Well I got into Addis at 4AM. It actually proved to be not so harrowing a journey. Of course I say that now in retrospect. I cannot say for sure what I expected. Sarah (my previous counterpart) had arranged for a driver to meet me at the airport. I arrived at The Black Lion complex and found our apartment on the third floor. We had morning report at 8AM and Sarah was kind enough to boil a pot of water to make a warm bucket of water for my "shower." She instructed me on the use of the blender as the pouring device in the shower. Well, at least the toilet worked (kinda).

So we attended morning report for the surgical service to review the admissions from the previous evening. Rounds then commenced. It was slightly disappointing to see that though my collegues spoke English, all of our patients speak only Amharic. After a teaching session led by Sarah, we proceeded to lunch at an African art gallery and had pizza. Very Ethiopian.

Sarah had been visiting an orphanage and had arranged to say goodbye in the evening. So off we went to meet 16 children and Abdysa, who manages the orphanage. I lost multiple times in Connect 4 and lost multiple paper airplane competitions. There will be a rematch however. Christmas will be coming in one week (January 7, I think). Abdysa plans to have 100 children over. It will be wonderful to spend Christmas with them.

It was an overwhelming day in truth. I was exhausted and completely uncertain as to what the next two months will bring. Oh, almost forgot, as a former electrical engineer, I thought of the brilliant idea of connecting my 110V surge protector to the 220V outlet. After the small explosion, I found I had managed to blow the fuse for 2 outlets in my apartment. But I digress...

Got up at 3:30 this morning. Thought I'd sleep all day. No internet. No TV. No radio. No hot water. Not the typical way to start the morning. I tried out my camp shower this morning. Not sure yet if it is technologically superior to the bucket and pitcher. I'll keep you abreast of the ongoing study.

Then off to explore the city. Today was a muslim holiday and there was a lot of celebration in the streets. Made my way to an internet cafe, of which there are a number in Addis. Not so speedy, but plentiful.

Foreigners don't blend in well here in Ethiopia. There is a large homeless population that is quite aggressive and persistent in solicitation from travelers. The language barrier doesn't make it any easier. I'm not sure of the proper response - but it does make travelling alone difficult.

Then I discovered the Ethiopian transportation system - the minibus.The public transportation system here is actually unbelievable. For 1.10Birr you can get around the entire city for the most part. That amounts to a whopping 14 cents. Unbelievable. I hadn't realized that at least 14 people can fit into the back one of these buses.

Then I ventured down to Bole - a little pocket of western civilization tucked within the city. Almost every important amenity can be acquired in the grocery stores catering to the travellers. Everything from dove soap, to pantene shampoo, to kleenex brand tissue.

For dinner I enjoyed my first ethiopian meal at an authentic restaurant - Rodeo House, complete with cowboy boots and pictures of the wild west. My friends assure me the food is authentic. It was surprisingly enjoyable. Definitely an acquited taste, however. The staple - injera - is very reminiscent of some Indian food.