This blog is blocked; but I will keep on writing.....

It’s been quite a few days since I posted the last blog; all blogs in Ethiopia have been blocked and this is one of them (oddly and sadly) – this blog is very apolitical and the blogger’s (only) interest is to let people know the other [perhaps the more fanciful and charming] side of Addis.

It took me a while to find out how I can make my blog accessible to readers in Ethiopia and abroad. For those who live abroad, you can easily access my blog, read the stories, leave your comments, click the ads, etc. It’s very easy. But for those who live here, it’s pretty difficult unless you use an anonymous proxy server like www.atunnel.com. But you may only be able to read and leave comments.

I’ll come back to you with more articles. Have a good week.

Kindergartens and their amusing ads.....

I was just standing on the pedestrian pavement of a big road (the road from Urael to Bole Medahlialem) this morning and waiting for somebody. It was around 8:00 am (GMT + 3:00); I could see a lot of students walking to the nearby Bole Higher Secondary School clad in their green and white uniforms. I quickly scanned in my mind the numerous kindergartens, elementary and high schools, colleges – private, public or state run. It struck me that it’s worthwhile to let the world know a bit about the schools in Addis. I hope to post successive blogs in the coming days….

I will start with Kindergartens and some of their ads today….

Some of the amusing ads on Kindergartens:

So and So Kinder Garden

The people who were running this ‘Kinder Garden’ seem not to bother to check the spelling. Perhaps, they thought it’s a garden where some ‘truths’ get planted in the kids’ minds. Or perhaps the secretary typed something else and the auto corrector changed it to Kinder Garden (both English words). Perhaps the owners were playing a kind of pun by saying they’re kinder than other owners because they’ve a garden full of flowers for the kids to enjoy. (I’m yet to see a kid who enjoys gardens without trampling the plants, though).

So and So Kindergarten…….your kids will speak English like a diplomat

I saw this posted on the interior of the bigger taxis (mini buses). Which diplomat? That was what came to my mind…. I know of diplomats who at best speak broken English and at worst use a translator………let me be kind…perhaps the owners have good contacts with diplomats who speak English like the Queen………


We teach ‘Computers’…

I know of a KG where they entice parents by saying they teach computers, they even have a computer teacher…….the kids have been taking computer lessons for the last 3 years….but the KG is yet to acquire a single computer…..the kids are forced to imagine….I also hear that the teacher uses pictures to at least show how a computer looks like…..poor kids……

This is another kind of ad…

I know a lady who teaches at one of the numerous KG’s…. there is another KG adjacent to where she teaches…these guys (the neighbours) apparently had small number of students and went around the neighbourhood during the summer lobbying…they allegedly defamed the other KG (the place where this lady teaches)…and the result? They got less number of students…it kind of backfired!!!

Please leave your comments. If you’d like to add anything, you’re most welcome.

Addis Watch Online!

Well, I always feel that there are everyday happenings in Addis Ababa (for that matter everywhere) that are too worthy, charming and fanciful to be left out– yet are hardly reported/ recorded.

I strive to fill this gap – writing what I observe around me while traveling in share-cabs, sitting in cafes, walking, talking with friends, etc.

So, enjoy my blog and leave your comments……..

Addis Watch