Exciting Place - Assosa I am also a VSO Volunteer from the Philippines. I lived in the place for a couple of five months (almost two months in Bamboo Hotel). How I hoped that I be given the chance to extend my stay unfortunately I have to go with my Contract. I love the place and the people. The place was so far the safest place I lived. I am still looking forward to visit the place one day.
information on Mambuk Hello Al and Sara,
we are ready to undertake research in the Mambuk area, particularly regarding land grabbing. I wonder if you have specific information on the area, and/or interesting photographs.
Best greetings
Jan
i was in this netball team,we were the first to had netball course and i need to contineu on this sport i loved it,can you tell me who i have to contact
Correctin "The Woreda is definately special - in that it seems to have a certain level of infrastructure left behind by the Italian occupation under Mussolini in the 1930s."
The infrastructure that you had see in the woreda is not the results of Italiyan occupation rather it is the constraction of Italian company Colled,Saline since 1977 E.C.following the re-setttling program taken place in the Regem of Derge(Mengstu H/mariyam)
this is realty an Interesting time In Assosa but now it is changed there is the Renaissance Dam of Ethiopia the place where called GUBA 90 KM far from Asossa and also there is other places which are an Interesting
Great I likes to thanks u all people that makes this bog,because I got detail information about to my area and those people that are volunteered to help this society and tries to introduce our culture.
special thanks for Al Mercer & Sara Hassen.
Emotion I've discover you've keep on your blog this evening.
It's full of emotion and I've no the word to explain my feelings.
You're are a very "belle personne" as we say in french, sincerely!
Loves
Christine
wrong comment You folks seems to do fine in writing the Amharic Fidel, it must be easy to do. Your fine writings contradicts your comment. You should change your comment and contribute to Education of the Under privileged Ethiopians once you learn Amharic. Try It
Another Rwanda... I have accepted your comment so it appears on the blog so people should understand some of the complex politics of the region.
Unfortunately if people continue to recall the mistakes of the past and blame innocent people generations later, then sadly there will be another Rwanda.
I didn't invade Sudan in 1898 and how do you know any of my ancestors did?
I may be 1st generation English with an ancestry from another country altogether! If a Sudanese family move to England and have a child born in England, he or she is English. Should he or she be responsible for something the government of the country of his birth did over 100 years ago? That is crazy logic.
Similarly, Mulatu was not even born when his family were moved by force from Amhara to Beneshangul-Gumuz. He was born in Assosa - how can he be considered an occupier and carry some blame?
The future cannot be in division, it must be in co-operation and I saw this every week in Assosa at the Stadium. Berta children happily playing football with Gumuz children and Amhara children.
My hope would be that as these children grow up and for generations to come, they learn to live and work together for the mutual benefit and advancement of everyone in the region.
well done In fact it is great to know that you help a child, however, the child you are talking about is one of those who were brought to his land in order to implement the government policy of depriving the people of Benishangul of their land, don't forget these people ( Benishangul) were annixed into Abyssinia with the England trechary when they invaded sudan in 1898, since then the people of this land were treated inhumanely and savagely, we expect you to write and document such calamity not helping the occupier and settlers. the innocent civilian of this region deserves to be respected, you don't come from England to participate in the crime committed by your ancistors. who cares how the settlers live, they should go back to their land, soon or later in will be another Rowanda, Somalia and Bosnia, no matter what you do.
Hi Erik Ahh, thanks for those kind words, Erik! Don't worry about our daughter's name - we use the English "Sahai" as most people in the UK would not be able to say "T'sehay" but both are correct :)
Good luck with your Amharic study and enjoy winter in AA. At 68 I think you have plenty more projects ahead for sure!
Sara is on Facebook but I am not, I'm afraid. If you want a couple of good contacts in Addis we have Ethiopian friends who would be pleased to show you around. Just let us know.
Hope to add a few more blogs looking back at our time overseas so please keep an eye on the blog. Ethiopia is a country you cannot forget and every time I manage to do an entry I get to remember the lovely people and the beautiful countryside. Stay tuned!
All our very best and an Ethiopian shoulder "bang" from the pair of us :)
(confidential comment) Dear Al, I've read every word you have written over the years. You are both incredibly good people, a grace to mankind, and Al is an extremely good writer, with a big heart and sharp itelligence. It's been a privilege to follow you. You have set an example for others to look up to and be inspired by. I'm 68, study Amharic and will spend winter months in AA w/WSG/HCE as 'a working paying guest', my final project in life. Congratulations to Tsehay! I'm on Facebook. Good luck, wish I could hug and kiss you both! Erik, Sweden
I loved your photos and post from Ethiopia! I haven't been there yet but always hear incredible things about it, and I admire what you're doing. My blog is looking for travel photos, commentaries, reviews, etc, to share. We will soon have a special section for volunteer posts/info as well. If you have the time, check it out at dirty-hippies.blogspot.com, or email us at dirtyhippiesblog@gmail.com. Continued fun on your travels and good luck with everything! I hope that young man doesn't have rabies.
Heather :)
Hi - this is Al & Sara's blog!
We are 2 VSO volunteers working in Assosa, Beneshangul-Gumuz, Ethiopia for 2 years from Feb 2008 to 2010.
Don't try to find us on the map, 'cos we don't appear. We are proud to announce a grand total of 0 entries in the Lonely Planet - Ethiopia & Eritrea and um, 0 entries in the Bradt guide. In fact as an "emerging region" within Ethiopia our area is pretty anonymous both internally and (clearly) internationally. With the mud strip airport being relaid with tarmac we had a 2 day 4x4 journey here from Addis. That said, Assosa is a regional capital, has a p... full info
Vilma Esoto
non-member comment
Exciting Place - Assosa
I am also a VSO Volunteer from the Philippines. I lived in the place for a couple of five months (almost two months in Bamboo Hotel). How I hoped that I be given the chance to extend my stay unfortunately I have to go with my Contract. I love the place and the people. The place was so far the safest place I lived. I am still looking forward to visit the place one day.