End of the nightmare

by Mahlet Abayneh (Ethiopia)

I didn't expect to find Ethiopia

where shall I begin it was when I was 19 I finished my high school education and took a national exam. I passed the exam and was informed that I'm going to take my higher education in Mekelle University. Mekelle is one of the regions in Ethiopia found in Tigray state. It is 700 KM from Addis Ababa ( central state of Ethiopia). Well when i was a kid i had traveled to a small city called Gunchere found in the southern side of Ethiopia with my mother to celebrate an opening of a church. By then the distance was not that much and the roads that takes us to our final destination was amazing. there were lots of green areas and there were lots of trees and the view and the weather was a killer. I enjoyed it. Back to my original story after I was informed that I'll join Mekelle university in the coming year. I had to prepare myself for the journey which I did. when the final day comes, the night before my travel I had spent my time with my families and friends. I was very excited to go. The next morning I had to wake up at 3:00 am to catch up with my bus. Which I did. Well then what I didn't expect was that the travel will be my worst night mare. I was prepared to enjoy the ride and have fun with my friend but that was just an expectation. The bus ride was very uncomfortable which makes me sick. Well I got car sick and it was a 12 hour journey. For what is worst around 6:00 pm the bus broke. Lucky me right! All the passengers were tired and I was beyond tired, at that time I thought i was going to die but funny thing here I'm still alive. We waited for like 2 hours and finally someone came and fixed the bus then we started the journey. Around 9:45 pm we arrived in Mekelle. Me and my friend were lucky enough that a relative came and took us to her house. It would have been very difficult to find a hotel in a city you have never been in without a guidance and as exhausted as we were we couldn't manage to search for one. After we get home we had dinner and slept well. One of the qualities in Ethiopia is that, where ever you go, the people of Ethiopia will give you the aid you want. the person who took us in takes a good care of us that night and till the the day we went to our dormitory. By the morning we all go out to see the city and the university and wow it was amazing. all the sickness, all the worst events ( bus being broke) and all the exhaustion was worth it. Mekelle is a really small city. It has got its own amazing sites and castles of the previous royals. Although it isn't as green as Guncherea ( the city I've told you I've visited once) it has its own resources. For instance, The rocks found in Mekelle are beautiful and different. The city's population compared to Addis Ababa is extremely small. which make the city a suitable place to spend time in. Also the city is very close to Axum ( a well known historical place in Ethiopia). it is approximately 3-4 hour travel from Mekelle. Now I'm 5th year law school student in Mekelle university. this last month I've been exploring Mekelle. I've visited a site called CHEOMA it is a mountain which at top hold a huge cross. Its a place where MESKEL ( a religious celebration a week after eastern) is to be celebrated in Mekelle. When you are at the top of the mountain you can see the city which is beautiful, specially at night time. The other site I and my friends went to see was a place called CHELENKO. This site is the most beautiful site I have encountered so far. it is a waterfall surrounded by mountains and rocks. Well my first travel to Mekelle was not as i expected it. But it was worth it.