Not Sharing Skills

I played my first game of football in Ethiopia today.  Apart from being unfit, under-skilled, playing in the dark and having no clue who was on which side – I think I held my own.  Not sure I can think of any more excuses.  It was meant to be a teacher's practise for a game against the local high school on Sunday morning.  Except the coach, no one else but me turned up.  Anyway, I joined in with the students and passed the test (whatever it was).  I am assured that for the game there will be kits and rules!  I'll let you know how the game goes.

---

Read amazing stories to your kids on Messenger. Try it Now!

Ethiopian Pool Rules Addendum

Addendum:

 

Rule 8: After the white returns to the table after being potted, the white must travel over the baulk line before hitting the target ball.

 

Rule 9: The exception of no fouls on ball 3 has been changed due to ferenji pressure.  In Mekelle, fouls do count on ball 3 and like the potting score, the foul is worth 6.

 

Rule 15:  In the event of a tie at the end of the game, balls 1,2 and 3 are returned to the table.  Ball 3 in the usual position and balls 1 and 2 placed one on either side.  The winner is the player to pot two balls irrespective of ball value.

 

---

Great search results, great prizes. BigSnapSearch.com Search now

Christmas Wishes

Thanks to all who sent their Christmas Wishes.  I hope those that received my card followed my instructions.  Crissy and I decided rather than carry our presents to Mekelle we would have an unofficial pre-Christmas Day on 23^rd.  We cooked goat and had a fine selection of veg (if a little burnt).  Christmas Day was spent in Mekelle with other volunteers and counterparts.  25 people in all.  After copious quantities of mulled wine and G&T we all enjoyed roast lamb, roast and mashed potatoes, carrots, cabbage, cheesy leeks with yorkshire pud and gravy, which was followed by bread and butter pudding and date loaf.  Even the power going off later on did not spoil our fun, drinking into the night and eating lamb sarnies later on.  I hope you all had fun Christmas Days opening presents and eating lots.

---

Read amazing stories to your kids on Messenger. Try it Now!

Long Way Down

For anyone struggling to imagine what Ethiopia may be like.  I can say that having watched the two episodes that cover Ethiopia from "The Long Way Down", they paint a good picture.  The end of episode 3 and beginning of 4 see them enter Ethiopia in the north and travel south to Kenya.  Unfortunately not exactly where I am but very similar.

 

You can see a video of the party here: http://www.youtube.com/v/F9ehBvC-jqU

---

Great search results, great prizes. BigSnapSearch.com Search now

Environmental Day

Sometimes pictures have to be seen to be believed.  Check out the cleaning the campus pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30047150@N02/.  Last week it was a countrywide environmental day, which I was informed meant that everybody was tasked with tidying their local area.  The fact that every training session I have attended, results in 50 teachers throwing their biscuit wrappers and bottle tops on the floor/school field, does not seem to connect with them.  So rather than picking up litter for a day, they take the opportunity to massacre the local foliage.  Photo 1 is a fine example of low hacking in a crouched position.  Photo 2 is the tricky art of raking bark backwards. Photo 3: Random high-hacking with machete. 6.0 6.0 6.0.

 

 

---

Read amazing stories to your kids on Messenger. Try it Now!

Goat Slaughter

The morning of the party was spent at a cattle market (with colleague) haggling for a goat.  Standard practise is to start low, disagree, wait, walk away, return, continue, argue and finally agree somewhere in between.  My price Birr 420 – looks healthy and ready for roasting.  Children hang around as normal but this time they carry rope and offer a goat-sitting/walking service until it is needed later.

 

I felt it important to watch the slaughter.  I imagine there are many children in the UK who are unaware where some of their meat comes from let alone how it is prepared and packed.  When I was younger, I witnessed a chicken being killed for dinner and later refused to eat it.  Although it did not put me off meat, I was apprehensive about what was to come.

 

WARNING!! - Do not read on if you are squeamish.  What follows is an honest description of the goat slaughter. 

 

Thankfully, in a country where animal welfare is low on their priority, the 16 year old, but very experienced butcher, made the whole process calm and simple.  Holding the goat by the horns, in one move he had the animal on its side and secure.  There was much less bleating and struggling than I expected.  In my opinion, the next part was the only unnecessary suffering caused from the slaughter.  Starting at the chin he cut down towards the throat.  The reason being is to save as much of the hide as possible for leather.  He can sell the skin for 10 Birr.  The throat was then cut quickly.  So I guess the killing lasted about 30 seconds in total.  Although twitching continued due to muscle movement, he cut into the hooves to check that the goat had completely died.  The back legs are then snapped back on themselves to make hanging loops.  The goat is then hung up to allow any remaining blood to drain.  He continued very much like an artist to slice and chop precisely, allowing him to push the skin away from the flesh, remove the hooves and head; before finally opening the rib cage and selecting which insides to keep.  Nothing is wasted.  The meat was then flavoured with a good dose of oil, garlic, salt, chilli, onion and red wine.  Everything was troughed.

 

I apologise if anyone is offended by this blog entry but for me, it was very interesting.

 

P.S. There are some pictures if anyone is interested.

---

Get Windows Live Messenger on your Mobile. Click Here!

Sting in the tale

Contrary to popular belief, I do not drink often here.  However, as it was a party, and many had attended, I took the opportunity to drink more than usual.  So returning after the party (via a tej house and watching Manu v Sunderland) at about 11:30pm, I went to bed fully clothed.  I think I have set the scene and situation clearly.

 

I was woken about an hour later with Crissy knocking on the window.  "We have an emergency!".  "Vicky has stood on a scorpion."  Confused, I fumbled for the door key where I preceded to stand in front of Crissy, stating "I'm smashed" (or words to that effect), while she tried to elicit a coherent response from me for advice.  Giving up, she told me to return to bed while she searched for a driver.  Meanwhile, I forced myself to focus and went to see the patient.

 

Thankfully within a few minutes, Crissy returned with the Dean and a driver.  As it is common here and not fatal, he felt it unnecessary to visit the hospital but he decided to follow my drunken insistence to be on the safe side.  Not sure what I expected, but as we arrive at a dark, empty hospital, I decide to bang on all doors in an attempt to find a doctor.

 

A small hatch opened where we had to register Vicky for 5 Birr.  (Good job I still had my party clothes on).  The receptionist then provided a receipt – not until she and us had to go to the next hatch along.  While we wait the power goes off but it is not long before the on-call doctor is summoned from his dorm.  Like the dean, he is not worried but agrees to inject a local anaesthetic and prescribes ibuprofen.

Whether it was the needle, the tej or just the sheer excitement but this was shortly followed by me vomiting up in the grounds outside.  Little did I know that I would return on Tuesday to fix their computer – I hope they did not recognise me.  The following morning, she felt better and we saw she had actually been stung 6 times.  Think I'll wear flip flops around the house from now on.

---

Win John Lewis vouchers with BigSnapSearch.com Search now

Party On

My party in Mylomin at the weekend went well.  Some photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30047150@N02/ About 1 km from Abi Adi, it would probably be described as a hamlet in the UK.  However, when anyone refers to the place here, they are always talking about the bar.  I am not exaggerating when I call the setting "paradise".  The sort of place that in different circumstances could bring in huge amounts of money.  There is no need for a hotel even though the structure exists.  Anyway, I believe that is my Western head talking.  Everybody here just appreciates the place for what it is. 

 

The party was attended by a few volunteers and many colleagues.  I spent the morning buying vegetables, beer and purchasing a goat for slaughter (more later).  With the one local mini-taxi hired, tables and chairs ready organised and the bonfire built – everything was set.  It is traditional for all the chairs to be arranged into a circle like a large AA meeting.  Although reserved at first; it does not take long for the beer to be drunk, the goat meat to be cooked and faces to be stuffed; before the dancing begins.

 

Dancing here is an art form.  Every region (sometimes each village) has their own style.  Most northern versions resemble a group of chickens strutting their stuff.  Anyone wishing to replicate should, place both hands on their hips; and with their back straight and from the waist down, bounce up and down, while shaking their shoulders about (see photo 3). This transcends the Indian dance for anyone lucky enough to witness.  All participants then circulate, which is occasionally interspersed by an exuberant member who wishes to show why he is the best dancer.

 

The other format that is saved for elongated songs consists of a man and woman in the centre.  The man's duty being to dance around and entice the woman I guess, while she folds her arms and looks unimpressed.  This is followed at random intervals by another man stepping up to have a go.  With dutiful respect the first dancer sits down and provides the new contender an opportunity. (see photo 4 for a fine example from Kashau)

 

All in all, a fun evening

---

Take your friends with you with Mobile Messenger. Click Here!

Shocking News

A sombre day as news travels quickly that a student committed suicide last night.  Thankfully, I am informed early on, as often information is not shared.  Classes are cancelled.  Although a first for this college, apparently it is not uncommon at University.  It is another reminder that I am often unfamiliar with cultural differences.  How should I act?  What should I say?  Some teachers appear unaffected, whereas others (in stark contrast to traditional culture) show open signs of emotion.  Rumours as usual, spread fast as to how and the reason why.  The popular line of reason is a positive test result for HIV.  All the more striking as last weekend was HIV Awareness Day with dramas, poems and music organised and performed by the students on the relevant dangers.

---

Win John Lewis vouchers with BigSnapSearch.com Search now

Quiztime

Name 3 American states with the letters USA in.

Answers as blog comments.

---

Take your friends with you with Mobile Messenger. Click Here!

Driving

Well I got the chance to try out some driving today.  Not exactly off-road but close enough.  You can tell by my expression that I had to concentrate really hard.  Not just the driving on the wrong side, or even the dust and slippy stoney surface, but the mad bus drivers that charge towards you or appear from nowhere and overtake anywhere they feel like.  Don't think I'm really allowed by VSO or the college but don't tell anyone.  I think the driving test here is: Drive forward for 100 yards and turn around.  I blamed having a gear stick and handbrake on the right hand side for the close misses with other vehicles.

---

Great search results, great prizes. BigSnapSearch.com Search now

Fuel Crisis

The fuel crisis seems to have hit even the reaches of Ethiopia.  The buses are currently on strike due to rising fuel prices.  Ongoing disagreements with the government over ticket prices which have risen from 20-24 Birr while I've been here.  This often means that many people with their own transport take the opportunity, to illegally transport people around the country.  That said, some policemen clearly salute and smile, have a brief discussion and let you on your way.  Others however, can fine the driver 150 Birr – which is about the same as what he can make for his troubles.  On that note, I have to say that the policemen look absolutely hilarious.  They ride around on these old motorbikes, with white "Chips" style helmets and long black jackets and large shades.  Not sure I should smile so much when they board the bus!

 

---

Win John Lewis vouchers with BigSnapSearch.com Search now

Flickr pictures 5

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30047150@N02/

---

Win John Lewis vouchers with BigSnapSearch.com Search now

Power On

I went to a school today to set up their computer and provide some initial training.  After being picked up at 6am and travelling 90 minutes over rough ground we arrived.  The usual mix of local children hang around once they see a ferenji visiting.  Walking around the village we visit a restaurant and try out some Tigrinian.  And on the way back, what looks like someone's front room we enjoy a coffee or two.  The weather is fine all day.  All things considered an enjoyable day – except the school had no power all day!

---

Get Windows Live Messenger on your Mobile. Click Here!

Abi Adi to Adwa

An alarm clock at half 5 even here, with little stress and daylight on its way, is still way too early.  Alex and I were heading north to Adwa and Axum.  Two towns near the border with Eritrea, the latter being the big tourist attraction, having the Stelae fields and Ark of the Covenant to visit.  Our journey "experience sharing" was to catch with up fellow volunteers.  So a college car took us into town to the bus station for 6am.  A bus left just as we arrived.  As our bus had 8 people on we knew we had to wait for the bus to fill up before departing.  However, after 30 minutes and only a few more people on we were on our way.  Out the gates, back up the road, shouting and stopping for any late passengers that desire a lift.  Oh.  What's this?  We stop 1km down the road, turn round and head back.  Why? Think of this start as a tease or an enticement for any people standing at the side of road.  For those people who may just have been thinking "Oh yes actually I wasn't going to, but I think I will get on a bus for 3 hours".  So as we circle the town looking for more passengers that cannot be bothered to go to the station, we soon find ourselves back where we started.

 

9:30 - Three hours later, the bus is nearly full.  Alex and I are contemplating paying for the remaining seats.  Actually, we both realise that in this short time we have both changed.  As back in the UK by now we would have been livid, while here you just sit back, relax and smile.  I'm not sure why they stick with this process, but a few people who we saw in the morning, appear from shops to take their seats as the bus honks its way finally out of town.  It is not uncommon for children to sit and save seats for others and they just holler when they reach the intended occupant.

 

The rest of the journey, except the flat tyre an hour later, was conventional enough: crammed onto a seat; Live chickens squawking, children jumping on, at every village stop, to sell lemons and nuts; bags of charcoal and tef shoved under every seat; a bumpy ride reminiscent of Sheffield City Centre; pipe-dream signs stating maximum speed limit of 40kph; radio so loud mp3 player has not effect; a curtain-pulling fight between two old characters wishing to shield themselves from the sun.  Adults staring.  Children staring.  Actually, the children pass the time with games of "peekaboo" and getting their photo taken.  Traffic police getting on to check for standing passengers.  Apparently, Ethiopia is one of only two African countries where it is banned.

 

---

Read amazing stories to your kids on Messenger Try it Now!

Reading Books

I have now finished "A Spot of Bother" and followed that up with "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen".  My next book shall be "HP7-Deathly Hallows" and "Curious Dog in the Night".  Based on those titles, I would be very interested for suggestions on a similar theme.  Something light hearted, not too heavy.  Has anyone heard of "Driving over Lemons" or "The Bone People"? as I have them already left by others.

---

Click here for FREE customisable desktop wallpapers. Get them Now!

Ethiopian medal Picture

Alongside is Julia, a short-term volunteer in Addis.

---

Read amazing stories to your kids on Messenger Try it Now!

Great Ethiopian Run

The Great Ethiopian Run is a 10km race in the centre of Addis Abeba.  Started by the famous Ethiopian athlete, Haile Gebreselassie, 8 years ago; all money raised goes to charity.  Ethiopia won the men and women's 5km and 10km at this year's Olympics.

 

As with many things here, on closer inspection, they are not that dissimilar from the UK.  The run is well organised without the need for kilometres of crash barriers.  The atmosphere is very impressive, as 32,000 people all wearing the same T-shirt fills the capital centre.  Competitors (in the loosest sense) are entertained with vast warm-up sessions.  Although I'm not sure if press-ups really help.  It is lacking the usual fancy-dress contingent, even with a 10-foot tall condom making an appearance.  Even though the entrance fee is only 40Birr, the main entrants are ferenji and the rich unfit habasha.

 

Unusually for Ethiopia, the race starts on time and everyone seems over excited, as for the first time they have permission to run without people staring.  For a nation of runners, everyone seems intent on the walk-sprint method.  As my group set off walking (I'll explain later) scores of runners barge and shove their way through the crowds shouting "run, run, run".  Unfortunately, while a large open area is a good place for a start, it quickly leads into a bottleneck.  Oh I wish I was an elite runner at the front. After 30 minutes we reach the 3km sign just as the winner finishes and collects 20,000 Birr.

 

During the race….I need to stop calling it that.  Actually it was a walk as I was feeling pretty horrendous with a virus so decided to accompany the rest of the volunteers.  The race took in many government buildings and the palace where a set of opposition took the opportunity to make their feelings known chanting "thief" and "Teddy A".  Teddy Afro is a singer known for his anti-government lyrics, who was caught drunk driving and is now resting in jail for a while.

 

Two hours later, we reach the finish and collect our medals.

---

Click here for FREE customisable desktop wallpapers. Get them Now!

Sounds Crazy

Tigrinian and Amharic used the fidel script.  This is made up using a set of 33 characters - generally consonants and then adapted (using an additional stroke) depending on which of the 7 vowel sounds that follows.  This creates confusion when the language is written using our alphabet, as how the word is pronounced decides which letters are used.  Also, as they do not use capital letters, they have adopted their use for the explosive sounds.

 

Therefore, you would think that conversations would be very difficult to understand.  However, due to them adopting a number of connective phrases from English; e.g. "by the way" or "in the meantime" and any new technology or business phrases e.g. "Pentium" or "advocacy"; it's sometimes possible to pick up the general gist and think you are listening to English.

---

Read amazing stories to your kids on Messenger Try it Now!

Home and Away

Although so many things here are new.  There are a few things that remind me that I'm not that far away:

1.  Champions League on tele.
2.  Guardian Weekly
3.  A 1000 piece jigsaw of Britain
4.  Computers
5.  St. George – a British tasting lager
6.  Dashen – a British tasting beer

 

However there are also things that are a constant reminder you may not be:

1.  Blue & Shania Twain being played in bars
2.  1980s style Miami Vice jackets worn over the shoulders
3.  Banks using a fake metal coin to hold your place in the queue
4. A Lava lamp style holder for 4 litres of beer
5.  The constant shout of "ferenji", "give me money" or "you"
6.  Power supply, water or phone going off at least once a week

 

---

BigSnapSearch.com - 24 prizes a day, every day. Search now

Time & Dates

As well as the times here being different so are the dates.  The day time starts with the sunrise at 6am so is hence 12 o'clock.  And likewise the daytime ends with sunset and hence 6pm.  So 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night.  You just get used to converting the time, adding/deleting hours but soon realise that they use both happily and start to confuse them.

 

The calendar is made up of 13 months.  12 months of 30 days and 1 month of 5 or 6 days.  Presumably due to difference in terms of when they believe Jesus was born - the year is 2001.  Do I get to celebrate my 30^th again?  The New Year started on September 11^th and Christmas is 7^th January.    And on that note:  the only official holiday is the summer - rainy season July and August.  There is a short break between semesters in February of about 2 weeks but otherwise the teachers here work pretty much every day.  Not solidly however, they often have 5-10 hours a week.  [Sounds like secondary school teachers]  Extra classes are often held on Saturday and there are always Summer school classes.

 

Whether it's the different dates, the working on Saturdays (travelling to local schools to train in IT) or something else but I have no idea what the date is without checking.

---

Get the best wallpapers on the Web – FREE. Click here!

Fill her up please!

Post your captions here

---

Read amazing stories to your kids on Messenger Try it Now!

Flickr photos

More flicker photos here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30047150@N02/

---

Win £1000 John Lewis shopping sprees with BigSnapSearch.com Search now

I got the power

Due to Christian fasting every Wednesday and Friday which involves not eating dairy and meat, I made "shiro" (a paste made from tomato, onion and shiro "chick pea" powder) for my counterpart.  Apart from forgetting that an electric hob should not be plugged into a 500W stabiliser and nearly burning the place down, I think it went well.  They were polite and said that it was nice, although felt it needed work on the consistency.  I did however wow them with my brownies.  Having said that, even this simple recipe proved challenging using home-made weighing scales made from two bowls and string and an oven with only two settings – very high and very low.   My plans for pizza were not quite so successful.  "Doh"!

---

Get the best wallpapers on the Web – FREE. Click here!

My counterpart told me this

Bill Gates was visited by God.

God said to him, " You have made much money  but have also donated much to worthy causes.  When you die, you may choose whether you enter heaven or hell."

"How should I choose?  Can I see both?"

So Bill was taken to see heaven where he saw those familiar green fields but the problem was that everything was perfect and nothing needed updating.   God then took Bill to see hell.  Inside hell, Bill looked around and saw many things that he thought would make it fun.  Dancing ladies, a warm fire burning, fish swimming in tropical seas, a dance night complete with a laser light show and the aurora borealis in the distance.

Turning to God, Bill said, "I think I'll have to choose hell."

So Bill moved in to hell.  However, a few months later, God came to check up on Bill and asked him how things were going.

"To be honest not good.  It's nothing like I thought it would be.  Where are all the fun things I saw?  Dancing ladies, light shows, fish swimming."

"Oh, those," God said, "They were just a screensaver."

---

Win £1000 John Lewis shopping sprees with BigSnapSearch.com Search now

Myknetal

This weekend I visited one of the cluster schools that Crissy supports.  There are about 50, split into 5 woredas (LEAs) around Abi Adi covering a very large area.  The team spend most weekends with early starts (around 7) carrying out training for the teachers in that area.  Training is on Assessment, Lesson Plans – the usual.   On this occasion, I went along to set up the computer that had previously been donated by the college and to carry out some informal training for the admin staff.  Not so successful as after installing anti-virus it refused to boot.

 

The following was a set of notes that I intended to use to write up a section for the blog.  Instead I decided to leave it as a poetic list of my journey.  Feel free to ask for clarification and comment on poetry skills.

 

Low flat trees, Remote Houses, Hidden Houses,

Dry, Red, Rusty, Wide roads winding up hills,

Lorry, slow, concrete block

Dead dog in the road

Small areas of farmland split by stone walls,

Road signs, Bridges, Pylons, Side markers,

Crops and food surround,

Lone River, Water project,

Huts, sticks, loose stones, branch roofs

Girls staying away from school: toilets, marriage

Stream walking to market,

Abi Adi large local town,

Collect plastic bottles, yellow plastic tubs on heads

Child Shepherds, Cows, Donkeys, Obey the car beep,

Ox harvest tef, separate seed for injera

Eleven in the car, Stop to get 5 more in, Ferenji up front

---

For the best free wallpapers from MSN Click here!

Sharing skills and Changing lives

VSO's motto.  This week was excellent.  I guess you just need to grab someone's interest and make it relevant.  Something I was already aware of, but it's difficult to communicate the whole process sometimes.  At first, things were going slow and I did not feel as though they believed in the plan.   I've shown how to install a complete computer lab this week.  Connected 26 computers, installed server, added a UPS and projector.  Things are moving in the right direction.  Although I still need a purple stamp for the electrician to get some more sockets installed.  The price of safety!  Training starts on Tuesday.  The importance of flash drive safety (memory sticks) - Exciting stuff eh.

 

 

---

Click here for FREE customisable desktop wallpapers. Get them Now!

Another viewpoint

You can view my friend's blog here alexlittle.net.   He is an IT volunteer at Mekelle.

---

Read amazing stories to your kids on Messenger Try it Now!

Chelenqua

Visiting Mekelle (one of my IT purchasing trips) I was able to do the tourist thing and walk to a nearby waterfall.  The nearby village was a 5km walk from Mekelle across a set of fields of tef -turned into flour to make injera.  On the journey, a man walking his donkey decided it was his duty to carry our bottled water and directed a young lad to guide (called guards) us to the waterfall when we arrived in the village.  The guide book prepares you for the excitement and clamour that exists to be your official guard.  We quickly had a group following us who all intended to claim sole rights over this role.  After some negotiation we agreed on two guides, the original young lad who spoke no English (age 7ish) and a 10 year old who spoke very good English, leaving some older lads very disgruntled.

 

On the far side of the village and down a very dry, steep, slope with stone walls used to prevent erosion and growing we saw the falls in front of us.  Although no larger than a waterfall in the UK, the sight of water really does become an oddity.  I've passed a river the other day and just stared at it.

 

Down the slope and using the fertile land a farmer was growing a fine selection of fruit and vegetables – reminded of a corn field in a horror movie.  I stopped regularly to rest in the heat (although pretended I was taking photos) while our guide became restless with the pace.  A quick reminder of his fee shut him up.

 

I was not expecting the site at the base of the falls.  As I climbed up the rocks, there was a party of 20 or so locals swimming and diving away with a stereo and tv that had been brought down.  I was later told that people convert tvs to run on battery power!?

 

Unfortunately, thirty minutes later as we headed off up the slope, an older boy who had hung around asked me for his payment.  He did seem to accept that he had not shown us where the falls were.  As he grabbed hold of our guide and we walked off, he spoilt the atmosphere with idol threats about returning and throwing stones.  Thankfully, further up the slope, our friendly guide caught us up.  However he told us that the other boy had stolen money from him.

 

At the top and back on through the village, our younger guide accepted the money, while our English speaking guide decided he should have more and followed us for a while.  We decided that whatever he got he would have wanted more and we felt comfortable that he had been paid well.  Apart from the constant barrage of "you", "give me money" and "ferenji", a good day.

---

Get the best wallpapers on the Web – FREE. Click here!

For my sins

Not even for a drunken bet I have signed up to run in the Ethiopian 10km run.  In the centre of Addis at 2400m and 30oC, I will attempt to complete a distance I could previously run at ease.  I tried to run here in Abi Adi the other day and found it quite difficult.  The altitude and heat make it very different.  Although I do not intend to set up any formal charity collection.  For anyone interested and looking for more information of how they can help, click here: http://www.actionaid.org.uk/101389/great_ethiopian_run.html

---

Read amazing stories to your kids on Messenger Try it Now!

Pictures & Videos

More Photos can be viewed here: (mostly taken from Myknetal -the nearest town north towards Adwa where we visited a school that we donated a computer to.)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30047150@N02/
 
A short dance video from the end of our training in Addis at the Red Cross Training Centre can be viewed here:  (watch carefully or you might miss me)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxLsK868_To

---

Get the best wallpapers on the Web - FREE. Click here!

And the list goes on

It would appear that just about everyone I meet is moving on.  The basic system here is to start working in the small places and move to the big city after a few years.  This however means that some places (including here) get very high turnover of staff.  Hence the constant need to train.   I'm beginning to wonder if it something I said.  Having said that, I am beginning to feel very much at home here.

---

Get the best wallpapers on the Web – FREE. Click here!

Working my way through it all

The previous post I should have explained was another volunteer's experience.  I was not trying to donate 1400 books.  Everything revolves around getting three copies signed with a purple stamp.  It's tempting to get one made up.  I think I previously mentioned how awkward it was borrowing a tape measure from the store to use.  Well the list goes on:  A paint brush for the day I decided the ICT lab needed a sprucing up; a folder and pens to complete an audit, floppy disks to repair machines, dust covers to be cleaned.  You name it everything is signed over.  I've finally arranged a procedure for replacing broken parts to fix computers.  A new part can be bought (instead of the usual practise of replacing an entire PC) by the office involved signing out the new part, replacing working for broken and then returning the broken item to the store!

 

So without a budget or understanding of how to purchase goods here, I have managed to create a list of desired materials.  Ringing shops in the area proved pointless as they either did not have, did not answer or the tiniest of shop refused to sell less than 30 of anything.  Without boring every inch of you, more than I have done myself I will try to explain what I have had to do this week regards work.  [Although I believe there is a feeling going around that I am not working.]

 

Travelled to Mekelle.  Visited shops and showed them the list of items to see what they sold and how "with it" they were.  Returned to provide them with a purple stamped version.  Returned to pick up closed completed lists with prices.  Returned to Abi Adi.  Read completed lists (only after signing closed envelope and every sheet inside).  Completed table highlighting cheapest option for each item.  Two days later, returned to Mekelle.  Returned to every shop with questions about specifications of listed items and re-wrote list explaining why cheapest is not always the best option.   This could well be my biggest challenge here.

---

For the best free wallpapers from MSN Click here!

Procedures

Procedure for removing 1400 books from the store and donating to 52 schools.

 

1.      Write a list of books (title and author) that are required, while battling against dust and ants on bookshelf.

2.     Wait for the list to be typed up by the store lady.  This list may not be accurate: "Prehistoric Arousals" or "Hen's Pens Jokes" with an extra i!

3.     Optional - Check list yourself for accuracy of titles.

4.     Cross check that similar versions are included as the same and count number of books.

5.     Write a letter to the Dean and both Vice-Deans requesting books be released from the store.  All copies of letter should be signed by two people from the department.

6.     Provide the management committee, who meet every 3 months, with the list of books to be released from the store.  Wait for their agreement (any inaccuracies require another committee)

7.     Pass agreement to the Dean and both Vice Deans to enable the infamous Purple Stamp!

8.     Take approval to the store to get books released.

9.     Sign the list into your possession.

10.   Every book on the list is checked off against the master list out of the store.

11.     Any inaccuracies (even minor i.e. wrong author or number of books different) in the list require a new list to be stamped.

12.    Sort books into piles for cluster schools and create sub-lists for each school.

13.    Three copies of each sub-list are sent to receive a purple stamp.

14.   Each school checks their pile of books with their list and signs three copies of their sub-list into their possession.  One copy for the school, one for the book store and one for the vice-dean.

15.    Once the books arrive at each school, they are required to send headed notepaper as a stamped receipt for the books.

16.   Kids enjoy reading!

 

P.S.  All of these books were donated (not bought) to the college by various charities.

---

Click here for FREE customisable desktop wallpapers. Get them Now!

Challenges

Day to day life has already thrown up its challenges.  I've started to use the mosquito net after a few bites and sleepless nights with constant buzzing.  I should be high and dry enough to avoid malaria but I'm taking tablets anyway.  In actual fact, mozzies are the least of my worries.  The house, as previously stated is a popular haven for the local ant colony, herd of cockroaches, and selection of spiders and has even hosted grasshoppers, a scorpion and a snake.  Hands up all those who still want to come to visit?

 

Regular evening power cuts have made cooking interesting.  Thankfully, my solar shower does not look like it is about to run out of power any time soon.  We are provided with a kerosene stove but it helps if you buy the fuel first.  As long as you are frying something it's not too hard to transfer over.  So far I've made tuna pasta, lentil curry and veggie burgers.  While some of you roll around laughing at this prospect, I can assure you that the meat hanging up in the heat surrounded by flies does not look entirely appetising.   We were provided with a recipe book to cook British and Ethiopian food with the ingredients available.  I've already earmarked bread, pizza, my brownies, fish cakes and some local "tibs" and "shiro".  The local Saturday market provides a little more choice than the local shop as eggs, peppers and various spices can be added to my larder.

 

Power cuts at work meant starting to download the latest virus definitions about eight times the other day.  I wish I had brought a spare laptop battery.  On the upside – one, I've finally got the Internet sorted at my house so I can receive your emails thick and fast and two, I have a maid who washes my clothes, mops the floor and generally tidys up.  Although she has been prone to choosing which clothes get washed.  What is she trying to tell me?

 

I know I appear to finish every blog entry with "I'm off/have been drinking", but I assure you that it's an entire coincidence.  Today's establishment was in the local village called Mylomin (meaning Water Lemon) where I drank more "tej" – the honey flavoured wine from conical flasks as seen in the pictures at flicker.com.  The village also plays host to the source of the bottled water with the same name.

---

Click here for FREE customisable desktop wallpapers. Get them Now!

More pictures

More pictures can be viewed here http://www.flickr.com/photos/30047150@N02/

---

For the best free wallpapers from MSN Click here!

Ethiopian Pool Rules

Aim

1.     To score more points (using the value of each ball) than your opponent by potting higher value balls.  Therefore the winner is the player that has a greater positive score when all the balls are potted.

Layout

2.    The table is set out as the picture indicates with balls 15 down to 10 equally placed on the left hand side cushion of the table starting at the baulk end – pocket to pocket.  Balls 9 down to 4 on the opposite side. 

3.    Ball 3 is placed in the middle at the far end. 

4.    Balls 1 and 2 are discarded.

Rules

5.    Players are required to hit the balls by striking the white and take turns accordingly.

6.    Players should aim to pot all the balls sequentially beginning with 3, through to 15.

7.    However a higher value ball can be potted out of order (and the points awarded), as long as the target ball is hit first.

8.    After the white is potted, the ball returns to the table behind the baulk line and must travel down the table towards the far end.

Break

9.    Play begins with a player making a break, by striking the white behind the baulk line and hitting ball 3.  No fouls are counted before ball 3 is potted.

Points

10.  Except for ball 3, all balls when potted have their face value.  Ball 3 is worth 6.

11.    When a foul is committed, the value of the ball hit or potted or the intended ball, is used as points for the opponent.  Fouls: (a) a ball is hit out of sequence or (b) the white ball is potted or leaves the table.

12.   More than one ball can be potted in the same shot as long as the target ball is struck first.

13.  When scoring the total number of points collected is not used.  However the difference between players is kept.  i.e 12-9 is called as 3 to player 1. OR 2-8 is called as 6 to player 2.

14.  Play stops if the remaining balls do not total more than the difference.

 

 

---

Read amazing stories to your kids on Messenger Try it Now!

Settling in

So another week is on its way and whereas work before has been new and exciting, I now feel that I am making headway and starting to do something.  Other volunteers have yet to start (often due to the placement being inept and disorganised).  Thankfully, my college was one of the first to work with VSO and is well versed in what to expect – whether it to be a ferenji moan or crazy behaviour – they've seen it all before.

 

Last weekend I visited Mekelle to see friends and shop.  My first attempt at using the bus service.  A 5am start for a not entirely expected departure for 6am.  In fact, I was very lucky, as it left at 7.  The mixture of desires to sleep and see the scenery at the same time mean I see nothing and bang my head on the window every time the bus goes over a stone.  The experience is interesting as a number of passengers request small plastic bags to be sick in (I later find out that it could well be their first time on transport) before throwing them out of the window.  This is nothing to the constant spitting due to small sticks being used as toothpaste and a steady stream of something liquid on the floor!

 

The weekend was fun, as we went out to a club and danced the night away Tigrinian style – i.e. the epileptic chicken dance interspersed with a little Bob Marley, Queen and Buena Vista?!.   Pizza and a fancy hotel was a real treat.  I was able to buy bulbs and dividers so now have light in the bedroom and kitchen.  I won't miss cooking by candle-light.  The open air market and selection of shops makes the place feel like a sprawling metropolis.  The highlight however was attending an Ethiopian wedding.  While there were many similarities: swapping of rings, priest talking, eating food and drinking; there were many differences.  The day begins at the grooms (with dancing in and outside the house), who then with his posse travels to the bride's house (followed by dancing in and outside the house).  After the food and families swap gifts, both clans travel back to the grooms for yes … more dancing in and outside the house.  Everything at the moment is not only new, but often a real eye opener, head turner or to quote Blood Diamond – TIA.  Even the journeys between the houses were interesting.  As a line taxi normally meant for 10 doubles its capacity, to avoid being stopped and presumably to make it "legal", it beeps its horn when a policeman is in sight.  Nevertheless, for those who witnessed my Indian flower dance, you have a treat in store when I return.

 

The journey back in the space of a few minutes showed real contrasts within the culture.  Not only did a stranger offer to help me pay my fare (the price rose over the weekend and I did not have enough) but also a whip round along the way of small change was thrown out to lone shops (presumably an occasional provision stop).  However this was followed by a guard stopping the bus, demanding to see tickets from random people, who then proceeded to throw them back at the traveller's feet.  Needless to say he did not ask to see mine.

---

Click here for FREE customisable desktop wallpapers. Get them Now!