Assella-Arsi Schools, Ras Darge, students, Children, the people and the place

Today I am sitting in front of a new computer with old keyboard. It is hard to type. The hotel is good, the language is hard. Many don't speak English. The city is right on the black sea. it is really not black today, it is actually green. The banks own most of the hotels, and the hotels don't take US dollars. The IHY-Meeting started and I attended two seminars and I slept during the next two. The night before we went to a 300 year old village where we were entertained with the oldest from of dance, including dance on fire. I examined the skies. Very hard to know where I am I asked the locals if they new the constellations, one of them helped me with the big dipper which was almost overhead at 9:00 PM local.

Today is memorial day weekend. I just finished playing golf with my some Laike. He did a great job but remember this is after running and walking seven miles in the park. I am trying to shape up for the unexpected. Actually before my departure on June 2, Randy and I are planning to jog, we call it SOMSOMA in Ethiopian. Perhaps we will do a 5-7K. He will defintely make me eat his dust. We will be cheered by Ms. Toner and Ms. Caren. I will tell you a little bit about this three former Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs). They were in Assella in 1966-1968. At that time I was proably in 3rd or 4th grade. I will tell a lot more stories. We all plan to meet a day before my Assella mission. We have a lot of wishes for Assella, the schools and the Arsi zone. I was born and raised there. Our plan is to collaborate with any one and any group interested to support students and schools in the region. I think it will happen.