(no subject)
Well, I’ve failed to update for a while, but that’s largely because I’ve started to fill out my social schedule a bit more. I now have Amharic lessons twice a week, which are helping me to expand my vocabulary and improve my fluency. I haven’t found an Ethiopian dance teacher yet, but I’m planning to offer some bellydance classes once my current housemate finishes her stint and returns to England, as I am hoping to have the place to myself for a few months. And it will come as little surprise to anyone who actually knows me that I’ve been elected as the newest member of the VSO Ethiopia Volunteer Committee, representing the Addis Ababa, Adama, Assela, etc. constituency. Now, largely this is because I was unopposed, but it should give me a platform for advancing an idea I have regarding information and experience sharing with JICA and Peace Corps volunteers.
I’ve also had a visitor, a former work colleague of mine from England, who had a two day stopover on her way to Sudan and Uganda. This was nice in that it was an excuse for some shopping and eating out, although it did stretch the monthly budget a bit. But I've now got a bit of a routine tour for showing out-of-town guests the delights of Addis Ababa - which includes the National Museum, one of the better pastry shops, an open market and a cultural restaurant among other things. So, if anyone if considering visiting Africa this year, I encourage you to let me know.
More importantly, I'm sorting out my own travel for the year, and this includes a long weekend trip to Cairo in May with another VSO (High speed internet! Unlimited hot water! Swimming pool! Oh, and pyramids.) and a trip to Japan in October with my folks. As they've kindly offered to use mileage to get my ticket for the latter, this means I can schedule my planned England trip for whenever. I'm thinking of the summer, which is the interminable rainy season here, and the tickets are looking cheapest for late July/early August. UK people, is there anything happening this summer that I should try to attend/shouldn't miss? Conventions, parties, visiting people? Let me know, and I may try to adjust my flights accordingly, fares permitting (There's several hundred dollars difference between the ccheap flight and one of the others). Both my UK flight and the Japan flight will probably involve stopovers in Cairo, so it's good that I'll have experienced its airport in advance. And, if it's nice in May, I might just try to squeeze in a longer visit to Egypt just before I go back.
I’ve also had a visitor, a former work colleague of mine from England, who had a two day stopover on her way to Sudan and Uganda. This was nice in that it was an excuse for some shopping and eating out, although it did stretch the monthly budget a bit. But I've now got a bit of a routine tour for showing out-of-town guests the delights of Addis Ababa - which includes the National Museum, one of the better pastry shops, an open market and a cultural restaurant among other things. So, if anyone if considering visiting Africa this year, I encourage you to let me know.
More importantly, I'm sorting out my own travel for the year, and this includes a long weekend trip to Cairo in May with another VSO (High speed internet! Unlimited hot water! Swimming pool! Oh, and pyramids.) and a trip to Japan in October with my folks. As they've kindly offered to use mileage to get my ticket for the latter, this means I can schedule my planned England trip for whenever. I'm thinking of the summer, which is the interminable rainy season here, and the tickets are looking cheapest for late July/early August. UK people, is there anything happening this summer that I should try to attend/shouldn't miss? Conventions, parties, visiting people? Let me know, and I may try to adjust my flights accordingly, fares permitting (There's several hundred dollars difference between the ccheap flight and one of the others). Both my UK flight and the Japan flight will probably involve stopovers in Cairo, so it's good that I'll have experienced its airport in advance. And, if it's nice in May, I might just try to squeeze in a longer visit to Egypt just before I go back.