Timket Celebrations

Timket Celebrations                                                                                      Sunday January 20, 2013

Qwan Adarasatchu! That’s the greeting for most holiday’s and this weekend I sure said it a lot. The past three days have been a big Orthodox Christian holiday, Timket, celebrating the baptism of Jesus. Friday afternoon Alemu (my counterpart) and I attended the big procession parade following a line of priests and church kids up to the river about 2 kilometers away. All the women were wearing their traditional clothes, white dresses and nut’ela white head scarves. I wore mine to attempt to blend in…it didn’t work, but they loved the fact I was wearing one. There was lots of drumming and signing as we walked up the road. The parade went a little slow because there was a team of teenagers sweeping the cow poo off the road so they could lay down a red carpet for the priests to walk on. The parade ended at the river where there were lots of prayers and songs.

Saturday (Kidame) I went with my new friends Winsht (sadly I can remember her name cuz it sounds like wine sh*t), and her mom Deminich. They were all dressed up in their fanciest and we walked up to the river then joined the procession as it went back down the road to Goba. At one point I was with a big group of women who were singing, clapping and dancing their hearts out. I joined in and we had a lot of fun. I’m getting pretty good at the banshee cry (high pitched lalalalala), which indicates happiness.  The parade ended at a church where everyone gathered outside for more prayers. Again it was really fun but very hot. My nose got burned and I was pretty stinky when I got home. Unfortunately we have been out of water for the last few days so taking my weekly shower was not an option.

Today I opted out of the continued celebrations (today they climbed a big hill to a far away church) and instead enjoyed a quiet morning at home. In the afternoon I went for an exploratory walk this time walking downstream from town. I was delighted to find a path that follows the river as it goes into a canyon. After wondering down the canyon for a ways I sat in the grass by the stream wishing I could dangle my toes. Peace Corps medical team warned about getting a nasty disease shistostomiasis (sp?) from fresh water. I know we will get treated before leaving Ethiopia no matter what so it is tempting to enjoy the water while I can. I’ll do some more research on this…

Walking back I was a wacky ferengi when I gathered some cow dung and forest dirt in a bag to bring home to start my garden. Today I finally planted a minimal experimental garden of spinach, cilantro and parsley. I’m not sure how it will turn out in this very clayey soil with little sun but I had to try. Plus having fresh greens would be great. The only greens available are kale and cabbage. So go eat a salad for me please!!! (I’m still working on getting photos posted. Just know that the longer it takes the more great photos I have to post). Chao!