Transition, Transition, Transition

The last two weeks have been packed and it feels more like they've been a month! We've left Addis and come to Bahir Dar, which is where we will be for the rest of our time here. The drive was picturesque with lots of trees, flowers and people to watch and enjoy. I love driving through little towns and seeing people live their life. There is such a rhythm to life that is mundane when it's your life, but interesting to an outsider. One of the highlights from the trip was when a young person herding sheep along the road stopped and pulled out his cell phone and took a picture of us. Jeff and I joked that he'd probably post that on facebook or something. Another highlight was seeing a bunch of baboons! I love monkeys and baboons-- as long as they are not too close to me. Apparently there is a monkey that likes to come in the front window of Jeff's parent's place. That would be a little too close for me.

Starting the Friday after we arrived, we began the feasting for Muskel. Muskel is the Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of the finding of the true cross. Jeff's parents are part of a community group (called a mahaber) that got together to eat and enjoy each others company and we were thoroughly welcomed. We sat together under some trees in an area close to everyone's place and watched as the women prepared the injerra and wat. (Wat is the stuff that goes on the injerra.) They slaughtered a sheep on Saturday and Sunday and I got to watch how they prepare the dish. Often, they chop up the intestines and organs really fine and make a dish called dullet, which is a delicacy. I've tried it once and won't be trying it again. :) Part of the Muskel celebration continues each weekend as families take turns preparing meals for everyone. Each week, a different family is responsible for the food. Thankfully, there will be a lot less meat at the next feasts!

It's really interesting to watch the different social practices. For example, the group of us ate our fill and whatever we didn't want, we just left on our plates. A couple young men came and just sat at the edge of our gathering and waited. I don't know if they knew these people or what, but I was told that the men wearing the blankets would eat whatever we didn't. When we were finished, all our leftovers were put into a bag and the men were off.

The social customs here are quite different. In Canada, hanging out with people is fairly informal (at least in my circles) and generally, I don't like to fuss much about making things fancy. Here, following traditions is a matter of honoring others and showing respect and I think I would inadvertently tell people that I didn't respect them if I treated them with the same casualness that I would with close friends.

Jeff and I have moved into our new place. We have a house!! It is two bedroom and as of this weekend, it has running hot and cold water in the kitchen, food in the cupboards, hot and cold water in the shower and the toilet flushes. :) We also have a gas stove that works so I'm ready to start trying my hand at Ethiopian cooking.

I'll give you a bit of a tour of our place and tell you more about it in another post after I have everything settled in and off the dining room table and I actually have food in my cupboards. :) Also, our internet is giving us some grief so I don't have quite the access that I thought I would. Hopefully soon I'll add some pictures.