Jubilee Ends

Sunday was a day in bed for me. Having sung twice on Saturday, the choir was not scheduled to sing, so I was glad not to miss that. Parvin took very good care to phone me during the day to check on me and to tell me how the conference was going.

In the early early morning, buses met whoever wanted to go for the one hour trip to "the mountain" and then the hard walk up the mountain to the site of the Baha'i Gardens and future home of the the Ethiopian House of Worship. Those who went said it was spectacular to climb in the cool dawn hours and see the view of this enormous city. Then to pray together in so many languages!

There were many people there again and again the melee to the 6th floor with no elevator. After that, however, it was spectacular! The Amharic “Jubilee Choir” sang again and there were presentations by a group of local youth. Mr. Nakhjavahni spoke brilliantly, of course. He cited that there are 77 million people in Ethiopia and that the 6000 Baha’is have to work hard to bring the principles of the Faith, unity of God, unity of humanity and unity of religion, to the populace. He mentioned how important it is for the Baha’is to live a fully Baha’i life. I’m sure the text of his speech will be available on the internet, if you would like more information, I will be happy to find a way to provide it, e.g. there will be a video CD available of the Jubilee.
Late in the afternoon—scheduled to end at 6:00? It’s Africa—the meetings ended at about 7:30. I had spoken with Parvin and she told me that when she found transportation for me to join the group again, she would calle me. About 7:45 she called and said where are you? didn't they tell you to be in the lobby? no, I said, I haven't heard from anyone. Quickly, I tidied and went downstairs to find that the choir had redirected the buses from their schedule in order to come to the hotel to get me!

We proceded to the School of Nations, a Baha'i inspired school here in Addis, for a BBQ and dance. Lovely to see the school--all one building about 4 stories high with large, clean classrooms. There is a green space for the playground equipment, which the children obviously enjoy, and a large hard packed dirt field for running and of course, soccer (boys only at this point in Ethiopia, although many girls want to play and there is pressure being brought on government agencies to reverse this). This field was covered this night with 500 plastic chairs and so many people in so many national costumes. Huge bonfires were built, one a typical "boy scout" pyramid style, and one constructed in layers, wood laid on wires spaced just far enough apart to allow the wood to catch and keep the heat and to make the most of the limited fuel supply.

After dinner (mutton stew, injere, salads, soft drinks) which I didn't partake of, and nor did several others) there was a fund raising exhibition of clothes and jewelry and pictures from the Jubilee. Several people were very helpful in this regard, as this was an enormous undertaking for such a poor country! Garry Sterling, a professional entertainer from Hawaii/Australia, sang and then dancing took over. Isgista among others. Lots of jumping and hopping and clapping and singing. Soon we noticed that at the barred gates of the compound and the high fence, all sorts of people from the neighbourhood were pressed in rows, watching the party. Little children and youth, mostly, with some adults providing supervision. They stood on the rails and hung on the bars...high entertainment; some who couldn't get a place to see were dancing in the dust and broken rock of the street running in front of the school. It is not possible to climb over the fence to get in to join, unsolicited, because of the rolls of barbed wire on top and shards of broken glass cemented into the tops of the walls around all compounds. The guards were told not to send them away, and the remains of the sumptuous dinner was distributed. Many people who attended the evening also took home food from the pots, and would be happy to be able to feed their families with it.

Too tired to stay too long, and with several members of the choir suffering ill effects from the dinner the night before, the buses came and we moved off into the dark night, along the unlit streets (did I mention that Addis has only one traffic stop light, this is a city of 7 million people) and to our hotel. That night there were several visits back and forth between rooms to share Pepto Bismal and Buscopan and Immodium and whatever else anyone had brought that would help.

Not to rest on our laurels, here, we were off again in the morning for some sightseeing. Our first stop was One Planet School, which I have mentioned before. This time the children were in session and we were treated to hearing the cute (!) little grade ones repeating their school pledge about being a life long learner and remembering their inherent nobility. What a treat! Zalalem Amare, their school director and Mr. Jamal, the deputy director, were very proud of them. Not to mention their volunteer Canadian teachers, Shokufeh, Bahiyyih and Elham! We were all so impressed with them.

This school has a very high standard and has attracted some 200 students in the year and a half it has been open, from daycare through Grade 3, 27 of whom are students on full scholarship because their parents are no longer with them or cannot afford the $1000 per year tuition. Each year they plan to add a grade until they reach grade 8, "and then we'll see" says Gail Amare. They recently had someone do a "book drive" for them in the US and received a shipment of 21,000 books for their library. Thus they are well equipped for reading with the children and also with resources for teachers to discover new ways to interact with their students. It's a pretty amazing place. There is a computer lab, too; about 10 computers in various stages of repair and capacity, but with the ability to help primary students gain basic skills. They need software of games, e.g. English spelling, that small children can play.

After a very enjoyable hour or so here, we were off to the National Museum.