If you wish to contact me please leave your message on this page – thanks!
Please note that the views expressed in this blog are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO, Cuso International or my placement employers.
If you wish to contact me please leave your message on this page – thanks!
Please note that the views expressed in this blog are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO, Cuso International or my placement employers.
Hey, Marian, great to read the Blog and to seei you eat your way through Ethiopia! Send me a St George beer when you have a minute! Great to hear news and also to see the pictures of your life there.
Sure looks like both a place of interest and of challenge. I look forward to reading more and wish you all the best.
Charlie Naylor,
BCTF
Just stumbled across your blog, really like it. I’m glad some other VSOers have a good blog. I look forward to your adventures!
Rod
http://rbesseling.wordpress.com/
Thanks Rod. I am enjoying doing the blog. Will check yours out too!
Marian
Hi, Marian. I love reading your blog and checking out your pics. It’s a wonderful to be able to learn from you and your experiences. I hope you have a very merry Christmas and many happy adventures in the new year.
Cheers,
Moira
hi marian,how you doing? how life and job are going on together?you like it woldia? i really appricate you. you and your friend are challened every thing in woldia,i am so surprise,because you almost konw everything and you posted a lot of picture,you are smart,any ways happy new year,God bless you and your friend.woldia is my homeland,for the time being i am living America.thank for helping my people.God bless again.thank you so much.
Salem no Mulugeta
Thank you for your message. I am glad you are enjoying my blog. How did you find it?
Marian
Merry Christmas. We just love your blog. It’s really amazing that you are posting so much. Hope you had a great Christmas. We had a good time here.
Ken and Chantal
Thanks Ken – just got this as the internet was down for a day and a half – my Christmas blog will be up soon.
Much Love
Marian
Hi Marian
I am in the middle of the first on-line course P2V and came across your blog. Ethiopia was one of my preferred locations for a placement, so I am especially interested in case my wish comes true. I have been to Addis for a couple of weeks and enjoyed that enormously. I worked for the British council and my colleagues there were/are great people. In fact, you share your surname with my then boss and you look a bit like her too, you’re not by any chance related to Yvonne?
Hello Rudd
Thanks for contacting me. I am Canadian in fact and not familiar with anyone at the British Council; perhaps way back in time I am a distant relative!
Good luck with your work and feel free to forward a link to my blog to others who may be interested in Ethiopia. It is a wonderful place because of the great people.
Marian
Thanks Cory
So sorry to be slow to get back to you. Yes it seems I cannot access any Blogspot blogs for some unknown reason…I have tried often when I get your emails about new posts but they just go round and round and v]never open up. Hope you and Gina are well. I miss keeping up with you both!
Marian
Hi Marian,
I wanted to say thank you for writing such a entertaining and informative blog.
My husband and I are travelling to Ethiopia from the BC interior in a couple of weeks with our daughters who were born and lived the first 6 years of their lives there. We’ve really enjoyed your blog and it’s been invaluable for getting them back into the Ethio mindset and reminding them of what life there is like.
Take care,
Tamara
Hi Marian,
I very much enjoy your blogs. Thank you so much for making your adventures available to all and for been so skilled at making them fun to read. I loved the voting episode and the making of the wot step by step was great. Looking at the photos you have uploaded, there sure are a lot of friendly people in Ethiopia and you seem to have made a wonderful impression on them.
Hi Marian
Great Blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Louise Gonsalvez
Hi Marian
Just heard about your blog from
Gale. What you are doing is very exciting and interesting. Good to read.
Mary Leah
Hello! Marian I just saw your blog and find it so interesting.I even saw my picture in the Awash GBV,you did it so nicely and in an easy to understand way. I am afraid I will be a survivor of your blogs addiction.keep it up please.
Meron,
Thanks so much Meron! I will try to get the Hawassa done very soon and you will be a star again!
Marian
Oh! Merian I just saw the photos taken during the retreat, wow so much fun. I was laughing out loud when I see it. It reminds me the fun and every thing. Thanks Merian
Its great to see this blog , how do i take part whenever this is taking place , I m from Namibia ,give me more information email me at enmauta@yahoo.com
Hello Ester
You can check out volunteering with VSO on their website for more information.
Marian
Came across your blog today.. We too have a very high respect for Dr Bereket at the Korean….as he has seen to my wife on more than one occasion..
Frank Rispin ( Bradt Guide to Ethiopia )
Thanks for the comment Frank. I am a huge fan of the Bradt Guide to Ethiopia!
Ow i am so happy wt u write about ur journy spacly ur stay at woldya !
Hello Mariyana
Really thank you for sharing your experience about Madawalabu University in your blog and amazed me. since i was there for three years but no one try to encouraged young scholars of the university using his/her web! any ways God bless you!
Hi, I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in 1966-68 in Woldia…I have been back since, two years ago. I am trying to get in touch with the principal of Woldia Preparatory School. and to gain information for those who may wish to make a donation to that school…Is that possible? jacqueline.
Hello Marian, I cam across your blog when researching the certificate of international development at UBC. I am interested in applying, and would love to hear your thoughts on the program and whether it has been worthwhile? Thanks so much! Erin
Hello Erin
Yes the UBC CID has been very worthwhile to me and I highly recommend it!
Hi, Enjoyed your posts. Could you please share if you came across why and how the Ethiopians started the coffee ceremony, especially with 1st, 2nd and 3rd cup ritual? Thanks.
Its great to see this blog , how do i take part whenever this is taking place , I m from(food and beverage manager..in kuriftu,Ethiopia ,give me more information.
Hello Marian
I am Kefale and proud of being the member of the team. I would like to say thank you very much for your encouraged us though out our work and letting the people to know what is going on in Madawalabu University by young scholars,though it is not enough ,but we feel it is a big start. God bless you!
Thank you so much – it was a great experience to work with the Madawalabu team!
Just received a lovely scarf…perfect for spring—which must mean that you are back in Canada! I hope your most recent work in Ethiopia was interesting and productive. I hope to read more about it soon!
Hello Marian,
My name is Angela Efros, a master’s candidate at Xiangtan University in Hunan, China.
I’m writing my dissertation about international volunteering and I want to invite you to participate in my research survey.
I’m donating $1 to charity for each completed survey so this is definitely for a good cause! (You get to vote for the winning charity in the survey!) Follow me on twitter to see which charity wins @alefros
Here is the survey link :
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K9W8BLG
I would be so grateful if you would share this survey with fellow international volunteers and on your social media outlets. Thank you so much for your help!
–Angela
Sorry but I took a look and your survey is not applicable to my experience. I was volunteering with a professional organization not a for profit short term voluntourism outfit.
Hey Marian really love the work you did. I’m a graduate student and I’ll be working on higher education gender policies there in Addis Ababa this summer, would love to talk to connect with you on this subject if you have an email I can contact you with.
Thanks!
Happy Birthday Marian 😉
You’re celebrating your birthday. I chanced upon your blog today, about your silsa arat bday in Addis some 3 yrs ago. May the Lord continue to bless you with good health.
Cheers,
Letty
Selam Marian-
I just spent a few enjoyable hours at the Muimul Bakery reading your Spider Webs Unite book at Wyni’s recommendation. I am just finishing 6 months with MSF in Tigray working with Eritrean refugees. Your photos are awesome and reading your blogs confirms how much I too have fallen in love with Ethiopia!
Thanks for such an informative and delightful read,
Stacy Sloan
Thanks Stacy I am so glad you enjoyed my book!
Dear Marian hope that you are doing great. My name is Begosew Delele, I was part of the ICS programme back four years ago. I would be more than blessed and grateful, if you could share me your book.
Kind regards,
Begosew
P.S please keep up the good work.
Hello Begosew
You can see the book at Cuso or VSO offices in Addis and also at Gourmet Corner beside MulMul Bakery in Haya Hulet (ask Wini he owner to shoe it to you there).
All the best, Marian
Hi. I would like to know if there is gping to be bazar tomorrow 3 of february of 2017?
Sorry I am in Canada now so I do not know. It is usually every month except July and August during rainy season.
dear Marian.first my name is mileat girmay. ilive in mekelle & look your job at website so i’m so happy very much &where i can improve my idea & it great chance to me learn new things from your organization. thank you
When is the Artisan Bazaar at Tropical Gardens this year 2017? I recall when I was here in 2014, there was one late in the year…..Please let me know!
Thank you!
I left Ethiopia in 2013, so I cannot help you with thins information.
Dear Marian.Thank very much for the amazing work ,congratulations.
I am too late to respond you.My work nature some times took me to some area where I cannot get net works and for the reason I lagged though the the chance I know you through MOOCO.
you are a brave development practitioner who tested and experienced the ups and downs of Ethiopian people, the land… and empowered the Ethiopian professionals in the college,university and volunteering in charity organizations.May God bless you in long life and good health
Thanks you very much for your kind words.
Hi my name is lidya I live in France I have Ethiopian cultural shop I see what u do I would like to buy your work so please give me your contact to talk about it more thank you and very nice job
Hello Lidya. I am sorry but I do not have any copies left to sell of my book. I only printed 150 copies for family and friends. Marian
I wish you well, Marian. I am a former teacher and now work with refugees in Calgary, AB, Canada and have a number of Ethiopian friends. All the best to you in your adventures.
Hi Marian , how are you I’m a student in addis me and my friend work African print frames and we want to be part of the bazaar and I want to ask you how thank you .
Hello Meron. I no longer live in Ethiopia so I am sorry but I cannot help you with this. Ask at that church – it is near Mexico with red roofs across from King’s Hotel. I think is is the last Saturday morning of the month except in July and August. But they only allow NGOs to sell there. Good luck.
Hello Maria, this is Nadir from Bule Hora University our university want to work with you in different area of cooperation so pls respond your comment if you are willing
Hello please send me your contact information and let me know what you want to work on. I am in Canada now but might be able to work with you online.
Dear Marian, you have done a lot which I could not forget @ Woldia College even though we had been together for short time. All your writings are educative, current, interesting … Where are you now with that commitment and experiences ? I wish I would do with you again !!!! I wish you long and healthy life!!!!!
Moges Beletew
Hello Moges – what a lovely surprise to hear from you. Yes I still have so many memories of that amazing time in Woldia! And I remember when you dropped by to visit me at the MoE too in Addis. Where are you working now? I assume you got your PhD. You can email me at marianbeth@gmail.com if you like.
Marian, I thought there was an ngo that participated that made cardboard furniture. Do you happen to know the name of them? They also supply chairs at sishu I believe. Thanks!
Sorry I cannot help on this – best to go to the cafe and ask them.
Marian, what an amazing body of work! Thank you for all the good work you have done to forward the rights of women, and equality in the world. The pictures are beautiful and incredible. You are an inspiration my friend.
Thanks Jo!
I’m visual artist I’m interested
Hi Marian. Hope you are doing well? Keep up the good work.
Hi Marian, Are you around this fall, if so, I was hoping to touch base with you about possibly delivering a workshop. Thanks!
Hi Marian, let’s meet for coffee!
Yes! I’m free this Friday the 20th.
Hi Marian, thanks for your fascinating blog – I have been visiting Ethiopia for over 25 years – I really like the way you describe the everyday things which make Ethiopia such a unique place !