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Jill Will Go To Ethiopia

January 9, 2013

Arriving in a city under cover of darkness is always fascinating. The city is planning a surprise party. I arrived in Tehran at night, or rather, the very early morning, to barely glimpse a city that looked abandoned. Quiet, peaceful. I arrived last night in Addis Ababa at nearly midnight to find a city still well populated. Merchants closing down shops, taxi drivers parked and gossiping, people everywhere. I can see nothing of the city beyond the hotel's front door - I keep thinking that when I will wake up, when the sun comes up, I will get to see where I am.

What I can do now is hear it. The night is full of dogs barking, horns honking, life. The morning will bring with it not only a view of the city, but birds singing, construction beginning, and loud lobby music piped into the hotel. A different kind of life.

At the airport an employee strikes up a conversation with me, asking me where I am from, what do I do? I tell him, American. His face lights up, then he gives me a thumbs up and tells me that America is good, that many Ethiopians live in America. This response, whether in Iran, Guatemala, or Ethiopia always surprises me. Americans are welcomed with an openness and friendliness that our government or our culture tells us just can't be true. We are hated by everyone, that's why we need fences and body scanners and to give up our own freedom - so we can be safe. But the best way to see how to be safe is to go see what you are being kept from in the name of safety.

Another thing that strikes me is that everywhere else in the world, people will talk to you like you are a long lost friend. What do you do? Where do you live? What do you think of my country? I wonder if I've ever heard an American ask a foreign visitor that. That curiosity, do we have that about others? I think some of us do.

Go do what we do. That's the advice, encouragement, and instruction given to me by a friend who also has a passion for travel. So I'll go.


Comments

  1. I hope your day is as beautiful as your thoughts and writing. I think it says something about friendship and love and care that in all of us being so happy about you getting to have your adventures, we have to be a little bit less because you aren't here with us. Thank you for being the type of person who becomes more on her adventures and gives us more as you grow.

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  2. What a beautiful sentiment. You have a great perspective that not many have, nor do many of us get to experience. I loved the post... please keep them coming! Now I want to travel the world even more.

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  3. Equal parts beautiful and inspiring, Jill. I admire what you're doing SO much.

    Keep going, and keep writing!

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  4. It will be great to hear your thoughts on your journeys.

    It is fascinating what we are told to believe about people and situations. Found it to be true when we lived in the Philippines. Folks in the states would call in a panic. We would be living our daily lives. Never realizing we were in so much 'danger'.

    I am very happy that you are able to travel like this! Have fun!!

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