Ethiopian Research

As some of you know, I'm an advanced creative writing student through the Open University.  As part of my course I have to write a 4,000 word complete story, or beginning of a novel.  This is a big task, which I work on over 3 assignments.  The first assignment, which is the plot proposal, is due on Valentine's Day.  That is also going to be my youngest sister's 4th birthday.

I thought long and hard about what to write for this story.  I needed it to be something I was interested in, something I could be enthusiastic about, but also something that other people might want to read.  I eventually decided to write about adoption from Ethiopia - in honour of my youngest sister.  It seemed fitting somehow.

Now, here's the thing.  I've not been to Ethiopia.  I was travelling elsewhere when my family adopted my sister.  This means I have a lot of research to do.  To be honest, it might just be easier to try and squeeze in a trip to Addis Ababa before my final assignment is due in mid-May.  A lot of the blogs out there about Ethiopia focus on the famine and poverty.  All of this has a place, absolutely, but I want to celebrate the good about Ethiopia.  Other blogs focus on the adoption process itself, which is important, but that's not what I'm writing about.

I'm hoping that you could help me.  I want to know the details about Ethiopia.  After all, it's the little details that make a story come alive, but that no-one thinks to write about in a blog.  What is the heat like?  Is it dry, or humid?  What are the smells?  What do the market stalls sell?  What did you do during the day?  What was the driving like?  What was church like?  What did the food taste of?  How did you feel during the coffee ceremony?  What did the guest house look like?  The orphanage?  What is there for young people to do?  What do Ethiopian people wear?  And any other details or anecdotes you can think of!

I'm planning on listening to a lot of Ethiopian music, and finding as many photos as I can (lucky I have a photographer for a father).  All this can only tell me so much, though.  It doesn't tell me the sounds, the smells, or the emotions.

Anything you can send me - photos, stories, testimonials, blog posts - would be greatly appreciated.  None of it is going any further than me.  If you could either comment on this blog-post, email me (please let me know that you have via a blog comment though, so I'll be sure to check my email!), or Facebook me, I'd be eternally in your debt.  I need to do this story justice, for my sister and for her culture.

Thank you!
Charli