Time in Ethiopia

For the first time since I started this blog, I have left it for more than three months...

So sorry, but I had never experienced a period of time so busy...

Today's blog, I recap my time in Ethiopia since my colleague's wedding and a weekend trip to Lake Langano.

In terms of work, firstly, it was very challenging because I could not gather the information needed for my biggest task...

However, thanks to my bosses and colleagues, I could visit 6 districts in 3 regions and leave some outcomes by the end of my three month internship.

I have earned not only further knowledge and experience in the domain of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) but also great experience with local people who are so generous that they let an Asian stranger to look at the toilets and water storage at their place.

Homemade shower (He does not take shower like this everyday, this was just demonstration...)

For the WASH facility observation, we went into people's yard and field (of course with them or with their permission)

Very powerful and kind women in a village.

I loved the old lady left side of me with her big smile and her great hospitality.

Kids probably from South Sudan in a village close to the border with the country (South Sudanese usually have much darker skin than Ethiopian)

Kids playing at school in the afternoon when there is no class for them (double shift for younger grade and older grade in one day)

 Highlands in this country are often located over 2000m altitude.

I think the roads are in general in better condition in Ethiopia than Burkina.

In one region, goats have their own house while in another, cows sleep in the same house as their owners.

I presented what I learned and produced at the end of my internship in front of my bosses and colleagues in WASH team at UNICEF Ethiopia.

After that, they offered me a huge chocolate cake and a traditional shawl.

I also enjoyed my private time with my roommates and friends at capital.

We went out almost every weekend to eat, drink, dance and watch European champions league...

Local alcohol (not really my cup of tea...) at a Ethiopian restaurant.

With traditional dance and music

On the way of hiking to the top of a hill where the capital Addis Ababa started originally. (quite good exercise to walk up for poorly trained foreigners for highlands lol)

Then the thing that I always do in a new country is to try local drink and food (culture).

Like tea in the UK and green tea in Japan, in Ethiopia, many people drink coffee (called Buna in Amhalic) after meal.

In my house, there was a 3D picture hung on a wall.

Local wine (not bad but funny to see it in a beer bottle)

Grilled or fried beef (called Tips/Tups) with spicy sauce and bread or Injera.

Fresh and very rich juice (from the top, mango, papaya, avocado and mango).

DELICIOUS!!!

A sort of crepe that especially Muslims eat often for their breakfast with honey.

They can be served in two ways: One as an entire crepe, another cut in small pieces and put in a ball.

The locals add scramble eggs in it (too much for me...)

I really appreciate Japanese Committee for UNICEF for giving me such a great opportunity .

A brief report on my experience in Ethiopia will be uploaded very soon on the website of the Committee. If you are interested, please check it out although it will be in Japanese.