Shopping Day (Saturday)
on New Adventures in Ethiopia (Ethiopia), 13/Feb/2009 03:59, 34 days ago
Today’s training consisted of practical things…we had a session about ‘what’s in our box’…the box is literally a box that VSO gives to us that includes a mosquito net, a water filter, a first aid kit, blankets, pillows, voltage regulators and many other household things that we will need…ohand a kerosene stove and a hotplate…We were shown how to assemble the water filter and kerosene stove and later on when we went to the Program Office, one of the VSO staff showed us how to use the kerosene stove and also we had a little cooking lesson to show us how to make a typically Ethiopiandish. .After that, we split off into small groups and existing volunteers that are based in Addis came to take us shopping to assist us in buying sheets and pots and pans and any other things we may need. Reisa, Vishwa and I went with Ashish and Aliza an Indian and Filipino volunteer who have been in Addis for 3 years and are not dating. We walked quite a long way to Shoa market…when we got there…WOW…it is mayhem…the cobbled streets, people rushing around everywhere, stalls at every available opportunity and kids running around us ferenjis (foreigners) like nobody’s business. Every time you say hi or if they call you ‘ferenji’ you turn around and call them ‘habasha’ (Ethiopian) and they start laughing hysterically…its cute but some of the street kids are very smart so you still have to be careful they wont charm you and empty your pockets…generally they are harmless and cute. .At Shoa market, I bought some sheets and Ashish bargained very well for us. After that we walked towards the program office and on the way, we stopped and had tea at a nice café. Then we jumped into a line taxi and headed back…a line taxi is basically a mini bus that goes on a specific route and stops in specific areas…its one of the many modes of transportation….Our destination was Get Fam which is a western style supermarket. Reisa and I bought some staple foods and some pots and plates and cutlery to get us by on the first day. We then went and put all of our purchases into our boxes and went next door to Pride Bar. It was for the first time here that I saw someone eating the Ethiopian delicacy which makes me want to hurl otherwise known as completely raw steak. Very interesting…when I raised the issue with Ethiopians they assured me that in a few months Ill think it tastes good also…I doubt it but we shall see. .The day ended with us walking to a place called Road Runner bar and restaurant where almost all of the volunteers were having dinner. To be concise, the food was terrible…we should have stayed and just had our regular delicious dinner at the Red Cross. .We all then packed in to the bus and headed back to the Red Cross center. .Sunday– Intensive AmharicToday was a fun day. We had intensive Amharic classes and I really enjoyed it. We learnt the grammatical structure of the language which made the penny drop somewhat on how to construct sentences.After our training classes ended, it was scheduled that we all go on the bus and have the option of going up a hill to see a church and a view of Addis from a scenic place. Only 15 of us could go so Silvester, Reisa, Vishwa and I decided to not go all the way and just be dropped off in the city to walk around and do our own thing. We initially just walked one way in a straight line until we got to a nice outdoor café and sat down and had coffee and cake. The cakes here don’t taste very good so far. I am yet to find good cake. Nonetheless…we sat down and talked and then headed out again. We walked to Get Fam and I bought washing powder so I could hand wash my clothes…no washing machines here!!Silvester and I then just hung around in a mall type place while waiting for Reisa and Vishwa and Karen who were sitting in the café above the mall. We eventually got tired and walked back to the Program Office and just hung around and chatted to people until the bus came and took us back to the Red Cross center. We had dinner and one of the very strange volunteers organized a quiz for all of us to take part in. I did not go.I was way too tired and also had to rest for the next day’s partnership workshop