Common Head Turner # 4

Straight out of Addis Ababa, it's sheep on a line-taxi!

Tree Profile: Delonix Regia

Delonix Regia: a common ornamental tree south of Addis Ababa

I first took notice of this tree on a work trip to Ziway, about a 3-hour bus ride from Addis Ababa. I asked several people what this tree was called but the only answer I got was “ababa zaf”, which translates to ‘flower tree’, a description used for many brightly flowered trees within Ethiopia.

Flowers of Delonix Regia

After flipping through the book, Useful Trees and Shrubs of Ethiopia, by Azane Bekele-Tesemma, I found that I was looking at Delonix regia, a native tree to Madagascar. It’s likely that Delonix regia, which is more commonly known as ‘flamboyant’ (English) or ‘Dire Dawa zaf’ (Amharic), could grow well near you if you reside in the lowland tropics, have sandy soil, and are between 200 and 1,600 meters.

Delonix regia can be seen in many cities within Ethiopia. South of Addis Ababa it is associated with the city of Dire Dawa and its surrounding areas. As for uses, Delonix regia lends itself to bee forage, beautifying cities along avenues, shade, and jewelry (seeds).

An Addis (new) Life

Amidst a Timket Celebration in Addis Ababa

I have been living in Addis Ababa since I signed up to extend another year as a Peace Crops volunteer in Ethiopia (till Dec ’12 or Jan ’13 –it’s up in the air at the moment). Life is very different now when I compare it to my rural city life in Sibboo (662km west of Addis on the Gambella Road), where I used to serve.

In Addis things are different. There are many amenities and many more cars. Work is more, too, and water and electricity have become everyday expectations. Smells are strong and dust and pollution clogs the nose quickly. People walk faster and seem less interested in the presence of an obvious foreigner. Eating out is more expensive but any import can be had in Addis and at the cheapest cost available in country.

The more I think about it, I don’t think the rural areas in Ethiopia can be easily compared to this giant city. It’s too different. Where do you start? Name an aspect of rural living and you will find that aspect altered (cost of food) or absent (clean air) here in Addis.

So my blog, along with my life and service, enters another phase, which is to say that now I will be living in Addis Ababa, the nation’s capital city - so we can expect my blog entries to gain an Addis tint to them (such as more blog entries).

Things to come: more photos, tree profiles (my work is in agroforestry so it was bound to happen), and more reflection on life/culture/purpose.

This blog continues to serve no one in particular BUT aims to be something entertaining WHILE offering me a place to openly reflect on things encountered and experienced during my time in Ethiopia. Enjoy it if you can!

Sibboo High School Project Success

Thank you all who donated to or shared the link for the Sibboo High School Peace Corps Partnership Program (PCPP). Last November, 2012, we were able to raise the money we needed from your generous donations and networking to purchase reference books, a fence to surround the school compound, and a computer!

Just as I was completing my two year Peace Corps service, Sibboo High School sponsored a celebration for accomplishing our PCPP project's goals. There were many heart-felt speeches made expressing the gratitude of community members, teachers, and students for having received much needed school structures and resource materials. Because of the funds our project brought in, Sibboo High School will benefit from having new books for preparing for the National Exam and furthering their education, a protected compound for potential tree nursery projects, and a computer for IT classes and to provide students and teachers access to technology previously unavailable in the community.

Prior to my Peace Corps service, I had never facilitated a project sponsored by donors from around the world. I had little idea as to how patient and involved one has to be to make sure: 1) a project is meaningful for a community; 2) a project is sustainable or provides years of service; 3) that the funds raised from donors are spent properly and according to project objectives; 4) objectives of the project are met on time. This was a great learning opportunity, which resulted in benefits far exceeding the frustrations experienced along the way.

Below are a few photos sharing the success of our project – enjoy!

Students, Staff, & Myself Posing with the New Fence and Gate

A Cow Grazes Respectfully Outside the School Grounds

New Reference Books and Computer for Students and Staff

A few words on Peace Corps Partnership Programs: Because Peace Corps Volunteers have a unique understanding and access to the community they live in, they are involved with their entire project’s conception, implementation, and evaluation. I encourage anyone thinking of supporting small projects in foreign aid to check out those designed by Peace Corps volunteers and sponsored by the Peace Corps Partnership Program. Browse through the many projects volunteers have in mind to support their communities and give what you can – it is unlikely you’ll find a more locally minded or carefully managed donation opportunity.

Peace Corps Partnership Programs - Donate to a Volunteer's community project today! The Peace Corps Partnership Program applies 100% of your tax-deductible donation toward a specific Project, Special Fund or Country Fund.

Common Head Turner # 3

Road construction, ploughing through forested land

Common Head Turner # 2

Spotted from a a window seat on a bus, a giant! tree provides shade and shelter for its town's market place.

Near the Baro...

Near the Baro River, the trees and wildlife allow a glimpse into Ethiopia's past, when forests covered much more of the Ethiopian landscape than today. Within the forests and suspended over the Baro where trade and travel routes intersect are bridges made entirely from vines and branches. Beyond the spectacular scenery here, I have never eaten better honey or bananas anywhere else. In the photo above, my friend, Endalkachew, carefully tests a bridge before crossing.

On my first trip to the Baro, I came across two men who lived in the surrounding area. One of these men wore a faded and holey Nirvana T-shirt and had the ability to create an ember in less than a minute using only wooden sticks and the hand-drill technique.

I was carrying a Leatherman multi-tool at the time we met and took notice of the set of tools one of the men wore on a leather strap around his waist: 2 knives and a pair of sticks for fire craft (see photo). I was told by a friend who accompanied me to the river that the men in the area need only these tools when they go into the woods. I think I was impressed at their resourcefullness as much as they seemed impressed by the machined multi-tool I carried.