update #1
As weeks go, this past one has been pretty crazy. It’s hard to believe that exactly a week ago, I was at a gang of four concert, and now I’m in addis ababa, Ethiopia. In between, I’ve been to los angeles, back at work in dc, and a nervous wreck for the last few days here because lufthansa lost my luggage the one time I decided not to carry any extra clothing on board with me. It’s all fine now though, as my luggage was located earlier tonight and I went to the airport to go pick it up. Lufthansa also gave me some money to use to clothe myself with, and I am now the proud owner of a pair of knockoff dolce and gabanna jeans. Besides, I said I wanted an Africa experience, and I’m certainly getting one, bugs and all, and I know I’m fucking lucky to even be here in the first place.
On the way here from Frankfurt, I was apparently also on the same flight as kofi annan. Right after the plane landed, the pilot made an announcement saying we would be disembarking in two groups, because the secretary general of the un was on board. I’ve seen many pictures of heads of states exiting airplanes where there’s a red carpet and all rolled out, but this was the first time I actually saw it happen with my eyes. We landed pretty late at night, but there were dozens of people all lined up on the airport runway to greet kofi as he and his massive un delegation walked off the plane. I didn’t actually see him on board, but I can tell you that he flies first class commercial.
So far however, Ethiopia itself has been great. The weather is absolutely beautiful, even though june is supposed to be the rainy season. We haven’t had any rain thus far, just beautiful 75 degree days and slightly cooler nights. The people are also amazingly friendly (and never forget to remind you that they were the only country in Africa never to be colonized, but only occupied by the Italians for four years). Amharic is the official language, but almost everyone I’ve run into knows at least a few words of English, including the taxi drivers (although that could just be a reflection of the types of things I’ve been doing as well). Addis Ababa is also surprisingly safe, especially for a big city in africa, and I haven’t had any problems walking around late at night by myself, or hailing cabs off the street, etc. I studied abroad in college in argentina, and I remember the very first thing the study abroad program told us when we got there was NEVER to hail a taxi by yourself, but to always call for one. not the case in addis. The taxi drivers however aren’t big fans of seat belts, and I actually had one today who wouldn’t let me put mine on because “that’s not the way we do things here”. You do need to bargain over the price of everything however. In general, Addis is just a really lively city, with people, street vendors, and life on the street at all hours.
On the way here from Frankfurt, I was apparently also on the same flight as kofi annan. Right after the plane landed, the pilot made an announcement saying we would be disembarking in two groups, because the secretary general of the un was on board. I’ve seen many pictures of heads of states exiting airplanes where there’s a red carpet and all rolled out, but this was the first time I actually saw it happen with my eyes. We landed pretty late at night, but there were dozens of people all lined up on the airport runway to greet kofi as he and his massive un delegation walked off the plane. I didn’t actually see him on board, but I can tell you that he flies first class commercial.
So far however, Ethiopia itself has been great. The weather is absolutely beautiful, even though june is supposed to be the rainy season. We haven’t had any rain thus far, just beautiful 75 degree days and slightly cooler nights. The people are also amazingly friendly (and never forget to remind you that they were the only country in Africa never to be colonized, but only occupied by the Italians for four years). Amharic is the official language, but almost everyone I’ve run into knows at least a few words of English, including the taxi drivers (although that could just be a reflection of the types of things I’ve been doing as well). Addis Ababa is also surprisingly safe, especially for a big city in africa, and I haven’t had any problems walking around late at night by myself, or hailing cabs off the street, etc. I studied abroad in college in argentina, and I remember the very first thing the study abroad program told us when we got there was NEVER to hail a taxi by yourself, but to always call for one. not the case in addis. The taxi drivers however aren’t big fans of seat belts, and I actually had one today who wouldn’t let me put mine on because “that’s not the way we do things here”. You do need to bargain over the price of everything however. In general, Addis is just a really lively city, with people, street vendors, and life on the street at all hours.
posted by shesbitter at 12:21 AM
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