21 October-Published 18 November
on J and M in Assosa (Ethiopia), 18/Nov/2007 18:00, 34 days ago
Blog 21 10 07I was writing this in anticipation that the internet might return to Assosa or that I shall be able to publish this in Addis. However I have just been advised that the internet problem is country wide! One explanation we have been given is that there is a problem with a cable under the sea offDjiboutiapparently.So no help when we go to Addis.It certainly makes us feel even more isolated.However we are away from Assosa fromTuesday 23/10/07until6/11/07and this will include a 6 day trip toHarare, the major Muslim city inEthiopiaandAwashNational Parkin the East. We are looking forward to the break.In addition during our time in Addis we have been asked to give a talk to VSO staff as to why we are Irish but have British passports– an interesting challenge and not sure we have the answer. Perhaps we should start with a whiskey tasting session to set the scene.We have been told that there is Cholera in the BG Region which is a bit scary. However it is 400 kms to the north of Assosa on the Sudanese border, over 300 are ill and 17 have died. Apparently the government is aware of the situation and are closely involved. The main concern is that it is not that far from the refugee camp at Sherkole and it would be fatal if it spread there. Our information came via the Sherkole camp where measures are being put in place to try to ensure it does not spread there. We have not been vaccinated against it as this is no longer recommended. We have always cooked all our food except for the lettuce which grows in our garden. We also wash all our vegetables in a disinfectant. We peel all our fruit whereas the locals (except for Mulatu who has acquired our habits) will eat mangoes and guavas with the skin on. Martha actually peels eggplant too and we never eat raw tomatoes. Hopefully this is sufficient protection.Hygiene is reasonably good here and their pit latrines are extremely deep and seem to work well– certainly better than Western toilets which need copious amounts of water to be effective. My main problem is that hand washing after using the toilet at work is impossible as there is no water at MI.This week has been spent helping the new volunteers to adjust to life in Assosa. They are doing well but Diana finds it frustrating to be without internet as we all do.Diana is employing Martha to do her cooking and cleaning and Mulatu’s older brother Kidanu to do her shopping.Our German friends who moved to Addis about a year ago for the children’s schooling are back in Assosa this week for half term. They have just signed up for another 5 years! Not sure what they do after that as by then they will have spent 13 years inEthiopia.At work it has been a bit busy as it always is before we go away. However we have at last been allocated a UN volunteer which is good and means that there should be some level of continuity in our work.The MI’s own training continues with 3 more courses from 29/10. It is good that 2 of them are to happen when we are away as this means that it is a practice run for the MI staff although I shall leave a ‘to do’list! Just in case.We had hoped that the rains were coming to an end and certainly it has lessened but yesterday there was a terrific thunderstorm with lightening directly overhead– even the locals were terrified.