Well, my African journey is winding down to a close. Since I wrote you last we kicked butt on getting manuscripts digitized. When I was brought to Addis the hope was the digitize 60 manuscripts... 100 at best. When we completed processing images we had taken over 17,000 pictures and digitized 169 manuscripts. This is a great success. The Institute of Ethiopian Studies is very pleased and is amazed that so many manuscripts could be shot in less than a week. It has been an exhausting trip. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. But the pay-off is knowing that some of the most precious manuscripts are now protected in case of something like a building burning down (which is more likely than you care to think in Ethiopia. While we were there the IES's photographer, Massai, had a power strip catch on fire after a power surge during one of the day's 7 power outages).
Also very cool is the possibility to come back within the next year. I know this sounds like a glutton for punishment thing, but the friends I have made here I want to see again and the need is very great for people willing to help. This would be with the Patriarchate Library and Museum (think the Pope of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church). They have a collection of 400 of the oldest, most beautiful manuscripts in the world. They also have access to 35,000 more manuscripts in the Addis area. This is the true mother-lode!! So yesterday the library called Steve and asked him to come give a demonstration, so we booked it down there and digitized a beautiful 16th century manuscript about the Ethiopian saints. It was a great time of relationship building and we have an open invitation to come back. This would be a very different experience from my current one. The Patriarchate compound is beautiful, I would get to hang out with monks, and I bet they don't turn off the Abuna's (the Pope) power or water. I am excited for the opportunity and am amazed at the open doors from this tough trip.
All that being said, I am back in Nairobi. I was only here a week, but this feels like home. Patrick and his family are amazing and so kind and hospitable. I spent most of the evening relaxing and playing with blocks and trucks with 4 year old Baracka. It was a wonderful way to calm down after a crazy 3 weeks. Tomorrow we will spend the day in Nairobi and then we fly out at 9:50 pm to Amsterdam and then direct from Amsterdam to Portland. It is going to be a long journey, but I am ready to be home. The work has been satisfying, but it is time to go home and rest and find a place to live in Canada. Thank you for taking this journey with me. I will try to keep updating this blog about what I am doing in life, so check in now and then. Thanks, until next time.
~Jeremy
P.S. The safari posts with pictures will come upon my return to the states and to broadband internet :)
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4 comments:
Surely you'll need an assistant of some sort of something if you go back, yah?
:) If this trip happens we would be taking a team, but I don't know how we would get you trained up on digitization first. You should come up to Newberg this weekend by the way.
you played with a child??? I am so proud!! :)
Heather, you don't even understand. I enjoyed playing! This may be the coolest, funniest little kid ever.
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