RAINY SEASON IN ETHIOPIA

On the road.....

The president/parliament building

Jepp, that's me, by the pool

The Safari Lodge

Relaxing in the sun

Some monument for the Oromiya region....sorry, should have studied more about this...

Adama town

It hasn't been that bad, the rainy season, I'll admit to that. But last week I decided to take a day off and go with Bjarte and Brita to Adama (Nazret), a little more than one hours drive from Addis. Just to get out of the city a little bit. Adama is the main city of the Oromiya region, and they are building this huge complex for the Oromiya president and parliament...I think.....

It's a very sweet little town, and we had a lovely day there. We booked into the Safari Lodge, which was, by Ethiopian standards, very impressive. I was stunned! The room was so nice, clean and tidy, the service was (more or less) excellent, and the food was also quite nice. And the pool.......awesome! Cold water, but that's just nice when the sun is burning! I didn't put enough sun lotion on, so I got burnt, of course. Other than that, it was just a lovely, lovely day. You don't really need to go that far from Addis to get some more sun! Uplifting information for my friends who are soon arriving:)

Laughing together

Sooooo…..I didn’t know I could be this entertaining. But apparently the combination of being both white, walking and wearing boots seems to be highly amusing to the people around me. They don’t think my boots are lovely. They stare at my feet, smile, and most of them start talking to each other, probably discussing why I would wear these things on my feet.


“Why isn’t she wearing pumps and high-healed shoes like everone else? It’s only men in working outfits who wear boots. She looks funny. And why is she walking? Why does she not have a landcruiser with a driver? After all, she’s faranji. I don’t understand this. She is strange. Hahaha…..:)”

Well, I just smile back, and think my own thoughts. “ Those silly Ethiopians. Why are they wearing high-healed shoes in this mud? It’s insane! Are they not freezing to death? Hah, they are laughing, but I’m the one whose feet are dry! Beat that! And why are they wearing plastic bags on their heads? It looks silly, if you ask me. I’ll stick to my umbrella.”

Oh, well, ain’t the world a magnificent place. Such a diversity.

MY NEW RUBBER BOOTS!

Aren’t they lovely? (notice the fancy yellow details, they are there to warn all the staring Ethiopians that I’m coming!!!). They are going to save me from cold, wet feet for the next couple of months! And I’ll be walking to work, feeling like a Cinderella under my nice green umbrella:)

BACK HOME IN ADDIS ABABA

Ok, I’m back. Strange how this place can make me feel so much at home. It didn’t start off very well though. I had just arranged with a taxi to take me home from the airport, when my friend called me and asked me to meet her at a place on the way home. But when I told the taxi driver to stop, and told him that I would only pay him a quarter of the price since I was going off so much earlier, he refused to accept the price I was giving him. So we ended up having a huge fight at the roadside outside the place where I was meeting my friend, and she even came and joined the argument. So did about 10 street children, and another taxi driver. I was so furious I could have kicked that guy!!! Well, we made a deal, very unfair for me, but he was stubborn ( you can’t blame him, he is, after all, Ethiopian:), so I had to give in. (My suitcase was locked in his car, so I didn’t really have a say, I couldn’t just run off). And I got home safe, eventually:) Yesterday I went off with a minibustaxi to get some food, and everything was just as normal. The roads are a bit more even now, and the sun is shining (I brought it with me:), so it wasn’t that muddy. The weather was more or less the same as it was in Norway when I left. There was only one cockroach waiting for me, water in the taps and in the shower, and only one dead flower. So not a bad welcome, I have to say. More to come.

FAREWELL, COUNTRYSIDE

It's not Tintern Abbey, but it's not far from it! I know I am complaining about the lack of activities here, but I have to admit that it is kinda nice here as well:) It's been really good being at home, and having the chance to enjoy the beautiful landscape, the fresh smell of forest, grass and flowers. And spend some time with my family and friends. But now I'm heading for Addis Abeba, my second home. Apparently Ethiopia is the third most dangerous country to live in (I have now idea where my dentist got that information), but I don't think it's true. But it is a fact that I am leaving one of the world's most peaceful countries and going to a country that is situated in between countries with all sorts of conflicts, having a fair share of them itself as well. And I am staying there for another year. Well, who knows, I might decide that I need a break and fly off to......hmm, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar....or somewhere farther away! We will see! But you are most welcome to come and visit me, that would be great! I have a tiny spare room, so you don't have to book in at the Sheraton, don't worry:) You'll hear from me again when I'm back in Addis!!!!

FYI

I can see now that it was a little bit unfortunate that my post about my big cheek is right after the song.......(thanks for pointing that out, Maria;). Well, I don't think I did anything to deserve looking like I'm constantly chewing on this big piece of steak, but from my blog it looks like that's the result if you do what Casting Crowns is pointing out.....I'm pretty sure it's not, though:) And, it was meant to be divided into verses, but my blog is not cooperating with me, and I'm to lazy to bother finding out how it will. Och.....

WHAT IF....?

What if the armies of the Lord

Picked up and dusted off their swords

Vowed to set the captive free

And not let satan have one more

What if the Church, for heaven's sake

Finally stepped up to the plate

Took a stand upon God's promise

And stormed hell's rusty gates

What if His people prayed

And those who bear His name

Would humbly seek His face

And turn from their old ways

And what would happen if we prayed

For those raised up to lead the way

Then maybe kids in school could pray

And unborn children see light of day

What if the life that we pursue

Came from a hunger for the truth

What if the family turned to Jesus

Stopped asking Oprah what to do

What if His people prayed

And those who bear His name

Would humbly seek His face

And turn from their own way

He said that He would hear

His promise has been made

He'll answer loud and clear

If only we would pray

If My people call by My name

If they'll humble themselves and pray

(Casting Crowns: What if His People Prayed)