7 days to go!!

Here we are, one week left before the big departure, one week to enjoy the family time, one week to prepare for everything.
I believe that every Techwomen preparing for this adventure, will have two contradictory feelings, excitement and worries.
A trip to United States is a big event in a lifetime, discovering a country with this much different culture will be overwhelming in the beginning but exciting, in the same time, leaving everything around going out of our daily comfort zone, taking risks with new projects, with new goals this can bring some worries and stress.
But here it is, time to face all challenges, time to believe in our selves, time to show our EL side and reach our limits and goals.
7 days is a pretty short time, no need to overthink, get ready, and buckle up, the Silicon Valley is waiting for us.

How did you became a techwomen candidate?

I've been a part a the tech world for many years already, studied mathematics during high school, electronics in college and telecommunication as a career path.

I heard about techwomen program from my best friend, she had been selected for the first session, but because of a career change she could not continue the program. But she convinced me to apply this year, saying that the worst thing that can happen is not to be selected but in the same time I will experience an interview, and have the opportunity to sell my profile.

After applying, I've been very nervous, because for many weeks no answer, no news, until I received the email inviting me to the embassy for an interview. On that time I was out of the country, so I had to make a call conference interview. The duration was 6 minutes, 6 minutes to convince a committee or a group of ladies that I deserve this chance, and I'm an interesting person.

After the call, I could not remember any of my answers, but being overbooked, I just move on. And big surprise I'm selected, I was not expecting it.

And then I started thinking, am I a techwomen ? Am I a person that can bring something new in the women tech field?

I've always tried to be a role model to my students, my colleagues or members of my family.

After being selected, I started doing some advertisement for the program, I felt having a message to share, tech world is not only for men, tech world is the best path for a lady.

Most of the time, girls, ladies are surprised with this idea, but now it's an emerging one...so it's a good beginning .

I hope from this trip to get more confidence facing new challenges. Build a networking environment, and learn some new technical and business skills.

New adventure, new hope and a new beginning.

San Francisco here I come!!

Melkam Addis Amet

Five years ago, I've met customers in China, it's always a great experience, most of the time you have the opportunity to meet people with a lot of common point with your self, since at least they are in telecommunication field.
for the last 8 years I had some extraordinary life experience, some of these people became very close friends, we might be from different culture, religion or continent, but we have the same view of life.

so five years ago I've met a group of Ethiopian in China, it was my third time to be there so I felt comfortable, I've been surprise by this group, they were smiling, little shy but friendly, they came to invite us saying it's the new year.
being in September, and hearing new year I've got curious and surprise, they explained that Ethiopia calendar is 7 years late and the new year celebration is every 9/11.
so we celebrate 2001 again, I had to feel 7 years younger and be 21 again, what a pleasure for a girl.
so party time, we went to KTV room, we watched a documentary about Ethiopia History and you know what these people are the only one that can say we never been colonized by any country, and that's something to be proud of.
then the music started, those rhythm took my feet away, my shoulders could not stop moving, for somebody like me who loves and enjoy percussion and drums rhythms it was crazily amazing.

we had some dancing courses, we enjoyed cakes, we talked with these people, the same I was seeing very shy in the morning, they were smiling and happy now, they were themselves.
I felt happy I felt free to be myself as well.
Since that night, some of these persons became my close and best friends, 5 years later, we've been lucky enough to meet again in Addis for some of them, but mostly we kept in touch following each others life.

when I went to Addis, I felt happy, mostly people get confused by my reaction, Ethiopia is not just an African country, it's first a place where different religions live together without hard feelings, Ethiopia is the place where people bring the good traditional hospitality, people will invite you and make you the most important person in the world.
Ethiopia is about a real friendship feeling.

In my heart, I feel that when you meet an Ethiopian person, you can be sure it will be there for you, forever.

Thanks to God for this wonderful experience, thanks to every Ethiopian person that brought my smile anytime in my life.

I wish a Happy Ethiopian New Year to everyone, might this new year be full of surprises, happiness, development and a World Cup qualification hihihi!!

30 days to go!!!

September 1st!! 30 days are left before to go to San Francisco, 30 days before to leave for the new experience.
I've been in my comfort zone for 8 years, doing what I like the most teaching, and enjoying travelling. this time my trip will be to an unknown place, and I will have to work on a totally different project.
I feel exactly like before my skydive, I feel anxious, but excited, curious and ready to face the new challenges, because I know that at the end of this opportunity I will be different , and happy.

am counting the days, i'm imagining how life will be, i'm hoping to meet some of my friends there.
Thanks God for this wonderful chance!! let's try to get the best of it!!!