Walking and running

Thrusday October 31, 2013 (oh yeah Happy Halloween)

This morning I woke up early, just as it was getting light right at 6:00. Knowing how good I feel after running, but hating to get out of bed I told myself “don’t think just move”. I unbolted the tin gate to my compound and started running down the slightly muddy people less road. I like to run east into the rising sun and this morning with the clouds was a gorgeous sun rise. I turned back a little early to avoid a big pack of dogs, and thus avoiding a potential 3 day trip to Addis for a rabbis shot. Sadly my relationship with dogs here has turned into one of fear and avoidance, I have learned not to even look at them to avoid any kind of aggression. Dogs here are for guarding purposes only and are never touched unless they are getting hit. But that doesn't stop me from getting out occasionally and enjoying the joy of running into the rural fields.

Anyway I am thinking about running more these days because as I write this my good friend Cassandra is running around Mt. Kilimanjaro, essentially running a marathon of 30-40 km each day! She is doing this amazing feat as a fundraiser for the disease Lupis, which both she and her sister have. If you can, please go to her website and donate to support her and all the other people who suffer from this disease. (http://www.justgiving.com/Cassandra-Ankney/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_content=Cassandra-Ankney&utm_campaign=pfp-share) I am also thinking about her because next week I will be flying to Tanzania to meet Cassandra and to do a safari together! I will be her “after the fact” cheerleader.

On the slower end of running I have been thinking about what it is like to live in a community where everyone walks. It is rare for someone to own a car. One of the great benefits of walking is that it brings a greater sense of community because you always see your neighbors as everyone walks to work in the morning, and again in the afternoon after lunch. I now leave my house ten minutes early to make time for all the greetings I do, which I really love. It truly is the little interactions that make me love being here.

Tonight in celebration of Halloween my site mate and I are going to carve pumpkins and make chili! Costumes in Ethiopia are unheard of so it will be a low key fun evening. Chao!