Monday I picked up two beautiful maps of the Gurage country from the Ethiopian Mapping Agency. They are dated 1975 but much better than what I have been able to put together.
Tuesday, we took another run up the the University at Sadist Kilo; we never seem to travel by the same roads. Our driver Girma mentioned that one of the neighborhood we were going through was nick-named "It is hopeless to cry for help." Once at the University I decided to see if I could find the Chair of the Geography Department, Dr. Mulunek Woldetsadik, who had also done his Masters Thesis on the Gurage country I had lived and worked in. I found my way to his office, after being reassured by the students that they were not sending me to the lion's cage. It was slightly after 1 pm, just after the lunch break and when I was standing in front of his office, I was asked who I was looking for and then informed that Muluneh was coming up the stairs. He invited me in and we had a lively discussion about the Gurage; he is a Gurage himself. He was delighted to receive computer files of my research and we set another appointment for this Thursday so that I could get copies of his. We then went out for coffee.
My poor cellphone shut down again. I tried the pin-number "11H1" but I was typing blind and I am not sure if I ever got the "H" correct, or maybe it was upsidedown "1H11." I am curious but it's really not a necessity.
Yesterday I did some tourist shopping up to Nigeria Rd., lots of little shops with some very nice black pottery, horn glasses, and old coins. I have very few urban photographs, many buildings are evidently forbidden to be photographed. I did stop by the Techical School where I taught for two years and talked with some students; it's now a technical college and many more young women are attending; there were only two in 1965-67.
Today I have a follow-up appointment with the Geography Professor; he even referenced my study, one of the ten people in the world who has read it! I eventually plan to leave my laptop with him for an appropriate student.
In the afternoon I have an appointment with the Minister of the Ethiopian Mapping Agency, who I've discoved is also a Gurage, another bright student; he warmed right up when I called him yesterday and was most interested in our revisit.
Friday I'm going to talk with John Graham, author of ETHIOPIA-OFF THE BEATEN PATH to see if I can persuade him to make a tourist report on the Seven Houses of Gurage; John has lived in Addis Ababa for over ten years and is now working for US-AID, an international development agency. Perhaps, we'll take a trip together.
My friend Phil flies out to Beruit on Saturday but hiswife Daniele will still be in residence.
I have already made a reservation with Girma, our favorite taxi-driver, for a ride out to the airport next Wednesday evening.