Sa Kabilang Banda

Kok

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:22:49 +0300

I confess: I was party to a homicide. And it was actually funny. “Aay, aay…”...

“We did it! We did it!” in the words of the great...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:27:59 +0300

“We did it! We did it!” in the words of the great Dora the Explorer herself. These boys and girls from our Speech & the Arts (STAR…ehem) Club successfully conceptualized, wrote, and staged their very own play that tackled equal access to education for both boys and girls.

If you’ve seen them ten months ago, you would agree with me how far they have gone and improved. Their self-confidence has reached a new level, I would say. One of the girls used to be so shy I could barely hear her voice. Lo and behold! She came out of her shell and gave us a fine act.

I’m so proud of them. Makes leaving Assosa a bittersweet thought.

“They wanted to look at my boobs,” I told my friend...

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:08:00 +0300

“They wanted to look at my boobs,” I told my friend when I extricated myself from a group of Mursi women. “Yeah, someone there just got to third base with me,” she said.

Tables had been turned. We were the interesting kind. A lot of the Mursi women were wondering why we were covered up…and why our boobs were “imprisoned” somewhere.

I sort of envy them as they are free like that. Breasts for them are purely non-sexual. I wonder who started making breasts as sexual objects? I should probably do research on that soon.

So, did I show them? I couldn’t do it. I guess I missed my chance at flashing myself (not that I am looking for another).

Happy International Women’s Day (tomorrow)!

(Photo: A Mursi woman showing her scars, a sign of beauty. Yes, she was actually wearing a bra. A red one at that. Nice, eh? Go girl power!)

(Photo: Another Hamar woman with iron rings on neck, indicating...

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 10:15:59 +0300

(Photo: Another Hamar woman with iron rings on neck, indicating she’s married. The additional protrusion in front signifies she’s the first wife.)

The Hamar women from South Omo are known for their tradition of...

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 10:12:00 +0300

The Hamar women from South Omo are known for their tradition of bearing the pains of getting whipped to show their love and devotion for male relatives, as well as getting scarred as a symbol of beauty.

The extremely painful and scarring whipping is done before the bull-jumping ceremony that a Hamar male undergoes as part of rite of passage to manhood. The women incite and beg the maza to flog them. The maza is a group of unmarried males who already finished the bull-jumping rites, who live separately from the tribe and goes from one ceremony to another as part of their livelihood. The male relative becomes indebted to the women from the family for undertaking such a sacrifice.

I once declared that I will not go and see the Hamar people because I don’t want to show support to how their women are being treated. I know this is part of an age-old tradition that would be difficult to stop, particularly when tourists flock to their villages to witness how it’s done. BUT surely, there must be a way to let them see that there are other measures to show love for family.

(Photo: A Hamar woman in Turmi market with scar-laden back from prior floggings)

Why am I volunteering in Ethiopia? Because one day, I saw a...

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 11:57:00 +0300

Why am I volunteering in Ethiopia? Because one day, I saw a picture of a man from the Mursi tribe and I told myself, I will go see them. Twenty five months later, after debating with myself if I really would like to pay just to get a photo of them, I gave in. Might as well, right?

BUT I’m glad I did.

Far from what other people have said about them being aggressive and only wanting money from tourists, the Mursi people are actually very lovely, friendly, and plain wonderful. They are very willing to share their culture and let outsiders in on how they go on with their daily lives.

Paying for a photo of / with them is a double-edged sword. On one hand, they get additional funds that could help them; on the other hand, the authenticity of how things are is lost as they try to preserve traditions for touristy purposes.

I would love them to preserve their traditions but not in this way. I hope that in the very near future the government would be able to figure out a way to get them out of this trade and be able to provide them easy access to basic services like health and education.

(Photo: A Mursi woman who gamely danced with us one fine morning at Mago National Park)

"Don’t be afraid to be confused. Try to remain permanently confused. Anything is possible. Stay open,..."

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 22:10:14 +0300

““Don’t be afraid to be confused. Try to remain permanently confused. Anything is possible....

a woman beside her 2-day old baby inside their dark house,...

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 23:08:23 +0300

a woman beside her 2-day old baby inside their dark house, warmed by embers of firewood, the smoke from which filled the air

(Photo: Metema Gorabiche kebele, Bambasi, Ethiopia)

that moment when you capture the glitter of pure joy in the...

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:59:29 +0300

that moment when you capture the glitter of pure joy in the eyes

(Photo: A boy from Womba kebele, Bambasi, Ethiopia)

carefree under the sun (Photo: children playing their version...

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:42:00 +0300

carefree under the sun

(Photo: children playing their version of football at Metema Gorabiche kebele, Bambasi, Ethiopia)

when innocence and happiness collide (Photo: curious kids at...

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:37:00 +0300

when innocence and happiness collide

(Photo: curious kids at Mender-47 kebele, Bambasi, Ethiopia)

Today, we found in this house a woman in dire need of medical attention. Due to certain...

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:16:04 +0300

Today, we found in this house a woman in dire need of medical attention. Due to certain...

Frying pan-baked (yes, they were!) goodies: pizza and brownies!...

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:45:51 +0300

meat-lover's pizza :)

vegetarian pizza :)

delectable brownies

Frying pan-baked (yes, they were!) goodies: pizza and brownies! Move over oven!

If there’s a will, there’s a way. :)

“Keep your spirit high…you’ll be packed with...

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 16:57:00 +0300

“Keep your spirit high…you’ll be packed with experience, strength and resilience,” a good and wise friend told me. Lately, I’ve been finding my motivation going up and down.

All right YOU! Eye on the target. A stellar, graceful and happy end to this madness a.k.a. long-term volunteering.

(Photo: A girl from Womba kebele, Bambasi Woreda, Assosa, Ethiopia. Again…I’m NOT sure why the photo keeps on tumbling down. In the spirit of democracy, I will let the photo choose its own position.)

There’s only so much protection one can give to prevent...

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 09:51:28 +0300

There’s only so much protection one can give to prevent under-age pregnancy and child (err, puppy-)birth when hormones are raging.

I was greeted this morning by this (ok, fine…nice) surprise. She did her thing on the couch, with my bag as collateral damage, without any hint or fuss during the night. How considerate of her to let me sleep.

Tala now has to learn the rigors of motherhood.

Now, who wants puppies?

Lucky. That’s how I describe my situation here....

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 02:00:00 +0300

Lucky. That’s how I describe my situation here. I’m lucky to have met and made wonderful friends. I’m lucky to be in a beautiful, quiet town. I’m lucky to have been accepted by the people. When you’re volunteering, these can spell the difference between happiness and misery. Well, these PLUS one’s outlook in life in general, of course.

I will surely miss these when it’s already time to go. So while here, all there is to do is make the most out of everything. Nothing less.

(Photo: In fields in one of the kebeles of Assosa, Ethiopia…one fine picnic day)

someone I know stands by this creed. and i fully concur. the...

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 13:10:00 +0300

someone I know stands by this creed. and i fully concur. the world’s going to be a better place to live in if we all could.

(Photo: at the fields of Abramo kebele, Assosa, Ethiopia)

“In a day where you have no problems, you can be sure that...

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 21:39:00 +0300

“In a day where you have no problems, you can be sure that you are traveling in a wrong path.”

~ wise words of Dada Atma

(Photo: Women carrying injera in their baskets covered with colorful knitted cloths, on the way to town for selling.)

I wish more would see the real situation behind this wall....

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 21:25:00 +0300

I wish more would see the real situation behind this wall.

(Photo: Grafitti on the barrier wall between Israel and Palestine.)

there’s a reason to what most people call as...

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 09:31:00 +0300

there’s a reason to what most people call as “madness”

(Photo: even trees look for company…at the fields of Assosa, Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, Ethiopia)