When the Sour Bite of Injera Finally Sweetened

Africa » Ethiopia » Benishangul-Gumuz Region » Asosa
June 2nd 2013

Published: June 18th 2013

Like on cue, tears shamelessly trickled down as the vehicle carrying me and my colleagues left my house for the airport. "Sorry, I'm crying," shyly wiping away the tears that clouded my eyes. "I'd be concerned if you did not," said my fellow volunteer who came down for a visit. If that was a movie, I swear I would be up for nomination for best actress. Hands down. As we cruised by the patches of... Read Full Entry

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hana badando

fateundermined

I used to believe I could find the cure for cancer. And diabetes. And win a Nobel prize for it. Then I went out of the hospital. Then I discovered the road. And enjoyed it. Now, (almost) everything I do, I do to get me to travel. Who knows, I still might. But currently, I am enjoying what I'm doing. So it would most likely take a while. (Note: Being a procrastinating duchess, I am unable to blog as often as I want. If you want to follow me for other non-travel related stuff, please do check out the links below.) [url=http://fateundermined... full info

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mother carrying her baby using netella

new flower view from the top

Addis Ababa -- Ethiopia's capital -- means new flower.

Meskel celebration in Assosa

Meskel is an annual religious event held to commemorate the discovery of the True Cross.

blessings

They were among the reasons I enjoyed my stay in Assosa.

procession during Timket in Assosa

Timket is another annual religious event held to celebrate Epiphany, when Jesus was baptized in Jordan River.

more blessings

Who would have thought I'd meet a LOT of wonderful people in that small town?

friends for life (awwwww......)

My Teammates

They were not only colleagues but wonderful friends as well. (Thanks for everything!)

kids playing football in Garabiche Metema Woreda, Benishangul-Gumuz Region

view on the way to Adwa, Tigray Region

Adwa is where the Ethiopian troops won First Italo-Ethiopian War.

Arabian night...err day it's not!

Camels in Adwa

crocodile in Arba Minch lake

Literally means "forty springs", Arba Minch is located in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region.

nope, it's not Gloria the Hippo from Madagascar movie

They may look adorable but they can be deadly. Seriously.

Mursi people in Mago, Omo Valley

The Mursi are pastoralist indigenous people living in the southern part of Ethiopia. Photo shows individuals living in Mago National Park, which is an isolated area in the region. In order to enter their dwellings (seen in background), one has to kneel down and crawl.

Scene at Turmi Market

Turmi is a small village located in Omo Valley. It is home to many Hamer people, another pastoralist ethnic group found in the southern part of the country.

Scars of love

Photo shows a Hamer woman with scarred back. Hamer women willingly get themselves whipped to show their affection and devotion for men in their family. This is part of the bull jumping ceremony that is held as a rite of passage for boys into adulthood. The more and deeper wounds the woman get, the deeper her affection is for that man in the family. In return, the man is forever indebted to the woman. More information here: http://anthropolobody.blogspot.com/2012/11/hamer-people-ukuli-bula-bull-jumping.html

sit and talk

Health extension workers in one of the kebeles (like villages) in Bambasi Woreda, trying to identify their problems, specifically during health emergencies.

helping out

A health extension worker helping a woman who just gave birth identify what she and her baby need to keep them healthy and well.

How to keep them healthy?

This woman just gave birth to her first-born baby. Part of the tradition is for them to just stay indoors for a more than a month, where it is very dark. Firewood is burned inside the house, near the baby, with the smoke filling the house.

scarred for beauty

A Mursi woman showing scars on her arm.

breaking beliefs

Contrary to popular belief that they are aggressive particularly in asking for money, the Mursi people are warm and eager to share their culture to other people. In the short time we spent with them, they allowed us to participate in some of their activities, like making flour, dancing and singing. I hope more can be done for them.

18th June 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Life changes you...and as you said, you become a better you.
Tears filled my eyes as I read your story. You've grown and had innumerable experiences that will follow you for a lifetime. Thank goodness you had the strength and desire to take that first step. Your ripples will be felt for years to come. Life leads you where you need to go. Love to know what your next steps are. Hope our paths cross in the future. We'd love to meet you.

18th June 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Local
Love this photo

19th June 2013

TinNiE
" Half the fun of the travel is the esthetic of lostness "

Not giving money to kids on the street (That's how they learn to beg. Please help them in another way.) --> I totally agree. Thanks for sharing your experience. Welcome home! x

19th June 2013

tigisttafer
non-member comment

Hani it is greet
when i read about your stay in ethiopia as well as in Assosa i feel different things that tuch me b/c you face alot here and also you know about Ethiopia greater than me ...i admire you Hana

19th June 2013

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

a tiny pebble could still create big ripples when thrown nicely into the water
Wonderful blog Hana...oh to be able to throw pebbles as you have done in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is a jewel of Africa...you are a jewel of Ethiopia...may your pebbles thrown cause waves.

21st June 2013

GRACIELA
non-member comment

THANK YOU
OUR WORLD NEEDS MANY PEOPLE LIKE YOU. HUGS FROM ARGENTINA.

8th July 2013

Astrid C. Shiferaw
non-member comment

A beautiful experience
I never realized how you have appreciated your year-long stay in Assossa. I'm so amazed at your acceptance of a very different life from what you have been used to. When I read your story, I felt so blessed to have known you and at the same time, happy that someone appreciated the life, the people, the whole country, including the bad and the hard (like not getting all the food you want, traveling by bus all over the place and enjoying it, being by yourself in that far-away place, etc. etc...) Hope you come back again and continue giving of yourself.........

14th July 2013

uziel
non-member comment

when tears don't roll down
nice one!! bravo!! never knew that some of my words have given you strength to move on. ;) i was a bit teary reading this (maybe i have missed my ethiopian life too) but as i picture you saying these things and know how much you have learned, my smiles stopped my tears from rolling down. the world has so much to offer so we could become a better person that we ought to be.

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When the Sour Bite of Injera Finally Sweetened

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