A Tree Grows in Butajira
Don't worry, this post is not going to be an elaborate description of personal transformation in the 3 days I have been in Butajira. I would like to tell you about it though.
Butajira is a small town with very few forenji's. We got here Saturday and met our host families a hotel. Everything here is a hotel. Coffee shops are hotels, bars are hotels, hotels are hotels.
My host sister, Hiwot, pronounced like Hewitt, met me and we exchanged very few words. We sat at a table with three other volunteers and their homestay families. Some of them spoke OK English, but the point is that they do not.
My extensive Amharic vocabulary allowed me to merely convey that I wanted a beer. Beera ifallagalo. The group enjoyed a laugh and then we were off.
There are approximately 12 people living in my house. Hiwot, 18, is my point person, but I have been spending time with all of them the past two nights. My family goes hard and are super hospitable.
The first night, we occupied a VIPish room at Bright Hotel (a bar and hotel). My family owns the shop next door and brought in their speakers. They bumped some Ethiopian jams and we all boogy'ed down like it was the Brighton block party.
My host brother Shimelis, Hiwot my sister, Genet my other sister, my other cousin (?) Aidan, my brother Tomas and his friends, all separately and collectively took turns in trying to teach me some moves.
Then last night my host dad and mom took me out to drink wine with the local hotel owners (bars).
I feel like it's senior year of college socially, but I have the resilience of my 25 year old self (not as good). I am hoping Shimelis will take me on a run tomorrow morning to show me some routes. But supposedly "Shimelis is perfect at rucha (running)". So I am kind of scared, but also pumped.
Before my computer dies I will just say that internet is elusive, but I am having an awesome time. My Amharic is coming along and getting slightly better everyday, but it is pretty tough to acquire.
The air and sky here at night reminds me of being in Bethel, for those who know what that means, you know that I am in a good place with good people.
Butajira is a small town with very few forenji's. We got here Saturday and met our host families a hotel. Everything here is a hotel. Coffee shops are hotels, bars are hotels, hotels are hotels.
My host sister, Hiwot, pronounced like Hewitt, met me and we exchanged very few words. We sat at a table with three other volunteers and their homestay families. Some of them spoke OK English, but the point is that they do not.
My extensive Amharic vocabulary allowed me to merely convey that I wanted a beer. Beera ifallagalo. The group enjoyed a laugh and then we were off.
There are approximately 12 people living in my house. Hiwot, 18, is my point person, but I have been spending time with all of them the past two nights. My family goes hard and are super hospitable.
The first night, we occupied a VIPish room at Bright Hotel (a bar and hotel). My family owns the shop next door and brought in their speakers. They bumped some Ethiopian jams and we all boogy'ed down like it was the Brighton block party.
My host brother Shimelis, Hiwot my sister, Genet my other sister, my other cousin (?) Aidan, my brother Tomas and his friends, all separately and collectively took turns in trying to teach me some moves.
Then last night my host dad and mom took me out to drink wine with the local hotel owners (bars).
I feel like it's senior year of college socially, but I have the resilience of my 25 year old self (not as good). I am hoping Shimelis will take me on a run tomorrow morning to show me some routes. But supposedly "Shimelis is perfect at rucha (running)". So I am kind of scared, but also pumped.
Before my computer dies I will just say that internet is elusive, but I am having an awesome time. My Amharic is coming along and getting slightly better everyday, but it is pretty tough to acquire.
The air and sky here at night reminds me of being in Bethel, for those who know what that means, you know that I am in a good place with good people.
Great update and description, I'm glad there is some connectivity!
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