I really have no idea where to begin. I have travelled over 1200km in the past 10 days (not including my flight travel that is) and have seen so much. I haven't been keeping a journal although I have one with me, but have scribbled down words like 'construction' 'roads' 'electricity' 'toilets' and 'generosity' to prompt my memories.
I had a few requests for information on topics that by total fluke I can discuss.
1 - monkeys! I saw a family of monkeys today, waiting by the road - for the bus, my colleague joked
based on a quick and not even close to extensive google search, I likely saw the Gelada monkey. I thought I saw a monkey running through the field on our drive to a project site but as I was recovering from illness and no one else saw it, I doubted myself. However, after seeing two large adults, 2 little monkeys playing in the road and a new born baby monkey, it is possible. Anyway, that was a real treat and really cool. So far Ethiopia had just produced many donkeys, goats and sheep, the occasional horse and LOTS of cool birds. Yeah cool, colourful birds are the other noteworthy animals I have seen.
2 - randomly trendy sports
So we stopped for coffee in a town called Finote Selam - I had stayed here on my last trip. Anyway, while enjoying a macchiato (despite the sugar in it) my colleagues and I watched the sports news. This included an Ethiopian track and field day, which had the usual running and jumping. However, it also seemed to include dog racing - well the type where the dogs run an obstacle course, and ....wait for it...wait for it...a tug of war. Yes both men's teams and women's teams competed in the tug of war and the winners were quite excited. Otherwise football/soccer is the sport of choice to watch and play, with a hint of volleyball here and there.
3 - what are people up to in Ethiopia?
People do all kinds of things here. I mentioned construction and there is a lot of road building going on. I got to drive on a super nice road today, painted lines, an area designated for pedestrians (picture women carrying wood, girls carrying water, boys herding donkeys - not to be stereotypical) - yup it was a nice smooth road. What else? People work, especially people farm. Almost everyone is a farmer in some way or another and that's why CPAR works with farmers - people grow their own food, so most of our programming in Ethiopia is focussed on trying to make sure people grow enough food for the year and then some if possible. I saw lots of good examples of this and a lot of positive changes since the last time I was here.
I'll leave it there, I have to pack my bag. Off to Uganda tomorrow morning. Might have more connectivity there. In addition to having little to no internet (most previous entries were written in Addis and scheduled for publication later), I have had very little time to write or reflect.
I had a few requests for information on topics that by total fluke I can discuss.
1 - monkeys! I saw a family of monkeys today, waiting by the road - for the bus, my colleague joked
based on a quick and not even close to extensive google search, I likely saw the Gelada monkey. I thought I saw a monkey running through the field on our drive to a project site but as I was recovering from illness and no one else saw it, I doubted myself. However, after seeing two large adults, 2 little monkeys playing in the road and a new born baby monkey, it is possible. Anyway, that was a real treat and really cool. So far Ethiopia had just produced many donkeys, goats and sheep, the occasional horse and LOTS of cool birds. Yeah cool, colourful birds are the other noteworthy animals I have seen.
Yes, if you buy a goat from CPAR, someone actually does get a goat
2 - randomly trendy sports
So we stopped for coffee in a town called Finote Selam - I had stayed here on my last trip. Anyway, while enjoying a macchiato (despite the sugar in it) my colleagues and I watched the sports news. This included an Ethiopian track and field day, which had the usual running and jumping. However, it also seemed to include dog racing - well the type where the dogs run an obstacle course, and ....wait for it...wait for it...a tug of war. Yes both men's teams and women's teams competed in the tug of war and the winners were quite excited. Otherwise football/soccer is the sport of choice to watch and play, with a hint of volleyball here and there.
On the road in Guba after meeting with members of the Forest Fire Protection Committee
3 - what are people up to in Ethiopia?
People do all kinds of things here. I mentioned construction and there is a lot of road building going on. I got to drive on a super nice road today, painted lines, an area designated for pedestrians (picture women carrying wood, girls carrying water, boys herding donkeys - not to be stereotypical) - yup it was a nice smooth road. What else? People work, especially people farm. Almost everyone is a farmer in some way or another and that's why CPAR works with farmers - people grow their own food, so most of our programming in Ethiopia is focussed on trying to make sure people grow enough food for the year and then some if possible. I saw lots of good examples of this and a lot of positive changes since the last time I was here.
Market day in Guba was awesome - hopefully I'll write a whole post about it - those of us squatting are CPAR staff
I'll leave it there, I have to pack my bag. Off to Uganda tomorrow morning. Might have more connectivity there. In addition to having little to no internet (most previous entries were written in Addis and scheduled for publication later), I have had very little time to write or reflect.
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