Besrate Gabriel, Diré Dawa

Wednesday, July 20, 2011
(Hamle 13, 2003, ec)

The ground floor of the Brother’s Residence consists of a small chapel, library, community room, dining room, kitchen storage/workroom and finally the kitchen. The kitchen is equipped with a rather primitive set of electric burners, more akin to an industrial sized hot plate rather than a home cook-top. So, to manage cooking for 29 people a small charcoal brazier is called into play…set in the middle of the kitchen floor. Considering the lack of cooking equipment, the meals have been wonderful.

Although the kids had helped kill and butcher a chicken in Meki, I am not sure they were prepared for the chickens here to be killed and plucked in the room adjoining the dining room. It does give a certain immediacy to the process. Killing, dressing, cooking and serving all within 20 feet. It also serves as a very real lesson that something gave its life so we can eat; a lesson not so obvious in the pre-packaged world in which we live.

Our experiences are growing, as are we. What would have been shocking two weeks ago, everyone is taking in stride, supporting each other when necessary.

Today, we just observed classes, getting ready to begin full force. The summer schedule has five 40 minute classes which begin at 8:00. There is a half hour break after the third class. The day is over by 11:30. Lunch follows with a time to rest in the heat of the day. The kids come back about 3:00 and will play until 5:30. There is a paved volleyball and basketball court here as well as two small gravel soccer fields. The school has a much different feel than Meki. First of all, it is in the middle of the city, there is a lot of traffic noise emanating from the street in the back of the school. The property is much smaller than Meki and lacks the green lushness. Three sides of the compound is composed of two storied buildings: the administration block, elementary block and the Brother’s residence. The remaining side houses the 11th and 12th grade along with kindergarten and 1st grades.

Population and school fees are approximately the same in both ministries: Besrate Gabriel has about 1600 students in their day school and kids pay about $12.00 a month. Brother Getachew says the largest class here has 78 (not a typo)! In addition to the day school, there is a night school which has about 800 students. The night school is comprised of older people who must work during the day to support their families but want to have a secondary education.