Jill and Tigist, our host mom in Bekoji. Tigist is only 25 but is raising four girls, speaks pretty good English (very lucky for us) and has even made Pizza for us. In a month, though, we will be left to cook for ourselves.

 Dusk in Bekoji. Elevation 9,300 feet (still haven't got the metric system down yet). Bekoji is home to some of the top middle and long distance runners in the world. All of the hotels in town are owned by local athletes who have running endorsements. It is very hard to run (or too breathe well at all) at 9300 feet!

The best coffee and beer cafe in town. The eight of us who are learning Amharic and Afan Oromo in Bekoji, and our good friend Chaalaa, whose name means "greater" in Afan Oromo.