Good morning all! Yesterday we had the little miracle of seeing some exotic birds right in our yard. They stuck around long enough that I could get a couple of photos of one variety. It is called a red-throated bee eater and is a twittering little thing with florescent green on the back and orange on the belly. Here are a couple photos of its front and back. I wish they showed the color more brightly, but I am happy I got such a close-up photo of the bird!
Also here is a photo of two cute little girls from the Sunday church service, sitting on their Mom's lap in choir. The little girl on the right was wearing denim and cowboy boots--so cute.
I am loving teaching English to these seminary students. Dave, you asked why they study theology in English. I think it is because the theology books are not translated into their language, Amharic, and also because their high school studies have been in English, so that is what they are used to for academic work. English is regarded as the language of instruction for university level classes. It is interesting too that these theology students come straight from high school to study theology for three years. They can get a diploma in two years or a certificate in three. That may be the same as a bachelor's degree/ There is also a program for a masters in Practical Theology here, and a student told me yesterday that it is the only one in the country. Tuesday afternoon Jim and I attended the faculty meeting here, thankfully held only once a month so we don't have to go to any more of them! Anyway. there were about 10-12 professors there, including Jim and me, and one other foreigner (from Missousi, who speaks Amharic). The entire two and half hour meeting was conducted in English, not for our benefit, but they always have the meetings in English, we were told, because that is the language of instruction.
I find though that the English used by students needs a lot of work. I am drilling them this week on prepositions, conjunctions and negatives. They have difficulty in knowing whether to use in, at, for, about--as you can imagine, it is difficult to learn. We have those things in our head from when we learned English as toddlers. So their writing is often stilted. But they are intensely interested in learning. I have offered special sessions for anyone in the advanced class who wants to come, twice a day,. at 1:30 and 5:00. 6 to 8 people come, and even leave homework with me to correct. I hope my intense work with them will pay off.
Students in elementary and high school wear uniforms here, and it is fun to see them walking off to school in the morning in their uniforms, the little girls, especially, singing away, backpacks loaded, hair often braided in a hundred or so braids, and holding hands. Affection is very accepted here. Children as well as men with men and women with women hold hands with each other as they walk down the street. It is not taken as anything but companionship and is very sweet to see.
Handshaking is a big deal. One shakes hands every time you see someone, both on greeting each other and when you part. If you are well acquainted, you learn your heads toward each other as you shake hands and do a "semi-hug". If you want to show more affection, you shake hands and while doing so, learn into the left side of the head, then the right, then the left, then complete the handshake. It is common to put the left hand on the right arm while shaking hands with the right arm. That is a sign of respect. There is a whole litany of greetings too. How are you? How is your husband? How are your children? How is your mother How is your father? etc. etc.
Tonight at 6 we are invited to a coffee ceremony at the home of another faculty member. And tomorrow the President and his wife have invited us to a coffee ceremony, so we should learn how it works between these two wonderful opportunities.
Time for lunch. Today it is leftovers, since Addis comes Monday, Wed. and Friday. But she makes plenty so we eat well even on the "off days".
(Posted late because I couldn't get the internet to send yesterday!)
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