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