Hey all,
No we're not all moved into our new digs yet but, I am moving my blog away from passthekimchi.blogspot.com
This one was built for our travels and, as the address suggests, was a little too place specific. For Ethiopia I kept the URL but changed the name. Now it's time to simply move and start over, something a little more inclusive of all the pots my fingers are in.
So come see the new blog at http://ericswanderings.blogspot.com/
This is where I'll be from here on in, so change your bookmarks, blog links, whatever.
Hopefully I'll be posting regularly over there and it's going to be the best way for all of you, our friends all over the world, to keep tabs on us. So go check it out!
7.04.2008
7.01.2008
Moving Mayhem
What a long weekend! My parents are in the process of moving out, we're in the process of moving in and the end result = four people's belongings and none of it in the right place. Seriously, the house feels like a tornado tore through it and that was after we spent the past 2 days working in it! But I would like to be the first to point out that my darling wife is being extremely (and maybe suprisingly) patient through it all and, despite her burgeoning belly, did a lion's share of the work. She's a machine. My machine. My sexy machine.
But this weekend did mark the fruition of a project! I've been working on building a bookcase for our new office. 
Due to our new digs being so spacious we not only have a baby room, but I finally get an office (slash/ scrapbooking room =) I've been working away, sanding and cutting. (Thank God for good weather!)
Here the wood is "getting its stain on"...
...And here is me "getting my stain on".
With a little expert help from the 1-800-CALL-DADDY line I got the pieces put together and moved upstairs.
And then, viola! From design to completion, there it was!
With room for all of my books and space for me to buy a few more (right honey?)
Still a few touches to the room, a chair to add, some pictures to hang but... this was really the first time I got to do a room how I thought it should be and I kinda like it.
One more day off for me and then back to school for another 3 1/2 weeks. And then summer can begin! Actually, I have a bunch of reading and research to do for my Master's but at least that's at my own pace and now I have a great office to do it in!
6.24.2008
Obama vs. Ol' Dobby
Now you may not look at the news but this one one is fresh off today's, "Obama Dismisses Dobson" coming after yesterday's, "Dobson Blasts Obama on Bible." As you can see, a little dispute is brewing.
Now a caveat, I'm not an Obama groupie. Don't think he's going to change the world, or even America for that matter. I think he's a better choice than Bush. I don't think he's a miracle worker.
Another caveat, I'm not a Dobson fan. I think his organization does some good things and I think he's a headline grabber. I don't like his political stances and I think he misrepresents Christianity. He ashames me for the most part.
It's always better to let people know where you're coming from, the good ol' post-modern way. Situate, situate, situate.
Now to simplify this little dispute. Obama thinks the Bible's not really that applicable to governing a country. To support this he quotes Leviticus where slavery seems to be okayed and shellfish are an abomination. Obama also claims sections such as the Sermon on the Mount are too radical for governing a country.
Ol' Dobby refutes this claim and says Obama is misquoting the Bible to support his own twisted theology.
Here's where I put my foot down, whip out my most imposing lecture face and start swinging around my right pointer finger...
Obama's right. America is not a Christian nation and has a set of laws to govern it, not the Bible. He's right, slavery in not okay in America. And most importantly, he's right when he says the Sermon on the Mount is too radical for governing a country!
All Christ-imitators should be saying in unison, "My goal is not to change or rule a nation". Say it with me!
The Bible clearly states that our goal is to love Christ and then love our neighbor, the two most important commands. No governing of society. Christ's radical demands on Christian life just don't jive with civil rule. Government serves the "will of the people". The Bible is about the "will of God". They don't mix and, as the Bible clearly states, "You can't serve two masters."
So this is where Ol' Dobby gets in trouble. He rather likes the mixture of government and God, civil rule and Christianity. He likes getting his hands dirty and mixing it up politically, whether it's gay teletubbies, John McCain or Ted Haggard. He think his job is to "Christianize" America.
This is where I run fast and far away. My job as a Christian is not to change society... it's to have Christ change me and change individuals through me. We've seen how Christian societies turned out (Google "Munster" and "reformation" together and see what I mean, or try "Calvin" and "Geneva"). In fact, after the debacles of Munster we had guys like the Mennonites saying we need to remove ourselves completely from society, we're just too radical for governing!
So, as official scorekeeper for Dobby vs. Obama: Biblical Interpretion I score the Democrat 1, the confused Republican 0.
6.20.2008
Africa Reads
I've been reading alot of books about Africa lately, I think on last count about 12 in the past 3 months or so. I know not everyone has my great fascination with the Dark Continent but here are a few reads I highly reccomend for those with an interest in Africa or in a good read.First, Dervla Murphy's "In Ethiopia With a Mule". Imagine a single woman heading off into the wild Ethiopian highlands by herself, sans map... in the 1960's. Then imagine bandits, leopards, and mules falling off cliffs. That's this books. She's blunt and fearless and treks more than a 1000 miles, living with the fleas, the Ethiopians and the hyenas. Super fascinating book by a famous travel writer.
Ok, so the 750 pages might seem a little intimidating at first but they fly by. "The Fate of Africa" 
is African history since independence that focuses on many of the big personalities, weaving all the connections and bringing the headlines to life. If you want to know recent African history, this is the book. His writing style gives the history life and you often forget you're reading history.
is African history since independence that focuses on many of the big personalities, weaving all the connections and bringing the headlines to life. If you want to know recent African history, this is the book. His writing style gives the history life and you often forget you're reading history.If there was one man I might want to emulate on the international aid scene it would be Stephen Lewis. He's a tireless advocate for human right, women's right and African rights. And he's Canadian. He was most recently the UN envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa and has tons of first hand experience. He knows AIDS in Africa. In "Race Against Time" he speaks out against the inaction and failings of the UN, the IMF and the Bank. He's honest and yet hopeful that these organizations can rectify their failures the fulfill their potential. 
A couple more: Alexandra Fuller's "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight". One girl growing up in the unique world of Rhodesia.
Stephanie Nolen's "28: Stories of AIDS in Africa". A Canadian journalist gives stories and faces to the many crises that AIDS is causing in Africa.
Romeo Dallaire's "Shake Hands With the Devil". Ok, this one's been out there a while but I am constantly amazed at what he's gone through and his tireless advocacy for peace in Africa. And he's Canadian.
So, if that light summer reading just isn't your thing (I know it's not mine), grab one of these books and become edumacated. Ya HEARD.
6.08.2008
Summer of BBQ
I declare the summer of 2008 the Summer of BBQ! The last couple of summer we haven't been around to take advantage of long sunny evenings, a deck and a BBQ so now... we're going to! We've got a great big deck, a BBQ, and lots of recipes to try.
I planked again, this time for my mom.
Tried two different salmon recipes: Terriyaki Pineapple and Sun dried Tomato. Both were yummy but all agreed the Sun-Dried Tomato was to die for... seriously yummy. I've been out BBQ'ing this week, rain or shine (mostly rain) - steaks, chicken, pork. I'm thinking meat and veggies is a solid diet. Normally that wouldn't fly with my Sweetie, but thanks to the bump in her tummy she's realized the importance of things like protein and iron! So fire up the BBQ, stock the fridge - we're having a BBQ. Once we move in proper, it'll be time to have guests over to share our deck abundance. Nothing beats a warm evening, a steak with a mug of Blackbery Porter, cool tunes and good friends to share it with.
Tried two different salmon recipes: Terriyaki Pineapple and Sun dried Tomato. Both were yummy but all agreed the Sun-Dried Tomato was to die for... seriously yummy. I've been out BBQ'ing this week, rain or shine (mostly rain) - steaks, chicken, pork. I'm thinking meat and veggies is a solid diet. Normally that wouldn't fly with my Sweetie, but thanks to the bump in her tummy she's realized the importance of things like protein and iron! So fire up the BBQ, stock the fridge - we're having a BBQ. Once we move in proper, it'll be time to have guests over to share our deck abundance. Nothing beats a warm evening, a steak with a mug of Blackbery Porter, cool tunes and good friends to share it with.
As for everything else... I am half done my crazy days of classes, just 3 more weeks of mayhem. I've been putting in 10-12 hour days at school just to make sure everything gets done. Taking 4 semester long classes in 7 weeks isn't as easy as I remember it to be...
The little one in the tummy is growing. Had our first ultrasound last week, saw him/her just lounging around. Even got the ol' thumbs up. Pretty cool. And the last 2 night I got to feel the baby kicking for the first times, way cool! Guess this whole baby thing is for real.
Otherwise, life is moving on. Kinda weird to be in the grind and yet still feeling in limbo until we properly move and unpack everything. Be good to get everything out and feel properly settled... though there's no complaints about the current roof over our heads from this end!
For those of you who are still hoping to see us... it's all gonna settle down soon. I promise!
And a parting shot. Me and the little hoodlum.
5.25.2008
Travelphilia
I have a condition where I simply can't stay in one place too long. My feet get itchy, my eyes roam, and my mind wanders to other places. Seriously, I am always planning the next big trip (road trip to Mexico, Tam!) or thinking of where I want to go next (Belize). I have a top ten list of places to visit. I love travel. Doesn't matter where it is, as long as I am moving and seeing new things.
We had a nice little B&B on the ocean with a hot tub on the deck (it pretty much doesn't get better than that!)
I got to spend the weekend whiling away the hours with my sweetie (again, does it get better than that!) as we watched movies, walked along the beach and explored the ocean (I won "Who can find the biggest crab"!).
All in all, a sweet way to spend a weekend and a temporary relief for my itch. I am reminded again of how much we all sometimes just need to get away. Even if you do the same things you might do at home, just getting away from the feeling of responsibility and feeling the road underneath does some serious good. Fun times.
So for my birthday I asked for travel! This weekend we packed up the car and headed up island for a relaxing wekend away in Ucluelet, compliments of my family (thanks guys!). A beautiful drive (minus the crappy roads the last 30km or so) and I was reminded of just how beautiful BC truly is, especially this island we call home.
We had a nice little B&B on the ocean with a hot tub on the deck (it pretty much doesn't get better than that!)I got to spend the weekend whiling away the hours with my sweetie (again, does it get better than that!) as we watched movies, walked along the beach and explored the ocean (I won "Who can find the biggest crab"!).All in all, a sweet way to spend a weekend and a temporary relief for my itch. I am reminded again of how much we all sometimes just need to get away. Even if you do the same things you might do at home, just getting away from the feeling of responsibility and feeling the road underneath does some serious good. Fun times.
5.12.2008
Plank It!
I fancy myself to be fairly handy in the kitchen. Nolana on the other hand, well... as she said yesterday, "I am glad you can cook so we can eat". My particular strengths are a willingness to try anything, especially if it is a touch different, and the ability to make up things that taste good.
Planking involves cooking with a cedar plank on the ol' BBQ which is much more manly than just plain cooking! First I soaked the planks for a couple hours and prepped the rest which included marinating the veggies.
First to ready was the brie. Layered roasted red peppers on the bottom, then the brie wheel and then the sauce which I concocted (and turned out swell I must say).
Next came the shrimp. Again, I layered sliced lemons on the plank, then put the shrimp mixture on top.
They both got transported out the BBQ where they smoked away with that sweet cedar smell filtering its way into the food.
The brie slowly melted inside the skin until it burst and the shrimp slow cooked away. While this was happening my lovely wife set the table... (and I would be remiss to not mention her aid in the kitchen preparing as well, love ya honey!)
And when everything had soaked up the delighful cedarness we sat down to eat with an excellent bottle of wine and had a great Mother's Day meal.
And thus, my first planking experience was a huge success and I will most certainly try some more recipes on the plank... who's coming for dinner?!
So for Mother's Day I was requisitioned to cook for Nolana's mom which gave me the chance to try something new that I had been dying to try: planking!
I made up the menu: planked brie with a roasted red pepper, peach picante topping, planked shrimp gratin with asiago cheese, roasted potatoes with parsely and parmesan and grilled balsamic portabello mushrooms with bell peppers.
Next came the shrimp. Again, I layered sliced lemons on the plank, then put the shrimp mixture on top.The brie slowly melted inside the skin until it burst and the shrimp slow cooked away. While this was happening my lovely wife set the table... (and I would be remiss to not mention her aid in the kitchen preparing as well, love ya honey!)And when everything had soaked up the delighful cedarness we sat down to eat with an excellent bottle of wine and had a great Mother's Day meal.And thus, my first planking experience was a huge success and I will most certainly try some more recipes on the plank... who's coming for dinner?!
5.03.2008
Facebook Pictures
If you're a Facebook friend, I've posted some more Ethiopia pictures there. Go check 'em out!
5.01.2008
In the Whirlwind
It's true. All those rumors and celebrity like sightings are indeed confirming what most of you now know, Eric and Nolana are back in Canada! We were scheduled to be back in Victoria in July but as your calendar will point out it is only May.
I think my favorite moment was suprising Jani who had recently broken a rib so the excitement caused a bit too much movement for her rib so she was convulsing in a state between ecstasy and immense pain, crying, laughing, gasping... Though it was pretty sweet to suprise Lori coming back from New Zealand too.
So why are we back? As some of you already know, Nolana and I are going to be parents!
So, you can see, it has been quite the month. We arrived home on the 8th of April, with only our parents knowing we were returning. We slipped into Victoria Aiport, avoided the paparazzi and bunkered down for a few days to recover from our 30 hour trip. Since then Nolana has had way too much fun suprising all of our friends and family with the news we are back!
I think my favorite moment was suprising Jani who had recently broken a rib so the excitement caused a bit too much movement for her rib so she was convulsing in a state between ecstasy and immense pain, crying, laughing, gasping... Though it was pretty sweet to suprise Lori coming back from New Zealand too.The neat thing for Nolana is that two of her close friends are also pregnant, one of them due 2 months before her and the other due about 4 days later. Oh yeah, we're due around Nov. 1 and no we're not going to find out the sex and no we have not decided on names (just heading the questions off before they come, I'm a pro now!).
Not everyone was happy to see us back as we were greeted with uncharacteristically cold weather and an April record for snow in Victoria. 
But we're settling in. We've bought a car.
Four door special. And we have a place to move into, top part of a house with 3 bedroom, great area, and the best thing about it is that it's a steal (thanks Mom and Dad! lol). So yesterday I painted the baby room and we're making plans to get somewhat moved in the next couple of weeks while the parents are moving out.
Nolana's started back at the hospital and already has a full time job which is great, she'll work enough hours to get her maternity leave in a few months. Myself... due to some complications I am back in school for this year, taking some courses to qualify me for my teaching certificate. Starting May 12 I am a student again. Not sure how I feel about it but at the same time I feel up for the challenge.
As for future plans... we are all up in the air. We loved Ethiopia and would love to go back there or possibly somewhere else on the fair continent of Africa, so we're looking around for opportunities and hoping God will lead. We are back in Victoria for at least a year and then we'll have to see. So if we haven't seen you around yet, we have some time to catch up with everyone!
Hopefully I'll be updating this more regularly but no promises. Hope you are all as well as we are, which is pretty peachy keen!
4.07.2008
School Days
Hey there Blogger world, we're finally here for a much needed update. Due to a tropical virus our computer was down for some time and we were unable to post. But now it's all good. So I thought I would share some pictures of my school and my kids. Enjoy!
My Grade 4 class which is my absolute favorite. 24 kids who for the most part love to engage and think the world of me. We have a lot of fun. I see them about 7 periods a week.
My Grade 6 class which is quite small. The 7 kids and I have some great discussion such as "Is it ok to beat your wife?" or "Is it ok for a Muslim to marry a Christian?". The girl in the hijab in the back is the smartest girl in the school, she could easily go to school in Canada and excel.
These are 3 of the boys in my Grade 5 class. You are looking at trouble. Just this past week 3 of them (including the 2 on the left) were expelled for a week. That class just does not know the meaning of quiet or of work. Amazing how 11 kids can cause so much trouble! 
This is Hamdiya, one of the 3 Canadian children at the school. She was born in Canada and has lived there all her life until 2 years ago when her family moved back to Ethiopia. Her English is excellent and she has a pretty sharp wit. Always talking away and asking me to sing the Canadian anthem for her!
Some of my Grade 2 and 3 girls. I taught them at the beginning of the year and now I don't so they miss me and love to just come chat with me. I love my kids' smiles. Some of them go a long way in making a crappy day a lot better.
The boy in the back is Feysal and he is my biggest fan. He's in Grade 6, stands about 5 foot 9 and is incredibly affectionate. He started off the year failing miserably until he got in my class and all of a sudden decided he was willing to work at it. Now he averages around %70. He always states how much he loves me and always has to hug me or kiss me on the cheek. Ethiopians in general are way more affectionate but to see a teenage boy trying to kiss his teacher still sometimes gives me a bit of a shock! 
Me and the boys! They like to chill, play football (soccer) and cause trouble like most boys do. And suprisingly enough most of them love their English teacher. Which makes what I do here all so worth it.
My Grade 4 class which is my absolute favorite. 24 kids who for the most part love to engage and think the world of me. We have a lot of fun. I see them about 7 periods a week.
My Grade 6 class which is quite small. The 7 kids and I have some great discussion such as "Is it ok to beat your wife?" or "Is it ok for a Muslim to marry a Christian?". The girl in the hijab in the back is the smartest girl in the school, she could easily go to school in Canada and excel.These are 3 of the boys in my Grade 5 class. You are looking at trouble. Just this past week 3 of them (including the 2 on the left) were expelled for a week. That class just does not know the meaning of quiet or of work. Amazing how 11 kids can cause so much trouble! This is Hamdiya, one of the 3 Canadian children at the school. She was born in Canada and has lived there all her life until 2 years ago when her family moved back to Ethiopia. Her English is excellent and she has a pretty sharp wit. Always talking away and asking me to sing the Canadian anthem for her!Some of my Grade 2 and 3 girls. I taught them at the beginning of the year and now I don't so they miss me and love to just come chat with me. I love my kids' smiles. Some of them go a long way in making a crappy day a lot better.The boy in the back is Feysal and he is my biggest fan. He's in Grade 6, stands about 5 foot 9 and is incredibly affectionate. He started off the year failing miserably until he got in my class and all of a sudden decided he was willing to work at it. Now he averages around %70. He always states how much he loves me and always has to hug me or kiss me on the cheek. Ethiopians in general are way more affectionate but to see a teenage boy trying to kiss his teacher still sometimes gives me a bit of a shock! Me and the boys! They like to chill, play football (soccer) and cause trouble like most boys do. And suprisingly enough most of them love their English teacher. Which makes what I do here all so worth it.
2.23.2008
Trekking in North Wollo
Time is flying! It really feels like that here as we passed the half way mark and have so quickly come upon 4 months left here in Ethiopia (ok, soon it will be four months). At school we finished the end of semester finals and I got to take some time off! Had most of a week to relax and catch up on some things and Nolana took half of that week off so we had a chance to just hang out together and take a break from our busy schedules… it was sweet! And then last week we headed off for five days of trekking in the north of Ethiopia .
We hooked up with a company called Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives (TESFA) which has taken some small communities and worked with them to build a sort of tourism infrastructure so that they do not have to rely as much on their subsistence agriculture. We stayed in tukuls (local huts) built by the communities, had locals cook food for us, had local guides, got invited into community tukuls to have injera and coffee made for us, and spent our days moving like a real Ethiopian (walking) in the mountains and the farmland, in places where the only foreigners are the ones TESFA brings and the occasional NGO worker.
All of the TESFA sites are ideally situated in the cliffs, looking out at the beautiful mountains, mesas and valleys.
So you wake up each morning, open the window and see the sun rising over the mountains. You wake up and have a leisurely breakfast in the morning sun.
Most mornings we were on the trail by 9am for our daily trek. We had a donkey to carry our packs and a couple local guides supplied by the town we stayed in that night, as well as our guide for the whole trip. Most days we trekked about 5 hours, some uphill but mostly flatland along the edges of the mesas where the communities were.
We would stop for a picnic lunch somewhere along the way and usually arrived at the next community around 2pm, had a snack and time to just relax and have some fun.
It really was a great way to see how the majority of Ethiopians live and do it in a way that aids them. The majority of people in Ethiopia live outside of cities and a recent UN report said that around 70% of Ethiopians live on less that 2$ a day. In the country I am sure that number is something like 97%. And yet they were quite friendly for the most part. They invited us in and cooked for us.
The kids tending the cattle and goats in the fields all ran when they saw us to have a picture taken. The communities we stayed in were grateful and we had one evening where we stood around with some of the men and some children, they gave us some local brew beer, served to us in a re-used tin can (recycling on a new level!), one man pulled out his prized battery-operated tape player, turned on some music and we danced a bit with them until it got too dark to see.
I don’t want to romanticize life in the country (which is what we Westerners tend to do). It’s hard and dark. Women bear the brunt of the work, cooking, taking care of kids, hauling water, etc…
Life is good if you own a cow, some goats, some chickens and a dark little tukul that keeps the rain out when it comes.
Most kids don’t go to school. TESFA has been working with Save the Children out in this area and still no more than 50% of kids are in primary school and most will never go to high school. There’s no money to do it, no school nearby and even if they did, no opportunities to use the learning. Kids stay in the same village, grow up there, marry there, work there and die there. When we arrived back in Addis it all of a sudden felt pretty luxurious, imagine being able to take an automobile to go get a pizza! Can’t say I ever thought of life in Addis as easy before but that’s exactly what it is compared to the country. Guess it is all a matter of perspective.
We had a great break and are happy to be back in the city, back into the routine and starting to think of all the things that have to be done before we arrive back in Canada . Hope to see you all there
We hooked up with a company called Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives (TESFA) which has taken some small communities and worked with them to build a sort of tourism infrastructure so that they do not have to rely as much on their subsistence agriculture. We stayed in tukuls (local huts) built by the communities, had locals cook food for us, had local guides, got invited into community tukuls to have injera and coffee made for us, and spent our days moving like a real Ethiopian (walking) in the mountains and the farmland, in places where the only foreigners are the ones TESFA brings and the occasional NGO worker.
All of the TESFA sites are ideally situated in the cliffs, looking out at the beautiful mountains, mesas and valleys.
So you wake up each morning, open the window and see the sun rising over the mountains. You wake up and have a leisurely breakfast in the morning sun.
Most mornings we were on the trail by 9am for our daily trek. We had a donkey to carry our packs and a couple local guides supplied by the town we stayed in that night, as well as our guide for the whole trip. Most days we trekked about 5 hours, some uphill but mostly flatland along the edges of the mesas where the communities were.
We would stop for a picnic lunch somewhere along the way and usually arrived at the next community around 2pm, had a snack and time to just relax and have some fun.
It really was a great way to see how the majority of Ethiopians live and do it in a way that aids them. The majority of people in Ethiopia live outside of cities and a recent UN report said that around 70% of Ethiopians live on less that 2$ a day. In the country I am sure that number is something like 97%. And yet they were quite friendly for the most part. They invited us in and cooked for us.
The kids tending the cattle and goats in the fields all ran when they saw us to have a picture taken. The communities we stayed in were grateful and we had one evening where we stood around with some of the men and some children, they gave us some local brew beer, served to us in a re-used tin can (recycling on a new level!), one man pulled out his prized battery-operated tape player, turned on some music and we danced a bit with them until it got too dark to see.
I don’t want to romanticize life in the country (which is what we Westerners tend to do). It’s hard and dark. Women bear the brunt of the work, cooking, taking care of kids, hauling water, etc…
Life is good if you own a cow, some goats, some chickens and a dark little tukul that keeps the rain out when it comes.
Most kids don’t go to school. TESFA has been working with Save the Children out in this area and still no more than 50% of kids are in primary school and most will never go to high school. There’s no money to do it, no school nearby and even if they did, no opportunities to use the learning. Kids stay in the same village, grow up there, marry there, work there and die there. When we arrived back in Addis it all of a sudden felt pretty luxurious, imagine being able to take an automobile to go get a pizza! Can’t say I ever thought of life in Addis as easy before but that’s exactly what it is compared to the country. Guess it is all a matter of perspective.
We had a great break and are happy to be back in the city, back into the routine and starting to think of all the things that have to be done before we arrive back in Canada . Hope to see you all there
2.01.2008
Nolana’s Random Chaotic Bits of Ethiopia
Every time we get water, when we turn our water on for the first time, it comes out of the tap brown for the first 5 seconds.
The grossest thing I have seen is a dog chewing on a goat head (same as chewing on a bone, I guess???)!
In the hospital I have learned how to be creative in order to work with the limited things we have available to us. I have recreated a few things we use back home.
Because our water usually doesn’t come on (usually 1-2x a week) til 10pm or later, and goes off by 6:30 am (a good way to keep people from using water is to have it on only during the sleeping hours) and because it takes 1-2 hours for the water heater to heat the water once the water turns on and we have plugged in the water heater, this has resulted in infrequent running water showers. This means we resort to boiling water from our barrel and showering with a bucket of boiled water! The last time we had a hot running water shower at our house was in early Nov. The longest we have gone without getting running water to refill our barrels is 8 days.
Fruit and veggies are cheap here! Papaya and mango 60¢/kg, limes and grapefruits 50¢/kg, oranges 40¢/kg, bananas and tomatoes 35¢/kg, carrots 30¢/kg, potatoes 25¢/kg… just to name a few.
I sunburn easier here because of the high elevation.
I also have a brutal farmers tan because of always wearing t-shirts during the day.
I have never seen hydrocephalus (water on the brain) before. This is because back home people either abort or if they have the baby the baby receives treatment. But here I have seen so many cases of hydrocephalus in 2 year olds that haven’t been treated. Their heads are huge! Once it gets to this point, it is too late for treatment to be that effective.
All the drains in our house (sinks, bathroom floor, + shower floor) are at the highest point. So we have a line of brick at the bathroom entrance to keep the water contained. And after we shower, we have a squeegee to bring the water on the floor to the drain.
The scaffolding here looks so sketchy. Just eucalyptus sticks! Apparently there are lots of injuries resulting from the scaffolding here.
I love the food here. It is fun to eat with your hands, well actually with your hand. You use you right hand for eating and shaking people’s hands and your left hand is supposed to be used for other things that are dirtier such as bathroom things!
I think beauty is children in school uniforms on their way to school. That is a privilege here.
I find it sad to see so many children working on the streets during the day, running change for taxi’s, cleaning and polishing shoes, selling lottery tickets, or begging!
There are a lot of beggars in Addis. First of all, everyone asks for money from us even if they aren’t beggars because we have white skin. Second, the most interesting place I have been when asked for money was in the bakery. I was buying bread and after paying, the bakery lady, asked for more money, so I thought I hadn’t given her enough for the bread. After attempting to communicate with my limited Amharic, I realized she was begging while working a job!!!
It is very common to see boys or men riding on top of a massive load of what ever on the back of a large truck while flying down the highway.
It is also very common to see boys and men peeing on the side of the road, or where ever they please, including facing the street!
I have been pick-pocketed once. It happened right outside our apartment complex at 6 in the morning as I left for work. It happened to quick. I felt a hand in my front jean pocket and it took me a second to process what was happening. Then I realized the 12 yr. old boy who had just passed me had tried to pick-pocket me, but when I turned around to chase him I realized he wasn’t running??? That is because my money wasn’t in that pocket, it was in my inside jacket pocket! Too bad for him and lucky for me!
Occasionally on the side of the street you will pass a pile of goat skins, beside a pile of goat hooves (feet), beside a pile of goat heads.
When I go home from work during rush hour, our place is a very busy place to get to with not enough minibuses for all the people. This results in some bruise-making pushing to get on the minibus. So when in Rome do as the Romans do! So I push. And not to brag but I can push like any good Ethiopian can. I love the feeling of pushing my way on to the minibus, looking around at who got on and seeing that I am the only female that pushed their way on. And the people on the bus always look at me surprised that I, a ferenji (foreigner) managed to get on!
I want to adopt so many children here!
The grossest thing I have seen is a dog chewing on a goat head (same as chewing on a bone, I guess???)!
In the hospital I have learned how to be creative in order to work with the limited things we have available to us. I have recreated a few things we use back home.
Because our water usually doesn’t come on (usually 1-2x a week) til 10pm or later, and goes off by 6:30 am (a good way to keep people from using water is to have it on only during the sleeping hours) and because it takes 1-2 hours for the water heater to heat the water once the water turns on and we have plugged in the water heater, this has resulted in infrequent running water showers. This means we resort to boiling water from our barrel and showering with a bucket of boiled water! The last time we had a hot running water shower at our house was in early Nov. The longest we have gone without getting running water to refill our barrels is 8 days.
Fruit and veggies are cheap here! Papaya and mango 60¢/kg, limes and grapefruits 50¢/kg, oranges 40¢/kg, bananas and tomatoes 35¢/kg, carrots 30¢/kg, potatoes 25¢/kg… just to name a few.
I sunburn easier here because of the high elevation.
I also have a brutal farmers tan because of always wearing t-shirts during the day.
I have never seen hydrocephalus (water on the brain) before. This is because back home people either abort or if they have the baby the baby receives treatment. But here I have seen so many cases of hydrocephalus in 2 year olds that haven’t been treated. Their heads are huge! Once it gets to this point, it is too late for treatment to be that effective.
All the drains in our house (sinks, bathroom floor, + shower floor) are at the highest point. So we have a line of brick at the bathroom entrance to keep the water contained. And after we shower, we have a squeegee to bring the water on the floor to the drain.
The scaffolding here looks so sketchy. Just eucalyptus sticks! Apparently there are lots of injuries resulting from the scaffolding here.
I love the food here. It is fun to eat with your hands, well actually with your hand. You use you right hand for eating and shaking people’s hands and your left hand is supposed to be used for other things that are dirtier such as bathroom things!
I think beauty is children in school uniforms on their way to school. That is a privilege here.
I find it sad to see so many children working on the streets during the day, running change for taxi’s, cleaning and polishing shoes, selling lottery tickets, or begging!
There are a lot of beggars in Addis. First of all, everyone asks for money from us even if they aren’t beggars because we have white skin. Second, the most interesting place I have been when asked for money was in the bakery. I was buying bread and after paying, the bakery lady, asked for more money, so I thought I hadn’t given her enough for the bread. After attempting to communicate with my limited Amharic, I realized she was begging while working a job!!!
It is very common to see boys or men riding on top of a massive load of what ever on the back of a large truck while flying down the highway.
It is also very common to see boys and men peeing on the side of the road, or where ever they please, including facing the street!
I have been pick-pocketed once. It happened right outside our apartment complex at 6 in the morning as I left for work. It happened to quick. I felt a hand in my front jean pocket and it took me a second to process what was happening. Then I realized the 12 yr. old boy who had just passed me had tried to pick-pocket me, but when I turned around to chase him I realized he wasn’t running??? That is because my money wasn’t in that pocket, it was in my inside jacket pocket! Too bad for him and lucky for me!
Occasionally on the side of the street you will pass a pile of goat skins, beside a pile of goat hooves (feet), beside a pile of goat heads.
When I go home from work during rush hour, our place is a very busy place to get to with not enough minibuses for all the people. This results in some bruise-making pushing to get on the minibus. So when in Rome do as the Romans do! So I push. And not to brag but I can push like any good Ethiopian can. I love the feeling of pushing my way on to the minibus, looking around at who got on and seeing that I am the only female that pushed their way on. And the people on the bus always look at me surprised that I, a ferenji (foreigner) managed to get on!
I want to adopt so many children here!
1.03.2008
2008
While many people choose the start of a new year to look forward and make resolutions they know they'll never keep I am choosing to look backward on the year 2007 and wonder at how God has led us and be thankful for the many things I have learned and experienced. Here are some of the things that I am thankful for.
1. A wife who supports my craziness, my need for exploration and who is willing to grow with me in love for each other.
2. Family who supports us and who we got to spend 5 weeks with this summer.
3. Friends who travel and share their spirit for adventure and stories with us. Especially those travelling friends who take time out of their adentures to visit, thanks Nils, Matty and Angela!
4. The joy of visiting Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore this year on holidays.
5. Friends we have made in Korea and Ethiopia and who have encouraged us with their passion for what they do and their acceptance of us.
6. Walking to work at 6am and seeing the sun come up.
7. The open doors that led us to Ethiopia and that ignited a passion for Africa.
8. Small moments that make you glad you're alive and where you are at that exact moment.
These are some of the big things as well as small joys like strong Ethiopian coffee, cooking, good music and iPods to play it, showers (when I get them), and restaurants that serve good foreign food. Most of all I am thankful for the faith that no matter where I am God has me there for a reason, even if I don't understand it. May the new year be as full of blessing as the last one was for all of you.
1. A wife who supports my craziness, my need for exploration and who is willing to grow with me in love for each other.
2. Family who supports us and who we got to spend 5 weeks with this summer.
3. Friends who travel and share their spirit for adventure and stories with us. Especially those travelling friends who take time out of their adentures to visit, thanks Nils, Matty and Angela!
4. The joy of visiting Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore this year on holidays.
5. Friends we have made in Korea and Ethiopia and who have encouraged us with their passion for what they do and their acceptance of us.
6. Walking to work at 6am and seeing the sun come up.
7. The open doors that led us to Ethiopia and that ignited a passion for Africa.
8. Small moments that make you glad you're alive and where you are at that exact moment.
These are some of the big things as well as small joys like strong Ethiopian coffee, cooking, good music and iPods to play it, showers (when I get them), and restaurants that serve good foreign food. Most of all I am thankful for the faith that no matter where I am God has me there for a reason, even if I don't understand it. May the new year be as full of blessing as the last one was for all of you.
12.28.2007
Lalibela - More Pics
X marks the spot of.....? John the baptist baptizing Christ
Deep in the bowels
Some intricate carving and painting
The winding trail to the top
Ladies inside one of the monastaries
One of the intricate Lalibela crosses that each church has
Pastoral countryside
Admiring the churches
The sunsetLalibela
I HAD 5 HOT SHOWERS!!! With that most exciting news out of the way I can now proceed to tell you about the rest of our trip to Lalibela, the unknown, unofficial 8th wonder of the ancient world. I took a few days off for Christmas and we flew out Wednesday morning, arriving in Lalibela by 10am. Upon arrival we promptly slept the day away. We’re real adventurers. We seriously slept the whole day with a small break for lunch at around 1 and then a short break from sleeping for one of those coveted hot showers. Guess we were a little worn out and in need of a break.
The next day we rented a 4X4 to go over an hour out of town to a monastery built into this massive natural cave. It was in the middle of nowhere, somewhere along a winding trail of bumpy roads. The monastery is built in the entrance of the cave and is unique because it is made of granite and wood, alternating in each layer of the church. It was a neat trip and the church was a highlight because it went from eerie to awe inspiring in seconds. The eerie was walking in your socked feet (you can’t wear shoes in any of the churches) in the pitch black to the back of the cave, upon which the guide turns his light on and you realize you are in the middle of a graveyard filled with mummified remains of ancient pilgrims. You’re not really sure what you stepped on to get there and you have to pick your way out, through the bones. The awe inspiring was looking at the ancient pictures in the church and recognizing them as biblical stories such as Christ’s baptism, the triumphal entry or Mary with the Christ child. Realizing that over 1000 years ago Ethiopians were painting these intricate works by the lights of candles in this remote cave was astounding for me.
That afternoon we explored the well known, rock hewn churches in the town. The scope is amazing. Some of the churches are 12 meters high and inside all intricately carved and painted. All of them dug out of the ground but each quite different in design. We wandered through and saw the old burial sites in the churches and in the walls (one set supposedly for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), the old baptismal pools and the ‘fertility pool’, which is still in use today. Phenomenal when you think of how these works were done 1000 years ago with primitive tools.
The next day we hired some mules to get us to the highest peak in the area (around 3500m) where there was another monastery carved into the side. We rode the mules halfway up as we picked our way through the pastoral mountainside and the winding, narrow pathways. We hiked the last half to the peak where you notice a small hole with stairs leading into the mountain. You climb them and enter the courtyard of a monastery built into the mountainside. Supposedly there is an underground tunnel all the way down through the mountain! Super amazing views and the scenic hike up was probably the highlight of my trip.
The afternoon we explored the rest of the rock hewn churches in town (11 all told). This set was neat because there were tunnels connecting them all in haphazard fashion. We walked through a pitch black tunnel, guiding ourselves with our hands on the wall, me joking about how I hoped there were no drop offs! There were none and we made it out.
The last day and a half we spent relaxing in the sun, watching the sunset over the mountain range, having nice dinners and enjoying each other’s company. We flew back Sunday afternoon and were home by dinner. It was a perfect blend of seeing amazing sights and catching up on some much needed relaxation. It was amazing to get out of the city and into the mountains and countryside. No pollution and clear skies to watch the stars.
And now we’re back to the grind… and planning the next trip in February!
The skeleton graveyard.
The monastery in the cave.
St. George church carved into the rock in a cross shape.
At the top of our climb.
By mule to the top.
A little hut on the way.
Among the massive church complexes carved in the ground.
A partially unfinished church.
The view from the top of the mountain.
The next day we rented a 4X4 to go over an hour out of town to a monastery built into this massive natural cave. It was in the middle of nowhere, somewhere along a winding trail of bumpy roads. The monastery is built in the entrance of the cave and is unique because it is made of granite and wood, alternating in each layer of the church. It was a neat trip and the church was a highlight because it went from eerie to awe inspiring in seconds. The eerie was walking in your socked feet (you can’t wear shoes in any of the churches) in the pitch black to the back of the cave, upon which the guide turns his light on and you realize you are in the middle of a graveyard filled with mummified remains of ancient pilgrims. You’re not really sure what you stepped on to get there and you have to pick your way out, through the bones. The awe inspiring was looking at the ancient pictures in the church and recognizing them as biblical stories such as Christ’s baptism, the triumphal entry or Mary with the Christ child. Realizing that over 1000 years ago Ethiopians were painting these intricate works by the lights of candles in this remote cave was astounding for me.
That afternoon we explored the well known, rock hewn churches in the town. The scope is amazing. Some of the churches are 12 meters high and inside all intricately carved and painted. All of them dug out of the ground but each quite different in design. We wandered through and saw the old burial sites in the churches and in the walls (one set supposedly for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), the old baptismal pools and the ‘fertility pool’, which is still in use today. Phenomenal when you think of how these works were done 1000 years ago with primitive tools.
The next day we hired some mules to get us to the highest peak in the area (around 3500m) where there was another monastery carved into the side. We rode the mules halfway up as we picked our way through the pastoral mountainside and the winding, narrow pathways. We hiked the last half to the peak where you notice a small hole with stairs leading into the mountain. You climb them and enter the courtyard of a monastery built into the mountainside. Supposedly there is an underground tunnel all the way down through the mountain! Super amazing views and the scenic hike up was probably the highlight of my trip.
The afternoon we explored the rest of the rock hewn churches in town (11 all told). This set was neat because there were tunnels connecting them all in haphazard fashion. We walked through a pitch black tunnel, guiding ourselves with our hands on the wall, me joking about how I hoped there were no drop offs! There were none and we made it out.
The last day and a half we spent relaxing in the sun, watching the sunset over the mountain range, having nice dinners and enjoying each other’s company. We flew back Sunday afternoon and were home by dinner. It was a perfect blend of seeing amazing sights and catching up on some much needed relaxation. It was amazing to get out of the city and into the mountains and countryside. No pollution and clear skies to watch the stars.
And now we’re back to the grind… and planning the next trip in February!
The skeleton graveyard.The monastery in the cave.St. George church carved into the rock in a cross shape.At the top of our climb.By mule to the top.A little hut on the way.Among the massive church complexes carved in the ground.A partially unfinished church.The view from the top of the mountain.
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