First of all: Merry Christmas ( too late) and Happy New year to my dear readers!
No newswhatsoever on my case. The school has been summoned (meaning the owners of the school aka die fuehrerin and her Somali husband who proves the Somali reputation right!) which probably won’t help me very much. They were supposed to be at the Human rights office last Thursday so on the 17th. Mrs Mahlet awaited them only to find they didn’t show up. When she checked the summon it seemed this hadn’t been received ( they have to sign upon delivery)due to the fact that it hadn’t been taken there. Grrrr
The Belgian embassy has in the mean time taken more interest in my case and want to help me get correct information. It’s for them I went to the Human Rights Commision ( HRC)where I was told the previous and assured a new summon was written and this time also sent – at least I hope- telling GYA to come on the 24th. Mrs Mahlet was embarrassed and told me to contact my embassy, which I had already done, to help me along. Though when I tried to call Mahlet’s office at 15:00 on Christmas she wasn’t there. I left a message but wasn’t really into pursuing it seeing as it was our Christmas and I had made a deal with myself not to worry about it and focus on my house.
Yes, I left Holger’s at last. I was welcomed really well there and am extremely grateful but feel one shouldn’t impose on friends, especially new friends, too long and 1 and ½ months is pushing it. ( It’s actually exactly half the time I know Holger).
So even if I don’t know about a job yet ( still can’t officially work and am helping Aaron) I started looking for a place to live. I was thrilled to find one near the central square called Mexico but when I took people there to advice me they told me the neighborhood was too bad and I shouldn’t go there. Especially Aaron’s father insisted I’d find another place. So through a broker he knew I found a place within walking distance to the school I am now in with Aaron but not really well communicated. He haggled a lot with the landlady and I got the brand new “studio” for a very reasonable price plus only had to pay for 3 months in advance.( =their way of a deposit). There’s a small living room and even smaller bedroom. A bathroom that defines as tiny and a kitchen separated by the common yard. The kitchen is actually more an empty room: there is no sink or cabinets or anything! Luckily I inherited an electric small fire from the de Lomba family ( my ex colleagues at Gibson who took off shortly after I was fired seeing as they still were able to because their residence permit hadn’t been processed yet and thus their visa unlike mine hadn’t been cancelled). To my the emptiness bearable I also lend some furniture of Mika ( the couchsurfer guy) which he had in storage. I moved in on the 23rd. I’d post the pictures but don’t have a camera anymore after it was stolen from me. As if my bad luck wasn’t enough a mere 2 days later my extremely old but functioning mobile was lifted out of my zip locked pockets when I was drumming to get on a small bus called Kendo to get to Holger’s. I cried my eyes out. So This year my Santa wish list is quite elaborate: Phone (check), 2 mattresses which should serve as sofa ( ½ check), bamboo shelves for the kitchen on which I can place the electric fires ( ordered), all kitchen materials: pots, pans, cutlery, can openers,…( check and a whole lot poorer after), bathroom shelves ( check), and a fridge ( aouwch!). As indicated by all the checks I spent the 24th and Christmas day in the biggest market of Africa. Mercato, indeed the place where David was robbed. This time applying a new technique: tell Mika what you want; go for tea somewhere; let him go, inform and haggle; then go with him and approve of what he shows you and pay =)
Worked out pretty well. When they see me, the Faranji, they just go prize crazy. I tried to buy some spices by myself, Mika stopped me on time, and was charged double of what they charged Mika in the other shop without him bargaining. Not really my idea of fun shopping but the result is a blossoming cosy home. X-mas eve was spent with some of the people I went to Debrelibanos with and ex colleagues from GYA. We went out for dinner and then saw a really nice jazz concert with an extraordinary choice of instruments. Really nice even if I was a tad exhausted. On Christmas I was pleasantly surprised by several phone calls ( Thanks you guys, it was fantastic hearing you!) and had a quiet evening in with homemade stew. My latest addition to my culinary spectrum. It’s been grey and rainy here so perfect Irish conditions=)
You see I did pretty well with keeping the spirits high the last couple of days. Also I have another job interview Monday in a fantastic school -so cross your fingers and on Tuesday I hope to take off to the North, Couch surfing in Bahir Dar or so, with Mika.
Lucretia the nice flatmate has decided to elope. She tried to escape the fascist terror of our school yesterday only to find out shortly before boarding the plane that she couldn’t leave the country without going to the immigration office. Our esteemed fuehrer has us imprisoned in her school and country… I’m beginning to see that if I want to leave Gibson concentration camp I will have to leave the country as well. It’s extremely frustrating because I don’t want to leave Addis and I have nothing lined up for me on the outside… I’ve just started to fall in love with this place.
The solution is getting our residence permit but even though it’s illegal to keep it die fuehrerin is not giving it to me. I need a lawyer or something to put some pressure. This is what I think people forced into prostitution by human smugglers must feel like. It’s awful.
Out of 8 international teachers 2 are on the verge of going and 4 others including me are thinking about it. Most others will probably leave the country though…
This feels crappy. Speaking of which I am sick again… yes diarrhoea which is why I have time to write...
I had a wonderful weekend, went to a place called Debrelibanos. Extraordinary landscape beautiful waterfall. We even found our way behind it ( in between hyena doodles, did you know those are white because they eat the bones…) which gave us an even more amazing sight. It was breathtaking, the view over the valley, the water, the patchwork of crops all over the mountains everything.( They don’t use machines here in there agriculture so they can also plant things on very steep slopes.)
Not unexpectedly I had Holger to thank for this trip, some people of his work organize something similar every month and from now on I’m officially invitedJ. After this splendid visit all of us, 16 or so, went out for a meal. We had “kid fo” meaning raw beef. Now for me it’s not that big a deal, my dad would slice a piece off his steak before cooking it and he’d give it to me and after all in my part of Flanders we are raised eating raw minced pork so I figured I’d give it a go.( Especially after a couple of glasses of honey wine I saw no harm…) We giggled a lot cause Holger and me had to go to the going away party of some Flemish friends (that had cycled up north) at the priest’s house afterwards being all tipsy. Anyway I guess the raw meat or the honey wine on top of the antibiotics for my cough weren’t my brightest ideas ‘cause on Monday I found myself running out of class not do to a number 2 in my pants… After that little incident I figured I’d better go and see the doctor again.
Pictures will follow.
Didn’t upload this on time… We’re already a week later.
The day after writing the previous we had a meeting with all the international teachers and the semi bosses. We had said we’d stand together and wouldn’t leave without our permits. We put up a struggle but they didn’t give in and the others gave up. This whole thing was really affecting my inner tranquillity though so I asked if I could meet with the boss to talk about it.
On that meeting I was fired because I insisted too much on getting what is legally mine. I was without words, left the office, the building and then broke down.
The next day, 5/11, I started looking for other jobs like a mad woman ‘cause I still don’t want to leave…
I’ve also gone to immigration at the airport where they told me that what she has done is indeed illegal. They send me to the main office where they keep postponing my meeting with some boss. I can do nothing but wait which I find really frustrating.
Job-wise things do pop up but everyone is waiting for immigration as well. I may earn less but I do believe I’ll be happier which is worth a lot.
In the mean time Holger my Belgian in Addis Guardian Angel has allowed me to crash at his place. I couldn’t stand being in the Gibson house anymore, didn’t feel comfortable, slept poorly etc. I am extremely relieved to be out of there and this house is amazing: it has beautiful garden filled with birds, sunshine and butterflies. I feel so fortunate I can be here.
Whereas that cow of Gibson concentration camp made me feel so betrayed and lonely other people really have come through for me which means so much especially after only being here for a couple of months and feeling so extremely lousy.
I can’t post this update yet even though I want to because I still have to deal with that cow and don’t want to risk anything to make that even worse. After that she’s getting a bad review on every site I can get my hands on.
I was invited to a huge party ( the king’s birthday or something) at the embassy. It was really cool, all kinds of Belgian cheese and little tasty snacks were definitely amongst the highlights. There was even Belgian beer but no Kriek so I did without. It is really wonderfull to be invited to something like this, there are so many interesting people there and everybody is so laid back. (may be even too laid back: the ambassador of Venezuela (old) actually flirted with me) Still I have never felt this Belgian before I believe.
And this blog keeps on getting longer as everything is postponed yet again. I wonder how much more I can take before I crash…
I finallygot the meeting at immigration only to find they sent me to someone else, a Mr Solomon. His office was the one with the huge queue of course.
So I got in line was granted half a minute of his time on which he based his decision to allow me in his office to wait there while he transferred other people… When it was my turn I had the telephone number of the cow ready which he had asked.
I told him my story and he asked the number but then when I mentioned the name of the school he sighed and didn’t need the number anymore… All of a sudden I was told to go and arrange everything with her and that I should leave the country If she didn’t give me a letter of no objection in order for someone else to be able to hire me… I couldn’t believe it, after all the illegal stuff she did I was at her mercy!
I scrambeled myself together and made an appointment after a pep-talk with Saskia,a Dutch girl who’s married here and actually has a network. I also contacted another school and they confirmed that the way I was fired was illegal and that I should use that to my benefit in order to have some leverage.
At first Mr Asfow, the one put in charge of international teachers by that cow, pretended he didn’t know anything about this letter of no objection and asked who told me this. When I told him Mr Solomon at immigration did he said he knew him and had spoken to him. I could see that being friendly wasn’t gonna get me anywhere so I dropped the illegal firing on him. His tone changed ( suddenly he did know about the letter of no objection) and he told me to write a formal request for this letter to Mrs Gibson. I did, wasn’t able to get a copy of it to show I did because everybody was afraid to give me anything… Then I waited again.
Can you see by now why I haven’t posted anything for almost a month???
Saskia gave me the number of a lawyer and told me to go to the ombudsman ( didn’t know this was the word in English as well it’s Dutch to me!) so I called and the lawyer seemed to think it was a good idea for me to go there as well. On Friday they took my case and told me they’d solve things on Monday afternoon and that I should be there. I was thrilled. On Monday afternoon the phone of GYA nor Immigration seemed to work so I had to go back Tuesday morning. On Tuesday morning I was told they couldn’t take my case after all because I wasn’t a government employer. I broke down then and there and was thus sent to the boss’ office so he could explain me where the human rights and anti corruption ministry was so I could go there. I cried and felt really embarrassed.
I tried desperately to pull myself together and go to this other ministry. It started off all wrong it was on the 7th floor ( no elevator) and I arrived there just as the boss went into a meeting. So I sat there and waited.
Actually going into the building I was spotted by a GYA parent who followed me in to see what had happened to me. I told him my story and calmed down a bit. He wanted to take me out for coffee ( let’s not think he’s hitting on me and just being nice, my mental sanity is at stake here) I refused and kept waiting. Just before his lunch ( 2 and a half hour and some Amharic studying later) the boss took me in and referred me to an investigator, Mahalet or something, who was already out for lunch.
I devoured a hamburger and a juice and returned only to find the investigator had a long lunch and was late. Finally I got to talk to her, she apologised for being late and was very friendly. After telling my story she asked to see the contract I had signed. I told her I had a blanc one but had never received a signed copy of the school. She asked the number and called to ask for it. Mr Asfow told her ( lied I mean) he was out of town so the hole thing got postponed to next Monday whereas it was only Tuesday then.
When I informed Saskia she said human rights tends to take ages and does very little. She recommended I’d hire a lawyer and see how I can make things go quicker. So connected me to a friend that gave me the phone number of a friend with whom I met today only to be told (in an extremely friendly manner) I should contact her friend because he’ll have the time to help me… I’m meeting him this evening.
In the mean time I need to keep the schools that are interested in hiring me waiting. I have however semi started helping some parents with a kid with down syndrome until I get all this stuff arranged. At least that presents me with some distraction.
Monday Human rights…
23/11
I’ve seen a lawyer in the mean time. He told me it is not ok what she is doing and that I could sue her for the wage of the remaining part of the contract plus compensation especially after I get my paperwork arranged with the help of human rights. Don’t know what to do. Today I was told she wasn’t gonna give me the letter I needed. Tomorrow I need to confront her and try to press for the letter at the human rights office.
I also contacted the embassy but they aren’t really allowed to get involved. Pfff. Don’t know, this really is getting me down. I think about my sweet friends in Belgium and Spain, About the big pregnant bellies I won’t see, my cousins first steppes I’ve already missed, My fun conversation in my beloved Bilbao, etcand can’t help but wonder why am I doing this?
Of course I wouldn’t be me if I gave up this soon but I’ll admit I’m tempted. Tomorrow’s a new day, hopefully with new opportunities and fresh courage…
24/11
Good things happen to those who wait!!!!
The meeting at the human rights today. My lawyer had recommendedI’d take someone so I called my friend Ebrushé from Konso ( who lives in Addis) and asked him if he’d do me this favour. He did and he did a splendid job in making me look as the victim and talking in Amharic to the jury about me. Also In giving me the hug I needed when I broke down after. At first it didn’t look good at all, the people from the school lied and told them I still had materials, That I had said I didn’t care about Ethiopian children, that they hadn’t fired me, etc.
I was shocked. But did with Ebrushé’s help keep my cool. After the joint meeting there is an individual one in which they pressured me to return to the school. I asked them how they could expect me to go back after the way they had treated me… Then it was the school’s turn we actually heard shouting and when I asked for translation I was told they were telling them that they had abused me. I crossed my fingers ( so hard they hurt now) and tried to think positive. I kept repeating: what goes around comes around so if she treats me likes this one way or another this will come back to her.
It became 17:20 and the office started closing but they were still in there talking. When I was finally called in they said they had 3 options they would present to Mrs Gibson:
1 I go back there for a limited time and get a letter of no objection afterwards.
2 They pay for my flight back to Belgium ( home for Christmas! But then back with new visa under different employer)
3 They give me the letter of no objection.
I am thrilled number 2 and 3 are best but I could probably put up with number 1. Next Monday they tell me her decision and then I can accept or decline.
An enormous weight has been lifted from me and I feel so much better. Friday I will meet my lawyer he has however already said that even after an agreement with the human rights I can still sue for the way she fired me and get a huge compensation but we’ll see that after Monday.
1/12
Really nervous when I had to go to the meeting. Ebrushé joined me again and has made it his mission to cheer me up. As it turned out I had reasons to be anxious’ cause the GYA people were not only an hour late but also managed to only offer one of the 3 options ( the going back one) stating that the boss hadn’t returned and they weren’t authorised to do more. Luckily the boss of human rights was quite irritated by this as well and did most of the talking after hearing what they said. I was asked if I believed what they said which is like openly showing mistrust and said I did which was true but was also nice of me.
So the whole thing got postponed by yet another week… I was really disappointed coming out of there.
Luckily working with Aaron ( the down syndrome boy) helps me to keep my mind of things and also Holger has been so good. I am still staying at his house and he has someone related to his work coming as from next week onwards meaning it’ll be ages before he has the house to himself again.
Actually more people have been extremely nice to me. Others sadly enough have left again ( Martin, Emily and Marisol). I’ve been hanging out a lot with one of the couch surfers I’ve met called Michael. He has also really supported me.
Also my lawyer didn’t want to charge me ( I insisted) because he felt bad about what happened and felt it wasn’t ethical of him to charge me for his help. It really moved me how he can be so idealistic when he’s a lawyer and also rather old. I wish there were more lawyers like that.
In the mean time the job offers keep coming and I do not really know which one to choose. ( A lot depends on Monday obviously) there are things that are more idealistic and others that are financially as comfortable as GYA and I’m having trouble choosing furthermore I also have to think about my resume and some schools give a better impression if I want to work on this continent next year then others. So it’s tricky but also positive.
7/12
Most of the time I’m feeling good. There are enough fun things happening to me. The Belgian friends who introduced me to Holger also introduced us to the , Indra, of the first secretary of the Belgian embassy, Wout. It has been easier to keep the embassy posted on my situation through them and they also just arrived and are fun company. Holger and me amongst others had a really nice evening at a party they hosted in their house ( on embassy grounds). Amazing people were there. Some people studying Sudan of the university of peace a really fun Walloon journalist working with refugees here, a documentary director,…
Besides the other day was Sinterklaas(Saint Nicolas) which as most of you will know is a big deal to us especially when you’re younger then 10. There was a party hosted at the Dutch embassy to welcome the Sint and there were some traditional cookies. It was brilliant: I took Michael and Holger also came and we explained him this rather extraordinary and so local tradition. In the mean time I also dropped my resume in the extracurricular Dutch school. Even though Saskia keeps reminding me I do NOT speak Dutch but Flemish which always provides us with a reason for laughing whenever we meet.
This morning when I got up I even found a bag with goodies from Belgium with a note from Sint Holger, some Belgian colleagues of him arrived and he shared what they brought for him. Isn’t that the sweetest??? Anyway the final meeting is up in 30 minutes so I have to get going. Cross your fingers!
8/12
And with all those positive thoughts I rushed off to meet GYA at the human rights. The boss who fired me was there this time( the fuhrerin’s husband). The meeting was opened and immediately there was trouble. The human rights boss explained he wasn’t pleased with the fact that GYA brought other people to the meeting every single time and that the commission wasn’t willing togo back on previously made decisions. Gya wasn’t pleased with that at all and before I had even opened my mouth they were arguing and shortly after the meeting was closed. Conclusion GYA didn’t except any of the left available possibilities ( I was said to have refused possibility 1 which I only sort of did) and so Human rights would conduct a thorough investigation of the school. I was baffled and super disappointed. Mrs Mahalet( remember the female investigator in charge of my case couldn’t even tell me how long this was going to take. She merely said she was sorry I had to meet someone like that and then: ‘ the fight begins’.
So now I’m stuck here: can’t even leave the country if I wanted to ( GYA still has my papers) and am not allowed to be hired ( the other job offers I may loose. I mean how long will they wait?). It really makes me feel lousy.
After the meeting I was moody to poor Ebrushé before I took off to see a room for rent ( an Italian girl looking for a flatmate but who’s not sharing at the moment) which cost about half my expected salary ( so unaffordable for me but not too expensive for the UN volunteers it seems) and then rushed home because I had invited Brook, a friend of Holger’s for volevant ( typical Belgian food). Even though I really didn’t feel like it and I cried _quite embarrassingly_ in the minibus back ‘home’ it turned out to be just what I needed. A pleasant evening spent in good company and with tasty food if I may say so myself J.
Today I meet the lawyer again and I also have to pop in at Human rights to give them the Amharic version of my story which my friend Michael has translated.
I guess I have to keep thinking what goes around comes around . I wonder if the fight just started how comes I feel KO already?
9/12
Talked to the lawyer yesterday and he says it shouldn’t take human rights too long. So if he’s positive I should be as well. Hanging in there.
I haven't been updating because things have not been well. I am always told it will be all over next week but it has already taken more than a month. It is not recommended for me to tell everything online for anyone to acces. In other words I need your advice: How can I open something alike to a blog but where one can only enter when you posses the password??? Al info welcome at my usual email.
