Category Archives: Addis Ababa

Grow your own

Posted on 19 May 2013 by lornaofarabia

I love cooking with fresh herbs. Unfortunately, the selection in stores here is pretty limited.  I can almost always find parsley, cilantro, and rosemary, but that’s about it. The infamous Varnero pot plant delivery included mint, oregano, and thyme.  Our … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Home life | 2 Comments

Sole Rebels

Posted on 15 May 2013 by lornaofarabia

My new kicks: Sole Rebels shoes are made in Ethiopia. They’re fair trade, and comfortable, too. The company is owned by a woman, Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, who employs only other women. She pays them a living wage. The materials are … Continue reading →

Posted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Shopping | Leave a comment

Kitty litter crisis

Posted on 12 May 2013 by lornaofarabia

We came home one evening before spring break to find this official notice from the Varnero management on our dining room table. (the purple stamp on the signature is what makes it official) All the cat owners in the building … Continue reading →

Posted in Home life | Leave a comment

Orthodox Easter, twice

Posted on 9 May 2013 by lornaofarabia

I’m not a churchy person – my religious affiliation might be described as lapsed Unitarian – but I do get into the pageantry and mood of religious festivals. Maybe even more than some, because I’m not bothered by questions of … Continue reading →

Posted in Addis Ababa, Background, Ethiopia | Leave a comment

Pirates!

Posted on 2 May 2013 by lornaofarabia

Check out the recycled-materials ship from the school’s pirate-themed spring carnival last weekend. The sails are plastic milk bags. The trim is bottle caps.  The ocean is blue packing plastic. And of course the buoys are plastic water bottles. Never … Continue reading →

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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 →

Posted in Expat experience, International Community School | Leave a comment

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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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 →

Posted in Addis Ababa, Around Africa, Elsewhere | Tagged , | Leave a comment

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