The Most Ridiculous Day Of My Life

Well today I awoke to the sweet sound of Flo Rider singing “You spin my head right round right round” … somehow it doesn’t get any better all the way over here in Ethiopia. Abiti’s uncle Danny is visiting and he is just full of knowledge. Apparently Alicia Keys is lesbian and Beyonce is changing her name in order to promote her new CD? News I wasn’t aware of. Oh the marvels of MTV news.

Danny got his masters in India and is now starting his own egg business. He wants me to come visit him south of Addis to see his chicken farm. I really hope I’m able to do that. He’s a really great guy.

We went for a walk the other night and just ate bananas and talked about Ethiopian politics. It is a taboo subject for sure but it was nice of him to talk to me about it. It’s a bit like the red scare in the sense that no one talks politics for fear that someone will tell the government what they are saying. It was a really interesting conversation.

We walked for a long time just killing time because “the light” doesn’t come on until around 9 pm, due to the electrical plant being under construction. Everything is under construction here by the way. Major development work. So for most days we only have electricity at night.

Anyway… back to what I was talking about before. After I woke up to Flo Rider and news about Alicia Keys, I went off to Sara’s house again. On the way we passed this old hilarious police man who I’m now best buds with. Through some broken English and gesturing I now know that he loves Obama, dislikes Bush, and will be visiting me in Los Angeles soon, haha. Love that man. I’ll have to post a picture of him soon because he’s so funny.

When I got to Sara’s house we got into the car immediately and started driving to a secret destination. It turns out I was about to commit the ultimate white female faux pas ever to be established. Yes, worse than bell-bottoms, the mullet and bedazzled jean jackets. I was about to be forced to have my hair braided. That’s right. I’m currently writing to you with a bald braided head. And must I say…. I’ve never looked better, haha. And no… there will be no pictures.

I thought things had reached their peak of embarrassment as I walked around being “that white girl,” speaking English with a braided head. I was of course wrong. It gets better.

When we got back to the house I went to use the restroom and I shut and locked the door from the inside. Turns out that was a horrible decision. When I went to open the door, it wouldn’t budge. So I wiggled the key a bit and turned it, hoping something with change… nothing. So there I was locked in this bathroom hoping that no one would notice the phantom handle moving and the door rumbling as I try to force my way out of the restroom.

Unfortunately some one did notice and they tried to tell me in broken English to take the key out and slide it under the door. This would have been a great plan had I been able to get the key out of the door. No such luck. They of course could not understand that I couldn’t get the key out, because I was speaking to them through door in English. After some time I eventually got the key out and popped out of the room, braids and all. This was after the gardener tried to use a garden hoe to pry the door open.

When I came out of the bathroom, the first thing they asked me was, “You crying?!” Hahaha I had been laughing throughout this whole thing because my situation could not get more ridiculous, and they thought I had been crying. I tried to explain to them that I was laughing but I don’t think they understood. All and all it was quite a wonderful experience.

Later that day I almost got run over by a taxi, so I had to quickly move out of the way. Abiti thought I looked absurd, and he started telling everyone that I had to run away from the taxi and that I was going to run across Addis avoiding taxis. They now all jokingly try to hold my hand when we cross the street. Someday I’ll get it down. But for now I’ll be that white chick with the braids running from the taxis.

Notes for today: Ethiopian people laugh at EVERYTHING and I couldn’t love it more. Direct quote from my journal: “Everyone in Ethiopia touches each other… in a non-weird way. Men hold hands, women hold hands, men and women, men and men … I think you get the point”

Sorry if these entries sound a bit strange. I’m currently writing them all at the same time with limited Internet access. But I’m alive and I have lots of funny stories to tell you all when I get back. Tonight should be really great; I’m going clubbing Ethiopian style, haha. I cannot wait. Love and miss you all!

Tagged as: Addis Ababa