Are you ready?

Posted by Serge - Friday, April 11, 2008

Are you ready?
This is a question I’ve heard frequently last week. That’s not strange; you don’t go all the way to Ethiopia every month. But a logical answer is different. Can you ever be ready for this? Practically, but emotionally? Apparently, I couldn’t grasp the extent of what would hit me. At our last meeting with WaterAid, they taught us about the 7 stages of culture shock. Ignorance, insecurity, denial, resistance, bargaining, depression - and finally, acceptance. Wasn’t that a little exaggerated? I know it’ll be hard, but will it be that bad?
I’ll keep you posted.

Blacklisted?
My passport: is it still valid? I don’t think so. Will I need any shots? I’m afraid so. Ethiopian Airlines hasn’t been blacklisted? No, so chances are, I won’t be falling out of the sky. London Heathrow terminal 5? No, terminal 3, so chances are that I’ll be able to retrieve my luggage at the other end.
So, that’s a lot of questions addressed and answered.

George Clooney
In the newspaper: ‘Recently, it came to light that the 46-year old peace dove, while on a mission of peace, was robbed in Sudan in 2006 and threatened under fire of Kalashnikovs .’ All right, so I don’t have George Clooney’s looks, but I do share his mission: helping people in need. And if even his safety is being threatened? He’s got a whole flock of bodyguards and an organization behind him that’s not likely to leave anything to chance. I wonder how our – and of course, my own - safety will be ensured?
Once again, I’ll keep you posted.

I’ll take a large whiskey!
The number of tips and tricks people gave me in the last few weeks was in direct proportion to the number of questions they asked.
A selection:
-Tip 1: ‘Have a large whiskey after every meal.’
to eradicate all the bacteria you consumed together with your meal.
-Tip 2: ‘Only drink fizzy water.’
because bottled water without bubbles could just as easily be tap water in disguise
-Tip 3: ‘Don’t hold out your left hand to an Ethiopian."
No need to let you in on the colourful details….

OK, with all these crucial tips at the back of my mind I’ll start packing. Probably a mission of its own.

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