Random Thoughts

I have not been blogging as regularly as I would like, but blogger sucks in Ethiopia, and I have been sick this week (possibly parasites), but here are some random ramblings straight from Ethiopia.

I’ve done a couple short excursions the last few weekends, and they have been amazing. We haven’t even gone that far from Addis, 100-200km, but it has been amazing. Really feels like rural Africa with all the accompanying wildlife and nature, with some great lunch spots as well. I’ve taken a lot of pictures, I will try to upload them soon..

Drinking a lot of juice recently. There are these great juice bars all over that have fresh juice. The offerings are inconsistent, but they are always pretty good. It isn’t really like juice, more like a smoothie, but they call it juice. They use mango, papaya, avocado, banana, and some other fruits I don’t know the names of. I usually get a ‘spris’, which is a mix of what ever they have, but they don’t mix it, it’s just layers of each fruit sitting on top of each other. Very good. But I can’t figure out how they make them all the same consistency, no matter what fruits are in it, no matter where you go, they are all about the consistency of pureed banana (even when there is no banana in it), and they stay separated unless you mix them with the spoon they give you. I’m not complaining, it is really good, well worth the 40 cents and chance that they didn’t clean the glass out that well. Of course I squeeze fresh orange juice with breakfast every morning as well. Gotta get my vitamins.

I haven’t read any of the comments on the blog yet. Ethiopian internet won’t let me. Blogger.

I am participating in the Great Ethiopian Run next Sunday. Supposedly it’s the biggest race (most participants) in Africa, something like 24,000 people run 10K. Should be a lot of fun. We are supposed to be taking some of our kids as well, as AHOPE is actually one of the beneficiary charities this year, but it doesn’t seem very organized thus far. I am looking forward to it though.

How bout those Celtics.

I’m looking forward to my parents coming out here in December, though planning things here is always a little tough. Getting straight answers out of people can be challenging, but I guess it is tough in the US as well.

The weeks are flying by. I’ve been sick this week, and I mostly just read, watched tv and slept and it is already Friday. I have less than two months left in Ethiopia, and I haven’t explored half of Addis. This is really an amazing country. I highly recommend it to any Bolivia fans.

Email me your address, and I might send you a postcard. The Ethiopian postal system is amazingly efficient. I am daily astounded.