A few more observations

Sorry for the lack of posting this week.  We’ve been busy with work and other things around Addis. I’ve been working on editing success stories for the project I’m working on – it’s difficult for non-native English speakers to write, so part of my job is editing their work. I hope that soon I’ll be able to go out into the field and talk to beneficiaries on my own (through a translator) and start writing my own success stories.

So to continue my list of observations of Ethiopia: 

• Carry your own toilet paper – This may be hard for Americans who have never traveled outside of the US to understand, but TP ain’t always available at a bathroom. And I ain't just talking about restaurants and other public places. I’m talking about at work.  We have no TP at work. Some folks keep their roll on their desks…and carry it with them to the bathroom, and when they are done, bring it back and put it back on their desk. The other intern and I are a little classier/discreet – we keep a pack of Kleenex in our purse, and take the small pack with us to the restroom. 
•  Wash your hands! Because Ethiopians eat with their hands, hand washing is extremely important.  When we eat in the canteen with our coworkers, we wash our hands before we eat, and after we’re done eating. I (often) forget to wash my hands before I eat in the States (even though I use silverware the majority of the time),but  it’s still a good habit to have.  It’s been a good refresher for me. 
•  GASP!!  After a few days in Addis, I started noticing that locals would gasp for air while talking to me. I started worrying that they were trying to get more oxygen?? Or that I just take their breath away? Haha, kidding. But honestly, with every conversation I had with an Ethiopian, they would gasp – like they couldn’t believe what I was saying. I mentioned it to one of the interns who is half Ethiopian, and she explained that the “gasp” is a sign of agreement. So when you ask a question, and someone “gasps”, it means yes, or OK. It still kinda takes me by surprise.