Salaam.
One week has passed since my arrival in Ethiopia. It has been a very busy week, as the first week at a new school always is. All of the teachers and students at ICS have been great so far, and I'm looking forward to spending the next few weeks with them here in Addis Ababa.
This is my first time at an international school, so it has been very interesting finding out everything that entails. For one, the question "where are you from" becomes very complicated here. Students answer with responses like, "well my dad is from the U.S. and my mom is from Uganda, but I've lived most of my life in Thailand and Ethiopia."
The craziest connection I've had in a while happened this week when I found out that my 10th grade history teacher, Mr. Greenough, is working at ICS and has been here with his wife for the last 7 years. Absolutely insane meeting him again and hearing about his transition from Olympia High School to teaching internationally.
It has been nice getting to know the country a little bit this week, getting outside of the city, drinking coffee, walking around, drinking beers with the staff at the local bar (called "the local"), and eating Ethiopian food.
More about the school, students, and Ethiopia to come. All for now.
-Tom
One week has passed since my arrival in Ethiopia. It has been a very busy week, as the first week at a new school always is. All of the teachers and students at ICS have been great so far, and I'm looking forward to spending the next few weeks with them here in Addis Ababa.
This is my first time at an international school, so it has been very interesting finding out everything that entails. For one, the question "where are you from" becomes very complicated here. Students answer with responses like, "well my dad is from the U.S. and my mom is from Uganda, but I've lived most of my life in Thailand and Ethiopia."
The craziest connection I've had in a while happened this week when I found out that my 10th grade history teacher, Mr. Greenough, is working at ICS and has been here with his wife for the last 7 years. Absolutely insane meeting him again and hearing about his transition from Olympia High School to teaching internationally.
It has been nice getting to know the country a little bit this week, getting outside of the city, drinking coffee, walking around, drinking beers with the staff at the local bar (called "the local"), and eating Ethiopian food.
More about the school, students, and Ethiopia to come. All for now.
-Tom
Roasting coffee beans for the coffee ceremony last Saturday morning. An excellent welcome to Ethiopia on my first morning here.
Eating typical Ethiopia food. Sour flat bread (injera) topped with various stews (wats). The food is eaten on a communal plate. Served with local bear and honey wine (tej).
After driving out into a rural area this weekend, we got notice that the gas stations were all out of gas. Luckily, a few locals had a jerry can of gas saved for a time with this and hooked us up with a fair price.
On our way out to our destination, we ran up against traffic of the farmers walking into town for the Saturday market. It was about an hour of close calls on a muddy road passing cattle, donkeys, and people carrying things to sell.
The start of a hike down to a crater lake outside of Addis. Beautiful.
Some of the ICS staff jamming on "music night" this Saturday.
An ICS student and her father (the host of music night) performing a song.
RSS Feed
