This time around I’m not going to apologize for letting the blog languish.  One thing I’ve learned is that acclimating to a new country takes a little while, and during that adjustment period it’s hard for me to muster up any narrative energy.

But here I am, about five weeks into my new assignment, finally ready to start reporting again: this time coming to you from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Click on this map to get a clearer view.

Ethiopia is in East Africa, in the pointy bit of the continent jutting out to the east called the Horn of Africa.  Ethiopia was Abyssinia in ancient times. Its neighbors are Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, and Sudan.

Addis (as it’s called for short) is almost right smack in the center of the country. It is sited in a mountainous area at elevation 7650’. Addis is a new city, having only been founded in 1887.  The story goes that the wife of King Menelik II was so taken with the mimosa trees and natural hot springs that she convinced her husband to build his palace here. They named the city Addis Ababa, which means New Flower.  The population is about 3 million, making it one of the biggest cities on the continent.

Now that we’re oriented, I’ll see if I can keep up a regular pace with my postings.  I know I have a lousy track record.  But maybe this time we’ll be able to stay a little longer, and that will make it easier to stick with the plan.