Initially as a joke, I had suggested to the College and to VSO, that the College should provide transportation for me next year - in the form of horses. I argued that it would be difficult to ensure that one of the College vehicles would be available whenever I wanted to visit local schools (in my role as Cluster Coordinator providing training and support) but that it would also be more environmentally friendly. To my surprise people took me seriously and the idea was planted. Today, after lunch, Kedir who is my counterpart Cluster Coordinator next year, came to my office to inform me that the horses had been purchased and were in the College grounds. Sure enough, there they were! One white (grey?) and one red. They are a bit on the scrawny side, but ... read more

There is a major problem in Robe - it is not possible to buy ground coffee, which almost constitutes a state of emergency, in my opinion. Having spent much of Monday (a public holiday) searching the many shops in town, I finally realised that I would have to do it the Ethiopian way! Luckily, I have been to a couple of coffee ceremonies lately and took the opportunity to watch closely and ask questions. So … this morning I went to the market, as usual on a Thursday, and managed to buy a roasting pan (I knew what to look for) and some coffee beans. As I have no idea how to tell good from bad, I bought from the same man as a local woman. Then, I failed on trying to buy something to ... read more

I was invited to Mengesha’s house for my first taste of “tella” the local beer. Ever since the Robe CTE Tour, we had talked about the fact that I had not had an opportunity to try it. Today was the day! I was, unusually for a Saturday, at work. The last session of the Higher Diploma was held on Thursday, and as the Moderators from Dilla were due to visit on Tuesday (and Monday was a holiday to celebrate the "Downfall of the Derg”) I wanted to go through the Candidates’ portfolios to see what they were missing. Gizaaw telephoned to tell me that he would collect me from my house at 5 o’clock (11am) to take me to Mengesha’s because we had "a programme". On the way, we stopped at Kaasaahun Shimles Restaurant for ... read more

A week after my triumphant bus journey, I was again on the road, returning to Addis after a week of illness. VSO and Tesfaye decided that I should go for medical tests after 2 clinics in Robe found nothing wrong, and the hospital in Goba couldn’t deal with me as it was a Sunday. Tesfaye was going to Adama for a workshop that afternoon, so again I got a lift in the College car. Tesfaye, Guta, Darajee and Mengesha insisted on sharing the back seat so that I could travel in comfort in the front. VSO were also excellent and arranged for Dereje to collect me from Adama the following morning. A week in Addis later - a week with Nadia and David looking out for me and feeding me - still no diagnosis, but I ... read more

David and Nadia, friends from Addis, made the journey on The Road, with their Daughter (Nina, over from the UK on holiday) to visit Robe. On Friday, we went up to the Sanetti Plateau. We were up in the clouds and visibility was very poor, but it was amazing - driving in thick fog one minute and then it would suddenly lift. It did mean that, for the first time, we did not see wolves. Luckily, they had seen one on the way through Dinsho on the drive here. In the end, we decided that the visibility was too bad, and that it wasn’t fair on Elias the driver to keep on going, so we returned to Goba for lunch and then back to Robe for a relaxing afternoon. On Saturday, we headed off to Sof ... read more