Coup d'etat

(Afternoon, 25 Sep 05)

I have been instructed by Dan to inform any worried family or friends that I'm "OK." So there you have it. Before you've even asked, or even thought to need to ask, you know. I'm "OK." Now, for the 95% of you who have no idea why you should need to know that I'm OK, I ought to reprimand you for never clicking the link on the right of the blog that says "News of Ethiopia." In any event, I'll just catch you up. Over the summer a major election took place in Ethiopia, and the opposition party went from 12 of 540 house seats to 170 of 540 seats. The ruling party hung-on to the majority and will continue to govern. The opposition has maintained throughout that the election was rigged, and for the past month or so the "official" results have not been released pending investigations by the election board. About a week ago the final results were announced, giving the numbers you see above. The opposition refuses to accept the results. Furthermore, though the ruling party maintained control of Ethiopia, they lost overwhelmingly in the capital of Addis. Control of the capital is changing hands October 9. October 2 the opposition is planning various demonstrations against the ruling party. The president says that these demonstrations are aimed at a potential hostile overthrow of the government, though the opposition says they are peaceful demonstrations. Most likely the latter is true, and the president just doesn't want it to happen. In any case, there may be some unrest in Addis from October 2 through the 9th.

I, however, live 400km from Addis in a rural town that for the most part is unaffected by events in Addis, except that I may lose communication abilities. (Although, for that matter, international calls seem to be blocked at this point anyway). So, like I said before, I'm "OK" and you don't need to worry. In a worst case scenario we have plans to get us out of the country quickly.

On a lighter note, the weather has been gorgeous lately. The rainy season is finally over, and October early November are the best months here. The cool weather of the rainy season remains, but the mud is gone. In December and on the weather will be a bit warmer, but right now its perfect. Blue skies with a few clouds, and temperatures around 78. Yesterday I walked with a friend to the top of a mountain on the west side of town. Jimma is built in a valley with mountains on all sides. The palace of King Abba Jiffar is on the route. I didn't get to go in, as they charge foreigners a whopping 3USD to enter (locals pay about 15 cents), and I had only about a dollar on me at the time. I'm sure I'll go back. There are some pictures of the palace from a distance below, as well as some pictures from the top of the mountain looking down across the valley.

Also during the week I hired a maid. Her name is Tenaya, which if I remember correctly translates to "my health." She does my laundry, keeps the bathroom clean, and cooks dinner. I leave lunch open for variety. Most days I go on a long bike ride, or walk through town trying to learn all the roads. There are no road signs or road names, so its a bit difficult keeping everything strait. There's a picture of Tenaya and Teressa below; Teressa is a servant girl or something. I think she is the child of a family friend of the couple that lives with me; she lives here and does various chores, and in exchange gets to go to school, have plenty of food to eat, etc.

Anbessu - the NGO Director - has been gone for the past few days, leaving me in charge of the office. Its rather humorous I think; I have to sign requisition slips for cash or vehicles, written in a script (let alone language) that I can't read or understand. I have no idea what I'm signing. Oh well. I may show up tomorrow to find I sold the facilities to a local beggar.

Anyway there are some other pictures added above as well. A few of my house, my room, etc.

I think I'll go take a nap.

Michael