My first time in Africa

After an exciting last night in London getting lost and wandering around for hours (but enjoying it), I was far from ready to travel the next evening, and of course lingering jetlag effects did not help.

So I landed down in Addis Ababa in a bit of a zombie state.  "My head hurts....I should grab a seat in this peaceful airport and have a freshly squeezed orange juice."   Fortunately, I arrived midday so I had lots of time to get my bearings.  So I vegged a while and compared the LP map with what I could see from the city-facing windows of the terminal building.  "That road must be this one but what about the other streets I see? "  As oft the case, I found the LP map more confusing than initially helpful.

  After finishing my juice, doing a bit of people watching, I was ready to deal with negotiating a cab. "What!... 70 birr?  I know that is what your book says but how do I know I can trust your book? Ahhhh...ok....you seem like a trusty fellow! :) " 

The weather was sunny and warm but not stifling so I enjoyed the cab ride to the Natanim Guesthouse, a place I had chosen because it was the place of choice for many volunteers.  I had hoped to meet some of them to get some ideas about possible work I might like to do in the future....and I was not disappointed.  However, finding the guesthouse was not exactly the easiest and after lugging around my bag a bit across the street I realized just how hot it can get under an African sun.

  But fortunately, things worked out and it wasn't long before I was unpacking in my room. 

Eventually I decided to check out the area so I left the guesthouse and strolled with a leary eye past the US compound where signs saying "No Photos" were clearly in sight. Too bad because there was some interesting artwork in the same area but no way I wanted my camera confiscated...or worse!  As I wandered, I was surprised by the greetings I received and the smiles.  I soon realized Ethiopians were generally very friendly and I eventually found myself  walking down the street chatting with a local fellow.  Of course the saddest part was the number of beggars I saw who seem scattered along almost every busy road.  Many of the ones I saw were older and it was surprising to me how many local people gave their spare change to the very destitute.  I made a mental note:  "Keep any lose change easily available to give away."  However, late that night as I was buying what I thought were sweet bananas (I discovered otherwise later), I bought extra to handout and these donations were gratefully acccepted.  Interesting was that I went through the philosophcal debate about the negative and positive sides of giving but ultimately decided to "do as the locals do."