I am lucky. I have so much family here in Ethiopia, you won't believe it. My family is so huge, I can't even keep track of everyones relation to myself nor the names of everyone... Conclusion: I have to come here more often.
So far, the trip has been amazing. For starters: we (myself, my dad, aunt, their aunt, her child, my cousin, and, believe it or not, their servants (?)) have been living in a cottage in the district Meganangna in Addis which is one of the nicer neighbourhoods here. And it shows. My family inherited this cottage (it's a cottage compared to all the other houses around) a long time ago. Here we've had a good time eating good ethiopian food, talking all morning, practicing amharic and a little swedish, joking and getting to know eachother. I love it. Everyone has been really eager to meet me, so it's nice to see that the feeling is mutual. Because I've been looking forward to this for a long time. They are calling me Ferenj here which means "white", although in western eyes I look african, here I look european. I don't know whether to cry or laugh.
During the days we've been sightseeing a lot of course, Ethiopia has a rich culture with an amazing history. I won't give you a history lecture now, I promise, but it's amazing how they differ from everything else in africa in terms of food, dancing, the fact that they've never been a colony, their alphabet, and much more.
Among the interesting things I've experienced here has been the Haile Selasse Palace, now museum- the emperor and founder of the religion rastafari's old crib..The house is preserved and an exhibition that (at least tries) to depict some of the 60 different tribes in Ethiopia and what differs them can be found here. Some blocks further down we found the national museum of Ethiopia which holds the remnants of the famous Lucy. Given the fact that the climat is so nice here, it comes as no chock that human life actually began in this country.
Another interesting place in Addis is definitely Mercato, the market. Here you can shop endlessly amounts of traditional scarves, dresses, ebony statues, paintings and so on. Since I've been in China, a nation where negotiation is an art, I don't think the ethiopians are as stubborn as the chinese. A shame really, beacause I enjoy it so much.
Speaking of China, Ethiopia is flooded with chinese people! I couldn't believe it, but it's getting more and more usual with afro-asian mulatto's. Hear, hear (being a mulatto myself, I find it interesting). Although, their presens is due to the fact that they're building roads (effectively, but not good quality wise though), they are not so fancied by ethiopians... In addition, in Addis one can also find churches right next to mosques. Here, christians (very religious, coptic christians) have been living in peace for thousands of years, right next to muslims which maybe is something the rest of us could learn something from...
After being in Addis 5 days, we've now continued our journey further south to the Sidamo region. On our way we stopped at the Langano lake, a beautiful red lake, coloured by copper and minerals. It's a sweet water lake so I was honestly a little afraid of crocodiles while swimming in it.. But nothing happened. Here I met some norwegians aswell. They'd been living in Addis for 2 years and were now struggling to get the christmas feeling present at home, hehe. I must say that I prefer this. Big christmas trees in the sun and swimming in a lake one day before christmas is truly my cup of tea.
After Langano, we went further down south , passing through the Jamaican hoods of Shasheme, where they grow cannabis and other things. Bob Marley was everywhere to be seen. Our driver, Zelalem, is the best. He's an old friend of the family and so funny. He drives like a maniac, but then...everyone here does. He also chews Cat, a drug forbidden in Sweden, but used traditionally here for tea ceremonies and such. Forbidding it here would be like forbidding alcohol back home in Sweden. Impossible.What makes him the best is that he's very kind to everyone, always smiles and has a fantastic sense of humor. He's also very persistent in teaching me amharic. And I've become much better at it now! So his formula works. Thanks to him and my two cousins here, I've made progress.
Our plan is to spend Christmas Eve with family tomorrow and end it in a big fancy resort here in Awassa. Next we're going to a small city close to Awassa where hot water fountains (heta kallor in swedish, don't know the name in english) can be found. Of course I'm planning to be in the water the whole day. After that it's back to Addis for the rest of the trip. My aunt is an M.D so we're going to visit a lot of clinics and hospitals next week which is going to be amazing. Many Ethiopian doctors in Sweden (friends of ours) have started clinics here so we're in for an interesting experience.
I cannot describe the feeling when I meet family of mine. It's amazing and it feels like an important part of me is coming to my understanding about myself. I've always been in contact with my roots, but to see it like this has been...unbelieveably important. I am very proud to be part "Habesha" and this culture and tradition is so rich. I think everyone should come here...because this is Africa :)
Merry Christmas everyone.
Puss!
So far, the trip has been amazing. For starters: we (myself, my dad, aunt, their aunt, her child, my cousin, and, believe it or not, their servants (?)) have been living in a cottage in the district Meganangna in Addis which is one of the nicer neighbourhoods here. And it shows. My family inherited this cottage (it's a cottage compared to all the other houses around) a long time ago. Here we've had a good time eating good ethiopian food, talking all morning, practicing amharic and a little swedish, joking and getting to know eachother. I love it. Everyone has been really eager to meet me, so it's nice to see that the feeling is mutual. Because I've been looking forward to this for a long time. They are calling me Ferenj here which means "white", although in western eyes I look african, here I look european. I don't know whether to cry or laugh.
During the days we've been sightseeing a lot of course, Ethiopia has a rich culture with an amazing history. I won't give you a history lecture now, I promise, but it's amazing how they differ from everything else in africa in terms of food, dancing, the fact that they've never been a colony, their alphabet, and much more.
Among the interesting things I've experienced here has been the Haile Selasse Palace, now museum- the emperor and founder of the religion rastafari's old crib..The house is preserved and an exhibition that (at least tries) to depict some of the 60 different tribes in Ethiopia and what differs them can be found here. Some blocks further down we found the national museum of Ethiopia which holds the remnants of the famous Lucy. Given the fact that the climat is so nice here, it comes as no chock that human life actually began in this country.
Another interesting place in Addis is definitely Mercato, the market. Here you can shop endlessly amounts of traditional scarves, dresses, ebony statues, paintings and so on. Since I've been in China, a nation where negotiation is an art, I don't think the ethiopians are as stubborn as the chinese. A shame really, beacause I enjoy it so much.
Speaking of China, Ethiopia is flooded with chinese people! I couldn't believe it, but it's getting more and more usual with afro-asian mulatto's. Hear, hear (being a mulatto myself, I find it interesting). Although, their presens is due to the fact that they're building roads (effectively, but not good quality wise though), they are not so fancied by ethiopians... In addition, in Addis one can also find churches right next to mosques. Here, christians (very religious, coptic christians) have been living in peace for thousands of years, right next to muslims which maybe is something the rest of us could learn something from...
After being in Addis 5 days, we've now continued our journey further south to the Sidamo region. On our way we stopped at the Langano lake, a beautiful red lake, coloured by copper and minerals. It's a sweet water lake so I was honestly a little afraid of crocodiles while swimming in it.. But nothing happened. Here I met some norwegians aswell. They'd been living in Addis for 2 years and were now struggling to get the christmas feeling present at home, hehe. I must say that I prefer this. Big christmas trees in the sun and swimming in a lake one day before christmas is truly my cup of tea.
After Langano, we went further down south , passing through the Jamaican hoods of Shasheme, where they grow cannabis and other things. Bob Marley was everywhere to be seen. Our driver, Zelalem, is the best. He's an old friend of the family and so funny. He drives like a maniac, but then...everyone here does. He also chews Cat, a drug forbidden in Sweden, but used traditionally here for tea ceremonies and such. Forbidding it here would be like forbidding alcohol back home in Sweden. Impossible.What makes him the best is that he's very kind to everyone, always smiles and has a fantastic sense of humor. He's also very persistent in teaching me amharic. And I've become much better at it now! So his formula works. Thanks to him and my two cousins here, I've made progress.
Our plan is to spend Christmas Eve with family tomorrow and end it in a big fancy resort here in Awassa. Next we're going to a small city close to Awassa where hot water fountains (heta kallor in swedish, don't know the name in english) can be found. Of course I'm planning to be in the water the whole day. After that it's back to Addis for the rest of the trip. My aunt is an M.D so we're going to visit a lot of clinics and hospitals next week which is going to be amazing. Many Ethiopian doctors in Sweden (friends of ours) have started clinics here so we're in for an interesting experience.
I cannot describe the feeling when I meet family of mine. It's amazing and it feels like an important part of me is coming to my understanding about myself. I've always been in contact with my roots, but to see it like this has been...unbelieveably important. I am very proud to be part "Habesha" and this culture and tradition is so rich. I think everyone should come here...because this is Africa :)
Merry Christmas everyone.
Puss!
