It’s 5 AM. Two days and nights without sleep are behind me now. I feel that my heart is beating differently and I don’t know whether this is from not having enough sleep or the view of  the plane’s window: mountains, villages and the sun, which has just brought the light. This all forms a sight very different from the view from my apartment at Lasnamäe.

I’m with Annika at the airport in Addis Abeba arguing about the taxi prices in order to get to the bus station. The local taxi drivers see in us 2 very big and white wallets. Annika, who already knew it doesn’t agree but me in my stupidity would pay as much as I’m asked. I’d heard before that this is how the things work here, but still my mind can’t believe it really is like this: arguing on every step and constant fuss about trivial topics. It’s better for yourself to get used to it fast.

My first attempts to go out on my own in Africa didn’t end up good. I was walking when suddenly two boys caught me, one on both sides of me. I didn’t know what to do, so I shook them off and run the opposite way. I didn’t get too far when a man saw a potential victim in me and offered his guide services and all this, of course, in return of money. I decided I was still too dumb and white to go around on my own in Ethiopia.

Me and Annika are on our way to Awassa , where Merle and our local friend Noah(whom I already met in Estonia) are waiting for us. He seems like a really nice guy. In addition to nice people, there’s a luxurious hotel waiting for us, where hopefully we can have a good rest. I stay there alone, the others are going to stay with the local advocate Noah. I was laying down in my room when I suddenly heard a loud woman’s scream, as if somebody was being killed or raped. Somehow the appearance of the room and the screaming doesn’t make me feel as if I was in a hotel, it’s rather like a Latin-American film, like “Desperado”. Despite the fact I’m quite pleased and happy that I can rest.

We’ll spend a few days at Awassa. We went to a local spa, which was on quite the same level as back home, the only differences were the unknown nation and monkeys climbing on trees. We were eating Ethiopian ice-cream and just feeling relaxed. Life is a flower or as the locals say “chigirillo”. It was time to get on the bus to go to Soddo. You can’t compare this bus to the one we took to Awassa. Still, Merle tells us that this bus is very ok compared to the ones they had  a few years ago. Then there were chicken on the bus, tied by their feet, also other animals. I can’t even say weather I’m sad that these changes have taken place. From one side I’ve been missed out on a real African style bus ride, but on the other hand, I should be happy that there’s been a development in the particular area. Many people already have mobile phones and they dress like in Europe, that includes ripped jeans and etc. More and more non Christian music is also being played, it wasn’t like this a few years ago. I have to admit I don’t like this kind of a progress, but maybe I am too old fashioned.

It’s Sunday now. We decided to visit the local church. The churches here are big and most of the people attend the services. They talk about God in any place and they can’t imagine it being different. We got to the church in the evening and there aren’t too many people, just a few hundred. I feel good here and when the choir started with the worship then I can’t hold back my tears, because of the sincerity and freedom you feel the people have. This touches my heart. At the same time I’m a bit ashamed of how we Estonians can be so cold. We left the church. The only word that popped to my mind was “contrast”. The land of the contrasts, I’m thinking how can it be that most of the people here are Christians and not only by name but also in their heart, but still they try to cheat you, that includes constantly trying to make you buy something from them. They think that a white person’s only function is to bring them money. Everywhere you go they will shout “Farange-farange!” (white-white). Thinking of it there’s a conflict in me, I think of how can it be like this. After some time I relax and realise again that people are people, weather black or white, Christians or not. Maybe the only difference is in they way of expression, the outward looks and here the man’s corruption is maybe more obvious. Despite all the negative, I like the local people whose trump is their sincerity. I believe also God sees this!

NORMAN

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