Training, Teaching, Making, Walking and Wedding

Wed: Me and my counterpart did some more training at the second nearest school. It went well, although my counterpart’s translations seemed to be about three times longer than what I said, so I don’t know what extra he was telling them. The teachers all want to try using the count-stick and number fans which is excellent. We’ll go and observe soon.

Thu: I again taught at the local school for an hour and a quarter. It was fun. I recorded them singing “London’s burning” as they are gradually coming along. I also started to teach them “Frére Jacques” to see if French is any easier for them, and continued teaching some English.

Fri: I have trained some of the college students to make number fans for the cluster schools. Initially my target is 100 fans for each school (1000 in total.) During the day we made 300 fans! Lots of the students wanted to take materials home over the weekend to continue working, so we should have a lot more on Monday.

Sat: I went for a long walk. I was planning to get the bus to go to Kar ridge (about 16km to the South East) (those mountains you can see in the distance in some of my photos) as I have found what looks to be a fairly easy route up there on the map. As there was no bus in town, I walked towards Mandura along the road, hoping to flag down a bus if it came. In the end after about 6km (1h30) and no bus, there was a small ridge which I spent a while at sitting and looking at the view with no people! It’s very difficult finding anywhere here with no people, especially at home. On the way, I had passed a lot of people carrying stuff towards Gilgel who wondered what I was doing and why I didn’t have a car! The temperature reached 32C this afternoon. Apparently it’s only going to get hotter and drier.

Sun: I had been invited to a wedding by the director of the local primary school and at 6 (noon) I finally managed to find the place. There was lots of drumming and chanting-singing with repeats from the audience and clapping. There was loads of Tela (the local home-brew which tastes like dried twigs and mud with alcohol) I got out of it this time by saying “yellum alcohol” (no alcohol) which is actually true of me in the UK. Also I had injera, potatoes and meat. There were some speeches, but only the close family gathered around and could hear it. Then more drumming and singing and the party led out to a bus where apparently they go round the village drumming and singing and then go to the groom’s family’s house for more of the same. I found out eventually that they had actually been married yesterday. I escaped after two and three quarter hours. It was interesting, but I don’t usually like social gatherings in the UK so it wasn’t any better here. I viewed it more like a scientific investigation. I’m also a bit depressed at the moment which doesn’t help – it might be the lack of personal space and privacy – little irritations like food, missing home and the sea. Not sure, but I’m sure I’ll get over it again.

Food

One of the things I thought wouldn’t be a problem is food, but not trusting the local food, only rarely being able to get eggs from the market, my diet is somewhat limited. My restocking at Bahir Dar is dwindling already. I seem to be mostly having porridge (with milk powder and honey or sugar), Tuna and potatoes, Tuna pancakes and today, tuna and beans. Tuna was the only tinned “meat” I could get at Bahir Dar, so I’ll have to wait for Addis to get more Franks, luncheon meat and corned beef. I also am running out of Instant Noodles!