Becky LeBlond of Cohort V is currently completing her IYFD internship in Ethiopia. The following is an excerpt from her reflections on her time in Ethiopia:
Dear Friends and Family,
As you know, different cultures have different perceptions surrounding
time. Living in Japan made me a very prompt person (for the most
part). Living in Ethiopia currently threatens to unravel all that. I
would not go so far as to say that the idea of rushing does not exist
here, only that it is very, VERY different than the one that most of
you are familiar with. Allow me to paint you a picture.
About a month ago, I had asked the Field Manager, who oversees the
movement of IRC vehicles, if a car could take me to the small town 30
minutes away so that I could check email and get a few things. He said
"no problem" and that I should be ready at 2pm. Knowing that 2pm could
very well mean 3pm, I got my things together and went to wait by the
canteen. I was sitting in the shade (where I try to spend most of my
time), reading my book when one of my Education Program colleagues,
Efrem, came up to me. A conversation unfolded as follows:
Efrem: Becky, do you have a plan to go to Sheraro this afternoon?
Becky: Yes, I do.
Efrem: Okay, are you ready? Because we must hurry.
Becky: Yes, I am ready.
Efrem: Do you need to get anything because the car will leave very soon.
Becky: I have everything right here, ready to go.
Efrem: We must leave right now, it is an urgent matter.
Becky: No problem, we can leave immediately.
Efrem: Okay, just let me eat my lunch.
Becky: EFREM!!!
Efrem: (Smile)
The timing issue is further complicated by the fact that Ethiopians
begin counting the hours of the day at 6am. So 9am is actually 3:00 in
the morning. Noon is 6. 11pm is 5:00 in the evening. It can be quite
important to ask for clarification as to whether someone is referring
to faranji or habesha (local) time. When, while on a staff retreat to
Lalibela, I was told that we would be leaving at 5:00 in the morning,
I responded with confidence that this would be habesha time, correct?
No, no, no faranji FIVE. Did we really leave at 5am? Well, that's
beside the point. For the most part, my colleagues are pretty good
about using faranji time with me, but I always get a kick when I
glance at someone's watch, see the time, and then have to work it out
in my head.
Becky
Read more >>
