Tarii boru...

In a few days I will find out my site placement and then spend a week there to get acquainted. My host family is concerned about me going to a (more) rural area and not being as comfortable or having the things I need. My host mother is concerned about who will feed me especially since I don't know how to make injera (biddeena). I gently tried to remind her that for most of my life I have not eaten injera with my meals. I hope she is not planning to send me off with a week's supply! They have very sweetly said that they hope my site is close so they can check on me, if not they hope they happen to have relatives near my site so they can take care of me. 

Yesterday I made buna (coffee). I think in one of previous posts I mentioned the important part buna plays in Ethiopian culture. My host parents have been asking me when I'm going to do it for awhile now but it's quite the process and the time just hasn't been right. It's become a joke in the family that I say "tarii boru" (maybe tomorrow) a lot. They ask if I'm going to make coffee after I've been in training all day - I say tarii boru... They really want me to eat a mango but I'm not quite sure my stomach is up for it - I say tarii boru... They really want me to drink a soda but I don't want one and they won't accept no for an answer - I say tarii boru...  Saying 'no' directly is not accepted but using 'maybe tomorrow' has worked well for me! So now whenever I try to say 'no' they say 'tarii boru' and we all laugh. Of course my host sister helped me make buna, I definitely wouldn't have been successful alone. First step is to get the charcoal stove going, next wash the green coffee beans and pick out any of them that are not good. Then roast the beans in a pan over the stove. There is a special way to shake the pan and toss the beans to ensure they roast evenly - I'm not good at it. The sound of the sizzling beans and of course the accompanying aroma is almost worth the effort. Next it's time to grind the beans, this is my favorite part! As you can see from the picture, it means smashing them by hand. A great way to get out any aggression. Then after heating water in the jebena (traditional clay kettle), add the ground coffee and let it steep for a bit. Finally ready to be served! Simply pour into the traditional cups (sini) with a hefty dose of sugar (even if you ask for a little, it's still a lot!). It tasted pretty good, but again I had a lot of guidance from my host mother and sister. 

I live across the street from a hair salon. It's just like you'd imagine. Several darling young women work there and throughout the day other women will stop by sometimes just to chat. Since its just across the street sometimes they call me over to hang out with them or if I'm on my way to or from class they will call out to greet me, I feel like a celebrity!

Last weekend we took a day trip to a resort in Sodere. It involved several hours on a bus but it was nice to see more of the country. It is along a river and there are a lot of monkeys there so that was fun.

Love from Ethiopia!

We are all different, we are all the same

When you are immersed in a culture different from the one you grew up in, you can't help but notice the differences everywhere. Some are more in your face than others. And then something happens that makes you remember that despite our differences we are the same too. A few days ago I learned my cousin died suddenly and unexpectedly. We're the same age. I was able to talk with my parents and was obviously upset but thought I would keep it to myself and not let on to my host family that anything was wrong. Of course my host mother knew something was wrong right away. I could communicate to her that someone had died but that was the extent of my language skills so my little 17yo sister came to fill in the blanks. She has an incredibly big heart inside her little body. She hugged me and cried with me and wiped my tears. Their concern for me is so genuine. They barely know me and don't know my family but of course they know grief and the pull to comfort others is universal. We are all different and yet we are all the same. I can't be close to my family back home right now but I am very well taken care of by my Ethiopian family. But it still feels strange to be far away during a time like this. 

Last week I received a surprise valentine card in the mail (thanks Mom!) and a package that I sent to myself with a lot of help from a dear friend who included a few extra treats - so delightful! 

And everyday I feel thankful for the beauty of my surroundings - the rolling hills with shades of green and brown and the way the sun filters through the clouds at the end of the day is pure magic. 

Love from Ethiopia!

Biddeena making 101 and around the neighborhood...

Today one of my host sisters was making biddeena (injera in Amharic) so she let me watch and learn. (Photos shared with her permission) 

First she prepares the cooking surface by wiping it and coating it with some sort of ground fruit/nut to prevent the biddeena from sticking. Some people have electric injera makers, my family has the real deal. 

Next she expertly (and quickly) pours a measured amount of the teff (a local grain) and water mixture in a circle from the outside to the inside. It's harder than it looks, trust me. 

Then cover it and let it cook for a few minutes. My darling little sister! 

When it's done carefully remove it from the hot surface. My sister would critique nearly each one, telling me if it was too dry, too fat, or if the fire was too hot or cold. I, of course, couldn't tell the difference! But biddeena is a part of every meal so I can understand that it's important to get it right and its a point of pride to do it well.

And voila! Slowly the stack piled up. They tell me this is enough biddeena to last our family for 3 days - seems like a lot to me! Every 3 days they make more. Various vegetables and meats are served on top of a plate of biddeena and it is also used as the utensil to get your meal into your mouth. The darker ones on the bottom are made with a different kind of teff, supposedly more nutritious - and I can tell you it tastes more nutritious if you know what I mean. I prefer the biddeena you see on the top. Oh and the really ugly one on the very top is the one I made, pathetic! But of course my sister was gracious and told me I did a good job. It takes a lot of skill to do it right.

Here is the new baby lamb at our house (about 3 days old); a curious calf; one of about 4 chickens (I've enjoyed eggs for breakfast but there's been no chicken on the menu yet); and our guard dog (he looks slightly cute in this photo but don't let that fool you!)

Beautiful Oromia!

Ciao for now!