የሳምንቱ ግብዣዬ

እጅግ የተከበሩ ማስተር አርቲስት የዓለም ሎሬት አፈወርቅ ተክሌ በኮንግረስ ቤተመጻሕፍት፣ አሜሪካ፣ ያደረጉት ንግግር

ዶክተር ፔጊ ተርልስቲን፣ በቤተመጻሕፍቱ የአፍሪካና መካከለኛው ምስራቅ ክፍል የሂብሩ ክፍል ኃላፊ የመክፈቻ ንግግር አደረጉ፡፡ የኢትዮጵያን አምባሳደር ዶክተር ሳሙኤል አሰፋንም ለዝግጅቱ ስላደረጉላቸው ትብብር አመሰገኑ፡፡

የቤተመጻሕፍቱ ሰራተኛ አቶ ፋንታሁን ጥሩነህ አርቲስቱን አስተዋወቀ፡፡

እርሳቸውን ለመጀመሪያ ጊዜ በአካል ማግኘቱ እንዳስደሰተው ገልጾ  በእርሱ እድሜ ላሉ ኢትዮጵያውያን የኩራት ምንጭ መሆናቸውን አስረዳ፡፡  ‹‹የዚህም ምክንያቱ አርቲስቱ የልዕልና፣ የታማኝነት፣ የስራና የሀገር ፍቅርን ችቦ በማውለብለብ የተነሳሽነት ምንጭ መሆናቸው መሆኑን አከለበት፡፡ ፈንታሁን ሲቀጥል ‹‹ለዚህም ሁሉ ከአርቲስቱ ሕይወት በላይ ምስክር የለም፡፡ በተወለደበት አገር ያልተወሰነው ህይወቱ በዓለም ዙሪያ ባሉ የመገናኛ ብዙሃን የተነገረና የዓለም ሎሬት ያስባለው ነው፡፡ ቀጥሎ አጭር ግን የማይመጥነውን የሕይወቱን መግቢያ አቀርባለሁ›› ሲል ቀጠለ፡፡

‹‹አፈወርቅ በአንኮበር፣ ኢትዮጵያ፣ በ1932 ተወልዶ በሁለተኛው የዓለም ጦርነት በኢጣሊያ አገዛዝ ስር አደገ፡፡  ከነጻነት በኋላ በ1947 የማዕድን ማውጣት ምህንድስና ለማጥናት ወደ እንግሊዝ አገር ተጓዘ፡፡ ይሁን እንጂ ለጥበብ በነበረው መሰጠት ምክንያት በለንደን ያለውን የጥበብና ቀረጻ ትምህርት ቤት ተቀላቀለ፡፡ ስዕል፣ ቅርጻቅርጽና አርክቴክቸር የተማረበትን የስሌይድ ትምህርት ቤት ሲቀላቀል የመጀመሪያው አፍሪካዊ ተማሪ ነበር፡፡ ወደ አገሩ ከተመለሰም በኋላ የአገሩን ባህልና ጥበብ ለማጥናትና በጥበብ ስራዎቹ ለማንጸባረቅ የትውልድ አገሩን ክፍላተ-ሀገራት ዞረ፡፡ በ1954 በአዲስ አበባ የብቻውን ትዕይንት አሳይቶ ሲያበቃ አውሮፓን ለሁለት ዓመታትተዟዙሮ የመስታወት ላይ ስዕል አሰራርን ለማጥናት የሚያስችለውን ገንዘብ አገኘ፡፡ በእንግሊዙ ብሪቲሽ ቤተመጻሕፍት፣ በፈረንሳዩ ቢብሎቴክ ናትሲዮናልና በጣሊያኑ ቫቲካን አብያተመጻሕፍት ስለኢትዮጵያ የድርሳን ውስጥ ስዕሎች ላይ ጥናት አደረገ፡፡ በ1958 አፈወርቅ በአፍሪካ አዳራሽ (በአፍሪካ የምጣኔሃብት ኮሚሽን) ያለውን የመስኮት ላይ ድንቅ የመስታወት ስዕል ሰራ፡፡ ሦስቱ መስታወቶች 150 ስኩየር ሜትር ሲሸፍኑ፣ አፍሪካ ያሳለፈችውን ሰቆቃ፣ የወቅቱን የነጻነት ትግልና የወደፊቱን ተስፋ ያሳያሉ፡፡ በ1964 አፈወርቅ የኃይለስላሴ ሽልማት የስዕልና ቅርጻቅርጽ የመጀመሪያው ሎሬት ሆነ፡፡ በውጭ አገራት ዝናው እየናኘ ሲመጣ በሞስኮ አውደ-ርዕይ አሳይቶ፣ ስለስዕል ገለጻም እያደረገ፣ ሶቭየት ህብረትን ለመጎብኘት ቻለ፡፡ በዩናይትድ ስቴትስም በዋሺንግተንና ኒውዮርክ የብቻው ኤግዚቢሽን እንዲያሳይ ተጋብዞ ነበር፡፡ በአሜሪካን ዩኒቨርሲዎችም ስለስዕል ገለጻ አድርጓል፡፡ በሴኔጋል፣ ቱርክ፣ ዛየር፣ ዩናይትድ አረብ ሪፓብሊክ፣ ቡልጋሪያ፣ ሙኒክ፣ ኬንያና አልጀሪያም ተመሳሳይ ዓለም አቀፍ ትዕይንቶን አቅርቧል፡፡ በ1980 አፈወርቅ በሶቪየት ዩኒየን (በሞስኮው የፑሽኪን ሙዚየምና በራሽያ ብሔራዊ ሙዚየም በሌኒንግራድ) የብቻውን ትዕይንት አቀረበ፡፡ ከሃገሪቱ የተለያዩ ክፍሎችም በርካታ የጥበብ አድናቂዎችንና ሐያስያንን ስቦ ነበር፡፡ ከአፍሪካ አህጉር እጅግ የተከበረና ድንቅ የ20ኛው ክፍለዘመን አርቲስት በመባል እውቅና ሲሰጠው እጅግ ከፍተኛውን የሰላምና የወዳጅነት ጀግንነት ሸልማትም ተሸልሟል፡፡…..››

ማስተዋወቁ ረጅም ሲሆን እስከ ቅርብ ጊዜ ድረስ የዕውቅናው ሂደት ቀጥሎ ነበር፡፡ አፈወርቅ በንግግሩ ድንቅ ገጠመኞችን፣ወደ ሃገሩ የመመለስን ፍላጎት፣ የምቀኝነትን መሰናክል፣ የኢትዮጵያን ጥበብ ሁኔታና ሌሎችንም ስለዳሰሰ ዩቲዩብ ላይ ገብታችሁ ሙሉውን እንድታነቡትና እንድትደመሙ፣ እንደሱም እንድትተጉ ይሁን፡፡ The State of Art in Ethiopia

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DBU-ELIC: News: DBU-ELIC is at your fingertips!: DBU-ELIC is at your fingertips!                                                               Hurrah!...Website Created           ...

Children, I’m your Ambassador

Once I declared that I was in South Africa, my facebook friends asked me some questions to be answered. One of them was this:

 “OK Mezemir. I like your diaries. One of my professors (in Makerere University in Uganda) has attended his PhD in South Africa. We are very impressed when he tells about the system and everything about RSA. I would love if you jot down about how [do] you see the country. Have a nice time there!”

My objective in this piece is to answer some of your questions on my trip to South Africa like the above one and to state the nature of the workshop.

I went to South Africa invited to a workshop by the South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE). They invited me from Ethiopia. There were others from Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho and South Africa.

Accommodation and flight costs were covered by the organizers and I should thank them for that.

The Guest House

Once I reached the guest house, I registered. The worker there, a black woman, showed me my room and how to operate the keys. When you thank them, the blacks respond, “Plesha”.After staying in the room for a few minutes, I left my room and went out of the compound. There I met my driver who was eating. I asked him where he bought the food from. He showed me a supermarket. He added that I should go to a restaurant if I wanted to eat sitting. I went and saw one. I entered a room where both black and white people were dining and serving. It is my first time to see a white woman work in a restaurant. I explained that I needed a menu. The black girl brought me. I ordered one that I didn’t eat before. I explained that I had only US Dollars. The girl went in and came with the white manager and owner. This manager told me that he will charge me 7 dollars for the meal and mineral water. I agreed. He brought me around 1100 Rand change. We talked about our continent and peace in the Middle East and the world. 

Immediately after I ate, I went out and started to walk back to the guest house. I bought souvenirs made of beads on my way from a street vendor. I like this local art. Afterward, I saw an Anglican church just opposite the guest house. I asked one white man if I could visit it. Then he told me that he didn’t know. Another black guy who was sitting nearby told me it is advisable to go to my room than talk to strangers there. I went in.I think this guy wanted to protect me from any possible danger wondering around may bring.

Pic. - The Abyssina Guest House that I saw on my way

The guest house's main gate was opened, so I didn't have to use a key. When I went into the compound I saw old white couple and asked them where they were from. The man responded, “I own this place.”  My intention was finding out about them if they were guests from another country. The man and his wife looked very unfriendly towards me probably because I came in through the gate they opened and they thought I could mean some harm. I went into my room.

Posters reading “Armed response” are posted on the walls of each compound. You are warned not to go near any compound. I compared this with hospitable families in my country.

The Workshop

All the space in the 14^th floor of the building is SAIDE’s headquarters. The Africanstorybook Initiative is an inspiring educational program I am involved in. In the morning session we started our day by giving brief introductions about ourselves, our work and how we came to know the program, and we did. As to me, I explained how I came to know the Initiative – through a US Peace Corps – Benjamin Rearick. I think I explained to you in my previous articles about the work we do. SAIDE signed an MOU with Debre Berhan University. They are helping my library, Ras Abebe Library. We held two writing competitions in Debre Berhan. All in all, we are working hard to reach children who are the speakers of three major Ethiopian languages among others. The stories written and translated by ASb people and volunteers help to develop the children holistically. I really like what we are doing.

SAIDE is, based on what Lissa told me, an organization founded by women. These women are called the founding mothers. I think they are the ones I met during the workshop. One of them, Tessa, told us that she came to think of forming the organization when she compiled an anthology of children stories. 

The workshop was organized mainly to familiarize us with the new website changed as of April 1, 2017. We were given tasks to be undertaken in pairs. We did those with the supervision on top SAIDE people and an IT expert. Afterward, in the afternoon, we filled in a questionnaire and answered questions on the new website.  A discussion was held later on why we answered so.

The expert was asked if the website could work for ten years. I think he assured us.

The next day the discussion was on ASb values. Everyone was pointing out what they think should be our values as ASB. The meeting was opened by Dorcas and supervised by Lisa.In the discussions, I was passive possibly for two major reasons. First, I was in a new country and my mind was not ready for work. Second, I didn't familiarize myself with how they use English. The English I know doesn’t work there. I often don’t understand what they say - when they especially talk among themselves.

When I told the IT expert that we have 330 characters in Amharic, he asked me if children learn that easily. He then asked me how we do that harm of learning these characters to children. The other woman said this would help improve children’s thinking.  I took Tessa a gift from Ethiopia. It wa the Amharic or Geez typing software. I can't tell you how happy she was. They need it to open and post Amharic stories to the ASb website. Tessa’s energy at this age is surprising. She is lean and she works hard.

Dinner At Lisa’s House

Lisa, from our host institution, took us from the workshop to a shopping mall. She guided us by telling about the different places we see on our way. We saw the University of Witwatrand. She said it is an old one and it has different campuses. UNISA, found in Pretoria, is the biggest. There are also others including UJ. 

When we saw one black beggar with crutches, Lisa told us that she fells sad for him and she said she gives him money. Ogot said that in Uganda begging days are Fridays because of the religion there - Islam. In Rwanda, according to him, it is throughout the week that they beg. I think the same is true in Ethiopia. At another time, Ogot told us that In Rwanda Hutus and Tutsis do not still intermarry.

Then we saw the most expensive private school in South Africa, St Johns. They have big sporting grounds. In these grounds you see students playing cricket. Lisa said her car would not be considered as a car if she took her child with it there. It is a white’s school. 

I have no words to tell you about the greenery of the country. Walking in Joburg is like walking in a jungle. All the roads I saw are asphalted and there are places where there are roads every fifty or so meters. You drive fifty meters and you get a four direction road. Who said that these roads needed repairing? I think I saw less tall buildings than in Addis. Church of Scientology we passed by – no one can tell us what makes them special. 

Lisa dropped us at the gate of a big shopping mall and told us to meet her there at 05:10 and the gate number was P1. Butter was served everywhere and there is much food compared to what we have in Ethiopia. It is English custom according to Paulo. 

In the shopping mall everything was expensive. I was shocked to learn that a watch could cost more than what I expected. I was told that all the watches were above 20, 000. This means 40, 000 Birrr. I headed to another shop where they said the cheapest is 800 Rand. I felt sorry about all this. Only Dorcas bought two dresses.

Lisa came later and we headed to her home where we met her husband Paulo, a man of Italian origin and whose father invaded Ethiopia as a Fascist. He regrets that. I appreciate their house. First, in the three sides of the living room are filled with books. Then, the compound and the house is attractive and warm.

At dinner we talked about many issues including the Chinese just doing business, not politics. They were said not to care about what you read but want to print it for cheaper price. We ate to the fullest. Unlike in Ethiopia, we were served by Paulo, who cooked the meals for that night. It is nice to discover that the couple were both vegetarians. After an enjoyable night, Lisa called an Uber or a taxi using a mobile application. She knew how far he was and when he wa at the gate we went out and left with the couple waving their hands for us. The driver was guided by the software that tells him to turn left or right or to turn after fifty metres. The fruit of technology! One thing I should tell you is how the driver sits is the opposite of Ethiopia - at the right side.

Everyone at airports asks you for money. A guy who showed me a way asked me. Why did I ask girl pushing a woman on wheel chair for direction while I could read? Why didn’t I use my reading skills? Less Ethiopians I saw while I was flying back home. There were almost less local passengers except merchants than when we went. This testifies the assumption that more Ethiopians are leaving the country while less are coming back.  When they speak to me in Amharic, I felt happy. All in all, my patriotism is gone comparing South Africa with my country.

A guy talked to me very fast and I kept answering yes. He tried to take my bag and asked me to claim it in Addis. I told him that I didn’t agree. This was a communication problem. 

The driver said there is much work, but he said he wouldn’t complain because it is work. He said he is a tour guide working transport when tourists don’t come.  When I asked the driver why it was only blacks that I see walking, he said it could be because the majority there were them. He told me that there are white beggars in the country. “There is one at my child’s school too. I sometimes give him money.”The driver complained of white people not giving the blacks money.He showed me a video in which blacks hit whites.Sorry for the mess South Africa!

 No hand washing is known in South Africa. You just eat with a fork without washing hands.Eating bread with tea is not known. You eat a huge meal and the morning breakfast is like a huge banquet. You eat for no less than an hour. A day is lived to the fullest. Since the people vary much you easily know them. At least their hair helps you know black south Africans. I saw some Ethiopians as well.  You easily know them. The whites in the country are English and Afrikaans speaking. It is my first time to hear many English accents.Tessa said their pilots were trained in Ethiopia during apartheid, and she told me that they are grateful for that. She also remarked that like Dubai Addis is becoming a hub for Africa.

On my way back home

I made an interview with the Hadiya guy at the airport. He said he comes from a small village called Venda fearing the xenophobic killings. He came to the country on foot from Ethiopia 7 years ago and has 7 children. He says that he will not go back to SA. He is hopeless about living in Ethiopia because of the joblessness. He remarked me, “If there were jobs in my country, who would come here? Who would die on the road to come here? Ethiopians will not stop coming here since our country is poor.” I felt sorry about the situation he was in. He showed me a passport they sold him in Johannesburg for 1700 Birr. Without it, he can’t come back legally. 

Captain Alula was the pilot when were heading back. We flew 39,000 feet high. I was able to see the countries on my way because I sat by a window. Green Africa! Beautiful farm lands! Seen from the sky at night, Addis Ababa was like a field on which broken glass was scattered. Following the towns including Nazareth and the small ones in its environs on your way back home was pleasing.

The Steps I followed to go out of Ethiopia

In mid-February 2017 I was officially invited to attend a workshop outside of my country. When I was informed of this I had to consider a few things.
1. Passport
Last time, my friend Lemma was astonished when I told him that I had a passport. Because, I think, you know, I told him that I was once a shepherd. How could he believe that I think of flying – a hick - at least in the way he thinks of me. It was because of my intention to work in Saudi as an English teacher (Don’t confuse it with cheater!) that I had to have a passport, a 600 ETB worth vital belonging! You should be told that the Immigration office in Addis is one of the busiest places. It is a route out of poverty as millions wish to get the hell out of this place!

2. Visa and Vaccination

These things are what I have to fulfill before I fly. I thought one could feel ill after a vaccination since they give you a germ in small amount. Visa could be accessed by going to the embassy. Do I have to wear professionally?
3. The Travel or the Workshop?

I was equally interested in the workshop as I am in the experience of going out of my country.
4. Closed Doors

For most of Ethiopians, the country’s doors to the outside world are almost locked. Friends and acquaintances of mine from other African countries keep telling me that they easily move around the world quite often. Here, we, the common people, are kept aloof from hard currency, flying, meeting foreigners, and everything foreign except for Chinese rubbish. We cannot even purchase online. Cars are very expensive! It is really like living in another planet! I know that this affects us immensely. In case they come to read this account, I’ve a dire warning – woe betide you unless you open the doors wide! We shall grow more savage and eat each other up!
5. Xenophobia

African Immigrants in South Africa are subject to xenophobic attacks this time around. I am worrying if this would affect my travel. They may think that I am an immigrant. My first ever international travel should not be jeopardized by the ignorance such as this!

 pic. Inside teh National Bank of Ethiopia
6. My Frequent Facebook Posts

After I posted the above stuff on my facebook wall, I kept updating my status with the following afterthoughts from my smartphone:

Afterthought 1:

The Embassy of South Africa in Ethiopia is near my favorite former work place, Yeneta Academy. Things changed a lot there. At Tele, near Mechare Meda, a statue has been built for Mr. Karl, the famous Swiss, known for his charitable deeds in Ethiopia. This place is one of the best residential areas for rich people. You may think that you are in another country! But, believe me, you are still in Ethiopia. When you see white people taking their children to school, your suspicion could grow, yet it is because the International Community School is there. There are minor changes in my life after ten years of teaching. Anyhow, I completed my yellow fever vaccination at Tikur Anbessa. I hope I will finish the first phase of my application early. Just for a two-day workshop my host paid a lot of money for me. Thanks!

Afterthought 2:

The current children of Africa have the founding mothers at SAIDE, the South African Institute for Distance Education, and people like me who work for the accomplishment of the vision set. Our work is mostly digital telling of stories. Decades ago our teachers toiled for our success under a totally different setting. Thank you all teachers and staff of Sasit School. To mention few: Seble Ashebir, Tenaye Shibeshi (RIP), Anchihugn, Tadese, Abera, Dubale, Yesuf, Mamush, Begashaw, Engidawork Eshete, Getahun, Kefelegn, Dereje, Mariye, Fikru, Dinberu, Abebe Tekle, Tsige, Haileyes, Addisu (RIP), Enku, Debritu, Niguse Biftu ...

Afterthought 3:

I was told to come today when I applied for visa yesterday. I didn’t fulfill all the requirements. The day was lost because I didn't receive the hotel reservation letter from Johannesburg. This morning I walked around Bisrte Gebriel for around 30 minutes in search of a black pen. I knew there were no shops in this neighborhood to buy pens. A black pen which the embassy requires to fill forms in is most often rare. After I got the pen, in the embassy grounds I had to wait for two solid hours. How is the resource of time wasted as such! Just two days wasted so far for a two-day workshop. I met an Indian professor of Mechanical Engineering who has been teaching at Jimma for 17 years. He is a visiting professor including in South Africa and Europe. He has travelled to more than 30 countries. How can one of us compare himself with him!

Afterthought 4:

I met my younger brother, Abush, a third year geology major at AAU. He told me how education is tight there. His looks testify that. Among 40 fresh physics majors, only 12 registered for second semester, while the others failed. Statistics majors lag years behind to graduate. One student spent 11 years to score a pass mark in one course. One teacher is the cause for this - the course is his property and he was the ghost between bread and that student for 11 years. Abush told me that only professors and doctors teach him. Masters holders are there just to serve the doctors. Field researches and trips are common there, so my bro spent time in and around Dejen and Adama. I wish him all the best!

Afterthought 5:

I have been wasting my time in the capital yesterday and today. The embassy officials gave me an appointment for yesterday, the 13th, and I came to Addis from my home in Debre Bihan, a two-hour drive. I came but they told me to come today to take my passport. I came, yet they extended the appointment again. Do I have to wait more? No. I will call them another day and come. All in all, so far this embassy killed my four days. Money, confidence and much more I lost. Alas!

Afterthought 6:

Pilgrimage coordinators filled the city with their notices. The fashion of the day - buildings are popping up everywhere. Dozens of people were waiting impatiently at the embassy. Regarding the costs I incur in Addis, I can't collect every voucher, since, at least it is shameful to me to claim refund from SAIDE for every meal I had. Almost I incurred a hundred Birr per meal since they don't even serve water with the meal – they sell you. Bedroom costs 250 Birr to the least. I had to withdraw 1000 Birr a day from the bank because I also buy items I see in stores. My university work is in jeopardy since there were mandatory meetings I had to attend. On the other hand, staying in Addis is really tiresome. I have to pass various places and walk long distances in chaos. It takes a long time to go from one place to another because of the congestion. Often I stay just around the embassy not to miss my appointment for transportation inconveniences. I can't read because there is no mental readiness. I saw an Indian reading a big book on embassy grounds. Regarding the time I’m killing, I just remember a quote from local taxis, which literally can be translated as, "Don't keep worrying for three solid days just to live one day." This is what I am just feeling now – for a two-day workshop I am losing a week! The quote sums up my situation. How is the situation of processing international travel where you are - visa, vaccination, transiting, accessing hard currency etc?

7. The Waiting Days

On Monday, Mar 20, 2017, a day before my scheduled flight, I had to go to Addis to check whether the embassy issues me the visa.

I was ready on the eve of this travel day. At home in Debre Birhan I woke up at 6:45 AM, bathed and headed to the bus station. I met Addisu and Hana there. Addisu, my friend, colleague and PhD candidate, was on his way to AAU thinking that his professor may start class that day since the national university meeting may be over then. Hana, who worked hard as an Amharic teacher at Melikt academy for a few years, got a job at the Management Institute. Luckily she has joined Coca Cola as a promotion expert. Even she didn’t work for six months at the Institute. Beauty is as such important if mixed with skills. All of us were talking about the danger of traveling by minibuses in Ethiopia these days since we saw accidents on the road among others a car owned by the university we work in.

We dispersed to the places where we would go and I headed to the embassy area. I went to a café and had breakfast and coffee. Then I went to an internet café. After that I came to Yeder Lounge, opposite the embassy. Cars flock. Massage rooms, the Chinese Consulate, Supermarkets, the Austrian Embassy – attractive places invaded the area. A cyclist and her trainer were there. I talked to them to find out some information. They were talking in Tigrinya, yet I had to interrupt and ask them in Amharic. My intention was to find out about the procedure if things failed. I succeeded.  The woman coach of cyclists told me she asked for their passports back if they do not give them on time for the training and competitions, yet the embassy woman threw it and the couch had to beg her again. They were asked to bring the profile or proof of other cyclists who went to South Africa and came back. They told me that their training and competition time has already passed.

African Union and South African flags were waving outside the compound of the embassy, which, I guess, might be around 3000 square meters. They have a three storey building.

Somali refugees are everywhere in embassies, however, they are rare here. At the gate the guards kept my laptop. We went in and started to wait for the officials to talk to us.  I didn’t’ hear the names they called well as the women who sat beside me were talking. I waited. We waited for more than an hour. Some people were called and they were told that they were rejected. Bank statement is one of the reasons why they are rejected.

“You deposited money at bank recently for visa purpose only, so you are rejected.

What about the money I paid for visa?

It is already deposited in the government’s account.

Which government? What sort of thieves are you?”

A UNISA student was asking that his air ticket has been extended once and he is required again to pay 100 Dollars fine for extension.

“We didn’t tell you to buy a ticket; booking only. Don’t buy ticket before you make sure that you get visa.”

I noticed how people try to go out of their country aspiring to try another angle of life. The embassy requires money deposited before three months to make sure that you will come back to your country. I was not required because I brought a letter from the university.

Finally, I asked the woman working there what happened with my visa. She said she knows nothing. I asked if I could get my passport without visa. She said I could come the next day. I told her the situation I was in and I expressed my desire to go back to Debre Birhan on that very day. She told me to come at 4:00 PM on the same day. I was about to go out of that place when an idea stroke my mind, “How would she know my name? Let me tell her!” I went back and told her my name. Immediately she remembered that my visa was ready and she gave me. I felt happy. I discovered that applying early for visa is a must. Other embassies interview, yet here we were not interviewed. I wished all the other guys seeking visa at the embassy all the best and started to fulfill the next steps.

The English Teacher Flying an Airplane for the First Time

Check in

A piece of advice from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/ reads:

“To make your first flight less stressful, it is helpful to have an idea of what to expect.

1. Purchase a ticket. ...
2. Gather photo identification. ...
3. Ensure that your luggage meets airline requirements. ...
4. Pack your carry-on bag carefully. ...
5. Arrive at the airport early. ...
6. Check in at the airline desk. ...
7. Go through security. ...
8. Find your gate.
9. Collect baggage.” 

Immediately after I got my visa from the South African Embassy, on Monday, 20 March 2017, I went to the National Bank of Ethiopia to ask for hard currency. They changed me 200 USD. They said that is the highest amount people would take unless they don’t have a letter from the medical board of a hospital for treatment abroad. Once this was over, I thought of buying a local attire. I feared of being targeted as an Ethiopian in South Africa because of my shirt. However, later, I bought from Shiro Meda. I wore that trendy locally woven shirt.

I rented a good bedroom for 400 Birr around the Bole Medhanealem area, near the airport. In the morning, at around 6:00 AM, I walked to Bole Airport on quiet and eerie roads with haste and fear!

At Terminal two I removed my shoes and belt for checking.  Leopards, a soccer club from the Congo was behind me. They lost 2- 0 with St George of Ethiopia. Every one of them is elegant; all were speaking French, I think. The old guy behind me, who, I think, is their coach, knows English and we talked. I regret having no photo with them.

The check-in officer who served an Australian couple who were ahead of me told me that he serves groups first. I asked how I should wait until all those football players are finished; he said ferenj (foreigners) first. I asked another coordinator who responded nothing. An officer who sat next to the one I talked said he didn’t see me. Yet later he served me when I complained. The post I read regarding the amount of Ethiopian currency one should take out, no more than 200 ETB, shocked me. However, they didn’t ask me how much money I carried. I had 4000 ETB with me. All in all, I passed three checking until 7:00. If you have big luggage, I advise you to get well prepared. I had only one small bag, so I was 1:40 ahead of time. It is advisable to be two hours early anyways. Thank you my friends for the flight information – Saleamlak, Yeshi, Anley, Tesfaye, …

An Inspiring Show

Those of us who finished check in went in and started to watch the show totally new to me. I came face to face with planes and an airport compound. I saw planes landing and taking off. Luggage landed is unloaded and taken care of by drivers of small and long coverless vehicle for loading and unloading cargo. Refuelers and buses were busy zigzagging. Everyone was running and showing and following signals. Pilots and hostesses gracefully walk. In the room I was in I saw an old African man with a crown and glittering clothes and beads on his necklace. A young white man who was wearing a hat was praying. I think he is a Jew. I think I have no inch of heart left for prayer. This must be my first time to see many different foreigners at a time. The haste at the airport let me discover that Ethiopian airlines is going in line with international customs and changing our culture of time. A must! I think it is the working culture that kept us lazy at time management. 

In an Airplane for the First Time

My great grandfather, Nadew, was the first member of my family to fly in an airplane. I don’t remember dreaming of flying so far. A hostess of the Airlines welcomes us passengers at the airplanes door. Flight instruction is shown on the screen. We are told what to do and not. In case of air pressure changes, they notified, masks would pop up. We are advised to remove shoes during an emergency. They wished us a pleasant flight. 

In some minutes the plane was ready to fly. The seat belt, which is like a normal car belt, confused me and I didn’t know how to unfasten it. I had to receive the help of a girl. Some people slept. However, I didn’t want to sleep. I rather wanted to watch each step the plane takes.  When I went to the bathroom in the plane, someone was in. I had to wait outside. When I waited, I saw an endless show of cloud underneath the plane. I can’t tell you how I felt giddy. Cloud as white as cotton – blue sky- was about to eat me. I covered my eyes and turned my face towards the seats. In the plane there was a balanced number of foreigners and Ethiopians. Breakfast was a small sandwich. For lunch I had chocolate, chicken, vegetables and Habesha Beer – very clean and interesting. Humanity’s capacity to feed its kind as such is astounding.

 Pic. Back in Ethiopia buildings pop up
I discovered that I reach the luggage box above me. I thought it was very high as I heard people say hostesses were tall ones. At Ethiopian they speak and write first in Amharic and then in English. Hostesses talk each other in Amharic. I remember notices like, “Life vest under your seat;  Fasten seat belt while seated.” I wondered what people who do not speak English would do if it were another airline. Ethiopian promises to help you if you transit.

My Knowhow before Flight

I never went into an airplane. Narratives of flying my friends related to me were exciting. Tesfaye Teka Tezkaru Tulu (4T) was telling me about the types of seats in aircrafts. He flew to India, Dubai, and the States, where he coveted to for three decades! Abiot, a botanist friend of mine, used to call me Lamebora, an opposite word he coined for diaspora. The experience of flying is regarded by him as a major criterion for labeling people as diaspora. “The diaspora and the lamebora walking together – how are you guys?” he would joke whenever he saw me with a foreign educated staff. After this time, I hope to be a small diaspora. In Ethiopia, people who have been to places outside of their country are called diasporas. Whereas, lamebora is a term used for cows – gibberish?

Recently, at the staff lounge at Debre Birhan University, professors were telling me about the issue of international flights. Airlines (Ethiopian), Emirates, Lufthansa, Egypt Air, etc. were the jewels they illuminated their speeches with. Transiting, procuring hard currency and getting confused under a new environment were discussed upon. Our airliner is said to be expensive, while Emirates is said to deliver a very good service. Lufthansa, on the other hand, is said to be cheaper.
Destination – Oliver Tambo International Airport

We arrived safely at Johannesburg. Then, I went to an officer who checked my documents and gave me the go ahead. After that I tried to find my way to the exit where the taxi driver is waiting for me. Two black officers stopped me on my way and took me to a corridor. They tried to check each document I had. I think they wanted to rob me or ask me for money.

“Why did you come?”

“I came here for a workshop.”

“What workshop?”

“On children’s literature.”

“What is your job?”

“I teach English.”

“Oh, you teach English?”

“Yes. Please let me go. The driver is waiting for me outside. If I delay, he will go.”

“What is his name?”

“Steve.”

“Is he white or black?”

“I don’t know.”

I think they were not sure what to do. I went out. My phone doesn’t work because roaming is not known in my country. I asked a white man to call me Steve. Steve was there and we met. He called another driver, Shabshab, to take me to the guest house. I enjoyed the scene to Village Green Guest House.