Third Ethiopian Entry

Our loooong Ethiopian tour could be described as this…




Take the CHSFS bus down to the city of Hosanna! Enjoy the gorgeous mountains with their many layers and foggy “steeples”. Take pictures of the many exotic plants found in the southern part of Ethiopia. From flat topped trees, to “fake banana trees” , Ethiopia’s interesting plants will keep your eyes fed.

Enjoy the animals of Africa. No lions, giraffes, or elephants are likely to be seen on this trip, but more animals like donkeys, stray dogs, and monkeys are more likely to be found. Keep your eyes open for the monkeys as they could be found in the trees, crossing the road, or running pell-mell through the brush. Donkeys are likely to be found as often as you would find squirrels back home. Donkeys are used mostly for carrying heavy packs like water and food. It is a usual sight to see young children or women beating and leading the donkeys.

Women and children walk for hours to rivers where they will scoop up the muddy water in yellow containers to take home. These women also will take the chance to clean their and their family’s clothes. Watch for these popular water spots and enjoy the sight. WARNING- Do not be shocked to accidentally see someone swimming nude or washing their clothes no longer on their backs in these rivers. This is a common occurrence.

As we tour the Southern Ethiopian area, you will meet and play with many children along the way. These children love the sound of a bus and will pour out of their houses to run alongside grinning and yelling. The children love foreigners as they are likely to give money. Do not be surprised to hear the children yelling, “Money, money” as we pass. Do not feel obligated to give to them even if they do command you to give them money. Remember, although these children are poor, the majority of them and their families are very happy. Although money is a treat, so also is a kind smile, word, or motion.

This tour will take a little more than three hours each way. (This is only an estimate amount of time. Stray dogs, donkeys, cows, people, especially very young children may not only make this trip a swervy one, but also a long one. Your driver, knowing you may have somewhere to go, will try to keep the bus at about 60 mph, dodging and beeping at anything in his way, including children).

If at some time, we come to a complete stop for donkeys crossing, cars jammed, etc., please beware that there are likely to be many beggars coming to the windows. Although they have very limited English, they usually are able to get their point across. Depending on whether you’re male or female, they will call you sister or brother. This is normal. If you do not wish to give them money, the best way is not to shake your head. They will not listen. The best way to get rid of them is simply to ignore them and look the other way no matter how many times they beg, tap on your window, or stick their hand in. If you do not wish to have beggars at your window, it is best to keep your window shut.

You may also be approached by men or women trying to sell you things. The prices are usually outrageous and again if you do not wish to deal with them, it is simply best to keep your window closed.

 You will want to wear modest clothing and a scarf to cover your mouth from the dust. Sunglasses and water are a great idea. Please also pack a lunch, as we do not provide it. NOTE: Because of the amount of dirt and dust, do not plan on wearing your outfit again during your stay in beautiful Ethiopia.

By Emily

 The above is a pretty good description of what we saw on our trip to Hosanna, Sunday. We woke really early so we could set out in the bus at 6. CHSFS did not provide lunch so we brought our own food. Yum.. cereal bars, Chocolate-peanut butter oatmeal bars, sausage bites, nuts, peanut butter crackers. Mmm… The trip to Hosanna was good. It was long, but it was so amazing seeing all the houses and villages. The houses honestly are what you would see in picture books. Thatched roofs, children leaning in the doorway, cows and goats in the front yard.. We stopped at a hotel to use “western” toilets. The problem was that although they were western toilets, nothing else was the same. The stalls were in a room for men and women alike and inside the stalls there was no room to move. The front of the toilet basically almost touched the stall door. Yeah. Then only a couple sinks worked.

After being amazed with all the views and scenery, we finally made it to Hosanna. The bus crept through the streets with children on each side yelling hello and that they wanted money. One family said that a little boy waving at them as he ran by the road, ran into an open door of a bus. They have before and after pictures of that! And Dad actually had a teen boy come to his window and say, “Give me money!”!!! That was funny! When we stopped at a gate and prepared to back into it, children surrounded us again calling for money. They were being so cute and grinning at us. Then I heard someone gasp and looked up to see someone whipping the kids back with a long grass blade. They continued to smile at us!!!! 

We had a special meeting and ceremony and then we got in the bus and headed next to a school built by CHSFS. It was so different than our schools. But they had posters on the walls. In fact, one had a bunch of rules and one was NEVER to ask to use the bathroom during class only during breaks. Oh, and that bathroom- it was a squatty-potty. You had to walk down this hallway and turn to the left and there it was. No doors. Someone had to guard the hallway!

There were kids again at the school. They weren’t actually at the gate. They just met us at the bus and again at the school’s gate when we were done. They were adorable. There were 4 boys there and three girls hanging shyly behind them. When we came out from our tour, they were smooshing their faces between the bars of the gate. One man took their picture and then came around and showed them. The boys were shy about it, but you could tell they were pleased. Then he took a picture of each of them. They liked to look at themselves afterwards. A woman, (which this is a good idea for future travelers), had candy in her purse, so she asked the man in charge if she could give them one and he said they expected it! So she did and gave some to the girls too. They were so happy in a shy way.

Then we continued on our long journey. We stopped once at a beautiful spot on the road for pictures. We had to step over the guard rail though and that is tough with skirts!! I followed a woman who found a pile of dirt to step on to. There we saw the monkeys. They were either running across the road or running down a hill trying to get away from our pictures. We took tons of pictures. A guy in our group took pictures of some women walking down the road and then showed them. They loved it and made some poses and motioned for him to take their picture. Then they would crack up laughing when they saw the picture!! :-) We also got some pictures of donkeys, but unfortunately not any of the baby donkey. :-(

When we came home we had a couple minutes to freshen up from the dirt before we had to eat supper. I think that might’ve been the day we had spaghetti. It was very yummy. These cooks are so good at giving us yummy, American, food. I love it. But they add an “Ethiopian twist” to it!! They also, quite a bit, make Ethiopian foods like injera and spicy sauces.