View of Lafto Neighborhood from our Guest HouseIt seems a bit strange to me that our trip to Ethiopia was summed up in a few blog posts. For those of you reading you may think that I covered everything and then some, but the truth is I feel like I didn't give the country justice. I was so focused on relaying what we did, that I forgot to relay what Ethiopia is. So I'm going to attempt to take you on a sensory journey through Addis Ababa.
The smells - It is hard to explain what Ethiopia smells like, but it definitely has it's own smell. It's a mixture of spices with the occasional addition of coffee or car exhaust. When you are driving it's all car exhaust, sometimes it was overwhelming. When you weren't driving it was an enjoyable smell. It may seem strange, but the smell almost fosters a sense of peace in you as you study it. It's almost like you can smell their layed back lifestyle in the mixture of spices that waft around you.
The sights - There are p
eople everywhere and they are all very friendly. The average person lives in a home made out of corrugated metal and sticks. The more wealthy home owners have cement homes with gates around them. The size of the homes is quite modest even for the wealthy (with some exceptions). There is little space between buildings and side yards are unheard of. Most homes only have a small space behind them in the nicer areas and nothing in other neighborhoods. The courtyard at our guest home would have been considered very extravagant and grass is very uncommon. There was some construction going on while we where there and their scaffolding is made out of sticks! I would never climb on it! This building is for some company that is building their African headquarters in Addis. Notice the sticks holding up each floor until more supports are added :). Despite the modesty of their living quarters, Ethiopians do not lack hospitality and don't seem to feel like they are missing out on anything. The people I met seem to practice contentment on a level I can only dream to reach.
eople everywhere and they are all very friendly. The average person lives in a home made out of corrugated metal and sticks. The more wealthy home owners have cement homes with gates around them. The size of the homes is quite modest even for the wealthy (with some exceptions). There is little space between buildings and side yards are unheard of. Most homes only have a small space behind them in the nicer areas and nothing in other neighborhoods. The courtyard at our guest home would have been considered very extravagant and grass is very uncommon. There was some construction going on while we where there and their scaffolding is made out of sticks! I would never climb on it! This building is for some company that is building their African headquarters in Addis. Notice the sticks holding up each floor until more supports are added :). Despite the modesty of their living quarters, Ethiopians do not lack hospitality and don't seem to feel like they are missing out on anything. The people I met seem to practice contentment on a level I can only dream to reach.
The sounds - This varies depending on what part of town you are in, but every morning you are woken up by several prayers over load speakers. I don't begrudge devotion, but it seemed like they would never stop each morning. My favorite was the mixture of traffic sounds and animal sounds. Goats and Donkeys are everywhere with the occasional cow. As many people walk as their only means of transportation you can always hear the voices of friendly chatter along the roads as well. Here you can see some children selling tomatoes by the road in this picture.
The Feel - People in Ethiopia tak
e their time with everything, which is evident in how they make coffee. They start with raw beans and grind them by hand. The coffee is thick, but wonderful and you can almost taste the time that was put into it. When they eat chicken, they start with a live chicken, kill it, pluck it and turn it into the dish of their choosing. Here is Elias and Adam meeting their lunch for the next day. I know they do some of this because you can't buy chicken in a bag there, but they seem to do some of it because they enjoy the process. To drip brew your coffee seems to be an insult to the enjoyment of coffee itself. You can feel that they are purposeful about their lives an how they do things. Ethiopia is warm, but not just on the thermometer. Warmth is a lifestyle there, not a weather pattern. People greet each other even when they are in a hurry (which is rare). Road rage is unheard of (although their traffic and lack of traffic laws would send me into a fit). Everything is done with grace and a "you first" attitude.
The Taste - Let me say that I LOVE the food there! I like a little spice in my food and so do they, but they have combinations of flavors I have never thought of. They can take a bowl of vegetables and turn into something magical by stewing it with cilantro and garlic. They understand the that cooking is an art and not a chore and that a well prepare meal carries love as well as good flavor.
e their time with everything, which is evident in how they make coffee. They start with raw beans and grind them by hand. The coffee is thick, but wonderful and you can almost taste the time that was put into it. When they eat chicken, they start with a live chicken, kill it, pluck it and turn it into the dish of their choosing. Here is Elias and Adam meeting their lunch for the next day. I know they do some of this because you can't buy chicken in a bag there, but they seem to do some of it because they enjoy the process. To drip brew your coffee seems to be an insult to the enjoyment of coffee itself. You can feel that they are purposeful about their lives an how they do things. Ethiopia is warm, but not just on the thermometer. Warmth is a lifestyle there, not a weather pattern. People greet each other even when they are in a hurry (which is rare). Road rage is unheard of (although their traffic and lack of traffic laws would send me into a fit). Everything is done with grace and a "you first" attitude.The Taste - Let me say that I LOVE the food there! I like a little spice in my food and so do they, but they have combinations of flavors I have never thought of. They can take a bowl of vegetables and turn into something magical by stewing it with cilantro and garlic. They understand the that cooking is an art and not a chore and that a well prepare meal carries love as well as good flavor.
I'll end with a few pics that haven't made the cut yet, but that I really wanted to share.
Lion of Judah Statue in Downtown Addis
View into Neighborhood of Metal Houses
Elias and Daddy on the Little Plane from Chicago to Dayton
Great writing Karen. I would love to know the smells and tastes more. The consummate English teacher wants more details (acrid, salty, bustling, piercing), but I feel like I know Ethiopia better now. Isn't if funny..Americans marvel at the simplicity of their lifestyles, but most people look at our opportunities and want to be here. It is all about appreciating what you don't have...Elias is lucky to be in a family that will honor his heritage!!
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