Soddo, Ethiopia, January 2011
I knew that Ethiopia is a poor country,
but that it looks like this as I myself have experienced it,
I didn’t expect it to be like that.
I have seen poverty before from a distance,
but to be actually in the middle of it is a bit different.
I haven’t had this kind of a dream that
I specifically want to come to Ethiopia,
but I had in my mind for a long time to do something.
eight volunteers
I know why I came here: I came to help children,
but how I ended up being here is very interesting.
It has never been my plan,
I have never dreamed of coming to Africa.
It has been to me as something distant, too hot,
somewhat dangerous, and it has never come to my mind.
In the unknown world
I was a bit afraid of African countries;
I would not live willingly in such countries
where there is aggressiveness,
where a white woman is something very very special...
in defiance of threats
If you see a bit how other people live in
other parts of the world,
then you gain a lot for yourself.
And on the other hand I can also give something from myself,
which is like... a symbiosis:
I give something, and at the same time, I receive something...
discovered something magnificent
People here are really friendly, sympathetic,
very willing to help, very willing,
sometimes even too willing...
everyone wants to shake hands, and naturally,
white people always tend to get much attention.
People are very nice, very friendly, very joyful,
helpful. I think that before leaving here,
a great many new friends are made.
Something extraordinary
...usually it doesn’t happen that I’m kind of swept along,
but I did let Laura to organise and plan everything,
and so on one day we were here...
Due to different coincidences,
this dream became a reality here in Ethiopia
Something for the heart
I think I’ll probably gain more than they do
from those couple of painted walls...
Something for the spirit
As it happens, people often say that Africa is this
and Africa is that, but I came here to see it myself...
„Learning in Ethiopia“
Coming soon
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