Ethiopian New Year

Yesterday was the Ethiopian New Year. We couldn't totally figure it out but we think it was more in the sense of New Year's Eve than Rosh Hashanah. They put on a show for all the residents in the absorption center- and gave us dinner! It was a lot more spicy than the Ethiopian food I've tried at home which just made it more amazing. After that there was a dance party where they all tried to teach us Ethiopian dancing. For the most part, that was a complete failure although one of them, Avram, told me I was the best one at the dances. This was our first real opportunity to meet the other residents at the absorption center (hamercaz klitah). There were a lot of adorable kids and everyone seems really nice. Most people come to the center in groups. There was a group of Russians who came 2 weeks ago and another who came 2 years ago. There was at least one Ethiopian woman who had been living in the center for 17 years. Everyone was really excited to meet us and honored that we had come to there celebration. I made friends with one Ethiopian boy who wants me to start teaching him English on Sunday. Teaching English seems to be a major activity for Otzmanikim (people on my program). It is a major gateway out of poverty so everyone really wants to learn.

We also made friends with some Israelis living in the center. They are part of a program similar to Teach for America. They work at a local school to help provide stability, be role models, tutor, and to help if there is anything wrong in the students' lives. They told us that there will be refugees from Georgia coming to the center in the near future. All of the political science majors are really excited for that.

This is our first weekend in Natzrat Ilit. A lot of people have decided to stay in the city. We have been so rushed with orientations that we haven't had time to finish unpacking or shopping for the apartments. Tonight everyone who is here is going to have Shabbat dinner together. We all pitched in for food and different people are cooking different parts. We all have to bring our own dishes, silverware, tables and chairs to the dinner because no one room has more than what they need for the people who live there. It should be really entertaining- especially since none of us have really figured out how to cook yet!

We still don't have internet in our rooms. Right now theres about six of us in a gelato shop near the mercaz klitah. We each have our own table so we can each have an outlet. It's a little bit hilarious to see us all shouting across the room to each other- its okay mom we're the only ones here so we're not disturbing anyone.