This is Katie....making my first appearance on the blog! Our time is flying by here, and has been filled with so many wonderful adventures and experiences.
This weekend Sara nad I traveled to Awassa--a beautiful lake town about six hours by car from Addis Ababa. We went with five other Americans from the house we are staying at. We had an awesome time, filled (as always!) with various escapades that can only come about in Africa. The trip there in particular was pretty crazy.
To get to Awassa we had to contract a minibus (OK side note...just found out the minibuses found in Addis were a gift from the Soviet Union in the 80s. It has been pretty amusing seeing all the ways these minibuses are tied together to keep from completely falling apart. They have definitely all seen better days...and so far the record for folks smashed into one is 21. There is room for 12! So after we haggled with the driver for a bit, we began the trek to Awassa. We picked up a "special driver," who had a talent for crossing lines into the incoming traffic lane to pass the other cars. And that was ok, except for the few times I could have sworn we were going to be smashed, and the time he had to pull off the orad on the left side so we didn't get hit by an oncoming car. After driving a couple of hours we stopped in a town to get a snack, and our drivers headed off somewhere, unnoticed by us. After a few minutes, two other men hopped into the car and started driving, and not in the direction of Awassa. Our group agreed were were bing hijacked, but the two men assured us they were just taking the car to wash it. Which, after driving us about the town for at least 15 minutes, they did. Later our drivers re-appeared and we headed out. Four hours later we came to a division in the road, the left leading to Awassa and the right to a town called Sashamanne. We turned right. Shashamanne is known as the capital of Rastfarianism...those are the guys who love Bob Marley and believe Haile Selassi is their saviour. I thought it would be a chill Jamaican-feeling town, but I assure you it was not that. There our drivers told us we had to get out and find another bus. By that time we were not too happy with our drivers, but after a bit of yelling and finger wagging we got them to help us find another bus and eventually got to Awassa.
Wow that was a lot to write just about the ride up...so I will spare you most of the details about the rest of the trip. It was great though----saw some hippos, ate some great fish, and breathed fresh, pollutant-free air for the first time in a month.
My time in Ethiopia has been amazing...cannot believe I only have two weeks left! Anyhow, hope everyone back home is doing well. We would so appreciate ya'll keeping Sara and me in your pryaers and I can't wait to share more of our adventures with you in person when we get back home!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Update from Addis
We're starting to get in a schedule here in Addis (and it actually is the longest amount of time we've spent in one place this summer, so I guess that makes sense!) Early morning rise, crazy public trnasportation experiences, English and playing with precious kids at IEICA, computer classes with teenagers at Hanna's Orphanage, crazy public transportation home, Asni's delicious food at Cherokee, down time with people in the house, sleep, do it again! But of course that's all interspersed with unique stories, experiences and moments.
This weekend we are heading to Awassa.....a lake town four hours outside of the city. We are so excited for green grass, clean air, and open spaces! And hoping to hike and see a hippo or two. (From a distance haha due to their killing capabilities.)
We have been learning so much about service, commitment, mood swings, and life in general. In a city of a few million, the faces that fly by can blur together, but I'm constantly praying that God will allow me to see them as fellow human beings...His unique creations and all known to Him. Spending more time here has allowed us to get to know a few of the others in this city, which has been wonderful. This time has made "entering into relationship" seem even more important....instead of pitying, engaging from a distance, putting the faces into my two-dimensional ideas of who they are etc., relationships allow each of these individuals to live their three-dimensional lives apart from my preconceived notions. And there is so much to learn from them! The people I have met here are mind-blowing in their generosity, care, and joy. Wish I could share all the stories but do not have the time for that right now...but if you are curious, I'll be more than willing to spill once we're back in the States!
This weekend we are heading to Awassa.....a lake town four hours outside of the city. We are so excited for green grass, clean air, and open spaces! And hoping to hike and see a hippo or two. (From a distance haha due to their killing capabilities.)
We have been learning so much about service, commitment, mood swings, and life in general. In a city of a few million, the faces that fly by can blur together, but I'm constantly praying that God will allow me to see them as fellow human beings...His unique creations and all known to Him. Spending more time here has allowed us to get to know a few of the others in this city, which has been wonderful. This time has made "entering into relationship" seem even more important....instead of pitying, engaging from a distance, putting the faces into my two-dimensional ideas of who they are etc., relationships allow each of these individuals to live their three-dimensional lives apart from my preconceived notions. And there is so much to learn from them! The people I have met here are mind-blowing in their generosity, care, and joy. Wish I could share all the stories but do not have the time for that right now...but if you are curious, I'll be more than willing to spill once we're back in the States!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Thoughts on Band-aids
If you spend any time in Ethiopia, you are sure to see the children's footwear of choice: a cheap plastic shoe that mimics a tennis shoe with fake laces, nike checks, and all. The majority of kids at IEACA wear nothing else. The other day, a little boy came up to me and showed me the blisters on his feet that shoes had caused. I took him to the clinic, washed the cut, poured on some hydrogen peroxide (which hurt us both as he winced and I felt awful), put on some cream, and topped it off with a band-aid. As soon as I finished with him, a crowd of children came to the clinic, showing their bleeding sores from the shoes.
I took care of as many as I could, but in the back of my mind, I knew the treament was only temporary. The children cannot afford a different pair of shoes, so no matter how many band-aids I apply, the sores will come back.
This made me think about all the band-aid solutions with which we try to solve the world's problems. All the aid we send, the gifts we give, etc. may temporarily eas the blow of poverty, but they aren't sustainable. (Sorry to get sociological on you, but it takes me back to the days of Social Class & Inequality and Social Change. Thanks Wheaton!) In dnager of sounding like I am "raging against the machine," it does seem that lasting change will require significiant alterations of systems that have long been in place. But, once again, if you want to hear more of that rant, ask me later.
I took care of as many as I could, but in the back of my mind, I knew the treament was only temporary. The children cannot afford a different pair of shoes, so no matter how many band-aids I apply, the sores will come back.
This made me think about all the band-aid solutions with which we try to solve the world's problems. All the aid we send, the gifts we give, etc. may temporarily eas the blow of poverty, but they aren't sustainable. (Sorry to get sociological on you, but it takes me back to the days of Social Class & Inequality and Social Change. Thanks Wheaton!) In dnager of sounding like I am "raging against the machine," it does seem that lasting change will require significiant alterations of systems that have long been in place. But, once again, if you want to hear more of that rant, ask me later.
TIA (aka A Day)
After today's shenanigans, Kates and I have decided that we should make a running list of TIA ("this is Africa") happenings: the comedic, the heartbreaking, the joyful, the sad...it's life!
Example: Our morning started off with traffic jams due to a religious holiday. As we waited in bumper to bumper Addis traffic, our taxi stalled. The driver climbed out and lifted the hood to fix it, but unfortunately it started to roll with him underneath it. Luckily, we pressed the brake before it ran over him and the driver's life was spared. We walked/ran the rest of the way through the traffic to the amusement of a Habvesha audience.
Due to the religious holiday, more beggars were on the sidewalks--a whole array of strange diseases, young mothers, street children, elderly blind men, etc. The scope of problems can be overwhelming, and it is difficult ot know how to respond to so much need. Seeing the disparity of wealth and lifestyle between the average Ethiopian and American (or even betweeen wealthy and poor Ethiopians) convinces me more that our expectations of "quality of life" are often faulty. But if you want to hear more of that rant, ask me about it later....
Our day continued with English lessons at IEICA, computer and games at Hanna's Orphanage, a hail storm, and a search through Bole to find Graham. That ended semi-unsuccessfully but we did get his friend's phone number...and interrupted his wedding when we called him. The day wrapped up with conversations with an Ethiopian Food for the Hungry employee, a forty-five minute walk home, and Asni's tacos and brownies. YES.
Sorry that these blog updates have been so sporadic,but now that Mom and I ahve a plan, I promise things are looking up. Love you all!
Example: Our morning started off with traffic jams due to a religious holiday. As we waited in bumper to bumper Addis traffic, our taxi stalled. The driver climbed out and lifted the hood to fix it, but unfortunately it started to roll with him underneath it. Luckily, we pressed the brake before it ran over him and the driver's life was spared. We walked/ran the rest of the way through the traffic to the amusement of a Habvesha audience.
Due to the religious holiday, more beggars were on the sidewalks--a whole array of strange diseases, young mothers, street children, elderly blind men, etc. The scope of problems can be overwhelming, and it is difficult ot know how to respond to so much need. Seeing the disparity of wealth and lifestyle between the average Ethiopian and American (or even betweeen wealthy and poor Ethiopians) convinces me more that our expectations of "quality of life" are often faulty. But if you want to hear more of that rant, ask me about it later....
Our day continued with English lessons at IEICA, computer and games at Hanna's Orphanage, a hail storm, and a search through Bole to find Graham. That ended semi-unsuccessfully but we did get his friend's phone number...and interrupted his wedding when we called him. The day wrapped up with conversations with an Ethiopian Food for the Hungry employee, a forty-five minute walk home, and Asni's tacos and brownies. YES.
Sorry that these blog updates have been so sporadic,but now that Mom and I ahve a plan, I promise things are looking up. Love you all!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Mom reporting in for the girls!
Hi, this is Ellen reporting in for Sara nad Katie. They are unable to post right now and are searchng for another option but until then I am posting a brief update for them. They have settled in and gotten their "assignment." They will be working in the mornings during the weekdays at IEICA, a school that our family had contact with when we were there three years ago. They will be helping the kindergarten through second graders with ther english and other subjects. Most of the children are orphans or living with extended family members. They hope to work with another orphanage in the afternoons, but details are still being worked out for that. And I will end with a message from Katie..."This week has been great. I"m settling in more and having a blast. Public transportation isn't that bad, actually pretty fun and a great way to experience the culture once you know a few names of the stops. Sleeping has been tough, and for now that's my main prayer request. I haven't been too tired during the day but it's really difficult to get to sleep at night and frustrating to be up really late. But overall it's been amazing. I'm so glad I'm here!"
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