Internet Speeds

While downloading a picture this evening, my laptop reached a new low.  Instead of the standard 2-3 kbps / second that is sometime possible here, Windows quoted 340 bytes/sec!  For those not completely familiar with these numbers, if you a have a 2 megabyte connection you may typically get speeds around 250,000 bytes / second.

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Chinese Proverb

Maybe not new to some of you, but I saw this painted on a school wall.

 

I listen, I forget;

I see, I remember;

I do, I understand.

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Per Diem

 "Per Diem" is standard practice here.  I guess Latin experts will know what this means but for the rest of us, it basically means that any work outside your institution (even if the work is during work hours) you are provided with monies in retrospect to pay for meals and transport.  The idea of using receipts as a fairer system would not work I'm told.  I receive 42 Birr for each day trip, even if a college car transports me and someone else (as usual) pays for meals.

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The Wanderer Returns

I'm back!  Apologies for not keeping the blog up to date and thanks to those people who asked for them.    It was a tiring, yet very exciting time, over the last month: 13 different beds, 2 flights, 30 hours on buses (15 in one consecutive trip), nearly 1000 miles, 8 morning starts at 5am and who knows how much money has been spent.  I'm happy to be back but return to no water and power.

 

Travelling to Addis once again was straight forward enough and full of excitement and anticipation.  My main goals were to eat lots, put on weight and to ensure the new volunteers settled in well ;-)  Addis offers a greater selection of food, particularly meat, cheese, chocolate and soft bread – which basically not available here.  I quickly decide that I need to move to a different place for my second year.

 

The week prior to the new volunteers arriving was spent planning the timetable, creating materials, booking buses and speakers with the occasional visit to "ferenji" supermarkets, eating out and going to the cinema!  I also took the opportunity to buy some new trousers that fitted.  As I was on official VSO business, they treated me to a hotel for the first week.  This meant DSTV, hot showers and 60 Birr "per diem".  

 

We also visited an NGO Fair.  Initially a very strange experience as it was like being transported back to the UK as I entered a school/church yard.  A very green lawn with neatly cut flower beds and pansies was filled by more white people than I have seen for some time.  With a mixture of crafts and cards on sale (most out of my price range), I opted for the samosa stall.

 

Although I've got lots to tell you all, I'm not sure when I'll be updating again as there appears to be an ongoing problem with the Internet (worse than normal).  We shall see.

 

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Danakil Video

Danakil You Tube Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSsjFypdxHM

 

The video begins with the journey towards the salt plains through the villages and then pans across the salt plains.  After a short walk up the slope, the various rock formations and hot geysers bubble away.  The final section shows the camel trains being organised followed by the salt being mined.

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New Volunteers

Having been here now for over 4 months, I feel truly experienced :-) and relish the prospect to pass on my new found knowledge to fresh volunteers, who find themselves in the position I was last September.  So with that in my mind, I put my name forward last week to help those travelling out this February.  For whatever reason, maybe a lack of names or simply someone to set up the Internet, I have been chosen and will be in capital for 2 weeks.  While this opportunity is very exciting, different from training and full of potential mischief; it will actually mean leaving Abi Adi for a month.  This includes a 2 week trip to the Simien Mountains which houses the tallest mountain in Ethiopia – Ras Dashen (4533m).  I shall be venturing into the peaks with some other volunteers; and as well as conquering a few peaks, will hopefully see ibex, baboons, monkeys and hyenas.

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Abi Adi World Cup

As the College Sports Tournament reached a close, the Elementary School Teachers arrived in their kit of Arsenal and Manchester United shirts.  It was clear from the outset that the home college team had given little thought to preparation.  A large crowd had turned out however, if to see nothing else than the new signing, a ferenji playing at left back.  He stood and watched as his team argued over positions and probably wondered what the tactics were going to be.  He did not have to worry – they had none. 

 

There was a traditional opening to the game with the sharing of penants, teams lining up and shaking hands in true International style.  Playing in all blue, the college team, familiar with the rocky, uneven surface of their home turf played a simple long ball game which incorporated shots from inside their own half.  The tall, thin, white boy seemed bemused with his teammates lack of awareness but quickly got into the flow and happily booted it up field to rapturous applause from the crowd.  The visitors were much happier with quick passes enabling them to penetrate the deep non-marking defence regularly.  In goal for the college team was a Science teacher who stepped in at the last minute and performed admirably.  In front of him, two solidly built defenders that enjoyed hoofing it up to the front instead of using the wings.

 

Half-time came with the scores still 0-0.  In fact, late into the second half it looked very much like staying that way until the college gained a corner.  The sports teacher stepped up, crossed the ball, just as a college midfielder barged into the keeper.  The referee, who had a brilliant game, unfortunately missed this incident, as the ball sailed straight into the goal.  With the goal standing, the college team had to survive a few scary final minutes.  The game ended, with many of the crowd storming the field, simply to shake the ferenji's hand and to state that they "appreciated his play".  Both teams headed straight for the local restaurant for a celebration dinner.

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