Since I don't have access to regular Internet, I am writing a diary on my ipad and then putting it in when I get access, so you will get more than one day at a time. Right now, I'm sitting in the airport in Addis Ababa waiting for my flight to Bahar Dar.
Here we go....
Ethiopia Day 1
After a very long journey, I arrived about noon in Addis Ababa and was met at the airport by my cousin's husband Alimu. It is not often that I am met by someone and was grateful not to have to find my way around another busy airport or arrange a taxi fare in a language I don't speak. It was a long journey and I was tired - I did not sleep on the plane, and very happy to see Rachel, Al, and the boys Theo and Nathanial.
On the journey from Manchester to Dubai, I sat beside the nicest young man from Glasgow. It was a fairly long flight and we had some nice chats. I love the Scottish accent, it is perhaps, my favourite. He is a pilot and knew all the idiosyncraties of getting what you want in economy! He reminded me of my sons and i found myself missing my boys. What a sweet guy he was, helping a woman with her 2 little ones off the plane and into the craziness of Dubai airport where everyone is connecting to some other destination. I had to make my connection so was scurried off to my gate. My gate was #136 and when I saw the sign saying "gate 101-240", I knew there was a possibility I wouldn't make my connecting flight. Running was not an option because the airport was so crowded. I hurried as best I could and made it just in time.
It was Nathanials birthday on the 22nd, same day as my Robbie, and I brought a suitcase full of presents for him and of course, luxuries from England - sausages, bacon, and cheese!
I woke up this morning, for a split second wondering where I was. It was dark and I lay there and listened to the sounds of a city awakening, in particular, the soothing and monotonous Muslim call to prayer.
Addis is the national Capitol of Africa, much like Brussels is the capitol of the European Union. The language is Amhera and the currency is the birr. Im finding it confusing trying to convert from birr to pound to canadian dollar.
My cousin and her family live in a house provided by the school. It is modest, but large and comfortable. They employ two people - a maid named Almez and a gate keeper called Habtamu who watches over the house while they are not here and is given a room in the lower part of the house. As in other African countries, there is a large section of desperately poor people living in slums and then the middle class people who are fortunate enough to have a house, a job and perhaps a car. These two people that Ray and Al employ are very grateful for these jobs.
When I arrived, there was a birthday party for Nathanial and, as at home, it is attended by the parents as well so I was able to meet some of the other expats who work with Ray and Al.
Day 2
Back in sandals and a beautifully warm climate. My body is happily soaking up the rays of the intense sun and i am a little sunburnt despite sunscreen. Last night we went to Ray and Al's "local" and enjoyed an evening sitting on plastic stools outside drinking beer and watching the scene on the busy night street. Theo and Nathanial brought their latest game gadgets and were as good as gold. Once again, I am conscience of my skin colour and am regarded with curiosity. I have learned to reign in my natural friendliness and not make eye contact as it promotes people, mostly men, to take advantage and pester me unabashedly. This morning Ray went to work - she teaches high school - and they occasionally have school on a Saturday morning. Al and I walked to the school as the boys had a football game there. He showed me around the school which was impressive.
Day 3
Today we woke up with no water. We noticed yesterday the water pressure was low. Apparently a water main burst on the East side of Addis affecting the residential area where Ray and Al live. There is is a water source near their house and we noticed many people from the slums carrying jerry cans and queing up in long lines to get water. The Sheraton was closed so we couldn't go there and I must admit after a day in the hot sun and the dusty dry streets, I'm feeling a bit grubby. Such is life in a developing country.
I booked a two day trip to Bahad Dair in the north which I will fly to.
Being only 7 degrees from the equator, there is almost exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. The change from dark to light, and vice versa, happens very quickly. It is like this year round.
