Yesterday we spent the day with our good friend Joe R from Texas! He works runs an organization called Adera, which connects groups back in the US with programs in Ethiopia. He comes through every couple months so it will be good to see him every once in a while!
Together with some other visitors at the Bjoe Guesthouse, we had a little pizza party! We went to the store, bought all the supplies to create pizza from scratch, and tried our best to recreate our American favorites. After some time of figuring out how the heck to work the Instant Yeast here..we did it! It was so good to get a small taste of home. Oh...and while we were at the store, we found some Dr. Pepper! Yes!!! Oh it was so good.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Ethio-Transportation Day
How early do you leave for appointments? When we were back in Fort Worth, we could get anywhere in about 10 minutes. If we wanted to make sure we were there on time..maybe 20 minutes early. Here in Africa...on a good day, it might take us 30 minutes to get to most places....walk down the road to the taxi station, hop on a bus heading towards TorHailuch/ Mexico, probably transfer buses once or twice...and we’re there!! BUT like I said, that’s on a good day...and those are very rare. Today our 30 minute normal route....became a 2 hour ordeal!
Why so long?
Well first we went down to the taxi station. No busses heading in our direction. As we were waiting for a bus to hopefully come, 2 bulls came charging our direction, one rammed right into the back of an old lady (she’s OK), then the bull kept on slipping on the road (which was kind of funny/ OK Sarah thought it was sad “He probably hurt his knees really badly.” She wanted to call the Ethiopian PETA, but that doesn’t exist). Well since no busses were coming, we decided to walk about 5 minutes to another taxi stop in case some busses were coming there. We arrived...and guess what....every other Ethiopian heading in our direction had the same idea. As a taxi would come...they charged the streets and stood next to the taxi bus (narrowly avoiding getting hit), and then stuffed themselves into the taxi. It doesn’t matter how long you are waiting for a taxi...whoever is bravest gets a spot. We decided not to charge into the street. After a while we walked to another taxi station. Same thing. (They say many taxi’s are “contracted out” on Sundays for weddings....as the wedding parties fill up the buses and drive around the city honking their horns and dancing to the music while halfway outside their window). So...we went back to the original bus stop near our house...as we were walking to it...a minibus was headed towards Mexico..BUT he only said one person could get on...So we waited. Our friend we were meeting was a little worried that we didn’t show up yet, so he gave us a call and told us a different route to take....Take a Bajaj (small 3 wheel taxi) to Wherra, then take a small taxi bus to Mobile, and then walk about 5 minutes. We began our new route, got on the Bajaj to Wheera, but when we got there, had to wait about 20 minutes for a taxi in our direction. We hopped on, but about halfway there, people in the bus started asking questions..seemed to be some confusion, and about half the bus got out. We didn’t know what was going on and decided to stay in the taxi. Poor decision...the taxi took us about 25 minutes (walk) out of our way. When at the new direction...hundreds of people waiting at the taxi stop. So we decided to walk... On the way we encountered a dog...eating a goat head.....that was weird. But finally, after 2 hours...we made it to our destination.
Needless to say...we need a car...
Why so long?
Well first we went down to the taxi station. No busses heading in our direction. As we were waiting for a bus to hopefully come, 2 bulls came charging our direction, one rammed right into the back of an old lady (she’s OK), then the bull kept on slipping on the road (which was kind of funny/ OK Sarah thought it was sad “He probably hurt his knees really badly.” She wanted to call the Ethiopian PETA, but that doesn’t exist). Well since no busses were coming, we decided to walk about 5 minutes to another taxi stop in case some busses were coming there. We arrived...and guess what....every other Ethiopian heading in our direction had the same idea. As a taxi would come...they charged the streets and stood next to the taxi bus (narrowly avoiding getting hit), and then stuffed themselves into the taxi. It doesn’t matter how long you are waiting for a taxi...whoever is bravest gets a spot. We decided not to charge into the street. After a while we walked to another taxi station. Same thing. (They say many taxi’s are “contracted out” on Sundays for weddings....as the wedding parties fill up the buses and drive around the city honking their horns and dancing to the music while halfway outside their window). So...we went back to the original bus stop near our house...as we were walking to it...a minibus was headed towards Mexico..BUT he only said one person could get on...So we waited. Our friend we were meeting was a little worried that we didn’t show up yet, so he gave us a call and told us a different route to take....Take a Bajaj (small 3 wheel taxi) to Wherra, then take a small taxi bus to Mobile, and then walk about 5 minutes. We began our new route, got on the Bajaj to Wheera, but when we got there, had to wait about 20 minutes for a taxi in our direction. We hopped on, but about halfway there, people in the bus started asking questions..seemed to be some confusion, and about half the bus got out. We didn’t know what was going on and decided to stay in the taxi. Poor decision...the taxi took us about 25 minutes (walk) out of our way. When at the new direction...hundreds of people waiting at the taxi stop. So we decided to walk... On the way we encountered a dog...eating a goat head.....that was weird. But finally, after 2 hours...we made it to our destination.
Needless to say...we need a car...
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
I'm No Julia Childs, BUT
I’m cooking up a storm!!! Well, it’s nothing for your average cook, but in the past few days I feel like all I’ve done is cook! And I’ve been enjoying it! I’m experimenting with things because I have to substitute ingredients for what we have locally, and screwing some things up, but it’s fun and we eat it anyway :) I can’t wait to become a cooking fool! Meaning...I can’t wait until I cook well and don’t screw things up and don’t have to look at the recipe 50 times while I make something.
I’ll have to take some pics of what I’m making and post those bad boys. It’s really quite an accomplishment considering what I’m working with here. I have plenty, but it’s a lot less convenient than in the US. Especially when the power’s out. I get to use a hand mixer! Or my hands :)
From SCRATCH:
cream sauce (with Ethiopian “parmesan” that turned into DELICIOUS stringy cheese globs)
Yeast rolls (although the active dry yeast was no longer “active” so they didn’t actually fluff - another batch is on the way)
meat and tomato pasta sauce
yummy omelettes
I’ll have to take some pics of what I’m making and post those bad boys. It’s really quite an accomplishment considering what I’m working with here. I have plenty, but it’s a lot less convenient than in the US. Especially when the power’s out. I get to use a hand mixer! Or my hands :)
From SCRATCH:
cream sauce (with Ethiopian “parmesan” that turned into DELICIOUS stringy cheese globs)
Yeast rolls (although the active dry yeast was no longer “active” so they didn’t actually fluff - another batch is on the way)
meat and tomato pasta sauce
yummy omelettes
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