Meskerem 1 2000
otherwise known as Sept 12th 2007.

Last night I celebrated my second Millennium. I imagine I was not the only one to achieve this but how many of the millions from Diaspora that the Government were hoping to arrive actually did come flocking back I am not quite so sure. With half the celebration events including the only one that I was really interested – the Great Millennium Run, being cancelled or postponed, those who chose to stay away possibly didn’t miss much. In the end I stayed at home and was in bed by ten – disappointing as I had the choice of either a ‘habisha’ party and/or a ‘forenge’ party but having been slowly getting over bronchitis/flu both were beyond me. I gather most of Addis were on the streets, happy, peaceful and in celebratory mood while most forgene, guided by their embassies, stayed away.

I might have got better from the dreaded lurgie a lot quicker if it had not been that there seemed to be a lot of work to do AND I hade to move very suddenly in the middle of last week. I was expecting to have to be out by yesterday, Sept 11th, but the Amharic version of the lease gave a week earlier – whoever wrote it up forgot the five day month they have in Ethiopia! It would have been fine, I was almost packed up, if I had not felt so rough. However a combination of Stef, four runners and Derege (the wonderful VSO driver) came to rescue. My contributions were definitely more of a mental, supervisor type – all the brawn had to come from elsewhere. I am now happily ensconced in Stef’s house and have been well looked after when retiring to bed by 6pm evening after evening. I am also beginning to feel much better, spurred on by the thought of not having to go to the Ministry again before Monday as a result of a last minute but none the less very welcome announcement.

My new home awaits my arrival in early in October. My new landlord has allocated space for Yarid’s house, Yarid’s vegetable plot and my plant pots and table tennis table – what more could a woman want?

As hinted above work is keeping me fully occupied at the moment, World Literacy Day, a workshop to plan for early October and phase 3 of the adult literacy project together with things for the VSO committee and getting drawn into the Gender work of my department – which is, after all, called Gender and Educational equity are all conspiring to keep me busy. All good though. Equally good news is that we seem to be getting towards the end of worst or the rains although the thunder is still rolling above me head as I write.

I have just added a few photos to give you a flavour of the Literacy Project and show you my new hair cut!! The Album is called “Work” summer 2007.