hey hogs...
its been a long time since i posted or looked at this...however, since there were many other places and occaisons that i had shared some of my experiences and reflections about my time here in Addis, I will just share them here with you as well. 
this is a short note i wrote to a fellow Ethiopian friend in DC who was eager to return home like me.  maybe some of you who are going back to your roots can identify with this...

This is Ethiopia

Here in Addis.  We are living and learning and growing.

Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense, and other times it if so rich with meaning…

But most times its somewhere in between. 

I suppose that is how it was when I was in DC as well. 

Its funny how we keep visualizing so many wonderful things but end up in the same place we were at, we end up right inside ourselves. 

Coming to Ethiopia is not the transformation that we dream about when we are in DC, but coming to the self that we expect Ethiopia to bring out in us is the transformation, and for that, Ethiopia is not necessary.  So I say, come, but don’t expect to love Ethiopia, or at least not in the same way.  And prepare to find that Ethiopia just does not give a damn about you.  Ethiopia does not hold dear all the things that you hold so dear for her.  She does not see beauty where you see beauty, she sees survival and struggle.  She does not think culture and history are very vital, she just blindly uses them because she has not choice.  And you too may find that the worst part of Ethiopia is her culture.  Prepare yourself to slowly fall out of love with Ethiopia.  And this is fine, but what deepens this anguish is that even when you don’t love her and she does not love you, you are bound together, forever.  You learn that you can never walk away from her.  Ethiopia is like an alcoholic parent, you can’t help but love her simply because she is yours but you hate everything about her, how she abuses herself, how she abuses you, but she has so much potential to love and to be better, but those moments are fleeting and the rest is pain. 

 This is Ethiopia to me.

Comments

[Michelle Melka]

I have like many Jamaicans, Haitians, and even some black Americans have waited all my life to be able to step foot on Ethiopian soil. Almost six months ago exactly I finaly had this life changing experience. All that I thought I new I didn't, and all that I thought I had I didn't have, basically what I am saying is no amount of reading, discussing, or listening could prepare you or me for what I stepped into. I met some of the most beautiful people ever seen inside and out Biniam, Yodit, Mike, Natnael, Meron & her family, Jonny Ragga, Ebrahim, Efrim, Habte Jifur, Behailu, Girma just to name a few. To say Ethiopia is culturaly rich is a understatment to say the least. The pictures you see on the internet and in some books, news articles, and even documentraries show Ethiopia in a negative light, but what I was blessed to see was majestic, unless of course you are looking for serpents sleethering through a concrete jungle, people tearing one another down in order to build themselves up, no family unity or history if you are in search of these things avoid Ethiopia and make your reservations for somewhere in the west, like the US where I before now resided. Don't misunderstand Ethiopia just like any place else has its problems, but after a month or two there is no place I would rather be. Most black Americans and some West Indians don't go to Africa because we feel unwanted or over the years there has been a huge line between Africans and African Americans etc etc, for fear they want except us, or they are not as civalized as us(So Untrue), or just fear of not knowing what to exspect. Every year in the US countless numbers of young adults, college students, and some older persons travel all over the world and alot avoid Africa, I am telling you with all my heart, mind, soul, and fiber of my being don't let lifes years roll on without seeing, feeling, touching, tasting Ethiopia (my preference) or just Africa in general it will change your life, I am sure, not just for blacks but for human beings green, gold, red whatever race, religion, or walk of life visit please and tell me how much you enjoyed it, I won't be hard to find I am sure you will see me moving around in the wonderful city of Addis Ababa!!!!JAH BLESS