I’m thirsty. So thirsty. If I stop and take water, I’ll lose my
momentum. The backs of my hands are sizzling like bacon. The front of
one hand is still burning and numbed from the plant I accidentally
touched on the way down. When I touched it, it felt like a bee had
stung me 20 times at once. How did I get a sunburn on the backs of my
hands? I readjust the scarf that either shades my face or neck. My
face and neck are continually in contest as to the winner of
protection. The flies coat the faces of scabby-faced children and
beasts of burden in what seems like the hundreds. If I stand still,
they’ll place a flag on me and claim me as the West Indies. I don’t
want to be discovered. I want to be my own island away from the flies.
Now that Ras Dashen is accomplished, the wind has been taken out of my
sails. I’m paddling back to the camp where we can get a ride out of
the Simen Mountains. An imaginary carrot is being waved in front of my
eyes as I stumble forward. I promised that we’d have tacos at my house
in Dessie after we’d climbed Ras Dashen.
By the grace of God, Allah, Vishnu, or Buddha we finally made it out
of the Simen Mountains. We all licked our wounds on the ride back to
Debarq from a town called Shiro Leyba (meaning thief of Shiro – a type
of sauce served with injera). Then Libby, Janelle, and I made our way
back to Dessie to enjoy a little bit of relaxation and tacos.
Unfortunately, Libby had to leave to go back to the states a couple
days after that, so we came back to Addis Abeba to drop her off. As
the time was approaching Thanksgiving, Janelle and I headed to Wolkite
to enjoy some of Ericka’s hospitality. There was more food at her
house than you could shake a stick at. I couldn’t even force down
desert I was so full. After Thanksgiving, I had to drop of Janelle at
the airport for her new adventures in Luxembourg. It was sad to see my
friends leave, but they are of course not to far away in my heart.
Cheesiness aside, it was brilliant to be able to commiserate with my
amazing friends. The time then called to go back to home - to Dessie.
dear lord those tacos and pancakes were heaven sent!! <3!!
Posted by: libby! | January 16, 2010 at 05:20 PM
ps! miss you like mad!!!
Posted by: libby! | January 16, 2010 at 05:21 PM