In-Country Training

I am currently in the middle if my In-Country Training which consists of learning about Ethiopia’s culture, geopolitics and language (which is Amharic) amongst other things.

Firstly, the Red Cross Centre where we are staying is nothing like what I imagined. We have running water in our showers, electricity most of the time and even Wi-Fi when it works. Every day we get up at 7.30am to start training at 8.30am – even on Sunday! We normally finish at about 6pm when we have dinner, after which we relax. Most of us including myself go to sleep quite early. This is probably due to the high altitude which takes time to adjust to and the fact that the training is quite heavy going at times. The best thing for me is learning more about the actual job that I will be doing and the Amharic lessons.

We have Amharic lessons nearly every day. The teacher has quite traditional methods of teaching which is very interesting to experience. But I love how she sometimes suddenly starts singing to us, in fact she is teaching us a nursery rhyme little by little each lesson. So far, I can count to 29 in Amharic, greet people in the morning (not in the afternoon or evening yet), say thank you, ask the price of things, and I know the names of a few fruits. Oh and I can also tell the time when it’s anything past the hour.

The food is very different to Indian or English food that I am used to. The main dish that Ethiopians eat is a flat bread made out of teff flour called injera, on which are served several different thick stews. Before I left the country (having Googled Ethiopian food) I imagined injera to be similar to a normal Indian chappati. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Its texture and taste is completely different. It’s strangely sour and spongy, and it’s served cold. The thick stews are made from vegetables, lamb, chicken, beef, lentils or chick pea flour. All the food is very flavourful and the Ethiopians are very keen on their spices including chilli. I do like the food, especially the stews that are made from chickpea flour and lentils.

Today we went shopping in the market for essentials for our house. We were supposed to use the Amharic we’d learnt and to bargain with sellers; however, those who have been abroad with me know that I can’t bargain in English to save my life let alone in another language! So I didn’t bargain much, but I did get my things – I got a cooking pot, cutlery, plates, a mug and bedding. VSO are providing us with most other essentials including a water filter, mosquito net and an electric cooking stove. The market is very big with stall holders selling everything from spices to sofas. Most of the stalls are tiny but the stallholders are eager to show you what they have got.  

I can’t wait to set up my house with my things. I think we’re all just itching to get started now.