Ethiopian views on Ferenjis

Yesterday I invited Meleshew to lunch at my house. Today, I extended the invitation to Alaseb and Habisher who were delighted at the idea. Whilst I was preparing the meal, my three guests chatted in Amharic about the economy and whatever else they had to catch up on. (Mekdes informed me the next day that they were also commenting on my appearance and particularly the state of my feet which were much admired!).

I enjoyed listening to the chatter. Mekdes arrived back before I had completed the enterprise and after awhile reminded the ‘guests’ they were in a ‘ferenji’ house and should be speaking English! Go Mekdes ra ra ra!

Over coffee, the conversation focussed on the differences between Europe and Africa/Ethiopia with my guests divided on whether they would want to go to Europe or America if they had the opportunity. One wanted to go and register for the DV Programme – this amounts to some sort of lottery. America takes a quotient of applicants from Ethiopia each year selected randomly. If selected, you are also able to take your family with you. Meleshew said she had no interest in going since, having worked with ‘ferenjis’ for the past few years, it seems to her we have to work far too hard.