The Fellowship of the 10%
July 5, 2016
If money was not a consideration and you could do anything with your life, what would you do? … More The Fellowship of the 10%
Category: Language
Un-say
January 2, 2016
I like collecting information, though I’ve not done any serious polling of my usual victims since a couple of years ago. But those I communicate with frequently are never surprised to get questions on random of subjects from me. Of late, I have been asking ‘What is your least favorite single-word expression in Amharic?’ I forget what got me going … More Un-say
Talk Amharic to Me
November 11, 2014
There’s something English can’t touch. Amharic. That is the conclusion we – some fellow speakers and I – recently came to over the course of numerous, sporadic conversations on the topic. We had these conversations in English, of course – with sprinklings of Amharic thrown in when the Other tongue just wouldn’t do – because … More Talk Amharic to Me
bayte-what?
August 11, 2014
Sew le sew, the longest-running drama series in the history of Ethiopian Television I’m told, is over. I’m sad but I’m also glad. It had pretty much taken over my life. In true soap opera style, a plot line that could be resolved in ten minutes stretches out over many episodes, conversations that could be … More bayte-what?
Permanent Hager Fikir
December 16, 2013
I have two tattoos which never fail to catch people by surprise. I guess I don’t come across as the self-stamping kind. This is partly true, which is why I have trouble giving adequate explanations of my non-Maryam Yesamechign markings. If only I could blame it on the Holy Mother. Nope, all me and my … More Permanent Hager Fikir
Code Error
December 2, 2013
Somewhere in Addis there is a house as old as me. All I ever had to do with regards to it was just live in there, stay cute, and be on my best behaviour, sorta like this: Until recently, that is. Decades since I last set foot in the yard, I was tasked with getting … More Code Error
For the love of…
July 12, 2013
…music or amharic? (not that there’s a difference)
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
