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At the Soddo Christian Hospital in southern Ethiopia there is a great need for an anesthesiologist, and Kari and Asle have been asked to give a helping hand. This web site will provide news and updates during their stay. For more information about the Soddo Christian Hospital in southern Ethiopia, please visit www.soddo.org
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Below you will find the latest update from Asle and Kari.
Kari, July 24th 2010 Addis Abeba
Hello friends!
We are now back in Addis, this time to send Filip back to the United States, but also to witness in the trial for the robbery two weeks ago. They called Asle when we got back to Soddo, and urgently asked us to come back to attend the trial. So tomorrow morning at 8:30 we will be in the court house! We'll get back to that in the next update.
We have also been back to Jinka; Asle to work and Filip and I as good supporters. On the way south we visited a market in "Key Afar." A very stylish tribal people (the Banna people) were at the market that day and we got some nice photos.
After the market day, the Banna people pack up and go back home.
Some of the local Banna boys.
After a day's work Filip and Asle got a nice hike up in the mountains. Acting surgeon at the hospital in Jinka, Torleif Kiserud and his really fit daughters from 6-10 years old, were climbing up the steep hills like mountain goats. I decided to pass on the trip, as high elevation running doesn't suit me well.
On the way back to Soddo we spent another night in Arba MInch. It was difficult to find accommodation in the city, as it was graduation weekend. The families are always proud to have a family member who graduates from college, so it calls for a celebration. In the evening we decided to try the local fish restaurant in town, and there was a long line due to the graduation parties. After an hour of waiting we got a table and were served the restaurant's specialty; roasted whole fish:
Before we went back to Soddo the next day, we stopped to buy fresh fish from the market in Arba Minch. Last time we were here and tried to buy fish, the market was closed as one of the fishermen was eaten by crocodiles.
This time when we arrived they were in the process of gutting the fish. All the fish remains were used to cook soup that was sold cheaply to the local people. As we were getting ready to leave, around 25 of the locals had gathered around us to hear Asle speak Amharic. Asle decided to buy soup for the entire gang, and that was a big success!
Cooking fish soup.
Two days after we got back to Soddo we celebrated Filip's 20th birthday. Filip, Asle and some of the foreign youth workers took a trip to Amasa national park, about 2 ½ hours drive from Soddo. I had to stay at home to teach my pupils, but also to make a surprise party for Filip!
Filip and his new friends on his birthday trip
On their way up in the mountains.
Boys will be boys... why sit in the car when you have a nice roof?
Back from the trip; a surprise birthday party!
20 candles have been blown out; wishes have been made; let's eat!
Until next time,
Kari