This morning we loaded our suitcases onto the bus while it was still dark- we headed out of town a bit behind schedule but still beat the rush hour traffic. Before we knew it our bus was taking us through an incredibly scenic drive in the Blue Nile Gorge. For more than a million years the Blue Nile has been carving a huge gash through the Ethiopian Highlands.
At more than 1,000m deep, about 20km wide and over 600km long, this is Africa’s Grand Canyon. From all over the highlands, huge rivers pour into the Blue Nile Gorge. By the time it leaves Ethiopia, it will be 50 times the size it was in the dry season. The fields around us are the proverbial green patchwork of Ethiopia’s popular cereal crop tef, yellow ground nut flowers and ploughed fields. In spite of the long drive we are captivated by the scenes outside our windows and the never-ending line of people walking to schools, markets or the fields.
It’s becoming a bit cliché for us, but it seems like every day here is uniquely incredible. We use the word often. This particular incredible day began with a visit to a nearby reading room. As is becoming the norm we were greeted by a group of enthusiastic children wearing mismatched clothes and the biggest grins you’ve ever seen. On our way back to town we were invited to join in on a women's millennium celebration. Several hundred women were in attendance - most draped in white cotton dresses and shawls.
We arrived in time for the coffee ceremony (our third one!) and enjoyed rich dark coffee heavily laced with cinnamon and accompanied by fresh bread and popcorn. We were entertained by beautiful dances. The women in our group jumped on stage and together we took a shot at gyrating our shoulders.
Ethiopian dance is hard to explain in words, it involves rotating and bouncing various shoulder and neck muscles in a rhythmic way we couldn’t possibly mimic correctly. This type of dancing has been around for centuries and is as prominent in popular urban clubs as it is in cultural dance shows. I don’t think we looked quite as elegant as our Ethiopian counterparts, but the audience cheered us on with great whoops and applause.
The energy and drive of these women conjured that old adage “educate a woman, educate a nation.” I was inspired to share this thought and gave a small speech as a thank you. The response goes down as another incredible moment in an incredible day. After the celebration we shared a delicious meal of tebs and njera (traditional pancake and meat stew) and met with local children’s authors. We finished it all off with a relaxing cruise on Lake Tana’s calm blue water.
Tomorrow we pile back into our bus for a full-day drive to Lalibella. Pictures coming soon.
Ann
About CODE
We believe when a child can read, they can learn to do anything.
For nearly 50 years we have been working with partners in the developing world to build literacy. To find out more visit http://www.codecan.org/.
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For nearly 50 years we have been working with partners in the developing world to build literacy. To find out more visit http://www.codecan.org/.
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Our Itinerary:
Nov 9-10/07: Travel from Canada to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Airport pickup by Timeless Tours.
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Nov 11/07: Free morning, wake up to a rich Ethiopian coffee and soak up the atmosphere. In the afternoon enjoy a guided tour of Ethiopia's capital city Addis Ababa, which means "New Flower" in Amharic. Attend a reception with CODE Ethiopia Board of Directors who are leaders in the world of education.
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Nov 12/07: Visit CODE's warehouse in Addis Ababa. See how locally published and donated books are distributed and catalogued. In the afternoon, visit Lidetta Reading Room and see what children are learning through CODE's work. In the evening enjoy free time in Addis Ababa.
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Nov 13/07: Spend the morning at Addis Alem reading room, which has just moved to a new location. Learn how an established library of its size has changed the community. Eat traditional Ethiopian food for lunch and spend the afternoon at Holletta Reading Room, where representatives of the Women's Affairs Office and director of the school will share their stories.
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Nov 14/07: Depart early in the morning for a day of overland travels through windy roads and past small towns to Bahir Dar.
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Nov 15/07: Visit Addis Zemen Reading Room and meet a local education officer who works with school children in the area. Take a boat tour across the majestic and mysterious Lake Tana, one of the fabled sources of the Nile. See the famous Blue Nile Falls and explore some of the area's ancient churches and monasteries. Meet an author who has been working on developing some children's books.
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Nov 16/07: Drive north through the Simean Mountains to Lalibela. In Lalibela meet community leaders who will share their thoughts on the role of education, tourism and the future of their country.
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Nov17/07: Of Lalibela's 9,000 people, more than 1,000 are priests. Take this day to explore some of the world's most astounding sacred sites: 11 rock-hewn churches, each carved entirely out of a single block of granite with its roof at ground level.
Nov 18/07: Watch as farmers from surrounding towns come to Lalibela's vibrant weekend market. Finish the day off with a glass of tej, Ethiopia's famous honey wine.
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Nov 19/07: Return to Addis Ababa for a day of souvenir shopping and an evening of cultural dancing. Watch a traditional coffee ceremony, where raw coffee beans are roasted and brewed right in front of you. But remember - it is impolite to retire until you have consumed at least three cups, as the third round is considered to bestow a blessing.
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Nov 20/07: De-brief with CODE Ethiopia staff, reflect on the trip and prepare for return home.
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Nov 21/07: Return home to Canada
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Nov 11/07: Free morning, wake up to a rich Ethiopian coffee and soak up the atmosphere. In the afternoon enjoy a guided tour of Ethiopia's capital city Addis Ababa, which means "New Flower" in Amharic. Attend a reception with CODE Ethiopia Board of Directors who are leaders in the world of education.
.
Nov 12/07: Visit CODE's warehouse in Addis Ababa. See how locally published and donated books are distributed and catalogued. In the afternoon, visit Lidetta Reading Room and see what children are learning through CODE's work. In the evening enjoy free time in Addis Ababa.
.
Nov 13/07: Spend the morning at Addis Alem reading room, which has just moved to a new location. Learn how an established library of its size has changed the community. Eat traditional Ethiopian food for lunch and spend the afternoon at Holletta Reading Room, where representatives of the Women's Affairs Office and director of the school will share their stories.
.
Nov 14/07: Depart early in the morning for a day of overland travels through windy roads and past small towns to Bahir Dar.
.
Nov 15/07: Visit Addis Zemen Reading Room and meet a local education officer who works with school children in the area. Take a boat tour across the majestic and mysterious Lake Tana, one of the fabled sources of the Nile. See the famous Blue Nile Falls and explore some of the area's ancient churches and monasteries. Meet an author who has been working on developing some children's books.
.
Nov 16/07: Drive north through the Simean Mountains to Lalibela. In Lalibela meet community leaders who will share their thoughts on the role of education, tourism and the future of their country.
.
Nov17/07: Of Lalibela's 9,000 people, more than 1,000 are priests. Take this day to explore some of the world's most astounding sacred sites: 11 rock-hewn churches, each carved entirely out of a single block of granite with its roof at ground level.
Nov 18/07: Watch as farmers from surrounding towns come to Lalibela's vibrant weekend market. Finish the day off with a glass of tej, Ethiopia's famous honey wine.
.
Nov 19/07: Return to Addis Ababa for a day of souvenir shopping and an evening of cultural dancing. Watch a traditional coffee ceremony, where raw coffee beans are roasted and brewed right in front of you. But remember - it is impolite to retire until you have consumed at least three cups, as the third round is considered to bestow a blessing.
.
Nov 20/07: De-brief with CODE Ethiopia staff, reflect on the trip and prepare for return home.
.
Nov 21/07: Return home to Canada
1 comment:
Your trip really does sound uniquely incredible - thanks for keeping those blog entries coming. Can't wait to see photos of Lalibella, as well as to read the group's impressions of the sacred site.
Keep well.
-Aline in Ottawa
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