... and use this blog as a platform for me to blog about Ethiopia, since I'm here now and don't think it is the best idea to set up a whole new blog for the remaining 6 days that I am here. So apologies to the Uganda crew! I know you won't be too hateful.
Salaam!!! Ethiopia is very, very, very, very different from Uganda. I don't even feel like I'm in Africa anymore. Actually, everything-- from the architecture, roads, people, language, and food-- reminds me more of the Middle East (where I can now say I have actually been-- thank you Dubai). First off, it is freezing here!!! Coming from Uganda where everyday was at least in the 80s, my thin skirts, short sleeve shirts, and sandals aren't holding up too well.
Secondly, the people here are unlike anywhere else. They are so proud of their heritage as being the only uncolonized African country. In fact, Christina was telling me that she was trying to speak English to another Ethiopian and they turned to her and said "Sorry, I don't know English. We were never colonized so we have no use for that language." Lol. Although, apparently grades 9-12 are all taught in English, not Amharic.
However, I may be biased because the set I am spending my time with is a bit more upperclass than my crowd in Uganda (i.e. we hang out at the Intercontinental Hotel as opposed to a village in Katakwi). I feel almost disconnected from the people around me, as opposed to in Uganda where I was immersed in their lives. Also, here I am the lone American as opposed to constantly being with a group of other Americans (Christina understands Amharic by now, so I'm the only one that never knows what is going on).
But overall, I am interested to see more of what life in Ethiopia is like, and explore the culture. The four girls who rent out the house I'm staying in are sweet and I learn so much from them, as well as from my temporary caretaker, Kalamoi, Christina's grand-aunt (who doesn't speak any English, but always sits with me during the morning coffee ceremony).
Coffee is worth mentioning here. Ethiopian coffee is called boonda. It is served from a small and narrow clay pot into tiny cups with no handles that you can cradle in your hand. It is so thick-- almost like syrup. Ethiopians fill almost half the cup with raw sugar, although I usually pass with just a small spoonful. The other oddity is that they put a special fresh herb in it and let that soak in more flavor. Finally, the coffee ceremony always includes a burning plate of incense. Plus, breakfast is always fresh popcorn!
So although I miss the red dirt of Uganda-- and even more all the wonderful people I became friends with there-- I am happily exchanging Ugandan pleasures for the chance to explore this new world and drink some very fantastic coffee.
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