News>144 hours in Ethiopia: Into the land of plenty
Photos
Two children herd a line of cattle along the road to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Dec. 8, 2011. From a very young age, children in Ethiopia are taught to contribute to the welfare and profession of their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jarad Denton)
A young man drives a mule-drawn cart along the road to Negele Borena, Ethiopia, Dec. 4, 2011. Addisu Wedhao, attache to the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia, said these carts are often loaded with recently harvested wheat, bound for processing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jarad Denton)
by Senior Airman Jarad A. Denton
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Affairs
1/9/2012 - HAWASSA, Ethiopia (AFNS) -- (Editor's Note: This story is part of "Through Airmen's Eyes." These stories and commentaries focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.
During a recent trip to Ethiopia, Senior Airman Jarad A. Denton experienced rural areas outside the country's capital as he travelled to Negele Borena by car. Negele Borena is the site of a bridge in Ethiopia, built by Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa.
The long car ride to Negele Borena afforded Denton the opportunity to see a people very different from the stereotypical images most Americans have of Ethiopians. He described the journey through the country as a discovery of the soul of its people. This is the first part of a five-part series: 144 hours in Ethiopia.)
Time seemed to take a step backward almost immediately after the high-rise buildings and bustling streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, disappeared in the SUV's rear view mirror, Dec. 4.
Vast expanses of golden wheat fields, which rivaled the rolling hills of the American Midwest, were on display throughout the two-day journey to the recently completed bridge in Negele Borena, Ethiopia, as though they had been plucked from the pages of John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath."
Having arrived in country the day before, my preconceived perceptions of Ethiopia were instantly shattered. While Addis Ababa had been filled with the towering spires one would expect to find in an American metropolis, the countryside lining the road to Negele Borena was the most startling.
The images of famine and poverty most Americans associate with life in Ethiopia were replaced by the reality of a hard-working, industrious people developing a strong agricultural base. If there was a plot of land along the road capable of supporting crops, it was seeded, tended and harvested. I found myself captivated by the hills and mountains, full of meticulously maintained farms, which seemed to touch the sky as the SUV drove closer to our destination.
Negele Borena, our final destination, was the site of a bridge dedication signifying the partnership between the people of Ethiopia and the U.S. It was a long car trip, which meant there was plenty of time to take in the sights along the road and ask questions about the country.
Wedhao's words were illustrated by the men tending the fields along the road. They harvested the wheat with their bare hands or sometimes a small scythe. Women walked along the side of the road, carrying heaps of wood or straw on their backs. He also mentioned the Negele Borena Bridge as a fine example of Ethiopia working with the U.S. to improve itself.
"This is a sign of globalization," Wedhao continued. "We are looking to simplify our lives through technology, but we don't want to forget where we've come from either."
It is important during this period of growth, Wedhao said, to retain the cultural identity that makes Ethiopians such a proud people.
"Ethiopians are proud, respectful and hospitable," he said. "We have a lot of history, traditions, culture and values which Ethiopians respect and carry with them."
Wedhao said Ethiopia is home to many nationalities, which must be tolerated and respected -- otherwise conflict would arise. He feels the modernization has done much to bring these diverse elements together in a spirit of cooperation.
"We work together to make this country better," Wedhao said. "The land gives you what you give to the land."
The land itself is just as diverse as the people inhabiting it. The lowlands and highlands have blended together, much as the modern architecture and technology has blended with the cultural traditions of the people to form a nation with a deep sense of pride, Wedhao said. From businessmen in suits working in the city, to farmers driving a wooden cart to market, everyone is asked to find a way to contribute to society, he said.
Nowhere during the ride from Addis Ababa to Hawassa did I see anyone on the road sitting idly by. Everyone was busy working or on their way to or from somewhere. Suddenly, the SUV jolted. The paved road had been replaced by a cobbled, stone street. Wedhao told me the road had been created by hand, as he motioned to a group of people working on an unfinished section of road nearby.
They hefted huge chunks of rocks in their bare hands and carried them to other workers who used hammers to break off tiny stones. Those stones were carried to the unfinished sections, where workers carefully placed them in a spiral design. The smaller stones were then set with a mortar, which, when dried, would form a beautifully designed cobblestone street.
This was not the stereotypical Ethiopia I had seen on my television set. The road to Negele Borena had shown me a nation with a people invested in its future.
"We are proud to be Ethiopians," Wedhao said. "I love this country because it is my country."
Wedhao's words stayed with me as we stopped for the night in Hawassa.
