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Ethiopia Travel Blogs

Background: Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, with the exception of the 1936-41 Italian occupation during World War II. In 1974 a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A two and a half year border war with Eritrea ended with a peace treaty on 12 December 2000. Final demarcation of the boundary is currently on hold due to Ethiopian objections to an international commission's finding requiring it to surrender sensitive territory.

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By Kimbj
June 24th 2009

What can I say to help you understand the way it is here? Africa » Ethiopia » Amhara Region » Bahir Dar

Lake Tana and very old tree

I love the Bahir Dar area. I love it. But it is so sad because it's citizens deserve more. The city by the lake is a mixed blend of new and old, with condos and huts within the same area of town. Just walking the streets you get a sense of all these time periods colliding into one. There is so much I could write and I have volumes of photo's of the rural areas, the hospitals and Bahir Dar. But for now here are some photo's until I can condense the information into a non-novel form. I am a [View Full Entry]

By Kimbj
June 24th 2009

Charlie and Dee Africa » Ethiopia » Amhara Region » Bahir Dar

Charlie : )

Charlie and Dee… The best way I can describe my first face to face meeting with Charlie was a white man in a sea of Ethiopian faces who spots me with my bags in tow at the hospital and runs up and hugs me like a long lost favorite uncle would. His smile was warm and his hug was deep. I know in that instant, he was a man I was proud to know. He couldn’t have helped more in my visit to Bahir Dar and it’s health facilities. He even invited me via email to stay in his home with [View Full Entry]

By Kimbj
June 24th 2009

WHY I am here! Africa » Ethiopia » Amhara Region » Bahir Dar

The entrance to the hospital

Where do I begin? There is so much to tell; I don’t know where to start. We arrived in Bahir Dar and almost immediately went to Feledge Hiwot Regional Hospital where the CEO of the hospital along with a doctor from Spain who is working on the sewage project and my friend Charlie who is assigned here from the Clinton Foundation met us with open arms. Nolawi, my filmmaker with camera in tow was well prepared to film the conditions of the hospital. He is Ethiopian and he has said he knows how poor his country is and wants to help [View Full Entry]

By Al and Sara
June 24th 2009

What's the story....? Africa » Ethiopia » Benishangul-Gumuz Region » Asosa

Alems'hai & Jael

What's the story...? The last 3 days in Ethiopia before travelling back to Europe for Sara's sister's wedding were pretty horrendous. In fact the final week in Assosa was, well, challenging... Sara, Lesley and I had been asked - as native English speakers - to prepare and deliver an oral and written exam for the 100-odd applicants from Beneshangul-Gunmuz who had applied to become a University Lecturer. The Federal Ministry of Education were taking on the batch of new lecturers for 2009-10 and although there is no university in this region, people living here can apply to work at a [View Full Entry]

By Al and Sara
June 22nd 2009

You are a lazy Ferengi... Africa » Ethiopia » Benishangul-Gumuz Region » Asosa

Congratulations!

"You are a lazy Ferengi. You should not be in Ethiopia" This was the cry from one of the two adolescent boys walking behind Sara as she made her way back from the sigga Bet (Butcher or 'meat house') with cat meat last week. Sara seems a bit unlucky at times. It seems the weirdos and rude kids gravitate towards her, whereas I rarely get any trouble. Maybe because I am 15 stone and don't look much like a vegetarian - in fact I look like I could eat a small kid for a snack - that they keep their own [View Full Entry]

By Al and Sara
June 22nd 2009

Life Begins Africa » Ethiopia » Benishangul-Gumuz Region » Asosa

Let them eat cake

So what does it feel like to hit the milestone, 40? At 30 I gave up smoking, which was a pretty big deal - both for me and Sara, who kind of had to give up too. At 40? Well I was going to give up biting my nails. But then that seemed a bit insignificant. Maybe I should give up picking my nose; but then again in Ethiopia that may be a bit difficult. It is a national pastime during the dry season - and when in Rome... ;) I also do not want to become a 40-something bloater. I've [View Full Entry]

By Kimbj
June 19th 2009

Oh Happy Day Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

I must write this quickly since I am to be downstairs to head to the airport 4am. First today was a happy day at the hotel; American couples just arrived back from meeting their children for the first time, which they are adopting. Many happy expected parents walked the lobby, with joy on their faces. Most of these couples I talked to were adopting older children between 4 and 6. Those are the hardest to place and the shortest wait times. Babies have long waiting list, so many choose to bring an older child. They all talk about meeting their children [View Full Entry]

By Kimbj
June 19th 2009

Windy Night/ Star Trek The Final Frontier?? Africa » Ethiopia » Amhara Region » Bahir Dar

The little homes in the Wind

Up very early or late, I couldn't sleep with the upcoming trip tomorrow actually today. This is very windy night and I lay in bed wondering about the little subdivision next door to the hotel and what it must be like inside a press metal house with strong winds that roar like lions half the night. I am sure they are use to it but I know in my own strong house my kids coming running and jump right into bed to be protected from the angry roar beyond their windows. So what does a small child here whose entire house [View Full Entry]

By Kimbj
June 18th 2009

Coming to the States Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

Clay Court at the Hotel

This morning about 5am, the call to prayer echo's across the city. I had forgotten the familar call that rings out in the morning sky. The country is mostly Eastern Christian Orthodox, which I think of an intense version of Christian and Islamic. I heard here once, there is no such thing as not being religious. It is ingrained in the culture from the calls to prayer with loud speakers across the city; to the Holy men you see in the streets with large crosses as tall as they are. Addis wakes early to the echoes of prayer but the haze [View Full Entry]

By Kimbj
June 18th 2009

NO Power... Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

Plumbing at my little hospital

Today is June 11 here, 2001… yes that is right 2001. The Ethiopia calendar has 13 months and all the months have 30 days except a short month that has 5 or 6… Yes confusing. Tonight I went to dinner with my very good friend here that helped me start on this quest to save the world. So I blame him for all these pie eyed ideas, I have. Anyway he “tried” to explain the Ethiopian calendar and time to me. It still is completely over my head. All I know is that I am 8 years younger here, which I [View Full Entry]

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