Still no active phone line. We visited the phone people to check on progress on fixing our line. We were reassured they would fix it soon. When we asked if they knew when somebody would come round the response was “no”. OK, can’t argue with that.
During one of our pre-departure VSO training courses we had to consider what our “bottom line” issues were when considering a placement. I was quite happy to live in primitive conditions in a mudhut in the middle of nowhere provided I could have easy contact with home, principally email (not likely from a rural mudhut but you never know…). Not so long ago, internet access simply wasn’t an option for most VSO placements. Now almost all vols have internet access, either at home, work or internet cafes. Even in Awassa there are at least two internet cafes. Here I am in one of the poorest countries in the world and I’ve become used to having a laptop and being able to do internet stuff on demand! I’m going to struggle if (when?!) our laptop dies. The dust in many Ethiopian towns is a known laptop killer. Sometimes knowing I can be in contact is at least as important as actually being in contact. I rely on having contact to help me deal with being here. Although our dead line might just be a temporary glitch, I don’t like the vulnerable feelings that go with being cut off.
In the meantime I am busy being a working person again and we are perhaps settling into a steady routine. My Higher Diploma group consist of 27 teacher educators. Unfortuantely only two are women, although between Gill and I we are training most of the female teacher trainers in the college (6 out of 120). We still meet with the other vols on Wed and Fri nights. I’ve become addicted to a sort-of spicy lentil paste eaten with bread.
Some people here are very efficient. Fasil, the most extraordinarily wonderful landlord on the planet, went to all the trouble of buying a new voltage surge protector for us. 220 birr was the best price he could get for a decent one. Nothing is too much trouble for him. He is much more willing and ready to put himself out for other people than I usually am. I have a lot to learn.
Gill asked a seemingly innocent question about why the voltage stabiliser burned out when I plugged the iron into it. Little did she suspect the extent of the physics lesson about to be unleashed. She handled voltage, current, power, atomic structure, resistance and transformers with an impressive determination and stoicism. After some time we successfully used physics to prove that I had been a complete idiot plugging a 1800W device into a 500W-rated stabiliser. The power of physics!
The BBC World Service is lifeline. Through it, we have heard about the worsening drought in the SE of the country and along the border with Kenya. It sounds bad and is taking place only 150 miles or so to the south of Awassa. Food here in the town is as abundant as always and yet people are starting to die a few hours drive away.
The two VSO vols in Dilla (30 miles to the south of us) were evacuated to Addis on Thursday. Two people were shot dead and several houses were burned. I think it is about another ethnic group demanding their own region, having been inspired by the Sidama people who are demanding a region of their own. There’s no sign of trouble here although we are still officially on Yellow Alert.
During one of our pre-departure VSO training courses we had to consider what our “bottom line” issues were when considering a placement. I was quite happy to live in primitive conditions in a mudhut in the middle of nowhere provided I could have easy contact with home, principally email (not likely from a rural mudhut but you never know…). Not so long ago, internet access simply wasn’t an option for most VSO placements. Now almost all vols have internet access, either at home, work or internet cafes. Even in Awassa there are at least two internet cafes. Here I am in one of the poorest countries in the world and I’ve become used to having a laptop and being able to do internet stuff on demand! I’m going to struggle if (when?!) our laptop dies. The dust in many Ethiopian towns is a known laptop killer. Sometimes knowing I can be in contact is at least as important as actually being in contact. I rely on having contact to help me deal with being here. Although our dead line might just be a temporary glitch, I don’t like the vulnerable feelings that go with being cut off.
In the meantime I am busy being a working person again and we are perhaps settling into a steady routine. My Higher Diploma group consist of 27 teacher educators. Unfortuantely only two are women, although between Gill and I we are training most of the female teacher trainers in the college (6 out of 120). We still meet with the other vols on Wed and Fri nights. I’ve become addicted to a sort-of spicy lentil paste eaten with bread.
Some people here are very efficient. Fasil, the most extraordinarily wonderful landlord on the planet, went to all the trouble of buying a new voltage surge protector for us. 220 birr was the best price he could get for a decent one. Nothing is too much trouble for him. He is much more willing and ready to put himself out for other people than I usually am. I have a lot to learn.
Gill asked a seemingly innocent question about why the voltage stabiliser burned out when I plugged the iron into it. Little did she suspect the extent of the physics lesson about to be unleashed. She handled voltage, current, power, atomic structure, resistance and transformers with an impressive determination and stoicism. After some time we successfully used physics to prove that I had been a complete idiot plugging a 1800W device into a 500W-rated stabiliser. The power of physics!
The BBC World Service is lifeline. Through it, we have heard about the worsening drought in the SE of the country and along the border with Kenya. It sounds bad and is taking place only 150 miles or so to the south of Awassa. Food here in the town is as abundant as always and yet people are starting to die a few hours drive away.
The two VSO vols in Dilla (30 miles to the south of us) were evacuated to Addis on Thursday. Two people were shot dead and several houses were burned. I think it is about another ethnic group demanding their own region, having been inspired by the Sidama people who are demanding a region of their own. There’s no sign of trouble here although we are still officially on Yellow Alert.
posted by Michael at 17:22
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