Chicken Run

Apologise for being so rubbish and not maintaining the blog on a weekly basis as originally planned...I can say that I've been quite a busy girl and am much happier, settling into Addis life. Andy, my boss, invited a group of us to Debra Zeite last weekend with his wife a boys. The huts were beautiful and the gardens a mini paradise, only to be disturbed by the resident rooster and turkey gobbler who physically attacked any poor unsuspecting victim crossing their path. We had lunch at the Air Force Officers Club overlooking a lake and had a ride in a horse drawn carriage. It was great to get out of Addis - and has wetted my appetite to discover more.
As the Ethiopian calender is completely out  (they have just celebrated New Year 2004!!!) I thought I'd help along with the festivities, and school were even kind enough to give us a 4 day weekend! it is customary to treat staff to a chicken to share with their families, but my friend Sammy offered to buy live ones. He produced 3 - one for Eya the maid and one for Windy the night watchman. The little hen was so cute, I decided to keep her and call her Camilla. She got quite attached to the black rooster and Windy didn't have the heart to separate them ,so I called him Charles and had to get another one! After the massive chicken escapade, I couldn't get a rooster as big as Charles, so Windy dicided to take Charles after all and Camilla is distraught being left with a rude, abnoxious red rooster. He may well be Sunday lunch for some next weekend!
We partied all night on Sunday and I was honoured to be invited to some Ethiopian families through a friend on New Years itself- even if a big tired and hung over.  It's back to school tomorrow and am enjoying the little ones. Rich harris is due to come and stay on the 27th on his way around Africa, and have decided to take Ruthie on a tour for a week here during the Christmas hols, before flying out to Zanzibar for some sun and relaxation - life's tough!!! I have a landline now, so onwards and upwards!!

One week in...

It doesn't feel like a 60 year drought in Ethiopia! It rains/ storms nearly every day and the hail stones are the size of large marbles. I wondered why I wanted to come here when my first weekend was spent reading Jilly Cooper with a headtorch because there was no power...was it the right choice?!
I can 80% say 'yes', due to the fact that my house, the other teachers, the school at the city itself are pretty amazing. I'm still getting used to the currency and the language. Even knowing a little Amharic lets the locals know that you are not just a tourist and worth being severely ripped off.
The PE is fab - Andy is my boss and 2 Ethiopian staff - Fikre and Betse. The facilities are quite good and I have a good feeling that work will be a positive experience at Sandford.
The evenings after school are filled with my newly found internet freedom, my harmonica and yucilaley(?!). Although, I have met some cool younger women from school who are a good laugh and I hope to meet more people with similar interests.
I was poorly all weekend - constant sneezing, fever and trouble breathing. I hope that it is not an ongoing issue, as the air quality will not improve drastically!
School starts Wednesday with the liitle ones - wish me luck?1 x Love to all x