human, estimated to have lived 3.2 million years ago.
We got to meet Lucy at the National Museum of Ethiopia! She is the earliest known human, estimated to have lived 3.2 million years ago.
Flying back to the USA
After 17 hours of flying over the Atlantic, we're finally back in the states. One more flight and we're home. We're exhausted AND, we had the time of our lives.
To see more pictures of our time in Ethiopia, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/appstateMFT/photos/?tab=album&album_id=713230002115616