The walk to the second village starts on a path similar to the one we walked in on but we're soon walking through fields. Ketachoo has told us that this will be a 40 minute walk, so we're expecting an hour. I ask Ketachoo about the plants we're seeing. The stuff that looks like grass is indeed teff. We've also seen a lot of what looks like a corn plant that hasn't grown very much. It turns out that is sorghum. I've heard of sorghum before, but I don't really have any idea of what it is or how its used.
Our crowd is a little bigger now. The site manager from the last village is also responsible for this well so he is walking with us. The health care worker also supports this village. They are walking hand-in-hand, so it looks like this was a good gig for him for more than one reason. The village leader is also the same man for this village so he is with us as well. There is also a man who appears to be the deputy mayor carrying a notebook which I assume has the village accounts. Finally, there is an old man who led us into the last village. He is carrying a horn which he blows repeatedly as we approach the next village.
The gathering in the second village is much smaller. I assume that this is because we have already received our gifts in the first village and because it is later in the day so people need to be working. I don't know whether it's the food, the walking or the suwa, but my stomach isn't felling it's best. This ceremony follows rough the same trajectory. The mayor gives his speech, Ketachoo gives his speech, we give our speeches. I add a bit about how I have three daughters and I want for them the same thing that they want for their children - to live long, healthy, happy lives. I pass on the suwa this time. We eat very little of the bread with honey. When they bring the chicken and eggs we try to decline but we're advised that it would be rude not to eat at least a little. So we do. The coffee is very good again.
After awhile we start our trek back to the jeeps. This is billed as a twenty minute walk, so, like clockwork, we arrive almost thirty minutes later. Apparently just before our arrival the other driver discovered that his jeep wouldn't start. The men are trying to push the jeep down the slight incline to get a running start. They aren't able to build enough speed before running out of room. They try to push the jeep uphill for another go only to discover that the jeep is now trapped on the wrong side of a muddy berm. Our jeep is brought over to pull them out. They attach the second vehicle with a thick rope. I know how this game plays out, so I keep my distance. Sure enough, the rope snaps and, fortunately, doesn't hit anyone. Another try yields the same outcome. Scott and I are sitting this one out, but Dan is more engaged. Eventually, it's decided to jump start the jeep in situe. I'm not sure this was done with jumper cables making it a dicey proposition. After about forty minutes total the jeep is started, it crests the berm and we're on our way to our hotel in Adwa.
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