Christmas in Ethiopia

I'm in Ethio Supermarket in Lalibela, and Ethiopian Christmas is around the corner, on Jan. 7. All night celebrations and festivities in this Christian country, most happening right here, a Mecca of sorts for this country.

It's been exhausting and rewarding, in the sorts of ways traveling in a developing country usually is. I've not enough money (paying by the minute here!) to describe it all, but for a few highlights:

- "If you don't know your goat, you don't know yourself!" -guide in Harar, explaining how people know which goats are theirs

- "She was beautiful in the usual ethiopian way -- you know, no teeth, but hot." - fellow traveler and aid worker living in Kenya, in Gondar

- "Japan? China?" "Not Japanese! Not Chinese! KOREAN! Go Reds!" - exchange between about 500 kids and adults and myself over the past 10 days

- "My name means one who searches for oneself." - Filimon, our beautiful and gentle guide in Gondar

If you've heard of conflict in the area, rest assured The Ringleted One and I are safe, and there are lots of tourists taking the same route we are.

Now, off to experience the country and battle the begging kids again!