Ethiopians Greeting New Year with Mixed Emotions
05 September, 2011 | By Seble Teweldebirhan
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
person and to do things they aspire most. When New Year arrives,
people wish to change not only things they have control on, but also
things out of their sphere of control. As the Ethiopian New Year
2004 is only eight days away, Ezega.com has talked to some
residents of Addis Ababa about their hopes, aspirations, resolutions
and prospects for the New Year.
Henoke Abebe, 43 years old father of two, hopes the New Year
will be a year the country will overcome the inflation that made life
very hard for him and his family. “I understand this might be a crazy
wish because it is obvious that the economic crisis may not go away
just because the calendar changed. Regardless, I do wish for a
miracle to make life easier for us. I have spent every single day of
2003 worrying about my children and I hope the coming year will
create relaxing environment for me and for my family.”
“I hope the New Year will be the year we overcome hunger for
real,” said Hanna a 27 years old trader. “I don’t have any personal
resolutions, but for my country I pray God have forgiven our sins
and give us mercy so that our children wouldn’t die out of hunger.”
Hanna says she is tired of famine and the suffering of her fellow
citizens every single day. “If you are asking the miracle I aspire for
the New Year, it will be a country free of hunger,” she said.
Ayele Debabe, 23 years old college student, has a resolution to stop
alcohol, chat and cigarette for the New Year. “I have had made the
same resolutions for the last three years but failed each time. This
year, I understand it is time to get myself out of extreme additions.
It has affected me, my family and it ruined my relationships with
people. 2004 is a year I am hoping to be a free man,” he said.
However, for his friend Kibrom the resolution by Ayele did not
make any sense. “I am tired of his resolutions whenever a New
Year arrives. I believe that if people want to change, they can do it
any time. Meskerem (September) is just like any other time so I do
not think we need to wait a New Year to change ourselves for the
better,” he said.
“Nothing ever changes,” said 16 years old Dani. He has been living
on the street for the last two years after his stepfather kicked him
out of his house claming he stole 50 birr. “I don’t hope or wish for
anything. The only thing I pray for is to get my daily meal. Our life is
not similar as other people. We have nothing to wish or hope for
since we don’t have any prospect,” he says wondering his eyes in
case the passengers notice him and give him some changes. “It will
be funny if I wish anything better than I have. I am not going to
school, I do not have a family that can help me to be better and I
have no training to assist me to change my life. It’s hard to wish
something better in a situation I am in,” he said.
The 26 years old beauty shop owner Endris believes 2004 is a year
he will witness positive change not only in his life but also in his
country. “Who knew we will have the courage to have a project as
big as Millennium Hedase Hydro Electric dam. I think 2003 was the
best year in history for giving us the courage to finally decide to use
Abay (Nile). That by itself deserves so much credit. It made it easy
to predict 2004 will be the best year since I believe we will have the
fund to carry on the construction of the dam. That will change
everything not only for next year, but also for the entire history of the
country,” he said with a glimmering smile. However, everyone at the
beauty shop disagreed with him. “For me 2003 year is one of the
worst years in Ethiopian history. It is a year once again we lost our
security, dignity and faith in everything going on around us,” said
Alem. “It is a year we have seen the worst drought in the last two
decades. Life got harder than words can express it for the majority.
It is a year when we have seen the worst market failer and scarcity
of commodities. Now, on top of all of this, we are ordered to give
our salary to a dam construction while our children barely survive,”
she said looking at Endris very unhappily.
Genet, a 32 years old bank teller, agreed with her completely. “I
have no reason to forecast 2004 will be a better year for Ethiopians,
and, trust me, I am very optimistic person. It is just that I cannot see
anything change just because we are in 2004. New Year is two
weeks away. We weren’t able to change anything in decades let
alone in weeks” she smiled. Genet has resolutions for her personal
life though. “I am planning to get married,” she said.
Another woman in the beauty shop, Selam, after all the arguments,
suggested it is better to wait with a positive spirit and see. “Because
I love my country so much, I would never give up hope,” she said.
Selam, in her personal life, is hoping to get back to college. “I gave
birth and had to withdraw from school. I am planning to get back
and finish my degree. The truth to be told, if we all of us resolve to
be better people, there is no way the country wouldn’t change. We
often forget we are Ethiopia. Whichever direction we are heading,
we are in the driver sit. I think, instead of blaming and giving up on
the country, its better to strive to change for the better,” she said.
This actually got all the women in the beauty shop and the owner
Endris on the same page.
However, for some residents the coming year remains completely
dark. “What hope and wish are you talking about?” Yared Girma, a
29 years old former trader, said in an angry tone. “Let me tell you
what the government did to me in 2003. I owned stationery hardly
worth 200,000 birr. They said I owe them 1.5 million in tax. I have
cried and did everything, but no body listened. I have a family, a
wife, a daughter and two young brothers who are dependent on me.
The agency took everything I have worked for my entire life, and
freeze my money in the bank. Therefore, I do not understand the
concept of hope and wish any more. The only thing I pray right now
is my family will never go hungry,” he said with tears in his eyes.
Solomon, a journalist, also thinks, professionally, he has nothing to
hope for in the coming year. “In 2003 I have seen freedom of the
press go to the ground and buried in front of my eyes. My
profession was my passion. I had myriad plans with it. Now, the
only thing I plan for the coming year is to stay low and keep my
salary so that I will not go hungry. Personally, I plan to learn to play
guitar and to get my driving license. If you call these resolutions, then
I have one,” he said.
For the young Medical professional, Dr Fisaha, his New Year
resolution is to strengthen his commitment to his patients. “I have
nothing to wish financially. Our salary is the worst of all and I see it
will remain the same for a long time. However, medicine is
something I love to do. The satisfaction I get from practicing, pays
for every frustration I face in my personal life. So, every year, I
renew my commitment to my patients,” he said.
Tayeche Getu just arrived from Bahrain to spend the New Year
with her family. “I love the new year because it’s the only time I get
to see my family. I always miss the spirit and the smell that is so
fresh and clean. Besides that, life is always the same year after year
for me. I am a maid and I don’t have enough money yet to quit that
job,” she said in a smile mixed with deep sorrow. “I use to plan
every year not to go back. Almost every year I leave after my
vacation is way over. However, the truth remains I always go back
because mostly I find it hard to survive longer otherwise. This year I
will be back on time. I am not going to make the same mistake I
made repeatedly,” she said.
Azeze, an accountant, hopes he will get his visa and leave the
country in the coming New Year. “I am trying to go to Canada and
things are going pretty well,” he said. “It is not like I don’t love my
country. I just want a better life. I have worked for ten years in this
country, and frankly, I have nothing to show for it. Sometimes, I get
so scared knowing if something ever happens to me, like if I get
sick. I do not even have enough money for medication. I am tired of
worrying everyday. I need some security,” he said. Azeze says he is
borrowing money for a ticket and visa for his trip to Canada.
“People don’t mind giving you money if it is for going abroad. I do
not blame them for this. They give you the money because they
know you will have enough to pay them back if you get there and
work. That is what I call security,” he says.
In general, the spirit for the New Year 2004, with only a week
remaining, seems peculiarly low. Most people hold an opinion that
not much will change as far as the current state of the country is
concerned. This seems to create a notable frustration among the
majority although looking forward to the holiday spirit. Even
students, who usually get tired of the long summer break and wish to
get back to school, show indifference to the coming New Year.
With their families complaining on numerous issues, it would be hard
to find them excited about the year change.
Courtesy
05 September, 2011 | By Seble Teweldebirhan
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- With the New Year
approaching, the spirits of
fresh beginnings are
naturally expected to be on
the air. New Year, no
matter how appalling the
situations might be, have
some power to make
people believe things will
turn out for better. For
person and to do things they aspire most. When New Year arrives,
people wish to change not only things they have control on, but also
things out of their sphere of control. As the Ethiopian New Year
2004 is only eight days away, Ezega.com has talked to some
residents of Addis Ababa about their hopes, aspirations, resolutions
and prospects for the New Year.
Henoke Abebe, 43 years old father of two, hopes the New Year
will be a year the country will overcome the inflation that made life
very hard for him and his family. “I understand this might be a crazy
wish because it is obvious that the economic crisis may not go away
just because the calendar changed. Regardless, I do wish for a
miracle to make life easier for us. I have spent every single day of
2003 worrying about my children and I hope the coming year will
create relaxing environment for me and for my family.”
“I hope the New Year will be the year we overcome hunger for
real,” said Hanna a 27 years old trader. “I don’t have any personal
resolutions, but for my country I pray God have forgiven our sins
and give us mercy so that our children wouldn’t die out of hunger.”
Hanna says she is tired of famine and the suffering of her fellow
citizens every single day. “If you are asking the miracle I aspire for
the New Year, it will be a country free of hunger,” she said.
Ayele Debabe, 23 years old college student, has a resolution to stop
alcohol, chat and cigarette for the New Year. “I have had made the
same resolutions for the last three years but failed each time. This
year, I understand it is time to get myself out of extreme additions.
It has affected me, my family and it ruined my relationships with
people. 2004 is a year I am hoping to be a free man,” he said.
However, for his friend Kibrom the resolution by Ayele did not
make any sense. “I am tired of his resolutions whenever a New
Year arrives. I believe that if people want to change, they can do it
any time. Meskerem (September) is just like any other time so I do
not think we need to wait a New Year to change ourselves for the
better,” he said.
“Nothing ever changes,” said 16 years old Dani. He has been living
on the street for the last two years after his stepfather kicked him
out of his house claming he stole 50 birr. “I don’t hope or wish for
anything. The only thing I pray for is to get my daily meal. Our life is
not similar as other people. We have nothing to wish or hope for
since we don’t have any prospect,” he says wondering his eyes in
case the passengers notice him and give him some changes. “It will
be funny if I wish anything better than I have. I am not going to
school, I do not have a family that can help me to be better and I
have no training to assist me to change my life. It’s hard to wish
something better in a situation I am in,” he said.
The 26 years old beauty shop owner Endris believes 2004 is a year
he will witness positive change not only in his life but also in his
country. “Who knew we will have the courage to have a project as
big as Millennium Hedase Hydro Electric dam. I think 2003 was the
best year in history for giving us the courage to finally decide to use
Abay (Nile). That by itself deserves so much credit. It made it easy
to predict 2004 will be the best year since I believe we will have the
fund to carry on the construction of the dam. That will change
everything not only for next year, but also for the entire history of the
country,” he said with a glimmering smile. However, everyone at the
beauty shop disagreed with him. “For me 2003 year is one of the
worst years in Ethiopian history. It is a year once again we lost our
security, dignity and faith in everything going on around us,” said
Alem. “It is a year we have seen the worst drought in the last two
decades. Life got harder than words can express it for the majority.
It is a year when we have seen the worst market failer and scarcity
of commodities. Now, on top of all of this, we are ordered to give
our salary to a dam construction while our children barely survive,”
she said looking at Endris very unhappily.
Genet, a 32 years old bank teller, agreed with her completely. “I
have no reason to forecast 2004 will be a better year for Ethiopians,
and, trust me, I am very optimistic person. It is just that I cannot see
anything change just because we are in 2004. New Year is two
weeks away. We weren’t able to change anything in decades let
alone in weeks” she smiled. Genet has resolutions for her personal
life though. “I am planning to get married,” she said.
Another woman in the beauty shop, Selam, after all the arguments,
suggested it is better to wait with a positive spirit and see. “Because
I love my country so much, I would never give up hope,” she said.
Selam, in her personal life, is hoping to get back to college. “I gave
birth and had to withdraw from school. I am planning to get back
and finish my degree. The truth to be told, if we all of us resolve to
be better people, there is no way the country wouldn’t change. We
often forget we are Ethiopia. Whichever direction we are heading,
we are in the driver sit. I think, instead of blaming and giving up on
the country, its better to strive to change for the better,” she said.
This actually got all the women in the beauty shop and the owner
Endris on the same page.
However, for some residents the coming year remains completely
dark. “What hope and wish are you talking about?” Yared Girma, a
29 years old former trader, said in an angry tone. “Let me tell you
what the government did to me in 2003. I owned stationery hardly
worth 200,000 birr. They said I owe them 1.5 million in tax. I have
cried and did everything, but no body listened. I have a family, a
wife, a daughter and two young brothers who are dependent on me.
The agency took everything I have worked for my entire life, and
freeze my money in the bank. Therefore, I do not understand the
concept of hope and wish any more. The only thing I pray right now
is my family will never go hungry,” he said with tears in his eyes.
Solomon, a journalist, also thinks, professionally, he has nothing to
hope for in the coming year. “In 2003 I have seen freedom of the
press go to the ground and buried in front of my eyes. My
profession was my passion. I had myriad plans with it. Now, the
only thing I plan for the coming year is to stay low and keep my
salary so that I will not go hungry. Personally, I plan to learn to play
guitar and to get my driving license. If you call these resolutions, then
I have one,” he said.
For the young Medical professional, Dr Fisaha, his New Year
resolution is to strengthen his commitment to his patients. “I have
nothing to wish financially. Our salary is the worst of all and I see it
will remain the same for a long time. However, medicine is
something I love to do. The satisfaction I get from practicing, pays
for every frustration I face in my personal life. So, every year, I
renew my commitment to my patients,” he said.
Tayeche Getu just arrived from Bahrain to spend the New Year
with her family. “I love the new year because it’s the only time I get
to see my family. I always miss the spirit and the smell that is so
fresh and clean. Besides that, life is always the same year after year
for me. I am a maid and I don’t have enough money yet to quit that
job,” she said in a smile mixed with deep sorrow. “I use to plan
every year not to go back. Almost every year I leave after my
vacation is way over. However, the truth remains I always go back
because mostly I find it hard to survive longer otherwise. This year I
will be back on time. I am not going to make the same mistake I
made repeatedly,” she said.
Azeze, an accountant, hopes he will get his visa and leave the
country in the coming New Year. “I am trying to go to Canada and
things are going pretty well,” he said. “It is not like I don’t love my
country. I just want a better life. I have worked for ten years in this
country, and frankly, I have nothing to show for it. Sometimes, I get
so scared knowing if something ever happens to me, like if I get
sick. I do not even have enough money for medication. I am tired of
worrying everyday. I need some security,” he said. Azeze says he is
borrowing money for a ticket and visa for his trip to Canada.
“People don’t mind giving you money if it is for going abroad. I do
not blame them for this. They give you the money because they
know you will have enough to pay them back if you get there and
work. That is what I call security,” he says.
In general, the spirit for the New Year 2004, with only a week
remaining, seems peculiarly low. Most people hold an opinion that
not much will change as far as the current state of the country is
concerned. This seems to create a notable frustration among the
majority although looking forward to the holiday spirit. Even
students, who usually get tired of the long summer break and wish to
get back to school, show indifference to the coming New Year.
With their families complaining on numerous issues, it would be hard
to find them excited about the year change.
Courtesy
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A day of reckoning and healing:
If not now, when...?
(Rev. Tegga Lendado, PhD)
- "We did not know how to
discipline ourselves but we
wanted to lead our nation.We
did not have peace within us
but we preached utopia. We
hid hatred and war in our
hearts but outwardly advocated for justice... More
If not now, when...?
(Rev. Tegga Lendado, PhD)
- "We did not know how to
discipline ourselves but we
wanted to lead our nation.We
did not have peace within us
but we preached utopia. We
hid hatred and war in our
hearts but outwardly advocated for justice... More
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