Ethiopian Culture

For the love of…

July 12, 2013

…music or amharic? (not that there’s a difference)

There’s a saying when it comes to Ethiopian food served in the traditional communal way: the tray should never show. The whole tray (or dish) should be covered by injera. When the tray starts to show, as it inevitably will when people begin eating, more injera should be added to cover the exposed part. In reality, … More Your Tray Is Showing!

Found In the USA: Yours, Mine and Ours

April 6, 2013

The last time I wore habesha kemis was on November 25, 2013, from approximately 4:00am to 9:00pm. But that’s nothing. My real record was the time before that. I wore one for over twenty-four hours from 6:00pm on August 3, 2011 until around 8:00am on August 4, 2011. That’s allowing for time spent sleeping with … More Found In the USA: Yours, Mine and Ours

14 Wonderful Words, Amharically Speaking

January 19, 2013

Apologies in advance to my non-Amharic speaking readers, but this article reminded me of the days, waaaay back, when I used to collect Amharic words in notebooks reserved specially for that purpose. I considered myself an Amharic word connoisseur of sorts, jotting down any new and unusual word I came across that I … More 14 Wonderful Words, Amharically Speaking

Call Me…?

December 16, 2012

I’ve been doing a little experiment lately. A “social” experiment, I think it’s called. I’ve been introducing myself as “Rebka”. The idea has been in my mind for some time. Back in the Fall of 2010 I actually looked into legally changing it from “Rebecca” to “Rebka”. I would have, too, except that the law … More Call Me…?

Shock of the New

September 28, 2012

There’s this joke about an American who went to Washington D.C to teach English to new immigrants from Ethiopia. He ended up learning Amharic instead. When you can do an entire transaction at Starbucks in Amharic (granted, the store in question is right outside the arrivals gate at Dulles Airport) and even add to the … More Shock of the New

How a Dam Works

September 1, 2012

Abay is not just the name of the river which springs from the heart of Ethiopia, cuts through Sudan and Egypt, and ends in the way of all rivers big and small. It is also the name by which I best knew my grandfather. Officially, he was known by the more intimidating Shaleka – chief … More How a Dam Works

The Twisted Edge

August 25, 2012

I can be a flirty type as long as it doesn’t involve people. Ideas is where the chemistry happens. There’s one in particular, which started off as a little harmless flirtation, then bloomed into a full blown on-again off-again thing that’s been going on for years. It never works out, of course, for reasons x, … More The Twisted Edge

Eating Alone

August 16, 2012

Long long ago, as mortals have done since The Fall, so did Mary the mother of Jesus. She died. Sources better informed than I ( = sources informed) tell me that the filseta fast that I currently find myself a little over halfway through has been held every year since then-ish by Orthodox Christians in … More Eating Alone

The Possessive Tense

August 6, 2012

When you are born everybody knows you. Half the town turns up to the welcome party to take a good look at you. The only other times that many people who you barely know or don’t know at all are going to turn up on occasion of you is for the two other life biggies: … More The Possessive Tense