Sounds like you are having a fabulous time. I miss you but am happy you have found good coffee to drink. LOL!! I think you should definately go to the Jazz bar so you can tell us all about it. Have fun! happy day.
Sorry for the mass email, but I just can't seem to stay connected or have a firm enough connection to the blog to get much published. It's pretty hit and miss. If you don't want to read this, please just delete delete delete. I might do a few more mass emails while here, so if you are interested, myabe drop me a line? Feel free to forward if you think there is someone who would be interested.
I was in the middle of a long letter to you extolling the virtues of this wonderful country, when once again the electricy failed and I lost the whole letter. I chuckle at myself, because I always think that I can type quickly and then "beat the odds" and send the letter before I lose it. Somehow, I think this has an analogy to life, because the inevitable always happens.
Because we are staying in this hotel for such a long time, I am making friends here. The staff is very large--one beautiful young woman whose job it is to dust the leaves of the plants outside, three more who stand at the entrance to open it for us (it's an automatic door) and to find a taxi should we require it, half a dozen who mop the polished granite floors several times a day--and so there are many opportunities to be pleasant and chat every day--the desk clerks, the manager who made my reservations online, the night auditor--whose English is very good. Forming these relationships has brought dividends and we now are recognized and welcomed by name and have been invited to partake of various social activities--one beautiful young woman has invited us to her home for Christmas (which is today, here--the whole of Ethiopia being on a different calendar) for an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, another has asked to take us shopping for authentic Ethiopian handicrafts and clothes, another makes sure to find us each day to wish us well.
The other day when we were shopping in one of the markets, two adolescent Ethiopian girls came in singing Jingle Bells! They've never experienced snow, but have seen it in the movies and thought it was such a jolly song that they wanted to share it.
Ethiopia is an exciting, bustling country, filled with hope for the future and plans for the restoration of their culture. Everywhere you can see people industriously working on whatever they can turn their hands to. Of course, there are many many homeless woman and children, and a few men, begging on the street, but I have seen restaurant owners take food out to the beggar, give them money and water; gas stations open their water taps for the long lines of people to fill their containers.
At the Baha'i Centre, excitement is growing for the upcoming Diamond Jubilee. They have worked so hard, this committee, to put together a wonderful, joyous celebration. Folks are here already from many parts of Africa, from the Holy Land, from the US, Australia and Canada. It is wonderful to see all working together. The importance of including the arts is apparent, too. A choir has been put together of some 35 members for this purpose and they rehearse at the centre every day. The joy of the performers is mirrored on the faces of the hearers. Everyone talks about how wonderful it is to be able to be part of this choir--and they consider that by listening and by prayer they are part, even if not actively participating. It is a joy to see the unity of purpose it brings. There is a "cultural exposition" planned for the Sunday evening, and this is another unexpected high point of the conference. Many people are looking forward to the fashion show of traditional crafts and clothing. One of the local Baha'is here had a knock on his door a few weeks ago and some young people were asking him to contribute money to their cause. He told them that he had something better than money that would be good for them for their whole life. He is teaching them the Faith, and 9 of them, though still wanting to study more before declaring, will come and perform their traditional dance at the Jubilee. Since Ethiopians are not, like other African peoples, know for their dancing or singing, all these things are the cause of great wonder and excitement.
"13 months of sunshine" here they tell me. Today we are going to visit the One Planet school for a BBQ (don't know of what, yet) and see how they function. It is necessary to dress in layers to cover all the variables in the weather--cool in morning and evening, hot in the day and cold at night. Inside the hotel, even without airconditioning it is cool, due to all the polished stone being a good heat insulator plus everything is kept dimly lighted, electricity being as expensive as it is.
So, off we go into our day. Hope to talk to you again soon, but with 50 choir members arriving here tomorrow from the US, I don't know how much internet availability there will be for the next week or so. Plus, I imagine I will be busy, as I seem to have been appointed "point-man".
Much love to you all. The travellers among you should definitely consider Ethiopia in future planning. Liz
Sounds like you are having a fabulous time. I miss you but am happy you have found good coffee to drink. LOL!! I think you should definately go to the Jazz bar so you can tell us all about it. Have fun! happy day.
ReplyDeletelove,
Kim
A note from LizHello everyone:
ReplyDeleteSorry for the mass email, but I just can't seem to stay connected or have a firm enough connection to the blog to get much published. It's pretty hit and miss. If you don't want to read this, please just delete delete delete. I might do a few more mass emails while here, so if you are interested, myabe drop me a line? Feel free to forward if you think there is someone who would be interested.
I was in the middle of a long letter to you extolling the virtues of this wonderful country, when once again the electricy failed and I lost the whole letter. I chuckle at myself, because I always think that I can type quickly and then "beat the odds" and send the letter before I lose it. Somehow, I think this has
an analogy to life, because the inevitable always happens.
Because we are staying in this hotel for such a long time, I am making friends here. The staff is very large--one beautiful young woman whose job it is to dust the leaves of the plants outside, three more who stand at the entrance to open it for us (it's an automatic door) and to find a taxi should we require it, half a dozen who mop the polished granite floors several times a day--and so there are many opportunities to be pleasant and chat every day--the desk clerks, the manager who made my reservations online, the night auditor--whose English is very good. Forming these relationships has brought dividends and we now are recognized and welcomed by name and have been invited to partake of various social activities--one beautiful young woman has invited us to her home for Christmas (which is today, here--the whole of Ethiopia being on a different calendar) for an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, another has asked to take us shopping for authentic Ethiopian handicrafts and clothes, another makes sure to find us each day to wish us well.
The other day when we were shopping in one of the markets, two adolescent Ethiopian girls came in singing Jingle Bells! They've never experienced snow, but have seen it in the movies and thought it was such a jolly song that they wanted to share it.
Ethiopia is an exciting, bustling country, filled with hope for the future and plans for the restoration of their culture. Everywhere you can see people industriously working on whatever they can turn their hands to. Of course, there are many many homeless woman and children, and a few men, begging on the street, but I have seen restaurant owners take food out to the beggar, give them money and water; gas stations open their water taps for the long lines of people to fill their containers.
At the Baha'i Centre, excitement is growing for the upcoming Diamond Jubilee. They have worked so hard, this committee, to put together a wonderful, joyous celebration. Folks are here already from many parts of Africa, from the Holy Land, from the US, Australia and Canada. It is wonderful to see all working together. The importance of including the arts is apparent, too. A choir has been put together of some 35 members for this purpose and they rehearse at the centre every day. The joy of the performers is mirrored on the faces of the hearers. Everyone talks about how wonderful it is to be able to be part of this choir--and they consider that by listening and by prayer they are part, even if not actively participating. It is a joy to see the unity of purpose it brings. There is a "cultural exposition" planned for the Sunday evening, and this is another unexpected high point of the conference. Many people are looking forward to the fashion show of traditional crafts and clothing. One of the local Baha'is here had a knock on his door a few weeks ago and some young people were asking him to contribute money to their cause. He told them that he had something better than money that would be good for them for their whole life. He is teaching them the Faith, and 9 of them, though still wanting to study more before declaring, will come and perform their traditional dance at the Jubilee. Since Ethiopians are not, like other African peoples, know for their dancing or singing, all these things are the cause of great wonder and excitement.
"13 months of sunshine" here they tell me. Today we are going to visit the One Planet school for a BBQ (don't know of what, yet) and see how they function. It is necessary to dress in layers to cover all the variables in the weather--cool in morning and evening, hot in the day and cold at night. Inside the hotel, even without airconditioning it is cool, due to all the polished stone being a good heat insulator plus everything is kept dimly lighted, electricity being as expensive as it is.
So, off we go into our day. Hope to talk to you again soon, but with 50 choir members arriving here tomorrow from the US, I don't know how much internet availability there will be for the next week or so. Plus, I imagine I will be busy, as I seem to have been appointed "point-man".
Much love to you all. The travellers among you should definitely consider Ethiopia in future planning.
Liz