Our International House of People: Day 3 Ethiopia

Monday, August 18, 2008

Day 3 Ethiopia

The other family at the guest house and Magda

Abraham and Delylah

View from the Old Milk House

Day three was much more exciting than Day 2 because we ventured out a bit more and had out embassy appointment. To kick off our adventures, Abraham our driver took us to lunch at the Old Milk House restaurant. I actually enjoyed the food quite a bit because since we stayed local on the second day I ate at the Italian restaurant for lunch and dinner; so obviously this was a nice change. We later went shopping which I just picked up some traditional outfits for Delylah and some gifts for the family back home. We finally got to the embassy and everything went smooth. I had been so worried up until this point that something could go wrong and they tell us that we would not have our visa by Wednesday causing me to get stuck in Ethiopia (because of returning missionaries Flights are booked up until after labor day). I felt so relieved that my fears were not coming to pass. Our druver later took me to Baldi coffee which is Ethiopia's version of starbucks. He later took me to a traditional Ethiopia restaurant for dinner. I am not too keen on Ethiopian food but the veggies were quite good.

4 comments:

Unknown said...: this baby is beyond beautiful; August 25, 2008 at 9:12 PM
G&K said...: Glad to see you both safely back home. The photos are great. Thanks for sharing. Delylah is looking wonderful.; August 26, 2008 at 12:29 AM
Special K said...: Delylah is just gorgeous. I'm afraid Lennah may have competition! Micah looked and Delylah's picture and asked if he could give her a toy!

Welcome home and congratulations!; August 26, 2008 at 9:11 AM
Aimee said...: How fun to read and look at the pics and relive my own ET experience.; August 26, 2008 at 9:20 AM

Post a Comment

History of Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of the oldest known cradles of civilization known to man. Christianity was brought to the Kingdom of Axum around the 4th century AD and later in the 7th century Islam was introduced. Foreign missionaries were introduced to the region around the 1630's. Because of these unwelcomed guest Ethiopia did not welcome foreign Christians and Europeans into their lands. Its isolationism may have saved the country from 19th century colonialism. In 1936 Italian facists entered the region and forced its emperor into isolation but was later returned when the British and the French defeated the Italians. Civil unrest would lead to the demise of the aging emperor and in 1974 a socialist sort of government was named. The country went through a period of red terror that was funded by the Soviets and Cuba. This lead to the implementation of a communist government being installed in the late 1970's, early 1980's. In 1989 the country went through a period of famine that also lead to a change in governments. Finally, in 1994 the country would declare its independence and later hold free elections.

History of Vietnam

For about two thousand years Vietnam was ruled by China, following this period it would become independent for the next almost thousand years. In the 1800's it would be colonized by the French. The early 20th century would bring about visions of an independent republic. In 1945 Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam independent and renamed it the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. By 1947 a full-scale war would break out between the French and the Viet Minh (Ho CHi Minh's followers). China also began to aid the Viet Minh at this time due to its own communist revolution. July, 1954 the Geneva Accords would be sign paving the road to France leaving Vietnam; however, it would partition Vietnam into 2 independent states seperated by the 17th parallel. The South was helped by the United States, while the North would be dominated by the Viet Minh. By 1963 the South's government was very unstable. 1965 President Lyndon Johnson would send troops into Vietnam. The North would lead a massive attack in 1968 destroying much of the South. In 1969, Ho Chi Minh died but his forces remained in tact. By the early 1970's many Americans viewed the war as unwinnable and would prove unsuccessful at containing communism. January 1973 the Paris Peace Accords were signed ending the United States role in the war. In 1975 Saigon would fall to the North Vietnamese and in July of 1976 the two parts were reunified into the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The war was disastrous for the Vietnamese people leaving an estimated 1 million to become boat people, 1 million imprisioned, and more than 100,000 killed. Today, Vietnam still has a communist form of government and although they are a developing nation many people remain extremely poor.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Day 3 Ethiopia

4 comments:

Ho Chi Minh City

Addis Ababa

Hohhot City

My Blog List

Blog Archive