Home » Ethiopia » One Year Africa: Swimming in the Blue Nile, Walking Abay-avenue

There is one particular river crossing I will relish forever, not only because it is a famous river, but because I did it in the most beautiful way one can imagine: I swam.

One Year Africa: Swimming in the Blue Nile, Walking Abay-avenue

Maarten de Boeck
2006-05-01 17:28:33

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up ourselves over an exceedingly steep stretch and we took a break. We slaked ourselves with water and biscuits. It would soon become dark. Promptly we proceeded our way to the day's destination. That night we were hosted by one of Tanescu's acquaintances.

On arrival we got seated under a kind of lean-to. A bunch of curious smiling faces greeted me. I was tired but happy. I had come to Africa to seek intensity. These were the days I had been looking for. Our host washed Tanescu's feet and my feet, a beautiful gesture of humbleness and hospitality, like Jesus washed the feet of his apostles...
Little time later I started cooking. Like the day before my cookery was accompanied by a lot of curiosity. Especially the women were interested in my kitchen-adventures. It must have been the first time for them to see a man preparing food. They keenly watched how I lighted the stove, boiled the water, added the spaghetti, etc... I shared some of the food, everyone from young to old receiving a heap of spaghetti. Due to the language I was unable to ask them whether they liked it or not. I disliked the food, like I almost always do when I cook for myself. I had never cooked before coming to Africa. I am a bad cook and it proved to be rather inconvenient to learn it on such a small stove. Anyway, plain spaghetti can't be very tasty.

The family gathered in one of the huts. I joined them drinking coffee. Absent-minded I stared to the scene, listening to the voices of people chatting. It is lovely to have the chance to be in people's homes. To see how they live, to witness how things are going in an Ethiopian household. Sitting there I didn't feel like an outsider anymore. I witnessed a family sitting and talking together like they would have done without my presence. I tried to use some of the Amharic phrases I learned out of a phrasebook, but my attempts only caused heartily laughter. The family got cheerful. It was a memorable evening.
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