Author Archives: lornaofarabia

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About lornaofarabia

I am a teacher from Medford, Oregon. I currently live and work in Bangkok, Thailand.

Pied pipers

Posted on 24 Apr 2013 by lornaofarabia

Elementary teachers received this message on Monday: Every year we have the privilege of hearing the two pipers that the British Embassy sends to Addis every year. Last year we heard them in the covered area, which was a bit … Continue reading →

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When life gives you lemons

Posted on 23 Apr 2013 by lornaofarabia

There’s no substitute for fresh lemons. Where I grew up in California we always had a lemon tree in the yard.  After I moved to Oregon, we ended every visit to my in-laws in LA by loading the station wagon … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere, Food, Shopping | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Bath party

Posted on 21 Apr 2013 by lornaofarabia

Not the Damascus politics kind. Bath party, Addis style, to me means inviting your friends over to use your shower because they haven’t had water at their house for a week.  Add a little wine and cheese and you can … Continue reading →

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Sirens and Saracens

Posted on 19 Apr 2013 by lornaofarabia

As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, Andreas and I spent our spring break in Sorrento, Italy.  We stayed in a wonderful guesthouse, actually an old 3rd floor downtown apartment converted into several individual rooms plus one small apartment. … Continue reading →

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Pompeii

Posted on 16 Apr 2013 by lornaofarabia

Although I’ve been to Italy several times, I’ve always been in too much of a hurry to get to Greece to take that southern detour into Naples. This was my first opportunity to see Pompeii, and I am pleased to … Continue reading →

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A breath of fresh air

Posted on 14 Apr 2013 by lornaofarabia

I recently ran across the following article on Italian air quality: “Drugs in the Air” I will say I did enjoy some nice breathing in Sorrento and Rome, for whatever reason.  It is a little depressing to be back to … Continue reading →

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Folklorist for a day

Posted on 12 Apr 2013 by lornaofarabia

Alekka is taking a Spring semester course in Anthropology. Her teacher asked me last month if I’d be willing to present a guest lecture on folklore. My first reaction was, not possible, I haven’t thought about folklore in 25 years. … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere, International Community School, Teaching | 3 Comments

Out of Africa

Posted on 2 Apr 2013 by lornaofarabia

One of the favorite pastimes of ICS foreign-hire teachers is planning their next escape.  It’s not that we don’t like it here. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t like it. But we do look forward to getting out of … Continue reading →

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Box of wonders

Posted on 22 Mar 2013 by lornaofarabia

My daughter Alice in the US packed up a box and sent it here. It was mostly stuff I’d asked her to buy for us, but she tossed in a few much-appreciated surprises (mainly of the chocolate variety). In case … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethiopia, Food, Home life, Shopping | Tagged | Leave a comment

Threshing time

Posted on 21 Mar 2013 by lornaofarabia

It’s a busy season for teff farmers in the highlands.  Teff is the grain that is the basis of the Ethiopian diet. Farmers harvested and stacked the teff in November; now it’s time for threshing and winnowing. The countryside is … Continue reading →

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