Week 6 in Addis and what I've learned...

What I’ve learned the past few weeks:

African time is real…things happen when they happen, not before but could be much later as well.  Who knows? Relax… try back tomorrow.  Our bamboo lady said our next order will be done in a week.  The first time we ordered, I believed that and was very excited and disappointed when that date arrived.  It took more like a week and a half.  I am now thinking I will be happy when our next order of furniture arrives, whenever that might be.  Looking forward to finishing our sun room.

If something is not logged/inventoried in the computer, you can’t buy it…even if it is a very expensive item.  Relax and try back tomorrow. Maybe it will be in the computer then.  

If you don’t have a receipt for your cable, phone service, beer and pop cases…forget about it!  Relax, go home, and try back tomorrow.  Don’t even ask for help with these things.  ALWAYS keep ALL receipts.  Our receipt drawer is overflowing!  Need file folders!

At the duty free store, you need to go five different places in order to buy any items. It is important to have your item handwritten, then typed, then stamped, then paid for and then verified before you walk out the door.  Relax and accept the process.  Don’t worry...be happy!

Cell phone service is unpredictable at best.  Sending a text could get to the person in an hour or possibly the next day.  Calling….well, let’s just say it takes perseverance! So, most people just drop in without calling.  It is actually pretty darn nice not to be attached to a phone and have visitors come over to the house to chit chat.  The only downside…I don’t put on my jammies until the evening! :)

On that same note, you need to have a cell phone in order to attempt said unpredictable coverage.  Do not keep your phone in the outside of your purse pocket (Patti), even if you think you are VERY aware of your surroundings.  Distractions will cause you to be unaware of your phone finding a new owner.  Do not leave your phone in a school bathroom (Michael) as your phone will get lonely and find someone else to play with.  We have learned the lesson that this is just stuff and can be replaced.

During a downpour, some streets turn into rivers and some into lakes.  

Having a party at our house was a beautiful thing.  I loved having downtime with my coworkers.  I am lucky to work with adventurous, funny, lively, kind and caring people.  People I want to know better.

I realize how my thinking is changing.  My normal is changing.  My neighborhood and city have changed.  I see things through different lenses.  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia has become my new normal.  AND, surprisingly enough, I like it.  I actually find it beautiful.

My hope for myself is to find that balance I have always strived for; I think I can do it here.  I want to be an effective teacher, a true friend, a loving wife, a thoughtful daughter and sister, a community server, an explorer of Addis and the rest of Ethiopia, a world traveler, motivated to stay physically fit, and most of all be present in all situations.  Relax…I know balance won’t happen overnight, however, I already feel the change inside and it feels good!  I have time on my side…African time! 

Dimma Cultural Restuarant in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

What an amazing night!  New teachers from ICS were treated to a traditional Ethiopian meal while being entertained by musicians and dancers.  They represented people from the different regions of Ethiopia.  Many teachers got up and were able to dance on stage.  What fun and the food was delicious!  I took a couple of videos and they are at the bottom of the page.

Here is a link to Dimma:
Dimma Cultural Restaurant

• Kitfo

• Fiyel Kitfo
  Minced beef top side meat cooked with seasoned butter and capper served with local cabbage and cottage cheese

• Gomen Kitfo
  Local cabbage cooked with seasoned butter and capper served with cottage cheese

• Tikur (Kikil Kitfo)

• Fento (Kikil Kitfo with gomen Kitfo)

• Zemamujet (cheese with Cabbage)
  Local cabbage mixed with cottage cheese, seasoned butter and caper, served with false banana bread (Kocho)

• Gored Gored
  Raw beef top side cubes dipped in seasoned butter 'Awaze' and capper

• Dimma Special National Buffet (By order about 30 persons)
  Combination of National dishes (variety of non-fasting dishes)

• Tire Sega Bere (Beef raw meat per kg)

• Trie Sega Fiyel (Goat raw meat per kg)

• Bozena Shiro
  Traditional yellow peas with a dash of chopped meat, comes on fire

• Bozena Shiro for butter

• Tegamino

• Salad

• Fried fish or fish cutlet

• Gomen Besega (Local Cabbage with meat)
  Local cabbage with chopped meat, cooked with garlic, onion and seasoned butter, comes on fire

• Tripa (Tripe)

• Kuanta Firfir
  Dried tender beef cooked in 'Berbere' with seasoned butter

Fun with new friends!

 Ethiopia has a diverse mix of ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. It is a country with more than 80 different ethnic groups each with its own language, culture, custom and tradition. Dimma's theatrical stage backgrounds have multi-environment countryside views.

Ethiopia's Attractions and Our New Bucket List

There are many things to see in Ethiopia.  Since Michael is already hard at work, I have time to contemplate our next adventures.  I know when the staff come back for the new school year, they will help me to add to this list!  I can't wait to experience these places myself!  This page is in progress!

Outside of Addis Ababa:
1.  Lalibela

 The small town of Lalibela in Ethiopia is home to one of the world's most astounding sacred sites: eleven rock-hewn churches, each carved entirely out of a single block of granite with its roof at ground level.

Were it not for these extraordinary churches, Lalibela would almost certainly be well off the tourist radar. A dusty rural town nestled into rolling countryside, Lalibela only recently received electricity. It has few motorized vehicles, no gas stations and no paved streets. Isolated from the modern world, the town goes about its business much as it has for several hundred years.

Of Lalibela's 8-10,000 people, over 1,000 are priests. Religious ritual is central to the life of the town, with regular processions, extensive fasts, crowds of singing and dancing priests. This, combined with its extraordinary religious architecture and simplicity of life, gives the city of Lalibela a distinctively timeless, almost biblical atmosphere.

2.  Tigray

Tigray also has rock-hewn churches. Similar in design to those of  Lalibela. Some of the churches are considered earlier than those of Lalibela, perhaps dating from the eighth century. They are often located at the top of cliffs or steep hills, for security. For example, Tigray's ancient Debre Damo monastery is accessible only by climbing a rope 25 meters up a sheer cliff.




3.  Aksum (also spelled Axum)

Aksum is the name of a powerful, urban Kingdom in Ethiopia, that flourished in the centuries before and after the time of Christ.  The town is littered with the ruins of palaces, underground tombs, stelae (obelisks), and inscriptions.  98% of Aksum remains unexcavated.  No longer a wealthy metropolis, the town continues to flourish as a center of local trade.  Around the crumbling palaces, farmers are plowing their land, village boys splash in the Queen of Sheba's Bath, and hurrying past the      

towering stelae are the market-goers and their donkeys

4.  Gonder  (also spelled Gondar) 

Gonder has been called Africa's Camelot, and with its series of castles and churches.

The modern city of Gonder is popular as a tourist attraction for its many ruins in the Royal Enclosure, from which the Emperors once reigned. The most famous buildings in the city lie in the Royal Enclosure, which include Fasilides castle, Iyasu's Palace, Dawit's Hall, a banqueting hall, stables, Mentewab's Castle, a chencellery, library and three churches.  Near the city lie Fasilides' Bath, home to an annual ceremony where it is blessed and then opened for bathing; the Qusquam complex, built by Empress Mentewab; the eighteenth century Ras Mikael Sehul's Palace and the Debre Berhan Selassie Church.

Downtown Gondar shows the influence of the Italian occupation of the late 1930s. The main piazza features shops, a cinema, and other public buildings. Villas and flats in the nearby quarter that once housed occupation officials and colonists are also of interest.

5.  Simien Mountains National Park

According to Homer, the Simien Mountains awere the playground of the Greek gods, who came here to play chess...enough said.  We have to go!

Simien Mountains have several jagged peaks of solidified lava that are separated by deep valleys to form an amazing landscape.  The mountains are also home to some of the world’s rarest animals, including the Walia Ibex, which is not found anywhere else in the world, as well as the  

Ethiopian wolf and Gelada Baboon.
                                                                                                                                                                
6.  Lake Tana 

Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and is the largest lake in Ethiopia.  The lake discharges into the Blue Nile, which regulates the flow to the Blue Nile Falls (Tis Abbai), and a hydro-power station.

The thirty-seven islands of Lake Tana shelter twenty monasteries. Because of their isolation they were used to store art treasures and religious relics from all parts of the country. Tradition says the Ark of the Covenant was kept on one of these islands when Axum was endangered, and the remains of five Emperors - including Fasilidas - are to be found at Daga Istafanos. 

Michael wants to raft the Blue Nile.  We were told to watch out for the hippos!
7.  Harar

For centuries, Harar has been a major commercial center, linked by the trade routes with the rest of Ethiopia, the entire Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and, through its ports, the outside world. It has 82 mosques, three of which date from the 10th century, and 102 shrines<sup>.

Medhane Alem church, built at the end of the 19th century, is in the town centre and contains excellent examples of traditional regional art.
The Community Museum, also in the town center, has displays relating to the way of life in earlier times.
The 16th century Grand Mosque, with is beautiful twin towers and slender minaret lies on the road to the Erer Gate.
The market place is regarded as one of the most colourful in all Ethiopia. It known for its silversmiths, and there are beautiful necklaces, bracelets and chains to be found. The basketry is also impressive. There are two markets in Harar, the Christian and the Muslim, which are separated from one another.
The Ahmar Mountains around Harar produce some of the best coffee in Ethiopia...yummy!</sup>


The Hyena Men of Harar feed to the wild hyenas usually about 100 metres outside the Fallana Gate of the old city walls of the town. Hyenas appear just after sunset to take food from their hands or mouths in this case...









8.  Nechisar National Park

Our Home!

The front of the house.  Upstairs is the sun room.

Front yard off of the porch.  The white structure is a fountain.

Our yard on one side of the house.

What will soon be our garden on the other side of the house.

Patio off the kitchen.  The structure behind the house are additional rooms for storage, laundry, bathroom, etc.

Laundry and extra rooms.

The garage and gate

We love our new home!  It is a three bedroom and two bathroom house with an added sunroom on the second floor.  We are located in a quiet neighborhood.

Arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Heading to school.  The blue vans are public transportation.

The city of Addis early in the morning.

This building houses the gym that we may join.

Tried to capture the beauty in the background.  Didn't quite do that.

Tidbits on Addis Ababa, Ethiopia:

Addis Ababa in Amharic means 'New Flower.'  Addis is a very colorful and vibrant city that truly has grown on us.  The climate is beautiful, even during the rainy season which runs from May-Augustish.  The temperature is around 75 degrees year round, yet cools off in the evenings. We don't need central heating or air.  Even though it is the third largest city in Africa, it still has rural aspects such as donkeys trotting in the road and goats grazing on nearby grasses.  Traffic may seem a bit chaotic to westerners, but it make sense and works in this city.  I probably won't venture out any time soon driving on my own as people and animals dart into the roadway; that makes me a tad bit nervous!  If you are wondering about safety, let it be known that Addis is a very safe city.  Pick-pocketing and theft are the main concerns here.  I'm looking forward to visiting the Merkato, one of the largest outdoor markets in Africa, as well as the many museums.  Ethiopia is known as one of the ten poorest countries in the world, yet Addis has many fine hotels, such as the Sheraton and the Radisson.  The restaurants range from Armenian to Middle Eastern and Korean, with excellent Italian, French, and Swiss restaurants as well.  Best of all, the people in Ethiopia are friendly and very laid back. 

Day 1:
We made it to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on July 8th, just after midnight.  By the time we got through customs and out of the Bole International Airport, it was 1:00.  We quickly made it to our new home and spent a couple of hours unpacking our bulky duffel bags.  Because of this, we accidentally overslept and missed our driver and ride to school!  Exhausted but excited, we spent the day filling out paperwork for our work permit and phones.  The staff at ICS is so helpful, they walked us through the paperwork and drove us everywhere we needed to go.  

We also met our maid/cook.  Her name is Hadjiba and she is outstanding in the kitchen.  We also met our two guards, Beyene and Bizuneh.  We are so lucky to have such wonderful people working for us.

A friend had us over to her house to celebrate her newly adopted baby boy, and then we went to the Radisson for a fancy dinner.  It was delicious!

We lost power for a while, but we have a house generator as a backup. 

Day 2:
Michael worked and a staff member gave me a tour of the local grocery stores and produce markets.  The stores are small and it took me some time to get a handle on converting birr into dollars in my brain!  A little goes a long way here.   I had quite a list of items to buy, thank goodness I had help.

We had a friend over for dinner and headed to bed early.  Lost power again this evening.

Don't worry friends...I will not journal every day on this blog! :)

Layover in Istanbul

This week we will spend two and a half days in Istanbul, Turkey.  Friends have said that is certainly not enough time to see all there is to see.  We will do our best!  Because of this, we decided to stay in the Sultanahmet neighborhood.  We learned that this is the easiest place to stay to tick off all of the main sites.  In this area is the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Topaki Palace, Basilica Cistern, as well as many restaurants.  We can't wait!

Here is a helpful link:
Things to do in Turkey

 

Information on Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the International Community School

Michael and I are moving to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia July 8th!  We will be working at the International Community School of Addis.  Many people are asking questions about both.  The school created an excellent video, so I thought I would share!