So it’s been ages since I’ve written. I’ve been on some trips for work within Ethiopia, had my mother visit for a week, and went to Nairobi for meetings followed by almost a week with my sister and her family in Tanzania. And I’ve passed the 6 month mark. I can’t believe I’ve been here for a half of a year already! Time sure does fly.
First, for work, we’re definitely being kept busy. The situation in the country overall is precarious with successive poor or failed rains, cholera outbreaks, and lack of food and financial resources for relief operations. Despite that, I’m enjoying being here.
In one of the locations I visited there is very little food and people are eating cactus as their main food source. In another area I saw a completed water program that, with our funding and the diligent work of the NGO, provides water to four villages and one town a 11 different locations which means that people have to go much shorter distances for clean water. I’ve been able to travel with some other donor representatives and have thus have made some great new friends.
My mom came to visit for about a week in July which was lovely. But the weather and Ethiopian transportation systems conspired against us. Despite my plan to visit two locations, our flight was canceled after a terrifying landing attempt at the destination airport and then we had a scary flat tire a few days later. But we did get to visit Lalibela so Mom could see the famous rock churches. Maybe when she comes back we’ll visit other places (thought I don’t think coming back is tops on her list right now!).
Here are some photos from her visit:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=jane.e.strachan&target=ALBUM&id=5364527697822569809&authkey=Gv1sRgCLG1z4bbh_TaJQ&invite=CNbt2e4D&feat=email
In August we had some regional meetings so I was able to get out of Addis and the incessant rains for a few days. Let me clarify that the rainy season started in June with hail storms and the thunderstorms and rains that have followed have been significant and fairly constant. Of course, this is in Addis which is up in the hills. In many of the other areas of the country, the rains will not be long enough that planted crops reach maturation—so people will likely loose another harvest. The rainy season is starting to abate—which is good for me as I’ve been enjoying the sunshine, but not for the farmers. In Nairobi I was able to do some shopping, download updates for my computer, some shows from iTunes, etc. But as it turns out, I’m a mobile cloud gatherer. After about 5 hours of sun in Nairobi the clouds rolled in for the remainder of my stay. So after our meetings finished I headed to Tanzania to see my sister et al.
Tanzania is of course, still lovely. Just driving along next to crystal blue waters lowers your blood pressure. Again, after about 5 hours of sunshine, the clouds rolled in. And then it was partly sunny and windy for the remainder of my stay! My sister, friend Tracy and I went to a beach about 4 hours from Dar that was beautiful and relaxing. It was a great break and I got to sit in the hammock, watch the little monkeys roam by looking for fruit in the trees, and read my book. I did take a dip in the ocean (before the rain started), and then it was on to the bar! On Sunday we drove back to Dar and I spent the next few days with my nephews and brother in law while my sister went back to work. I returned to find Addis still rainy and cold. Not much changes in a week and a half I guess!!!
The remainder of August has passed in a blur and we’re now in September. I’m just back from another trip for the inauguration of the water program I saw in July. Then I traveled with some friends to Blue Nile Falls and Lake Tana for a little break.
Photos from Asebe Tefari and Blue Nile Falls
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=jane.e.strachan&target=ALBUM&id=5378984635112285425&authkey=Gv1sRgCJK7penu0erq6AE&invite=COiGwNUO&feat=email
This Friday is Ethiopian New Year (September 11) so we have the day off and I’m planning some shenanigans with friends. Then we’ve got someone coming from WDC for a few weeks and I’ll be traveling with her, and then it’s off to meetings in Nairobi Kenya and Kigali Rwanda. Yippee!! I’m planning in Rwanda to go with a friend to see the gorillas—something I’ve wanted to do for years! I’m so excited.
So besides all of the travel and who-ha with work, not much is new. I’m pretty settled in and enjoying expat life here. There will be more to come with all of these trips to new places so stay tuned!
Miss you all,
Abrazos,
Jane
