BASICS

If you are an Ethiopian there are certain things you can’t live without, and if you are a foreigner in Ethiopia, you quickly learn what these things are, and then you can’t live without them either. The food is one of those things, and when you learn to like it, you really love it! At this time, it’s fasting time in Ethiopia, and most of the orthodox people can’t eat meat or milk products, and certain other things. Ask 10 different Ethiopians about the lent, and you’ll get 10 different answers, all of them equally certain that their answer is the right. (Ethiopians are really stubborn people, but I’ll get back to that later) Anyway, the point is, even if you don’t eat the meat, the food is delicious! The injera, which is the pancake with a sour kind of taste, is not good on its own, but eat it with doro wot, tibs, kei wot, shirro wot, vegetable alitcha – anything - and it’s wonderful! You’ve got so many different types of sauces, meat prepared in different ways and the most delicious vegetables. And of course, you eat with your fingers! No fork and knife! I usually make a mess, especially when I eat doro wot, but that’s part of the whole meal. And when you’re finished, and you’re really full and regret that you took the last bite because your stomach feels like it’s about to explode, then you just can’t do without a macchiato, to finish off the meal with something sweet. Macchiato – a blessing and a curse – it tastes wonderfully with a cup of macchiato at any time of the day, but the sugar…….!!!! The thing is you really have to drink it with sugar, otherwise it’s not that good. I’m afraid it will have serious consequences for the shape in which I will be when I one day return to home. Well, that’s in the future anyway, so I might as well enjoy my macchiato while I can! So this was my introductory lesson about Ethiopian culture! Be prepared for more!