The Contented Ethiopian

Currently I’m typing up reports from our scholarship students about how their last semester went. It’s not uncommon to hear some tragic news in these reports that a student hasn’t mentioned before. The happy events usually come out quicker, over the phone or through another faculty member.

But the following comment from one of the Ethiopian students caught my attention in a good way. “Since I got the scholarship, I am living [a] wonderful life, praising the Lord. I haven’t any problem, I am too happy a man; eating well, sleeping well, studying hard. Just I am enjoying life with God.”

I’ve eaten at the cafeteria and slept at the Athi campus. Trust me, it’s no cushy life he’s talking about. That is contentment that hits me with conviction about my own life. I wish I could say something like this more often.

Lion of Judah

This is the symbol of Ethiopia! It’s nearly everywhere you look, on monuments and crests over doors of public buildings, even stamped on coins. At one time it was part of the Ethiopian flag and many still prefer it. Again this is something that seems a bit foreign for Africa. Yet, this is a country that has a remarkably old history – and one they are very proud was never colonized. It was a part of the culture already there when modern historians showed up.So the Ye Yihuda Anbesa (Lion of Judah) is truly theirs.

What’s the Cure?

One day in Addis we went to Cure Hospital to see the work of Dr. Paul Lim, our host for this week in Addis. I didn’t realize until another friend told me later that Paul started this hospital. Cure Hospital specializes in correcting birth deformities; particularly cleft lip and palate and orthopedic issues. Paul does the surgeries for babies born with cleft lip and palate problems.

On the way we passed a vehicle and our driver, Alazar said, “That’s Judy!” He waved to her driver. We had a stop to make, so later on when we got there we found that Judy is the lactation specialist for the hospital. It hadn’t occurred to me that children with cleft pallet wouldn’t be getting the nutrition they need due to not being able to nurse like most babies. After surgery they need to learn how to eat properly.

Judy is a high energy woman who moved us through the hospital explaining a number of things that happen there and people that do them. Judy gave us details about the children she’s treated and told us about her nursing groups. She introduced to a young one that was on his way into a second surgery. Finally she talked about a little boy whose mom is giving him up.

This mother’s story is probably not all that uncommon. She was engaged to be married, was messing around with another guy and got pregnant. Both men dumped her. Then her nice Orthodox family kicked her out because of the disgrace she was to them. On top of all the rejection and shame, she gave birth to a little baby boy with a double cleft lip and palate. This was likely interpreted as a curse.

Nearly my first thought was of how depressed the mother must be. She’s probably in her 20’s and probably feels very alone. Her life is truly in ruins and without a lot of options for her in the future. Judy confirmed that she was very depressed. She hadn’t even named her little boy initially.

They can’t do surgery until this little guy is 3 months old. And they will probably do two or more surgeries because of the complications involved in a double cleft. Now it seems that Judy is searching for a family to foster the little guy until she can find someone to adopt him. She already has a list of three or four folks that may take him. But care for him in the interim is needed.

Life can be so hard sometimes. I’m sure it’s that way no matter where you are in the world. But on this continent it often feels there are no options left. If you think of it, pray for the best life this little guy could have.

Originally Ethiopian

Some claim the coffee bean was first used for its stimulating effect in Ethiopia as early as the 9th century. From there is spread to the Middle East (Yemen and Arabia) and Egypt. Coffee has had seasons of being for religious use only or other prohibitions. But it’s certainly a part of current Ethiopian culture.In addition to a nice cappuccino at some more upscale cafés in Addis, we were privileged to have two coffee ceremonies performed for us.
You start with ‘green’ beans which are washed, then roasted before you on a small charcoal burner.

A traditional coffee pot is placed on the coals with water inside to boil while the beans are cooled a bit and then ground. The coffee is then put right in the water to boil with it. I would call that cowboy coffee. (How you make it when you’re camping.)The table at a coffee ceremony is low and decorated for the occasion. The cups are tiny because the coffee is strong. After it bubbled up through the neck of the coffee pot a couple of times it’s ready. Then it’s poured with some flair into the cups and served to the guests.One of our hostesses added just a touch of cinnamon when roasting the beans. Another added a little incense to the charcoal burner for extra ambiance.
If you know me, you know I like coffee. If you know me well, you know that I sometimes have a hard time with the effects of coffee. I had to pace myself. But it was a wonderful part of this rich culture.

Umbrella Culture

Evidentially the Queen of Sheba, who was most surely an Ethiopian, carried a parasol to visit King Solomon. (Or rather it was carried for her.) It’s clearly depicted in the artwork chronicling the event.

Special church parasols have become a part of the Orthodox High Church practice. We even visited a museum where very old parasols were on display. They are still used in many church holiday events that take place nearly every other day in the Orthodox Church.But aside from the fancy, fringed bumbershoots for religious ceremonies, many people carry and use regular umbrellas for rain or sun. I found it an extraordinary practice. But at that altitude, I guess anyone could burn easily, so why not shade yourself?


I'd like to know the real origin of this practice. Who invented parasols anyway? And when was it?

What about it – Sugar

Okay, I admit getting the phone number, SIM card thing sounds complicated because it kind of foreign to Americans anyway. But what about picking up some sugar for the house?

Near the end of our time, I realized that our bananas were getting a little ripe. I asked the house helper if she wanted to use them to make banana bread. Sweet Dirby must have already been thinking about it. She informed me they were almost out of sugar. No problem, we’ll pick some up when we are running around today.

I asked the driver to stop and he informed me that you can’t get sugar just anywhere; you can only get it from shops that are sanctioned by the government to sell it.

What? Sugar is regulated. In the end, we stopped by our driver’s house for a cup a Joe (something you must do in Ethiopia) and his son went to get the sugar for us while we ran some other errands.

It wasn’t all that expensive. But the most he could get for a person was 2 kilos (about 4.5 lbs.) It wasn’t packaged, just weighed out into a black plastic carrier bag and knotted at the top.

How hard can it be?

I am not all that well informed about the form of government in Ethiopia. I got a quick lesson from our host about how it’s not a communist dictatorship any longer, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a dictatorship.

Never mind.

In Kenya and my guess is that most of the world outside of the US has mobile phones that take a SIM card. You buy a phone, then for a very nominal fee you also get a SIM card; this is what has your mobile number on it. If you like, you can have a couple of SIM cards from different companies, and switch out your number.

For airtime, you buy phone credit as needed and ‘top-up’. The only requirement is getting something like 250 shillings worth loaded on your phone every 3 months. (I probably go through 500 a week.) Even if you let it lapse, a trip to your local dealer will get it unlocked if you top-up at the same time.

I think the last time I got a SIM card it was 300 shillings, now I guess they are only 50 shillings, that’s under a dollar. Sometimes companies give them away as a promotion.

Since I knew my Kenyan line wouldn’t work in Ethiopia, why not just get a SIM card and then I could be connected there in Addis. Not so fast, honey.

Getting a SIM card and essentially getting a phone number in Ethiopia costs a little more. But it’s also a bit rigorous. Here is the process, step by step:

Go to the Telecommunications offices.

Get frisked going in.

Wait in line to be served.

Fill out an application (in Amharic, which totally makes sense).

With it, submit two passport photos and a copy of your national ID or passport.

Pay of fee of 95 Birr (just over $7).

Easy as - ?

I happen to have a couple passport photos in my wallet because I didn’t know if I would need them to get a visa at the airport upon arrival; I didn’t for the visa. When I didn’t have a copy of my passport nor my passport with me, I was made to promise to return with it. There is something to be said for the flexibility of all these rules.

Quite honestly, I thought all this care taken for issuing a phone number to me for a week’s use was over the top. I really had no intention of returning the following day with a copy of my passport. That was not until the man who waited on me at the telecommunications office called the following morning to remind me to bring that copy in.

Opp. They have my number.