 Al Mercer & Sara Hassen - Al and Sara | All Comments |
Comments | |
| 24th November 2009 Ravi from India | Good one - From: The Great Ethiopian Run [2009] Great explanation and nice to read Al ... keep writing ...... |
| 14th November 2009 Steph | - From: More of a Miracle than an Accident! (Exabier Yemusgan & Ahumdililah) Lovely lovely lovely x PS Kid's LOVE the kittens' names! xxx |
| 10th November 2009 Firew | So happy! - From: More of a Miracle than an Accident! (Exabier Yemusgan & Ahumdililah) Enkuan des aleh (Al) and Enkuan des alesh (Sara). So happy to hear this. |
| 10th November 2009 Hector | Whoo! - From: More of a Miracle than an Accident! (Exabier Yemusgan & Ahumdililah) Many many congratulations to both o' you! Such awesome news! :D |
| 9th November 2009 anonymous | - From: More of a Miracle than an Accident! (Exabier Yemusgan & Ahumdililah) Wow! I'm so happy for you chaps xxxxxxxxxxxx Rob |
| 9th October 2009 Pablo (yo) | Hello! - From: Al...quiet on the western front? Great blog!!! If you like, come back and visit mine: albumdeestampillas blogspot com Thanks, Pablo from Argentina |
| 26th September 2009 MikaelT | i just read your home page - From: Alan #10 - Welcome to Assosa i just read that u guys are VSO volunteers and here i was thinking i should update u on the roads.......i should have been the one askin for the updates .... |
| 26th September 2009 MikaelT | from sept 09 - From: Alan #10 - Welcome to Assosa hi all ..i just came across u r blog while searching for some lit on Assosa because i was too lazy to go out and talk to people (this is my fourth day in Assosa) and i've liked your style of writing ,esp the Amharic words :-)........anyways i just wanted to let u know that they have finished the stretch of road from Nekemt to Assosa but they are still working on the one from Ambo to Nekemt.....and oh i've bookmared u r blog ! |
| 28th August 2009 Firew | manu fan lol - From: The Wrong Type of Rain? hey there, just wanted to share with you that there is a famous ethiopian song by tigest bekele. In that song there is a line which goes like this "ende bere shanga ke sew belay yawlach-hu". It roughly translates into - may you be on a higher position (compared to others that is) like a hump of the ox. It is a rather common blessing by elders of the family to the young members (we get the blessing when we do sth good of course-no free lunch). I don't know if my poor translation conveys the message well, but that is my lame effort. In denmark, they have a saying which translates into - you are not better than anyone (what a contrast). I am trying to underline that we have a very hierarchical culture indeed. Could it be the reason why we have so many bureaucrats? Guess what? I am manu fan :-) |
| 23rd August 2009 Steph | - From: The Wrong Type of Rain? A better result for Mulatu yesterday! |
| 20th August 2009 anonymous | - From: Le singe est dans l'arbre... very amusant |
| 19th August 2009 Al and Sara | This one made me laugh till I cried - From: Le singe est dans l'arbre... But for all the wrong reasons 'Al and I took the opportunity to have an afternoon by myself', that's my husband the schizophrenic. Hope you got some peace sounded like it was getting pretty crowded :-) |
| 16th August 2009 Mary | Wedding - From: Beautiful Day Brilliant, almost felt as though I was there! The wedding was certainly well attended by beautiful, well dressed people all of whom looked as if they had a wonderful time, Sara & Ondine are so alike. |
| 7th August 2009 Mary Bean | Brilliant Piece of prose as usual - From: If you go down to the woods today... Hello Sara & Al, I do so enjoy reading your blogs. Al you are a genius with a pen, I always look forward to reading your scriptures and of course Hasting's & St Leonards being dear to my heart for housing my very special family, this latest addition to my in-box was a welcome feast of pictures and delightful 'scribblings'. The Roundhouse has changed since I last saw it, I would love to have seen it with the blue roof when the bluebells adorned it a couple of months ago, maybe next year. Look after each other and hopefully I will meet you one day, until then keep safe. With Love John & Mary xxxx |
| 1st August 2009 Steph | - From: If you go down to the woods today... A great read as usual. Love the roundhouse. |
| 27th July 2009 Hector | Yeesh! - From: Breathing Out Whoa, that sounds like a seriously rough time! I've had many experiences with a dodgy belly abroad, but this sounds way tough... Get well (back to 100% that is...) Sara! |
| 26th July 2009 Firew | lol - From: Going Jack-a-nory The future is busy lol, nice one. One thing the public sector in Ethiopia good at is doing their propaganda. Every public office has an endless list. |
| 25th July 2009 Julie | Get together? - From: Going Jack-a-nory Hey Al, My husband and I are going to be in Addis (Aug. 8th-21-tentative). I was wondering if you guys would like to go out for a beer or two. E-mail me if you want! Best, Julie http://theeyesofmyeyesareopened.blogspot.com/ |
| 24th July 2009 Al and Sara | By the way - From: What's the story....? This online comment system filters out line brakes so all our paragraphs have been squashed into one big lump of prose. It's not my bad English, honest ;) |
| 24th July 2009 Al and Sara | Salam Firew and hello - From: What's the story....? I am really pleased to know that Ethiopian (or American/British-Ethiopian) people are reading our blog, though I always worry that I am not being complimentary enough!!! We are guests in Ethiopia and would never want to spoil the welcome that every Ethiopian has given us by writing bad things in an online blog. However it is important to balanced with our observations (they are just that) - as if we just wrote everything is beautiful and the people are wonderful it would soon get boring; and of course the reality is somewhere between the two extremes. I hope that our positive feelings towards Ethiopia, Ethiopians and the whole VSO experience are able to filter through. You are correct about Ethiopia's relative integration with other countries and interaction with English speakers. I was sitting in the shai bet talking to Ayelnesh - a friend from work - and she said that I was the first Ferengi she had ever tried to speak English to! Beneshangul-Gumuz at any one time probably has less than 20 Ferengi's living there in total, so I guess it should not be a surprise. I know I am fortunate to be a native English speaker when travelling as it is the default language for international communication. I also realise that the primary goal of language is to communicate, so I would not penalise people for not speaking "Queen's English" so long as I can understand them. English is a living language. Ethiopian English differs from Kenyan English and Ugandan English. It can be quite amusing as both Sara and I have had Ethiopians telling us our English is incorrect! Which is fine. Whatever works for you!!! I agree with ETC being shameless. If the ETC monopoly was broken I believe it would have untold benefits for Ethiopian development. Ethiopia would get a good telephone, mobile and Internet system. Communications between kebeles, woredas, zones and regions would improve, development efforts would be more effective, banking and electronic business would advance, education, health and government would all benefit from reliable access to email systems and the Internet. Unfortunately, while Ethiopia does not have an effective taxation system, the government's main source of revenue (apart from aid money) will remain the national utilities like electrical generation, water supply and telecoms. Grab people's money back by charging them for what most people would call essential services. Of course it might help if Ethiopians were more active in complaining :) So many times my friends just shrug and make a joke when the power cuts unexpectedly or the phone or Internet service goes down. I guess when you have been used to no power or no mobile service, even a dodgy service is better than nothing...! Anyway I guess I am the one blabbering now so don't apologise. Please say what you like about our blog. Correct us when we are wrong. It is merely our observations and we only get to see and experience a fraction of Ethiopia and it's culture. The people in the Uk reading the blog are as interested as us in your thoughts. Thanks for reading and please keep posting your comments! Al |
| 24th July 2009 Al and Sara | I think... - From: Alan #10 - Welcome to Assosa ..that if you read the full blog that you will find out how much we appreciate the beauty of Assosa and the friendliness of the Ethiopian people we have met? We feel really lucky to have been placed here as volunteers and have made friends that we will hopefully keep for life. You should also remember that this blog is for the benefit of our friends and family so they can follow what we are doing in Ethiopia - it is not a tourism and culture bureau advert for Beneshangul-Gumuz. I hope we are not too negative about life in Assosa, but I also think it is important to give a balanced view. We are thoroughly enjoying our adventure in Assosa and I am sorry if this doesn't come through in the blog. |
| 24th July 2009 etsubdink | why? - From: Alan #10 - Welcome to Assosa You are lucky that you visited the town, the only town in the world,whose identical has never been present,is not present currently and will never ever exist anywhere else.I am also happy that you managed to came and did it.but why didn't you show us the beauty of the beautifull town,particularly friendly people?I would be happier had you told us that. |
| 22nd July 2009 Firew | - From: What's the story....? First let me take the chance to thank you for the goods work you (Al and Sara) have been doing there. I have been reading your posts from time to time. This post reminds me of the days when I was in high school, where at one point I decided to read 40 pages of some(any) English book a day until I moves up a level in my vocabulary power. I would prefer Sidney Sheldion like many other Ethiopians but everybody wants Sidney Sheldion's Book (I usually have to borrow books from some teacher or sth - the library condition is better left untouched). So I have to read Agatha Christie's "And then there were none". Oh, how I hated that book :-) The system were you would teach students in their own language and treat English only as one subject proved disastrous in Ethiopian case. Because the only way you will learn English is through the school and if we do it as a subject only, the level would drop (had dropped when tried- u might argue where would it go from the current level but it did) . In many European countries English as a subject only works and most people speak good English. The reason being they have the luxury of watching TV in English and have to interact with some foreigner in English (not necessarily Native speaker). But Ethiopia is different from most other countries. Because of our history, the level of integration to the rest of the world is very limited (even compared to other African countries). By history, I talking about the bad image (famine, etc- ), our stubbornness to change things - eg. our confusing calender (I will definitely get some stick for this from fellow Ethiopians :-) ), socialist era etc. The lack of interaction with native speakers of English in real life or through tv is the main problem. The only Tv channel we have is the boring ETV. Thanks for technology, now there are satellite dishes everywhere and there is marked difference already. The younger generation are much better. I have heard Ethiopian Telecommunication Co. (ETC) is going to charge an annual fee for using satellite dishes (ETC is shameless!!!!). The only way to learn a language (esp. when it comes to speaking skill) undoubtedly is through interaction. I bet the self appointed tourist guides in Bahir Dar (a tourist town in Northern Ethiopia) might speak better English than most people who went through the formal system. Excuse my blabbering, I will stop now. I wish all the best ! Firew P.S. I still feel ashamed about your friend that got stabbed. I hope he has recovered from it. |
| 17th July 2009 joc | bako - From: Alan #9 - We Are On Our Way... I have been searching online for months trying to find pics of Bako...my daughter was born in that area and was adopted to me in 2007. Do you happen to have any during your stay getting your tires fixed:-) thanks!! |
| 2nd July 2009 Tim Spencer | - From: Left For Dead A hell of a story. Hopefully this experience will work for the good; I suspect a song will come of this. Maybe even a screenplay? You guys are doing brave work. Keep it up! Best wishes Tim ( Melbourne) |
| 24th June 2009 Hector | Whoo! - From: You are a lazy Ferengi... Well done Sara! This is awesome news, so big big congratulations! Also, a belated Happy Birthday to you too Al... Loving reading this blog and hearing all the adventures, See you soon, h |
| 23rd June 2009 rob | - From: You are a lazy Ferengi... hey! Great post Al, and congratulations to Sara. Big hug. |
| 23rd June 2009 Steph | - From: You are a lazy Ferengi... Sara..you're one hell of a woman! Penis or not. Well done and big congrats! xxx |
| 18th April 2009 Jan | You made it! - From: Ethiopian WOW! Hi Dee and Dave, Sara and Al. Sounds like you are all having a wonderful time. I hope you have a great time travelling round the other areas and I am looking forward to seeing some more photos and hearing all about it. Love to you all. Jan and Al xxxx |
| 21st March 2009 rob | hi - From: Hah-Hoo-Hee-Hah-Hey-Heurr-Ho! Hey guys, I've only recently discovered your blog - and I'm hooked. It's amazing to see your pics and hear about what you're getting up to. Such a positive vibe! x Rob |
| 7th February 2009 anonymous | - From: It’s been a busy 7 days Sara&Hssen ihav araking news for you my be loved frends The inzi tree wich is on the top of the maountin has filn daun. |
| 7th February 2009 Anteneh Worku | - From: Alan #10 - Welcome to Assosa Hi marta welcom to paradies pleas dnt wory about the dust our dust contins love,peac, &many cinds of menerals. |
| 5th February 2009 gordon Payne | Tigers cheats - surely not! - From: January is the Enemy of Girls Can't believe the slanderous comment on the gentlemen Tigers - and what was the score in 2002? At least we have the chance this year to stick one up Barf. Miss you both - and the snow is amazing! |
| 31st January 2009 Al and Sara | Munkey likes beer, not tea :) - From: Ode to Munky That Ethiopian band is keeping his beer belly in. Best you get him on that treadmill at Canons asap... |
| 29th January 2009 Jane | PG tips - From: Ode to Munky Think PG tips would be interested in how far monky has travelled! Jane x |
| 4th January 2009 Watt Smith | AWESOME VIDEOS - From: Through the Looking-Glass I wish I had known you were in Ethiopia. You might be interested to know about AWESOME VIDEOS. Here is the website www.wattsmith.com/awesomevideos Nice blog! WIth respect, Watt Smith |
| 3rd January 2009 Al and Sara | Hi Antennah... - From: Alan #10 - Welcome to Assosa Oh yes...we have lots of Mango trees in Assosa :) |
| 3rd January 2009 Al and Sara | Hi! - From: Training Daze - Part 2 Hello John - been back in the UK for Xmas hence the late reply! Yes we had to use the car to get to Addis outbound in early December and then we will need to find a car going back on our return...not too much of a bother as it is a beautifuk journey :) Have a good New Year, cheers, Al & Sara |
| 11th December 2008 anteneh worku | iam happy weath you guyes - From: Alan #10 - Welcome to Assosa dont you se a mango tre? |
| 8th December 2008 John | Grounded - From: Training Daze - Part 2 I came across your blog when I looked for information about Asosa. I was thinking of going there for some research, but I just learned from Ethiopian Airlines that there will be no more flights to Asosa until February 8th. I hope that doesn't impact you. Best wishes in your good work. |
| 12th November 2008 Al and Sara | Glad you enjoy the blog! - From: It’s been a busy 7 days We are enjoying Assosa :) Salam na to you Gashaw! |
| 4th November 2008 gashaw | Sad the inzee tree is down. - From: It’s been a busy 7 days Oh.. the inzee tree.. I grew up hiking up inzee and taking a break under that tree. that was 30 years ago! Thanks for the great blog. I stumbled on it today and have been on it the past 6 hours. |
| 10th September 2008 Holly | A jambo would be so good - From: Will you join me for a beer? I am so lucky to get the chance to come back and feel everything, see everyone - except the person I most wanted to see. But reading this blog was so important, and reminded me of good times as well as the worst. Thanks x |
| 24th August 2008 Al and Sara | Oh come on Pete! - From: The Occidental Tourists Isn't it about time you supported your local team? And I don't mean the Gas... Besides City play a better class of football then Keano's bull-terriers! :P |
| 23rd August 2008 PeteJ | Goodness! - From: The Occidental Tourists I dunno! You get to see the footie live out there, and then you complain that you have to sit with ManU fans! Spare a thought for a Sunderland fan in Bristol trying to find a (decent) pub showing the Liverpool game last Saturday tea time when it clashed with Bristol City v Derby :-) |
| 13th August 2008 Kirsten | Thanks for your blog from a soon to be Ethiopia VSO - From: Sara # 4 Top Five Food Fantasies Hi there, I stumbled across your blog by chance and it's great preparation for me. I leave London in a month for Addis where I'll be working as a Fundraising Advisor for local HIV/AIDS NGO.. your blog has really brought it all to life, so thanks. Maybe I'll get to meet you both at some point. Thanks again Kirsten |
| 5th August 2008 Diana | Hiya - From: The Unusual Suspects Hi there,not sure about the photobut good to catch up on where we are all at now. Like the - pringles reference! :-) |
| 29th July 2008 AS | - From: Alan #10 - Welcome to Assosa WHY YOU GUYS ARE NOT SHOWING US THE BEAUTY OF THE CITY.I LIVE IN THE USA.I WAS THERE A YEAR AGO.I SAW ALOT OF INTERSTING THINGS IN ASSOSA. |
| 17th July 2008 Kate | Vodka Jelly????? - From: Better Late Than Never Where do you think you are Bristol University? Get some work done xx |
| 2nd July 2008 Holly | RE the accident - From: Home, James, and don't spare the Ozone Layer... Nice to hear what the lovely VSO Ethiopia family did when me and Oscar and Pam were shoved over to Kenya! I only wish I could have joined you (especially the Pride bit and Kindaleb's ranting!) rather than being stuck in hospital and then flown back to the UK to recover fully before being allowed back! Great comments and just wanted to say well done for all efforts to remember Dave, albeit a little ferenjified.. but don't expect he would've appreciated load sobbing and wailing sitting in a big tent for days! Take care and hopefully see you soon xxx |
| 15th June 2008 PeteJ | - From: You're a Ferengi - We're getting you outta there..! Hope you are both OK and surviving stir-craziness, pants crises and the trots (umm, not a good combination!) It must be very frustrating. I hope you get some good news about the situation soon. |
| 8th June 2008 Janine | - From: You're a Ferengi - We're getting you outta there..! Hi Sara and Al, just read your blog which explains why you havent been able to email. Glad they are keeping you safe, even if it means more wear and tear on the underpants. It must be very frustrating to be stuck in Addis and I hope you can get back to Assosa soon. All our love Jan and Al xx |
| 21st April 2008 Al and Sara | Hi Dave - From: It’s Good To Be Back Home Great to hear you are enjoying the blog! Will be a special entry on Ethiopian alcohol. Just need to get the pictures first and wait for the hangovers to clear ;) Take care & enjoy the cricket. Cheers, Al |
| 21st April 2008 Al and Sara | Good luck with the move! - From: Alan #4 - Come to Addis to get fat Hi Ana - glad you are enjoying the blog & best of luck with the move. Where are you going to? Let us know and say Hi to all the guys back home. Cheers, Al & Sara |
| 21st April 2008 Al and Sara | Hi Sammy - From: Sara # 5 Another Stupid Grin Weekend This is Alan. Glad you enjoy the blogs! I think Sara will be posting another soon and she is delighted to know that someone originally from Ethiopia is enjoying them! Cheers, Alan |
| 16th April 2008 Dave White | - From: It’s Good To Be Back Home Hi Al and Sara...I have just read through all your blogs right from the beginning. They are brilliant! Sara - Glad you are getting over your cheese issues. Al - Very interesting tracking your views of Arsenals demise since mid March, your experiences with ethiopian alcohol and of course the work you are both doing. Sounds like an amazing experience you are having. Hope you are both well, keep up the good work and keep writing... |
| 13th April 2008 Al and Sara | Black Gold - From: Alan #8 - You have a song for EVERY player? Hi Mark, keep buying Ethiopian Yirgacheffe as it is Fairtrade. Try to look out for a documentary on coffee called Black Gold and check out this web site on Fairtrade issues http://www.vso.org.uk/thecoffeeproject. We actually might go to visit the Yirgacheffe coffee producers at some point - they are based just south of Addis. Yes we are completely envious of broadband internet! Hope all is well in 'Nam and say Hi to Rach! Glad to hear you are still thinking of coming! Cheers, Al |
| 11th April 2008 PeteJ | Welcome home! - From: Around the Woredas in 18 days! Glad to hear you are back from your tour safe and sound. It sounds a great adventure. I won't mention Arsenal :-( Though I suppose you do still have the opportunity to scupper Man U's chances on Sunday! :-) |
| 7th April 2008 Sammy | thanks - From: Sara # 5 Another Stupid Grin Weekend Hi Sara, I really enjoy your blogs. I am originally from Addis but has been away for a long time. Reading it makes me closer to the culture and everything I love and miss so much. I can't wait to read more. Enjoy your time there. |
| 3rd April 2008 mark | Brilliant - From: Alan #8 - You have a song for EVERY player? Hi Al, Sara. Loving catching up on your exploits in Ethiopia. Went to Starbucks this morning and they had a big sign promoting Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. Made me think of you guys while I was probably denying ethiopian coffee growers of their hard earned? Did a quick web search (are you envious of that line?) on this coffee and starbucks and it looks like I might not be shopping in Starbucks again... it didn't make particularly ethical reading... So you made it through the training in one piece then? It sounds like you're having a whale of a time. Roll on 2009 and our visit to Asosa! Take care out there in the big bad world. Mark |
| 24th March 2008 Ana | learning lingo - From: Alan #4 - Come to Addis to get fat what is anharic for 'what is the latest cricket score' or 'where can i buy cheese please?'. really enjoying your blog. saw dave and kiki today but we missed you both. we are moving on friday, will email you the details soon. love from ana, simon, dan, darcy, paddy xx |
| 20th March 2008 PeteJ | Pining for the cheese counter - From: Sara # 4 Top Five Food Fantasies Oh dear! Yes, I remember only too well my yearnings for cheese in South America. In the end, I caved in and started to eat the local stuff in the markets, but (i) no matter how hard I tried to persuade myself, it wasn't really a substitute for a lovely bit of Brie; and (ii) I was always a teency weency little bit worried about whether my stomach would be up to the local bacteria (but I survived!) Just off to open the first beer of the bank holiday weekend :-) |
| 19th March 2008 Kate Burnett | Cakes - From: Sara # 5 Another Stupid Grin Weekend Oh so the cakes have got you again Sara, please can you give me a little more information on the cakes, you know how I like a nice piece of cake. Love the photos, can't you get a little James Bond like device to take pictures at the market would love to see them. Do you remember Cafe Wayan in Ubud..... |
| 19th March 2008 Judy | really, really like the blog - From: Sara # 5 Another Stupid Grin Weekend Hi Sara and Al, I've just looked at your blog for the first time and I really, really like it. Almost makes me feel I know the place. Hope you have a good trip into the remote hinterland and look forward to hearing about it. |
| 16th March 2008 dee and dave | very proud - From: Sara # 4 Out and About what great photos. loved hearing about about the school/children. glad they are enjoying seeing you as much as you are enjoying seeing them. can we do anything to help with school resources.? |
| 15th March 2008 Al and Sara | Mutah Paneer - From: Sara # 4 Top Five Food Fantasies Al wants to know if you had Mutah Panner, because he's interested in the peas, and I'm interested in the cheese? |
| 14th March 2008 Jo & Stu | Smell my cheese!! - From: Sara # 4 Top Five Food Fantasies Is there really no cheese at all! You poor things. If I thought there was any way we could post you cheese that would reach in an edible state we would. I wonder if you can get dried cheese and if so, if it's any good? Stu has also just commented that half the letters in chees are e's! Anyway, probably enough cheese talk. Stu just asked if I was going to tell you we;ve just finished an Indian Food Centre. I didnlt think that would be very nice though, so I won't. Watched any good Johnny Depp films recently? Jo & Stu xxx |
