Arat Kilo to Piazza Video
The next day was 17th March and it was the Indian festival, Holi. We tend to take things for granted when they are easily accessible and yearn for them once they are not. One might have all the money in the world but we can’t get the gaiety, colour and drama of an Indian festival anywhere outside India.
NRIs might celebrate Indian festivals with pomp, glory, show of class and with richness but with no soul. Indian festivals have to be celebrated in India, period. Holi is celebrated in the Indian Embassy but we were not really in the mood. We were anxious to see with our own eyes Pranav and sahithi’s school for the next four years.
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| Early morning Cuppa, Addis Ababa |
Mr. Pradeep arrived sharp at 08:00 a.m. and his early arrival caught us napping. Padma and the kids were not ready. Pradeep and me went out to have Shai (tea). Addis Ababa looked like a scene out of an African paradise. Misty, surrounded by mountains and mysterious low hanging clouds that seemed to rub and wanted to envelop us in their cold embrace. Very few street side venders were up and about. We had to walk quite a distance before we could get a cup of Shai.
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| Early morning scene, Addis Ababa |
Addis Ababa the capital of Africa as it proudly calls itself is a truly global city. Citizens of Addis are curious about Indians but mostly we were ignored. Some Ethiopians do give a shy smile and some brave hearts do come and shake hands and say “Thank you, Indians are great teachers. My mathematics teacher was from India and he was a wonderful teacher”. Our chest would swell in pride at their generous praise.
We returned and waiting at the entrance of our room tapping her feet impatiently was Ms. SAHITHI. Drawing up to her full height that her two-and-a-half-year frame could allow, she announced tartly “We are ready and waiting for you.”. I was shell shocked. We did not teach her to speak in English. Seeing her annoyance and pert manner, Pradeep sir was totally taken by surprise. He complimented us on our children’s upbringing.
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| Blue and white Line Taxis |
We took the blue and white sharing cabs that were quite popular in Addis Ababa. These beaten up cabs afforded a decent and cheap form of intra city travel. The local city buses were legendary. The cost of travel was dead cheap but travellers are packed to the gills and things can get claustrophobic. We were told that even breathing can become quite tough in peak time travel. The threat of deft pick pocketers getting busy picking our wallets was always lurking in the back of our minds. One van took us to Arat Kilo and another took us to Piazza.
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| Crowded City Buses |
We had to walk hundred yards before the Indian School appeared. First look was quite disappointing. It was an old building. It had a sign on the arch above the gate ‘Indian National School, Addis Ababa, established in the year 1947’, written both in English and in Amharic. This is the school that served the educational needs of Indian and Ethiopian students too. If it was not for the Indian school not many of the Indian families would even, consider coming to Ethiopia. It was the Life-line for Indian children to pursue CBSE education and that too from a foreign country.
The school was closed but the examination schedule was pasted on the notice board. English on the 18th of March, Hindi on 19th, Mathematics on 20th, Social on 21st and finally Science on the 22nd. Written quite clearly and in big font and size was the examination fee. “External students have to pay examination fee of 140 birr (Rs seven hundred)”.
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| Arat Kilo |
Pradeep could not hold it any further. He blurted out “Anil Ji, I wanted to ask you. Any particular reason for staying at Bel-Air?”. “Not really sir” was my surprised reply “I find it quite inconvenient and cut off. Away from even small restaurants and shops. The only saving grace is that they allow us to cook”.
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| Arat Klo |
“Oh, Oh” Pradeep gave a sympathetic nod “you guys can’t survive without rice”. Padma was offended “not really sir. We can happily eat Injira” “In that case, madam, let us try out Tourist hotel”
We got into a taxi and got off at Arat Kilo. Arat Kilo is Meyazia 27 Square, a square in Addis Ababa as famous as the Times Square, New York. In its centre is the famous monument, commemorating Ethiopia's liberation from Italy.
Due to its proximity to the Menelik Palace, residence of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and the Ethiopian Parliament Building, Arat Kilo is one of the most popular tourist spots of Addis Ababa.
Arat kilo was buzzing with action. Small shops all-around and hundreds and hundreds of shoe shine boys merrily going about their business. On one side were Ministry of Education’s main offices and bang next to it was TOURIST HOTEL.
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| Tourist Hotel, Arat kilo |
We went inside and were shocked. The reception area was buzzing with Indians. We could spot at least 3 or 4 Indian families and trailing in their wake were school going children. It was quite clear that TOURIST HOTEL was the preferred destination for Indian teachers in Ethiopia.
The receptionist gave a beaming smile and apparently she knew Pradeep quite well. “Yes sir, we do have a single room and possibly you might even get a double room by tomorrow”. Seeing our somewhat puzzled faces, she triumphantly added “our restaurant serves, Indian food”.
“That is fine”, I responded “Sintenam”. The lady did a double take. She immediately became a little less patronizing. My Sintenam caught her in the solar plexus. “30-birr sir” she humbly replied “and 45 for a double room”.
We welcomed her offer. We were paying 70 birr in Bel-Air and that too in a remote location. We liked tourist hotel. It was modern and looked well organized. Yes, in 2003 it had common restrooms but unlike Indian restrooms, the restrooms at Tourist hotel were quite modern and well maintained. We quickly paid a day’s advance and took possession of precious single room.
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