During the drive we noticed that we were being watched by the local. Most of them reacted positively upon seeing us and seemed to be glad to see “ferenj“, which is their word for europeans or white people. However, not all were in a cheerful mood in the face of us. After six exhausting hours in the bus we finally arrived at our accommodation in Hossaina. There we were immediately taken in by the nuns with great pleasure.
In the afternoon it began to rain, whereupon the nuns called us “the one's send from heaven“, as it had rained for the first time in five months. This lack of rain in the previous months was the reason why there was no running water aswell as electricity, as most of it is obtained by the use of hydroelectric power stations.
The next morning we took part in the morning ceremony of the school and greeted the kids. Amongst us everyone was delighted by the children and we fell in love with their big eyes. During this ceremony the national anthem was sung whilst one kid hoistedthe ethiopian flag. For us as germans this was of course alien to us, aswell as the fact that the kids were lightly hit with a plastic rod from time to time. During the morning exercise of the children we were startled after noticing that one song, which is used to teach vocabulary by singing and gesticulating, included the words “shoot, shoot, shoot“. This aswell is something interely incomprehensible to us, since the children are aged from 4 to 6.
The children are completely open minded and are always willing to high-five us or to shake hands. One small boy for instance was sitting on Sarah's lap and was calmly painting a picture, whilst we were scanning books. In the evening we presented the presents, which we brought with us, to the nuns. These presents consisted of holy water from France and a certificate from the pope. We noticed how emotionally shaken the nuns were and that they did not expect something like this.
The next morning we went into town in order to do some shopping. There we again experienced plenty of poverty and the mood was depressing. Whilst searching for suitable wood we were followed by around 10 people who were hoping to help us carry the wood if we purchased some; of course in exchange for money. One situation, which was very difficult for some of us, was the begging of a handicaped boy, who seemed to be our age, for money or food.
All in all we feel extraordinarily happy and secure and the team is growing closer every day.There are some very personal conversations, which may or may not lead to the shedding of some tears. There is a burden on us because now we see how we are living at home: wasteful, careless and blind. This experience should be made by anyone who is somewhat prosperous, because one could really say that “we are rich“ in comparison to the people here. Nevertheless there is a feeling amongst us that the locals are happier with less and are able to appreciate the little things in live.