Så er der under en uge til at jeg skal rejse!

Hold da fest, hvor jeg både glæder mig og er ved at tisse i bukserne af skræk.

Det er efterhånden 10 år siden jeg var der sidst. Det var den gang jeg blev storesøster til en sprælsk etiopisk pige. Som er en af grundene til jeg har valgt at arbejde frivilligt i Etiopien.

Mit arbejde kommer til at foregå hos Selam's Children Village, som er et sted for både forældreløse og børn der har det svært. Stedet blev grundlagt i 1986, af en dame der blev adopteret fra Etiopien.

Jeg glæder mig til at møde min værtsfamilie og måske lære lidt amharic (det mest brugte sprog).

GLÆDER MIG GLÆDER MIG GLÆDER MIG!

Lot's of love

Marie

Introduction

First time visitors to Ethiopia are generally amazed by the stunning natural beauty of a country that is also incredibly rich in culture and history. The striking diversity of landscapes, ancient traditions and people leaves a lasting impression to challenge the misleading stereotype of a land stricken by years of drought and famine.

Brimming with contrasts and extremes, Ethiopia beckons visitors to explore from the tops of its highlands, where mountains soar over 14,100 feet (4,300 meters), to the depths of the Danakil Depression situated below sea level; to discover Abyssinian culture and traditions that date back over 3,000 years; to experience ancient Islamic folklore, as well as the fascinating rituals and sacred ceremonies of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Northern Ethiopia holds the greatest attraction for visitors as one of the country's richest regions for culture, history and natural splendor. The Historic Route takes in the medieval city of Gondar, with more castles, palaces and churches than any other city in Africa; and the ancient capital of the Queen of Sheba and Ethiopia's holiest city, Axum, where the original Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments is said to rest. Ethiopia's top attraction, however, is undoubtedly the 13th-century rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, among the most incredible man-made structures in the world, revered and renowned among Ethiopians and foreigners alike and the venue for some of the most famous religious festivals in Ethiopia. Taking 24 years to complete, the astounding rock churches are believed to have been created with the help of angels.

The north also boasts the breathtaking Simien Mountains National Park, encompassing the fourth highest peak on the continent, and providing fantastic hiking ...

Lake Ziway, known in the local language of Oromifa as Hara Dembel, is the largest lake in Ethiopia’s Central Rift Valley and is home to thriving bird populations, resident hippos, and tilapia fish – delicious served grilled with lime!

Five volcanic islands dot Lake Ziway’s surface, with hiking trails, forests, and ancient monasteries to discover. Tulu Gudo is the largest island and is famed for once acting as the hiding place of the Ark of the Covenant. The story goes that King Menelik I, the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, brought the powerful relic to Ethiopia in the 4th century B.C. Hidden deep within the Saint Mary Zion Church’s sacred Holy of Holies in Aksum, the Ark rested peacefully until the 10th century when the violent campaigns of warrior-Queen Yodit Gudit threatened to destroy it. Queen Gudit, the then ruler of Aksum, was known for her destruction of Christian churches, and her crusade to exterminate the rulers of the Axumite dynasty. To protect the Ark, it was carried far south to the island now known as Tulu Gudo, where it remained for some 70 years before being safely returned to Aksum. Those that brought the Ark to Tulu Gudo became known as the Zay people, the guardians of the Ark. 

Lake Ziway holds adventures for both culture and nature lovers alike. Due to its important role in Ethiopian Christian history, Tulu Gudo’s Maryan Tsion monastery boasts a number of manuscripts dating back over 1,000 years, that are said to have accompanied the Ark on its journey to the island. For nature lovers, Lake Ziway offers a fantastic variety of aquatic and arboreal bird species on its islands, shoreline, and neighbouring forests. Highlights include the Sacred Ibis, Hammer Kop, and ...

LAKE ZIWAY

Lake Ziway is one of the freshwater Rift Valley lakes of Ethiopia. It is located about 167km (60 miles) south of Addis Ababa, on the border between the regions of Oromia and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples. The town of Ziway lies on the lake’s western shore.

Lake Ziway measure 25 kilometers long and 20 kilometers wide, with a surface area of 434 square kilometers. It has a maximum depth of 4 meters and located at an elevation of 1,846 meters. There are five islands which include Debre Sina, Galila, Bird Island and, perhaps most notably Tullu Gudo, home to a monastery said to have housed the Ark of the Covenant around the ninth century. The lake is fed primarily by two rivers, the Meki and the Katar, but does not always have an outflow.

The lake is known for its population of birds and hippopotamuses as well as supports a fishing industry; according to the Ethiopian Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2,454 tones of fish are landed each year, which the department estimates is 83% of its sustainable amount.

Source Internet

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 4, 2009 (Ezega.com) -- Zumra Nuru never got a chance to go to school. He cannot read or write. However, as a child, he was a very inquisitive kid. When he was 2 years old, he questioned his mother about religion. One day, he ate a piece of meat from one of his Christian neighbors. This offended his Muslim family, including his mother. His mother snatched the meat from him and threw it away. He was very sorry and asked his mother, “why can’t I have that meat?”

His mother replied “it belongs to Christian people”. Zumra asked “What is Christian, are they not human beings?” His mom replied, “Yes, they are.” Zumra followed on, “Are we not human beings as well?” And his mother replied “Yes we are human beings, too.” “So why can’t we have the same meat?” Zumra asked. His mother could not reply.

When he turned 4 years old, he started questioning about the behavior of human beings. He observed the unfairness on gender inequality, maltreatment of the elderly, labor exploitation, cruel punishment of children, and dishonest dealings among people.

When he brought various questions that bothered him inside the house, his parents and relatives considered him mentally ill person. When he turned 13 he was thrown out of his family house. At the age of 20,he decided to travel to places to preach his ideology. In 1980(E.C.), he founded the then 19 member association called Awramba Community. At that time, this group was ostracized by the society and its followers considered radicals. At some point, they were forced to flee their homes, their land confisicated, and their leader, Numra Nuru, arrested for several months.

Awramba was founded in Fogera Woreda ...