I have now moved into the house properly. It has two large,
high ceilinged rooms,
and a small shower room. The shower room is quite 'social'. I can
see out of the window when sitting on the toilet. Just outside is
a basin used by other residents. It's nice to meet your neighbours
while taking the kids to the pool.
The toilet seat was not quite enough for my Ferenji lardy arse.
It was already broken, but after sitting on it for a few minutes
it decided to shift sideways and sprayed small bits of plastic into
the air. I think a wooden toilet seat will be on my list of UK
purchases.
The family here
are very friendly, but thankfully have left me to get on with
unpacking. I was surprised but quite thankful that they left me to
move the furniture myself. The English ranges from good, to excellent
and I haven't had any trouble communicating. I want to learn tigrinyan
though. After shifting the stuff about, I headed into town to meet
with the other volunteers, and to see the new arrivial. There is a new
volunteer teaching English at Kellamino. They, at the moment, have
decided to stay there. Probably a wise choice - it is actually quite
easy to get between the town and Kellamino. MIT to town is
comparatively difficult, and MIT to Kellamino is a nightmare. With the
other volunteers and some locals we were able to buy a lot of stuff.
Things like bed sheets and big buckets. I bought a small barrel for
storing water. I do not want to be caught out without water once again.
It seemed very expensive (40birr.) but if it means that I have water
when there is none, it was well worth it.
After shopping, we headed back to the house so that the others could
see it. At least they agreed that it was nice. This means that I can
start to enjoy it more knowing, that there is less chance that I will
want to move while I am here.
Over one of the windows there were no curtains. I have created my own
from the single sheets that I bought in Addis. The bed I have here
is a large double. That in itself is a slight problem. It's quite
easy to get large beds, but not sheets that are large enough. There
is only about 3 cm on each side to tuck in. I will have to learn to
sleep without moving. In fact, I had to go back to exchange the
bed linen I had bought because that didn't fit at all.
Whilst walking back to the house, I suddenly had very bad hayfever. Or
hayfever like symptoms. I was literally crying. This is the first time
that I have felt hayfever here. And, once back in the flat properly
I was unwell in other ways. Although I did manage to join the other
VSOs in town that night I was not well at all. The hayfever seemed to
change into a cold. I was glad to part early and go back to my bed.
The mosquitos were quite glad as well. They seem to have had a feast