Not so good...

Friday 9th May

Got to work early in order to finish the preparations for my visit to Kebele school before the CTE meeting at 4 o’clock. Various visitors including Alaseb, and one of the supervisors. Eventually, realising I was running out of time, I asked Mulugeta to do some pictures for me.

At 4 o’clock one of the instructors arrived. By 4:10 most of them appeared including Alemayhu. An argument in Amharic then ensued. Evenutally decided to be rude and interrupt them. I explained why I was there and re-iterated that I was not ‘in charge’ or responsible in any way for their workload. That if they were unable to undertake training because of other commitments they should say so to whoever was their line manager – one of them, Tibetu then started up with a run down of his programme of work. I interrupted him and repeated that it was of no interest to me –my job was organising training. They finally agreed to do the training at Keye Ameba next Friday – I was not pleased as this is the last day I have available to pack for Addis but, whatever. I made them promise that they would do as they agreed. I have booked the transport with Mulat who said I must give him one week’s notice of bookings! He then said I needed to remind him on Thursday! I said could I make that Wednesday since I was busy on Thursday! I reminded him of the need for transport for Saturday morning. He pretended not to know. I reminded him that Fanta had booked it with him and he smiled.

So after all that, I rushed off to be on time for my training session at Kebele – remembering just as I got to the gate that I hadn’t collected the pictures or book from Mulugeta. I went back. It wasn’t done. No sign of Mulugeta!
Got to the school – it was very quiet. Apparently, all the Grade 1 -4 teachers were at the college with Eschete receiving continuous assessment training. The 2nd cycle teachers had not been reminded of the meeting so a totally wasted visit.

Back to college – I ate my packed lunch – injeera with the shiro and vegetable wot Mekdes has made for me the night before.

Fortunately, the email was working.

Spent the rest of the afternoon sorting out the preparations for the training on Saturday. Went to remind Mulugeta that I needed a ‘traffic lights’ . He was busy doing something but nothing to do with the CCU.

Eventually, he came in with the picture I’d wanted for the morning. I went and retrieved some card to do the job myself. Mulugeta was busy making banners for the wedding of my line-manager’s daughter. He did eventually come and say he could help but it was all rather too late. I must admit, after the pleasure of the two days earlier in the week, I was now totally pissed off. Meleshew had been taken out to do something for the college so having agreed to train on Saturday and expecting to do it with her, I was left alone to do everything.

I had to work late. I came home at 6 and immediately received a phone call from my neighbour reminding me that I was going to a party round at their place and they were waiting for me! Today is Saint Mary’s Day – a family celebration time.

I quickly took a cold shower, changed, put on a smile and went round to my neighbours.

The party turned out to be the family, dressed in their celebration clothes and me. We sat in the garden because there was no electricity. We ate doro wot, drank beer and coffee and chatted until we couldn’t see each other any more. Adina and Kibebe then walked me home.

It was great to get home!