One of the main reasons I decided to come to Africa is because I really don't know much about it. I have little to no knowledge of African history and my political knowledge pretty much comes from the "why are there so many wars, why are there so many dictators there, and why isn't there enough food?" school. I think the only education I got about Africa in school was geography and something about the famine in Ethiopia. Egypt really steals the show in the history department.
There is nothing likes going to another country to get a feel for what you don't have a clue about.
Some fun Ethiopia facts. It was formerly Abyssinia. colony. It is believed by many that the Ark of the Covenant is here. This is where the Queen of Sheba comes from. The East African Rift Valley is probably where mankind evolved (this is where Lucy was found). It is the second most populated country in Africa, and it is the only country in Africa that was never colonized. It was occupied by the Italians, but was never a colony. It is therefore considered the capital of Africa.
There are over eighty different tribes, and languages spoken here...and most of the people I've met speak very good English. They are instructed in their own languages until eighth grade, when their schooling switches to all English.
They have their own calendar and right now it is 2005. Everyone is glad to hear that we magically became seven years younger.
Their Christmas was about five days ago, since most of the country is Orthodox Christian. There are Christmas trees up everywhere, blinking lights and tinsel cover them, lighting up the patios and restaurants where we eat.
Guides say that Addis Ababa is the third highest capital city in the world. The Internet says something a little different. Maybe fifth.
In the city, there is massive construction. They have this scaffolding made of thin trees that embraces the buildings like an exoskeleton. Men walk up and down the precarious looking ribs of the buildings with confidence and a sure footedness that seems to defy gravity.
The streets are filled with vendors. The most unique I saw was a stall selling tricked out coffins. Red glittering ones, sequined yellow ones with brilliant crosses on them. There are herds of sheep in the streets, and cows roaming about. There are people carrying live chickens and dead goats. There are also men in business suits driving Mercedes. No traffic lights, so it pretty much a lifelong game of chicken on the roads.
As we drove, I saw many signs advertising condoms and oral contraceptives. Giant billboards with beautiful women and stunning couples on them. Different flavors and sizes and textures. This seems astonishingly progressive for an Orthodox Christian country.
There was also a sign that said: "Visitors will die, but their vision will not." I decided to take this as a positive thing. More along the lines of taking the best ideas from friends...I hope that that is what it meant.
Another sign with a merry couple on it was advertising "The First Laughter School of Africa." I have no idea if this was an improv class or a class on how to be a model in commercials.
Welcome to Addis Ababa.
There is nothing likes going to another country to get a feel for what you don't have a clue about.
Some fun Ethiopia facts. It was formerly Abyssinia. colony. It is believed by many that the Ark of the Covenant is here. This is where the Queen of Sheba comes from. The East African Rift Valley is probably where mankind evolved (this is where Lucy was found). It is the second most populated country in Africa, and it is the only country in Africa that was never colonized. It was occupied by the Italians, but was never a colony. It is therefore considered the capital of Africa.
There are over eighty different tribes, and languages spoken here...and most of the people I've met speak very good English. They are instructed in their own languages until eighth grade, when their schooling switches to all English.
They have their own calendar and right now it is 2005. Everyone is glad to hear that we magically became seven years younger.
Their Christmas was about five days ago, since most of the country is Orthodox Christian. There are Christmas trees up everywhere, blinking lights and tinsel cover them, lighting up the patios and restaurants where we eat.
Guides say that Addis Ababa is the third highest capital city in the world. The Internet says something a little different. Maybe fifth.
In the city, there is massive construction. They have this scaffolding made of thin trees that embraces the buildings like an exoskeleton. Men walk up and down the precarious looking ribs of the buildings with confidence and a sure footedness that seems to defy gravity.
The streets are filled with vendors. The most unique I saw was a stall selling tricked out coffins. Red glittering ones, sequined yellow ones with brilliant crosses on them. There are herds of sheep in the streets, and cows roaming about. There are people carrying live chickens and dead goats. There are also men in business suits driving Mercedes. No traffic lights, so it pretty much a lifelong game of chicken on the roads.
As we drove, I saw many signs advertising condoms and oral contraceptives. Giant billboards with beautiful women and stunning couples on them. Different flavors and sizes and textures. This seems astonishingly progressive for an Orthodox Christian country.
There was also a sign that said: "Visitors will die, but their vision will not." I decided to take this as a positive thing. More along the lines of taking the best ideas from friends...I hope that that is what it meant.
Another sign with a merry couple on it was advertising "The First Laughter School of Africa." I have no idea if this was an improv class or a class on how to be a model in commercials.
Welcome to Addis Ababa.
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