Meskel Celebration at School

Hello Spring and goodbye rain...well, almost. Meskel is an annual celebration of the Ethiopian Orthodox church. Sights of Meskel include yellow daisies decorating a constructed pile of firewood with a cross erected at the top (demera), and the abundance of folks wearing white shirts and dresses. The original concept of the holiday 1600 years ago was to find the true cross Jesus was crucified on. On the eve of the holiday, demeras are lit around the country; the largest celebration being in Addis Ababa in Meskel Square. The burning demeras take away the sins and concludes with the cross falling. The hope is that the cross falls in the direction of Jerusalem-meaning a good year is ahead.  If you would like to read more about the festival click here.   

Adding the final touches to the demera. You will find demeras in each neighborhood. 

Grade 3 hosted an elementary celebration. 

There was music and dancing.

Some of the beautiful hairdos. 

After the elementary festival, there was a school-wide gathering on the field.

Bringing the fire.

Lighting ceremony.

Some more great hair.

The falling cross. 

A couple of goodies from Addis.

Not much to post word or photo wise, but there are a couple of gems in the mix. If you get an itching to see how well snail mail works in this part of the world, we'd love to hear from you. Send us a postcard and we'll do the same. You can write us at: ICS c/o Bob and Ana Medina  Mauritania Road PO BOX 70282 Addis Ababa Ethiopia. That's right no zip code.  

New year chickens that didn't make the cut or end up on a plate.

Albert is looking good as is the human brain.

Corndog pointing out Africa on the map. 

If someone did this in the states, I'm sure homeland security and PETA would chase you down. 

The girl bear on the top has something funky going on. 

The Teletubbies grow up and grow boobs. Outside a Kindergarten school. 

Saturday morning hike.

Lost in the woods.

Cool looking moss.

Lost horn. 

Driving down Entoto

The real New Year in Addis.

How I spent New Year in Addis.
By Robby Medina

Construction site equals green and yellow fences. Why green and yellow? Rumor has it that someone in the government likes the Brazil football team.   

Rocking the cool street art. 

Yes, those would be sticks.

A goat peddler chatting with our van driver. $40 will get you a nice goat.

It was Mexican week at the Radisson. BTW, happy Mexican Independence Day.

The Mexican embassy flew out the high school age musicians from Oaxaca and a chef from Guadalajara for the week.

Remember the sticks surrounding the building above? 

A story about a drunk little tree.

In our free time, Ana, friends, and I stumble around construction sites...for fun.

Probably not California building code friendly.

Just a short walk over the hill from where we live.

This is what out place looked like 3 years ago.

It is always nice to have a group of children follow you to practice their English and laugh at you.  When we parted ways they said "we love you" and giggled off into a field.

Progress is a real shame. 

Gotta get the Pepsi and beer up the hill somehow.

"We love you" 

Gotta keep the electricity flowing. 

Female gender symbol and 420...what does this mean? 

Nothings says happy new year like a skull.

Somebody likes the Broncos.

Stopped by for a beer at a local bar and meet these nice fellows...

...and our server. The hairdos are amazing in Addis. An added bonus of living here,

Good thing we don't have to travel far to buy our new pet goat.  These nice gentlemen were eager to assist us.

It was a tough choice...

...but we settled on Birriacita. 

We also get fresh chicken delivery at home.