Home Sweet Home; Kas ba Kas

Home Sweet Home, Kas ba Kas

Note: I might suggest a cup of coffee (bunna) to help you get through this blog; sorry it is a bit lengthy; too much to say!  Sorry about my lack of communication; internet/wifi is virtually nonexistent except at one hotel, but it doesn’t work there because everyone tries to use it/bombards it…. Que sera, sera….

To start off with two highlights from yesterday; lunch with my host family was delicious; injera with shiro wot (chickpea stew), siga wot (meat stew), and atkilt (potatoes, carrots, onions).  During lunch, the song Gangham Style, Ethiopian version in Amharic, came on the TV. My entire family proceeded to start doing the dance.; yes THE dance as in PSY.  I learned that my Dad used to be a professional dancer and he showed me some moves and was thoroughly excited as I tried to mimic them!  Dinner was equally a good time, as I “Gorsha-ed” aka fed each of my family members and two Ethiopian friends injera and shiro wot, using only my right hand.  It is very hard to gather injera and wot (stew) and make it into a neat mouthful of food using only one’s right hand, and then gracefully place it in each person’s mouth (all the while not spilling the liquid stew on them or you!).  After a few times I started to get the hang of it, but my family and I definitely all got quite the kick out of it!  Gorsha is frequently done in homes, between friends and family!

I have been in Butajira for about six days now, and already I feel so at home.  My host family is truly wonderful, and from the first day and first moment, they opened their home, heart and arms to me.  As someone who is independent and likes feeling self-sufficient, it has been hard to have people constantly cooking and cleaning for me, serving me, and always asking and making sure I have everything I need.  This is complicated by the fact that because of the language barrier I feel I can’t truly express my gratitude. However, I help out when I can, by stirring shiro wot, chopping onions, grinding coffee by hand, sorting grains, watering plants, and helping my sister with her studying.  Powerful bonding experiences that can be done even with the language barrier.  The smile on my parents face when I see something I can help with and proceed to do so, such as walking around to each family member with the hand-washing bowl before a meal is priceless.  They shout “Gobez!!!” with gusto!

Grinding coffee (buna) by hand with my sister! (It is quite the arm workout and requires a lot
of coordination and concentration!

The first Saturday morning in Butajira went as follows; while my host Dad did the laundry, beneath the three huge avocado trees (Dad in the U.S.; you would be very impressed with these shade trees! To get any sun we have to go out the front gate into the dirt path/street! Maybe it has something to do with the fact that both of your names start with Z!), my host brother and sister were helping to run the store that my family owns where they sell practically everything- from vegetables and eggs to coal and combs.  My mom was in the front of the house under the avocado trees cooking all morning starting at 3 am (which is really 9, because Ethiopian time adds 6 hours to US time.. to add to the confusion that is in place since it currently is 2007 here).. My mom made 100+ injera, and does every day; some are for us to eat and some are to sell at the store.  Fresh, hot-off-the press injera with Ethiopian spices sprinkled on for a snack , shared with my sister after class/school is beyond delicious and is something I won’t forget.

As the youngest of four children growing up in the states, it has been a great and new experience to now be the oldest of four kids (my siblings are 15, 10, and 9 months). Although I’m the oldest child in my Ethiopian family, I feel as if I’m the youngest because of how nurtured and cared for I am. They cook and serve me meals, help hang my mosquito net, and make sure I always have enough to eat and drink.   Through my sister as a translator, my parents always are asking me if I want more bread or injera, if I want coffee, if my water filter is working, etc..

My two brothers are always smiling and make each day a great adventure!

Connecting with each of my family members and making jokes together has been very special and fun; there is something wonderful about finding the connection of laughter and humor across languages and cultures.  Example: my host sister was translating something my mom said to me (because my sister is the only one who speaks English in my house), and it translated as “Hanny (what my host family calls me) is your coffee fat?”  My sister and I looked at each other and were laughing so hard, and as it was translated back to my mom, she joined in the laughter! Turns out what was lost in translation was this questions “Hanny is your coffee strong?”  Speaking of that, if you followed my suggestion at the beginning of the blog and have a cup of coffee; is it fat? 

A typical day in PST (Pre-Service Training):

• ·      Wake up at 6 am
• ·      Go for a run (running among an African sunset is magical)
• ·      Take an ice cold (I mean ice cold) shower in the shint bet (the bathroom- aka a 3 inch by 3 inch hole in the ground).  My language teacher (who is PRO, says that after a few months I will prefer a cold shower… I’ll keep you posted on that front..)
• ·      Eat a delicious and fresh breakfast; based on the day it will be dabbo (bread) with peanut butter and banana, egg fir fir (various veggies and eggs mixed up) with injera, or injera fir fir (Ethiopian spices mixed with injera), and shai (tea)
• ·      Walk to language class right around the corner from my house, which lasts between 4 hours.
• ·      Lunch break at home, followed by a bunna (coffee) ceremony; 3 small cups of strong coffee with sugar, carefully prepared.  This is a huge and very important part of the Ethiopian culture
• ·      4 hours of class related to health topics
• ·      Walk home from 5:30 to 6 pm, where there is an hour before it gets dark
• ·      Homework time, play games (cards, drawing, rock paper scissors) with my brother, help my sister at the shop and to take care of my baby brother, talk with family and help with chores
• ·      We eat dinner around 9 pm as a family (and sometimes friends/neighbors join, as a very important and prominent part of the Ehtiopian culture is sharing). Enibla: “let’s eat” is frequently heard!  They are so open and welcoming and inviting!  I think I am slowly getting the hang of eating using only my right hand and no utensils!  Some remnants have been dropped in my scarf, but my Dad looks at me and says “Chigger yeullum!” aka “No problem!”
• ·      To wrap up the evening I do some yoga, journaling, and then brush my teeth and wash my face in a bucket in my which I then dump outside on the cement.

Slowly but surely I have found a routine, and could not be happier.  I know these next few weeks will be exhausting and packed very full, but learning more and more about the Ethiopian culture is so rewarding and eye opening, and it has only been 2 weeks! I am excited to learn more Amharic so that I can be able to communicate more with my family and integrate further. As they say in Ethiopia; kas ba kas (little by little)…