Jackie!

This is our dog, Jackie. She lives outside (NOT allowed in the house) and she pretty much came with the house. We don't touch her much, as I'm pretty sure she has fleas. The guard feeds her and I've never seen her eat anything but goat heads and innards. I bought her a collar, and I do think she's looking pretty cute lately. We are doing our best to love her.

Random giggles

This is a restaurant!














My bed getting delivered to my new house!

Much delayed pictures

On Ethiopian New Years, my friends Michelle (below) and Henock took me to Henock's grandmother's house for the traditional family New Years celebration!

A chair

A guard's chair near my house.

St. George Brewery

St. George is the most popular (and best) beer made in Ethiopia! I went to the brewery today....

My House!

This is where I live:

Jkjk! But someone really does live in that box on the left. His dog stays in the smaller one on the right. Both sad and innovative.

This is actually my house, my guard chillin, and the gate:

It's an IRC guest house, so there are always people coming in and out, but I am the only permanent resident. Tomorrow I will post pics of my room since the cleaning lady comes today and she'll make my bed. :)

R

A picture (or two) a day!

Ok, my new goal is to post a picture (and a comment) each day.

So, my sister is getting married, so I have been keeping my eyes open for ideas for her. I thought this might be a good wedding planner for her:

THEN they changed their sign and adopted this cool Halloween theme, and I was convinced. She should probably fly out to meet with them. :P

Also, interestingly, the new refugee camp in Ethiopia is called "Halowen."

More tomorrow,

R

Harar and Jijiga

Finally, I am ready to start writing here!

For the past two weeks I was in the Somali region of Ethiopia, on the border with Somalia. It was a crazy and fun experience. Pru (my roommate/co-worker/friend) and I were charged with the task of helping a bunch of rowdy Somali men create a reports-based monitoring system for the Pastoralists Livelihoods Initiative. We also went to a city called Harar for the weekend, so here are a few photos from the two weeks.

Visit to Harar:

Shalom Bakery in Harar! (I think they just chose it as the name)

The hyena man is one of the most famous parts of Harar. Apparently for several generations this family has "tamed" these wild hyenas. The guy getting jumped on was our guide for the day.

A "traditional" Harari house

It's a tomb!

We were welcomed into a pre-wedding ceremony. These were the old ladies watching the dancing.

Rastafari's House (apparently)

Some guys chewing chat, the very popular Somali/Ethiopian leaf that gets you high.

Coffee bean husks. They make tea from it.

Visit to Sheder refugee camp:

These are doors they are putting on houses to make them more secure and protect families from gender-based-violence and theft

I love this! An IRC donkey!

Typical house in the camp

SO big!

Here's me with a camel. He is carrying somebody's house on his back. Yes, I did eat camel, but not this one. :)

Feel free to leave comments and questions!