Timket

Well, it’s the eve of Timket and we’re in for a night full of banging drums, traditional chants, hooting, hollering and a vuvuzela sounding horn. Max and I woke up and ran on the track at Gonder University. We got to four laps before keeling over and actually felt good about it since last time that came after 3. We walked to the clinic and finished up a project we’re working on. We’re analyzing the month of October last year and how many patients visited, how many returned more than once and why. The numbers of patients at the clinic should be decreasing as more Ethiopian Jews depart for Israel but we noticed that the number of visits remains about the same. Anyway, it ended up being a bigger undertaking than we expected….you think your Doctor’s handwriting is bad in America, wait until you’re reading it from someone whose first language uses a different alphabet. We created a few new words to add to the list of diagnosis but we’re still working on the important part and will be done soon.

This past week a group from the University of Maryland visited. It was an Alternative Break trip for 20 university students. Turned out being 17 ladies and 3 men, great odds (Evan, you’re a great trip leader..hint, hint, nudge, nudge). It was a truly great group of people. So eager to learn, get their hands dirty, full of energy and asked thought provoking questions. We spent three days with the group doing hard labor and constructing a school nearby the Falasha Mura village in Wollej. The progress was remarkable, the library had four walls by the time of our departure. Every person raised their hand when we asked if they’d be interested in the Jewish Service Corps in the future. They were so intrigued by what Max and I are doing here, it is very refreshing to be reminded of our impact on the Ethiopian community. They also were very generous to donate whatever leftovers they had at the end of our trip and we are happy to have a fully stocked snack drawer. We were able to donate all of their clothing and shoes to our guards, housemaid and driver. Our guard was near tears, he couldn’t stop thanking us for his new pair of sneakers and he was so happy to have something for his three daughters. Our driver went home to drop off his bag of goodies and when we saw him next he was completely outfitted in new hand-me-downs, head to toe! A little bit can go a long way and when Max and I depart we’ll be sure to leave our “extras” after seeing how grateful someone can be over a used pair of sneakers!

Next week our students take their finals for the first semester. I can’t believe it will be second semester when we return to class! The week after their finals is a semester break. Therefore, Max and I were able to book a flight to Axum on Monday and Lalibela on Wednesday, we will spend two nights in each and return Friday morning. We will be in Gondar for a Federation group from New York’s visit and then depart for a weekend in Addis Ababa. Looking forward to faster Internet and some alternatives to Ethiopian cuisine!

I was reminded today of a visit we took to a hand dug well in rural Gondar, Azaycaw. The mother, elder Ethiopian women are referred to as “mother”, squeezed my boob and asked, “how many baby?” I thought that was worth sharing. Today, we were sitting at Fasilides baths which are now full to the brim in preparation for the Timket celebration tomorrow when priests bless the water and everyone jumps in. A young girl sat next to me and asked my name, as other white visitors passed by she asked what their names were too. I told her I didn’t know them. She gave me the most confused look. Hated to disappoint her, I know we’re all white but sorry, I don’t know their names. They weren’t even speaking English. Lots of visitors in town so we aren’t the only ferenji! Max made an interesting point last week, no matter how long we stay here or how hard we try to make Gondar our home or how many children of the community we teach, we’ll never be treated like locals, we are just too white for that.

Will be sure to add photos after tomorrow's festivities!