My life in New Flower (Ethiopia) 1

I have been longing to write a story of an OFW since I am one of them. As much as I want to alienate myself but I can't. This is my third country to work outside the Philippines. I don't need to go to the details of other two countries I have been to. Let me focus my storyline on Africa. Some of you might think, "where in the hell is Addis Ababa?" Hmmmmm... for a start I only heard Ethiopia during the time of the 1986, "We Are the World" national anthem for the famine, drought that devastated Ethiopia which was a news item around the world. That was it. But if some of you are geeks, you would know that "LUCY", the first human fossil excavated, was found here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Quite an educational and trivial to start my story.

New Flower is the literal English translation of the Amharic word, Addis Ababa. I am a professional health worker here. I came here July of 2010 to relieve my friend so that he can go home to his family. I was being asked by my friend since I was free spirited and had no one to worry about. When I arrived, I was very sick -- as in very very sick -- but I didn't care about my health. I know how my body works. With full determination to work again in a different country, I never shared my condition to my friend. When my plane touched down in Addis Ababa International Airport, I was transported back in the circa of Manila 1980s. I felt the breeze, the coolness, and a different smell which brought me to my senses -- that I am in a different country. From the plane itself, the experience was totally different then, the start of totally seeing the color side of the skin it just blown up. Honestly, I didn't care much because I was sick throughout the flight even before I left the old Manila International Airport. July to September are very chilly months here in Addis Ababa. In addition, this is high altitude place which is about 2,500 meters above sea level with its high altitude it is totally different experience from the weather to the health. Having arrived on the middle of chilly month it is the worst thing to encounter. I was fighting the coldness and my illness. I had only one thing in my mind as I tried to psyche myself – work. I arrived on a Friday chilly noon. My friend and the accountant fetched me in the airport. I never had expectations nor what so ever worry what I will see. I had an open mind. Since I already had experience on working outside the Philippines I understood what I should do. I was prepared emotionally and psychologically. When I arrived at my pad which they call condominium which by our term is just a tenement, I just unpacked my things, took a shower and rested the rest of the day. The following day, I was hoping to rest again due to my condition physically but my friend asked me to go with him to the clinic so that I would be able to start my work. I tried to reason but he was insisting that I go with him. I was really disappointed at the time but couldn’t complain since he doesn’t listen. I was introduced to everyone and right away he endorsed the things I needed to know. Wow having the jetlag and working right the following day was really totally wrecked. I don’t know how I survived that day but I survived. Sunday I was asked to meet Filipinos for lunch—a Filipina working in Sheraton Addis for 15 years, like an institution here in Addis Ababa, and another Filipina married to an American who is executive chef at Sheraton Addis. I had my first lunch—a proper lunch at that—since I arrived. I wasn’t socially into it at the time since I was not feeling well (Itutuloy). -- GMA News Louis Ano ang kwento mo? Mga Kapuso, tuloy ang ating kwentuhan. Sana’y hindi kayo magsawa sa pagtangkilik sa ating pitak na ito. Habang may mga kababayan tayo sa abroad - pati ang kanilang mga kabiyak, anak, ina, ama o sinuman na kabahagi ng kanilang buhay - na nais magpaabot ng kanilang saloobin, mananatili po ang inyong Kwentong Kapuso. Katulad ng dati, hindi kami magsasawa na basahin ang inyong mga kwento - maigsi man o mahaba. Kahit na ang laman nito ay naglalabas ng inyong saloobin, walang mapagsabihan ng sikreto, o kaya naman nais magbigay ng inspirasyon, gustong magpayo, magsumbong, magpatawa o kahit nagpapalipas lang ng oras. Kaya hihintayin namin ang inyong mga email na maaari ninyong ipadala sa Pinoyabroad@gmanews.tv Sa inyo mga kababayan namin saan mang dako sa mundo, kami po'y saludo sa inyo. Kaya ilabas na ang iyong saloobin, ikuwento mo Kapuso!