A Sunday Walk

Sunday 23rd March

Decided to get out for a walk today. I went round the Northern part of Gonder following the dirt track route taken by the line taxi a couple of weeks ago when I was visiting Atse Bekafa school. The walk was great. Quiet for the most part until I drew near to the top end of Gonder. There I was greeted by a whole bunch of little boys who firstly kicked their ball to me, I kicked it back, they then crowded round chanting Manchester United until I told them it should be Arsenal – so they started chanting Arsenal.



Boys and Toys in Gonder

Two little boys broke free from the rest to come and say goodbye politely (their dad was watching in the background), as I walked away I felt something hit me – turned out to be a small plastic bottle. It didn’t hurt physically but I was upset and decided to show it – so I turned and gestured ‘why’ at them at which point the man who had been watching had a go at the boy responsible and appeared to apologise to me. I walked on satisfied for once that an adult was dealing with a clear example of misbehaviour from a child.

This is not the norm I have to say and one of the things I find frustrating. Children sometimes ask me for money walking along with their parents. I can see they’re not wealthy but there are many agencies in Gonder attempting to constructively support families, children, the elderly and disabled. But for some, it’s just a way of life, the way it’s always been. Hopefully, the new younger, educated generation can turn this around.

For the most part, girls don’t beg or harass –it is a boy thing. Whilst walking along this track, two teenagers passed the other way – one said hello the other said give me 100, 200, 300 birr. I laughed, he laughed and we walked on. Sometimes you can make a joke of it!

Met up with two other volunteers for lunch and walked home. Tried out the new walking shoes – ended up with blisters on my heels. Will have to sort this out before I go for that 25 Km hike!