Images from life in Iteya, Ethiopia

Life is a series of moments.  In an effort to give you a bit of a sense of what mine is like here I offer these photos and a bit of commentary.

A field behind my house. This region in Ethiopia is prime wheat producing farm land.

Parent/farmers cooperatively preparing land for planting wheat.  The property belongs to the school - harvests support the school. 

Much, but not all, of the farming is still done in this way.  Harvesting may be mechanized or might be done by hand with a scythe.  It is not at all uncommon to see animals threshing the grain.

Children:  Some of the most touching aspects of life here are experiences with children.   Most all of them are open and delightfully eager to connect.  The young boy in the bottom photo is named Obama. Folks here are delighted with our President, children, buses, trucks and businesses carry his name.  

Kids ingeniously make their own toys

This little guy was given the name: Obama.

This is Mita.  She lives in my compound.

                                                                                                                                                                                              And speaking of children, on a recent visit to Jawi Guticha,  a rural village 8-10 kilometers from Iteya  I was hosted by Haji Adam Kimo.  Haji Adam has two wives and 25 children.  Pictured here are some of his daughters and in the next photo his sons. 

Haji Adam's house

The women preparing a coffee ceremony

Some of Haji Adam's sons

                                                                                    

One of the four computer rooms the project equiped.

The topic of children brings to mind the studens at Iteya’s High School and the computer project I helped implement there.
When I arrived in Iteya in December, 2011 there were only  20+ computers for the 2,500 students.  One student would sit at a terminal and 6-8 students would sit behind observing. They would switch periodically and that was their computer training.  Now there are 100 work stations. Big thank you to Mark Gelfand and Eyoel Hailu who made this project possible. 

Market Road before trees were planted.

Another amazing project was implemented when I discovered that the city had a plan to plant trees in the median of some streets.  With the help of the mayor, Mr. Musa, we formed a committee.  That committee inspired citizens and businesses to donate 6,000 Ethopian Birr ($335 US) to fund the project.  The city then chipped in some funds and presto change-o trees with their protective cages (browsing goats and sheep) were planted along 300 yards of city streets! 

Trees planted in the median of the road.
Cages are protecting them from browsing goats & sheep.

The really cool part of both of these projects was the excitement they raised in the people.  They are very big on “seeing is believing”.  Seeing change is a BIG deal here in rural Ethiopia.

 A project that I hoped to undertake but then realized I don’t have the time or resources for is establishing a waste management system.  There is none here.  Letting this project go was disappointing for me and the city officials.  I have realized in the 16 months I have been here – change takes time.  Best to take small doable steps on projects important to them, not my good ideas.

To wrap this commentary up here are some typical sceens from my life here:

My tailor.  I have had the knees of my jeans repaired a number of times by this man.  Reasonable fee too, only about 10 birr. (50 US cents)

 My tire went flat, inner tube needed repair.  The repair took 15 minutes and cost 3 Birr, that is less than 20 cents in the US.

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·          Since arriving in Ethiopia I lost 20 pounds.  I don’t care for most  Ethiopian cooking. I do enjoy a few dishes, Tagabino, similar to refried beans with garlic, onion and chili pepper, is one that I enjoy.  Across the table you see spaghetti, another meal to my liking if they don’t use butter.  Ethiopian butter usually tastes rancid to me.

·         The Animal Market is held every Monday.  Farmers buy and sell at this Stock Market.  It’s not Wall Street but I imagine some good deals could be had here. ;-)

·         In Ethiopian culture we men hold hands to express our love of one another.  You’ll see men and boys, young and old holding hands as they walk together.  But . . . being homosexual is punishable by death.  (Really!)

Let me hear from you and I’ll reply in my next blog.

Life is good!  Blessings,

Dex