It just struck me that 'blame it on the altitude' could seem like some to a play on the song 'blame it on the alcohol', however, I've been blaming things on the altitude ever since family vacations took me to the mile high city of Denver. Anyway, that is neither here nor there. Addis is pretty high up, which today caused a very minor nose bleed. So maybe despite being an African hub, perhaps Addis is in the nosebleed section of Africa? I was recently asked me first impressions and as one who takes between 6 months and 6 years to process things, I came up with 'dusty'. It is quite dusty and dry here. Better than the rainy season though which finished a few weeks ago.
I cannot seem to get enough water, which is only problematic because I'm drinking bottled water. I have some purification tablets so I'm able to reuse some of the plastic bottles but I am really starting to get quite the collection. No stranger to being laughed at in foreign countries, I am getting mocked for my occasional vegetarian food choices. The food is really good though. I have eaten 'tibs', which usually involves beef and also 'shiro', which is a delicious vegetarian dish involving ground chickpeas. The spices are great! I managed to get a lentil/bean dish today and was mocked profusely. I'm eating plenty of injera and have managed to have 1 macchiato per day. Our snack times at meetings involve instant coffee and some random treats - my personal favourite so far is some sort of roasted/toasted barley. I also had some barley for breakfast. The breakfast leaves a little to be desired - buffet of a lot of fried things and the requisite injera.
Anyway, enough about the food. I haven't really seen much of the city but we are getting out to some of the hot spots in the evening and tomorrow we're going to a restaurant that has live Ethiopian jazz. This was a thing in the 70s and is making a comeback. It's been great getting to know my colleagues both during our sessions and outside of work.
Reading this back I wish I had something more exciting and coherent to say. I'm blaming the altitude for my limited brain function, getting winded going up 3 flights of stairs, dry skin and an inability to retain information. I have learned to say 'thank you' in Amharic...at least 80% of the time I remember it. Maybe I'll take some more photos tomorrow and be able to write something interesting. No promises though.
I cannot seem to get enough water, which is only problematic because I'm drinking bottled water. I have some purification tablets so I'm able to reuse some of the plastic bottles but I am really starting to get quite the collection. No stranger to being laughed at in foreign countries, I am getting mocked for my occasional vegetarian food choices. The food is really good though. I have eaten 'tibs', which usually involves beef and also 'shiro', which is a delicious vegetarian dish involving ground chickpeas. The spices are great! I managed to get a lentil/bean dish today and was mocked profusely. I'm eating plenty of injera and have managed to have 1 macchiato per day. Our snack times at meetings involve instant coffee and some random treats - my personal favourite so far is some sort of roasted/toasted barley. I also had some barley for breakfast. The breakfast leaves a little to be desired - buffet of a lot of fried things and the requisite injera.
Anyway, enough about the food. I haven't really seen much of the city but we are getting out to some of the hot spots in the evening and tomorrow we're going to a restaurant that has live Ethiopian jazz. This was a thing in the 70s and is making a comeback. It's been great getting to know my colleagues both during our sessions and outside of work.
Reading this back I wish I had something more exciting and coherent to say. I'm blaming the altitude for my limited brain function, getting winded going up 3 flights of stairs, dry skin and an inability to retain information. I have learned to say 'thank you' in Amharic...at least 80% of the time I remember it. Maybe I'll take some more photos tomorrow and be able to write something interesting. No promises though.
Have fun out on the town! (I want to hear about this Jazz restaurant.)
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