School Visiting

Friday 28th March

Thought I’d managed to upset my work colleague this week. Think Meleshew sometimes finds my enthusiasm a bit too much! Mulat, the transport manager visited the office for a chat so I took the opportunity to ask if he could spare a vehicle to go school visiting. Before he could, Meleshew announced that she and Mulugeta were off to another school on Friday to deliver training. Felt a bit left out )-: ! But cheered up again when she checked if I was coming.

I woke early, and arrived at the office promptly at 8am. The drive to Teda was full of contrasts. Leaving the urban boundary, we passed examples of industry which I will need to explore further. A large area taken up by the Dashen Brewery – a large employer.

As the urban landscape transformed into a rural landscape - vast stretches of cultivated land being ploughed by one man with his ox and plough – I observed this without taking it in. Only later did I realise how extraordinary this was. I’m sure there must be more of them somewhere! The land is this area is reasonably fertile – it’s close proximity to Lake Tana helps and farmers are often able to get two crops a year. The main crop is teff used to make Injeera – the staple food.

Meleshew and Mulugeta did what they do very well. I was given a small slot to talk about continuous assessment but few understood what I was talking about – Meleshew discussed this with me and we will have to work on a translation so that she can deliver it.

Mid-morning break, I suggested we put the tables into groups which Meleshew thought was a good idea. When the teachers came back, they tried to re-arrange the furniture!

Mulugeta and the supervisor Fenta went off for refreshments with the Director to his office. Meleshew took me to the ‘staff room’ to join the teachers for tea and a bread roll.



Staff Room

The Director sent over to see if we would prefer a coke or fanta!
Lunchtime, we went to a small ‘hotel’ – it looked to me like someone’s house and the only way you could tell it was more than that was the hand washing tap and some people sitting outside. Lunch was injeera with a lentil wot, cabbage wot and a salad.

On the way back, I tried to take photographs but the camera cannot capture the vastness and contours of this landscape.



Vast landscape

On the drive home, we passed through Azzezo which consists of a long narrow road, part of the main road to Addis. The road is crammed with people, goats, cattle, bicycles, pony carts and….. pedestrians are completely nonchalant about vehicles!
Suddenly, and with no forewarning, we turned off the main road and began to negotiate a very rough series of tracks winding its way through what was obviously very poor housing. I put the camera away! Not because I fear for it being taken but because I feel like a voyeur in these circumstances. There are more than enough pictures of African poverty without me adding to them.

We turned off the main road onto a track. Gradually, the housing became larger and better quality, marked off by fences and gates. We stopped, at Meleshew’s House! She was very enthusiastic about me visiting but also clearly nervous as well. I asked if I could take photographs – and she cheered up immensely. Then I was taken in doors and expected to eat – nobody else ate, but I had to! Having not yet recovered from lunch, I braced myself and did the best I could. I hope I succeeded in relaxing with Meleshew – complimenting her on her beautiful home (photograph) and crotcheting skills! The fabulous food. Admired the photographs of family and particularly the younger Meleshew. Discussed the new extension to the house. I think we parted friends – as much as is possible.



Meleshew’s House