Blogs from Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Ethiopia, Africa - page 6

Just what exactly are YOU doing for Ethiopians?? Well I guess I ought to interrupt the random (blog) thoughts of Chairman Al with an update on work. I will do a 'typical day' blog later this week (if I get some pictures/video) as it is quite a contrast to a typical day back in the UK; not because I do less work, just the timings and general environmental differences. Ok, I've not had to shoo any sheep out of the office yet, but we have definately had a couple of oxen wandering around the compund for two days, waiting for slaughter and distribution amongst contributing staff! So my job title here is IT Training Expert though during recruitment and the first month in country VSO's wires were crossed and I was listed everywhere as a Management ... read more

Since we have been back it's been feast of Johnny Morris tales. The rats have been running egg and spoon races in the attic space under the tin roof. Sara has had a sheep walk into her office, take a seat and start dictating a memo...well, almost. No doubt she will tell more but it was raining and her office gained an extra staff member for the afternoon. Not a common occurance at Jisc back home she says - but then maybe only because she's on the top floor and the sheep just can't reach the buttons in the lift...? The cats are back round the house. Only the loud (I think deaf) one is still alive from the happy threesome that we took under our wings earlier in the year. We have fed him milk ... read more

Five Go Mad on Meskel OK it's more like 3 plus the pick-pocket and the Federal Policeman with the *big* stick. September 27th is Meskel - the orthodox Christian festival in Ethiopia - or the finding of the true cross. Legend has it that some ancient queen (Helena) had a dream in which she burnt a pile of wood and the smoke led to the place at which the true cross of the crucifixion was buried. Celebrated on the evening before (i.e. the afternoon of Friday 26th) the centre of Addis grinds to a halt as the 16-lane chaos of Meskel Square is replaced by 100,000-citizen chaos while various churches make their representations at the square, priests gather with colourful umbrellas and a large pile of wood is burnt; all followed by a firework display. Told ... read more

(child's sweet whisper) Inkou-tar-tash (tap, tap) (child's voice) Inkou-tar-tash (tap, tap, bang) (child's annoyed voice) Inkou-TAR-TASH (bang! bang! bang!) (child's shout) INKOU-TAR-TASH (BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG) (gang of children chanting & banging the gate) IINNKKOOUU-TTAARR-TTAASSHH!!!!!! (BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG...) Oh no. Please no. It's 6.45am on Ethiopian New Year's day. Last night was our New Year party and we got to bed at around 3am. It's OK . Ignore it and dig them (allegedly industrial strength) earplugs in deeper my son and they'll get bored. Er, nope. Did it work? Did they get bored? Of course not! They're small kids. They *never* get bored of annoying adults. Besides, them Ferengis handed out $50,000 in used birr (is there any other kind??), gold watches... read more

Yes I’m still struggling to keep the blog updated. However I’ve been inspired, well, by two things actually, firstly an amazing adventure we had at the weekend and secondly we have a couple of Ethiopian readers in America, who know Assosa and have told us we’re not saying or showing enough of the good stuff here. So this one is for you Antenna and Asishu. We went on an incredible walk on Sunday, we headed off to Andreas’s house at about 9.00, it was raining a bit, but not too heavy. Andreas has been in Ethiopia for about 14 years and for much of that time lived in Assosa and in one of the Berta villages close by, with his wife and three children, he works on a language programme. So he was our guide and ... read more