![\"greenviews\"](\"https:\/\/www.mjsilver.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/greenviews.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe biggest surprise was probably how many trees there are, not least on the campus itself- it\u2019s almost like living in the middle of a forest.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t take long living here to realise why it was so green- there is clearly some connection with the amount of rain.\u00a0 Remove from your mind images of life in a drought-struck village, and imagine instead my working on the building of an ark.\u00a0 The weather has certainly made an effort to make me feel at home, although I don\u2019t really think it was necessary to receive the entire UK\u2019s annual rainfall in two days.<\/p>\n
As this entry continues I fear I shall destroy some other images of my life here in Adola.\u00a0 Living on the campus of the college has certain advantages.\u00a0 Had you considered that I was living in some rustic mud hut, with thatched roof, then I am afraid I shall have to disappoint.\u00a0 The construction is concrete and even has several rooms, but panic not- any mental visions of my trying to survive without running water are well founded.<\/p>\n
Now I am unsure how drinkable this water is, suffice to say it is boiled at least once and filtered (although I have my doubts about the filter since discovering particles floating in the lower half of the filtering system).\u00a0 Often I will boil it again, just to be sure\u2026 so far there have been no ill effects \u2013 and don\u2019t worry I shan\u2019t go into detail if that changes.<\/p>\n My home is lightly furnished, but comfortable.\u00a0 I did some rearranging to get the furniture how I liked it, but this has been altered a few times because of my Serategna.<\/p>\n Naturally it is for all the good reasons that I have made this hiring and nothing to do with my skills in the kitchen or lack of a washing machine\u2026<\/p>\n Before I came over to Ethiopia I had not really given a lot of thought to the setting I would find myself in.\u00a0 Probably a good thing since it all changed at the last minute anyway.\u00a0 When I first met … Continue reading <\/a>However, this may not be forever.\u00a0 The facilities are already in place, all that is required is to connect the college to some water source.\u00a0 This will take only two months.\u00a0 Sadly it is not clear which two months this will be and the vice-dean confirmed, not too long ago, that it was unlikely to be this year.\u00a0 Fortunately a donkey does a great job of bringing jerry cans to the college filled with water and I have made firm friends with the young lad whose job it is to guide the donkey.<\/p>\n<\/a>In Ethiopia it is not unusual to have a worker, this is usually a lady, who completes various household tasks, such as cleaning, laundry and cooking.\u00a0 This is something that some volunteers are keener on than others, mainly from the perspective that it is a chance to put some money into the local economy and help give employment.\u00a0 In a country where unemployment is extremely high I see this as a good thing.\u00a0 It also has the added advantage that the serategna can purchase the necessary food items to provide the meals.\u00a0 Of course this means missing out on the joy of wandering the markets and the shops as well as missing out on the opportunity to pay the special foreigner price…<\/p>\n<\/a>So far we seem to be getting on well.\u00a0 She speaks very little English, but has managed to get the stuff done that is needed and I have taught her how to make porridge.\u00a0 The only thing is she did keep moving my furniture around, clearly I am the boss and know how I want things and am sure I can make this clear with time, but for now I\u2019ll, err, just leave it as it is\u2026<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"