Wordless Wednesday 11/07/07

To be honest, I could keep milking my Ethiopia photographs for several years’ worth of Wordless Wednesday posts. This one is of some kids who were fishing off a pier in Awassa, not far from from the motel (more like a hostel) where we were staying. Our driver was very wary about us going for unescorted walks, but we always felt completely safe in Ethiopia. The people there are very friendly and respectful and very few people beg, with the exception of the children. The kids, to their credit, usually start by asking for pens, which they need for school. Next time I go back to Ethiopia I’m going to buy a big box of pens locally so that I can hand them out. Many of the children know a little English — enough to ask for a pen, and maybe to explain that they are very poor and need money. But they were no trouble — we just explained that we’d left our money at the hotel and they didn’t hassle us.

These kids were fishing in the rather unsavory-looking waters of Lake Awassa, but they were very happy to take a break and pose. Considering that most of them have never seen their own picture before, they’re remarkably good models!

5 Responses to “Wordless Wednesday 11/07/07”

1. Lisa's Chaos says:

   November 7, 2007 at 6:31 pm

   Those kids are so cute! thanx for the info on the shot too, glad you weren’t completely wordless.
2. orion says:

   December 8, 2008 at 1:41 pm

   What a picture.i born and grew up by lake awassa and seeing this kids posing for picture reminde me of myself doing the same for tourist but ,but it doesn’t mean i haven’t seen my own picture before do you know how many photo shops they have in awassa and with all technology around the world you talk about ” most of them have never seen their own picture before” hope you never tought you was the only tourist they have seen.leaving in va usa i understand the minds of the so called civilized people underminig the the rest.anyways i love the picture
3. bodhipaksa says:

   December 8, 2008 at 2:34 pm

   Hi Orion,

   That was a silly comment of mine so I’ve deleted it. It’s good to hear from someone brought up in Awassa.
4. GIRMA says:

   January 16, 2009 at 11:38 am

   Among the four kids, from the picture one of them is my brother. I had been there until 2006.I uses to live in America.even if I had no money I have never had strees when I was back home.
5. bodhipaksa says:

   January 16, 2009 at 1:21 pm

   Hi Girma,

   What an amazing coincidence! They were all really friendly kids, and very proud of the fish they were catching.

   All the best,
   Bodhipaksa