The NGO Bazaar

On Saturday, after work, we went to the monthly NGO bazaar. This event, organized at an evangelical church near the Canadian Embassy, brings together many regional NGOs and allows them to sell handicrafts to raise money for their particular causes. We were told that, unlike every other market in Addis, it is not appropriate to haggle with the NGOs. There were lots of things on display, although wooden carvings, rugs, traditional clothing and leather goods dominated. There was a great display of furniture (can you ever have too many bookcases?), but I couldn’t figure out a way to get any of it home. I bought some postcards and some painted soapstone carvings, although some of the designs look suspiciously like the warthog and meer cat from the Lion King.

We did a little more market strolling later in the day. One member of our group, who has been here a while, picked up a tablecloth and napkin set he had ordered from a merchant’s stall. A very nice white linen cloth with an embroidered design and twelve napkins cost him 150 Birr or $21. I might order one myself. The post office was just across the street so I purchased stamps for my cards. It costs 2 Birr, or 28 cents, to send a postcard to Canada. An example for Canada Post! The building itself is very old fashioned with brass, glass and wooden wickets for the clerks. I confused the woman who served me by asking for forty stamps, all of the same design. I gather many “ferenji” come in to buy stamps for collections and want as many different designs as possible.

Two of our team returned from their holidays, one went home; the other went to Kenya. He raved about the safaris; he went on six during the two weeks he was there. The other guy brought back 20 kilos of peameal bacon for our Canada Day pancake breakfast. The meat was wrapped with cold packs and seemed none the worse for wear. He also brought pancake mix. We shall have to make some “fasting pancakes” for any of our Ethiopian guests who may be observing an Ethiopian Orthodox fast. Their pancakes will have to be made without and butter/oil, sugar, baking powder or eggs, so will likely be more like matzo than flapjacks. There are many fast days in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church so you always must be ready to provide the appropriate food. Just like in Canada, however, not many people are strictly observant.