Picture of the day!

Misty and Misrak in Jijiga

Community = Unity (Poem)

Community

My skin, your skin

Who are we within?

Carefully, I see, the key is we

Humanity, semantically intertwined

Who finds the binds that keep us?

Who are the minds that weep?

Softly in the night I hear them

I’ll share myself with you

If you bare yourself too

Untie the rotting knot

And if we get caught

We’ll know we fought

For unity

On My Way To The Sun

I am going to the sun

But unlike Icarus

I will not fall

My wings will not melt

My head up

Eyes forward

Back straight and tall

Pictures and Poem

On the way from Harar to Jijiga, Ethiopia

Babel Stone

Wild Camels

Abba Worku

12-12-09

Empty ravines

Desert scenes

Camel caravans

Cameras banned

Ethiopian land

Teff man

Bridges over ancient rivers

Now dry under blue skies

Sun sweat

Buna bliss

Dire Dawa’s kiss

Covenant myth

Raw meat

Harar stout

Sweet drought

Cactus fish

In this desert sea

Make a wish for me

Jijiga-

Where nomads wonder free

Back in Dire Dawa

The Streets Of Harar, Ethiopia.

12/14/09

We left Dire Dawa at 5am on December 10th. There are many people up at this time. Some are sweeping the streets, and unlike Barcelona where you have a huge machine doing the work with flashing lights, beeping, and annoying noises to wake you up there are just people with witch-like brooms quietly sweeping away.

Worku and I picked up Misrak and began our drive to Jijiga. Most of the roads are dirt roads. They twist and turn the whole way there. The sights are beautiful. There are these huge boulders on the way to Jijiga. Thousands of thousands of years old piled on top of each other to create strange formations. You can hear the monkey’s hooting and howling if you listen.

There are many caravans of Camels carrying various things including water. Sometimes twenty in a row only tied from the tail of one to the neck of another. There are also many ancient ravines that once had an abundance of water in their time, only to be dry now.

We got to Jijiga in time for breakfast with Abba Johnny (an old Italian priest with a thunderous voice.) After breakfast we visited the compound and the school. The birds in Jijiga say, “Quq! Qua!” and, “Cooo, Cooo, Cooo” and some sound like a clock striking noon “KooKoo!”

We had a long meeting with the children in the Peace and Justice Club. There are over 200 kids in the club in Jijiga! Once the meeting was over with the members there was a teacher’s conference and we presented the audio CD to them.

We had lunch with the sisters and it was fabulous! An assortment of dishes, homemade orange and coffee ice cream in Whiskey for desert, and Papaya. We took off after lunch for Harar.

Teferi is a village on the way from Dire Dawa to Harar.

We got to Harar in time to feed the Hyenas! I think the picture can explain it better than I can. I took the pictures while I was feeding the Hyena some raw meat. I wasn’t scared, but Misrak is afraid of dogs and wild Hyenas are no exception!

 

On December 11th we dropped Misrak off at the bus station so she could travel back to Dire Dawa to do some work at the office. Two of the girls from the compound took me to the market to shop. I found some incense and some bone jewelry, but nothing much interests me.

One of the reasons is that all the things they have are imported from Asian countries. Nothing that really screams Ethiopia unless it’s the local fruit. I would like to buy a locally woven basket but they’re too big for me to bring back. Ethiopian women are famous for their intricate weaving skills.

Worku and I went to visit the Harar City Museum. Harar is over a thousand years old and is considered one of the four Mecca of the world.

The museum here reflects that. The museum itself is within one of the palaces of Hale Sellassie. There are a lot of cultural items as in traditional cloths, pots, warrior gear, and paintings of tribal hairstyles. There are coins dating back to 900A.D, ancient Korans, and medical books dating back before 900 A.D.

We also visited the poet Arthur Rimband Center. I wasn’t interested in seeing his museum only because before I left America I researched him and didn’t find that he did much for Ethiopia in general. He also was some sort of spy and I just lost all interest.

That night I spent in Harar at the sister’s compound. The Capuchin sisters are wonderful! They are very pleasant company. That night they braided my hair.

December 12th I watched TV for most of the day. I also visited the Haremaya University’s zoo. They have an array of Monkeys, Lions, and a hyena. One of the young lionesses was chewing on the head of a bull when we arrived.

December 13th I went to mass that Worku was performing for the students at Haremaya University. I enjoyed my time visiting and making friends. The campus is famous for agriculture, but they are also well known for law. The campus has a huge compound with lots of trees and farming patches.

In the evening we visited the Harar Brewery where you can see how they make Harar beer. At their bar you can get a Jambo (Pint) of Harar Stout beer for 50 cents.


On December 14th we had our breakfast and I am now back in my beloved Dire Dawa writing this blog just for you.


Misty

Gifty of the Oromoo Tribe

Coffee Ceremony

12/8/09


The only time I’ve heard of fresh milk was when the 93-year-old Bishop told me the ritual to become of the Oromoo tribe. The only milk I can find here is powdered milk. This is most likely because there are no fridgerators or adequate electricity.

There is a tribe here called the Oromoo tribe.

The 93 year old bishop likes to joke saying how everyone is Oromoo in one way or another. So, the 93-year-old-biship told me today I am Oromoo

He says I have to change my name though.

Since my name in Amharic literally means "my wife"

He says, "oh that won’t do"

When you go through the Oromoo Ritual you suck the milk from the female tribe leader's tit and then she gives you a new name. So, first he wanted to change my name from misty to Whiskey then he laughed and changed it to Gifty.

Gifty means "queen" in Amharic
Lucky I didn’t have to drink from anyone's tit...
It's really funny to see the look on people’s faces when I introduce myself. The reply is, "Who wife??
But now I can say, "I am Gifty of the Oromoo tribe"

Misrak invited me to dinner tonight. I met three of her good friends. After dinner we went on a walk and stopped at a café to have some tea.


12/9/09

I’ve been somewhat nervous as to how I would respond if I were asked my religion. Normally this doesn’t bother me, but since I’m staying at a Catholic convent in a foreign country I had no way of knowing what to expect. Today at lunch the topic inevitably presented itself.

As you know the 93-year-old Bishop (Abba Petros) LOVES to joke about being Oromoo and whatnot. Today at lunch he asked me if I was Catholic. I replied, “No.” His hands shot up to his face and started to wail! I stopped him and said, “…I am Oromoo.” And suddenly he was laughing so hard I though he might keel over that moment.

Then he said in English, “You know Oromoo had their own religion (during Pagan times) Our god ‘Weg’ sits on the top of a special tree that grows here in Ethiopia (like a bird) The people pray under these trees. When they pray for rain, it rains immediately. Now we pray to the Catholic god and why don’t we get an answer? Why because he is so far away (in heaven) how can he hear us? Can I use you cell phone?!”

We all die in laughter. Then Abba Petros says, “You got me this time Gifty, so now for the consequence you must take me to America so I can visit my nephew.” Confused, we asked him who is nephew is? “Obama.” He says with a flash of his white teeth and belly laugh “heh heh heh heh”

I’m off to bed now. I have to wake up at 5AM. Worku, Misrak, and I are going to Jijiga (South east of Dire Dawa.) We will have breakfast with the Abbas there visit the compound and present our first completed gift (the audio tape of the 4th grade ‘English For Ethiopia Workbook) to the local schools.

By the time you read all the adventure that (at the moment) are yet to take place I will already be back and posting this for you to read. So until then lovelies….


Misty AKA Sullen AKA Gifty

The Rest Of What Didn't Post From The Last Blog :)

Everywhere are flags of different regions of Ethiopian as well as the Nation flag. Misrak explains that in the beginning the national flag was just red, yellow, and green. During Haile Sellassies time the government added the lion in the middle of the national flag. The current government has once again changed the national flag from the lion to a star in the middle.

On our way back we stop to buy a papaya. A man in a business suit and sunglasses pays for it before I can even pull out my money. “For our lovely guest he says and walks away to his car.

I side glance at Misrak as to what to do next and she say, “You can go tell him thank you. People here is Dire Dawa do that sometimes they are very nice.” So before the car takes off I walk over to the rolled down window and say “Amaseganalu” (Thank you in Amharic.) “No thank you.” He says in English. “What is you name?”

“Misty” I say and the two men in the car laugh (remember my name in Amharic literally translates to “My Wife.”) I laugh too and they ask if I am on vacation or working. I tell them I am volunteering and they are very pleased. “Well then a pleasure it is.” The man says and we say goodbye.

Misrak and I take a small car back to where I am staying. The two guys in the car are not as nice. They say in Amharic to Misrak, “She is Russian, so we will discriminate and make you too pay more.”

“She is not Russian.” Misrak says, “and so we will not pay more. The guys make a sour face and insist that I am Russian and therefore I will pay more or they will kick us out of the car. We get back to my place and pay them the normal amount (Two Birr.)

The guy driving makes another sour face and shoves the Birr in his glove compartment only saying “You are Russian.” He drives off. We laugh, and continue on.

Since this week is a national holiday many people from all over Ethiopia are coming to Dire Dawa. Every year it is a different location. This year is Dire Dawa (The city of Love.) There are many celebrations and festivals going on this week. The whole city smells of Frankincense.

Last night (12/5/09) was a bazaar and concert. (5 Birr to get in.) There is lots of live music, as well as a comedian. The people here although they are very, very poor, have a great sense of humor.

I’ve been reading a lot. I just finished “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” by Joseph Campbell. I am almost finished with a book Ashley let me have before she left Barcelona Spain. It’s called “Of Saints and Shadows” by Christopher Golden. It’s about the war between vampires, humans, and the Catholic Church.

It’s a great read if you like fiction, Vampires and all that stuff. I eat it right up. I’ve always loved a good Vampire read. Ever since I was little I was reading books like “My Best Friend’s a Vampire” and Anne Rice books, R.L. Stein, Movies, and TV shows like “Dark Shadows” I could go on and on…

This book is different. It relates in a strange way to my own surroundings in a sense. The book is about the Catholic Church coming after the oldest of the vampires and eventually planning to destroy them all. Their intention is to keep them from an age-old secret the Catholics have hidden from Vampires to control them. The vampires eventually find out the secret is the superstitions. They’re all fakes. Even walking in the sun.

I put it in this perspective: I am living in the guesthouse of a Catholic church. Ethiopians as I have described eat raw meat. In fact they eat meat whenever it is available raw or cooked. They love their raw meat! Their chocolate skin helps protect them from the sun, yet they prefer the night. May times the streets here look deserted until night falls and you see masses of people everywhere.

Could Ethiopians be modern day Vampires?

Settling In

12/4/09

Settling into routine here in Dire Dawa. I have a few projects I’ve been working on. One of them is recording the stories from the fourth grade English workbook on to a CD so that the children can practice pronunciation. I’ve just finished with the 24 chapter/ stories and am now picking out vocabulary words to record.

I wrote an essay on Success and confusions people abroad may have about America. It’s written in a general sense or I would have to write a whole book. The subject itself is broad and so I only touched lightly on the subject at hand.

I have been given a local cell phone while I am working here. I wash my clothes in my sink; I eat all my meals with the Brothers and Abbas. Misrak and I go out sometimes to walk. A few nights ago there was a huge feast (on the roof of the building I am staying at) for three bicyclists from Switzerland. They rode their bikes all the way to Ethiopia as a fundraiser for water. A penny per Kilometer was what sponsors pay.

After the feast I was talking with Philippe one of the bicyclists about our current adventures. We turn to head in for the night and realized we’ve been locked out. It’s too far to jump and all three doors are locked. Philippe says, “Well I guess we’re spending the night outside.”

I wont hear none of that and pull out my cell. I hear Philippe sigh in relief and call Abba Worku to bail us out. Worku laughs and laughs and within minutes someone comes to unlock the door apologizing.

Abba Petros (the 93 year old Bishop) always makes us laugh at the dinner table. He always has some joke or funny comment. Before we eat he says the evening prayer and ends it with “and may god bless me with the appetite of Brother Simon.” He likes to say how every one is Oromo in one way or another. Then he laughs a belly laugh and his white teeth gleaming. Even I am some how of the Oromo tribe (although I’m not sure how.)

Misrak and I went to her favorite place called The Jungle. It’s three birr to enter ($1.00 = 12 Birr.) It’s in comparative to a very small Zoo (including the cages they are kept in.) The first cage has only pigeons. The second, third, fourth, and fifth have different types of birds including pheasants, roosters, and geese.

The next dozen cages have different types of monkeys, baboons, and a hyena. Then there are peacocks, and an ostrich.
We have a seat and drink juice. The juice comes in three colors one on top of the other. Mango, ambusha (a local fruit), and avocado; they make up the colors of the Ethiopian flag. When we leave I notice there are flags up now.

Mother T

11/30/09

Again today I went with Abba Negash to visit the sisters at the Mother Teresa compound. We were given a tour that lasted about an hour. First was the men’s compound, the psychiatric patients sitting cross-legged in the middle of a roofed basketball court; waiting for their daily medication. Room after room we went with different classes or ailments; one room for HIV patients, one for TB, Terminal ill, old people, retarded people, a room full of patients with skin wounds, and one for orphan boys.

Another room sister explains is for men with liver cancers. She shakes the hand of a very skinny, aging man and in Amharic says, “Duhna nuh?” (You are fine?) It is clear that he is not yet he manages a wiry smile and simple says, “Duhna” (Fine) and kisses her hand to his forehead in respect.

She pulls down his white blanket to reveal his bulging bloated stomach. She says in English, “This is what happens they come to us when it is too late and the illness has already consumed them. Their bellies swell up like this. He will not leave this room until he is ready to be buried.”

She leaves nothing for the imagination as we tour the rest of the compound. The next portion of the tour leads us to the women’s compound. It is much like that of the men’s with extra rooms for mother’s with no husbands, and there are much more children running around.

Sister explains how they have just succeeded in persuading an un-married pregnant woman out of having an abortion. “We will keep the baby if she dopes not want it after it is born. Sometimes the mother once seeing the baby for the first time will take it, other times we will if she will not.” She explains.

The psychiatric patients in the woman’s compound are separated from the rest of the compound. I ask the sister why this is so? “ The women with psychiatric problems are much worse in behavior than the males I’m afraid to say. They are wild.”

They look wild some drooling, with snot yet to fall from their noses, some screaming and chasing an invisible intruder, others staring off into space until they are disturbed mumbling and chanting.

We visit everyone in the compound. I am not afraid, only saddened. The ill are everywhere. The forgotten, the abandoned, but not deserted.

Shortly after leaving, Abba Negash asks me, “Are you alright?”
“Yes.” I say and there is a silence of understanding in his eyes.