News
21 June, 2009
Student-Athlete Visitor to RAB Training Camp Shares Experiences
Running Across Borders… Literally
by Kayla on June 20, 2009
After a trip that would put “Fast and Furious 17″ to shame, we arrived at the Running Across Borders camp. It was a cute 3-story house that had just been built, in a small suburb outside Addis.
The rooms were pretty much empty but there were 3, count them, 3 toilets in the house! It was a miracle.
All the athletes were extremely friendly, and one runner showed me around the whole place. After looking at the all of the rooms, he took me to a closed door where he knocked and said “Hey! She just got here! Come out and say hi!”
I was a bit surprised that he was speaking English to the person behind this door, and even more surprised when I heard the door say, “be right out!” Who was behind this door?!
As we were waiting, my guide tried to tell me that we were meeting another guest., someone that had been here for a bit and was training. As he was explaining the door opened and out pooped a blond haired 19-year-old British boy! HA!
Talking to him was almost awkward because I had been speaking very little English, especially casual English. It was great!
So now I’m living with a fraternity of runners and one British triathalete. He’s actually the reason why I have Internet access right now. He’s getting a massaaage (in a British accent) because he’s been running, biking and swimming here for 6 weeks.
The whole crew is great at the house. They put on little performances every night. Last night there was singing and dancing. It was hilarious.
We made more coffee than I had every seen prepared before too. I was watching one of the girls smash the coffee grounds and I said, “Nice work. Gobez!” Everyone thought that was great and started clapping for me haha. If only it was that easy to please people back in the states.
*Editor's Note: Kayla has had a very fascinating and eventful trip to Ethiopia, and is also completing some very meaningful research about the role of athletics in the lives of Ethiopian women. More blog entries like this one can be found on her website at: http://www.ethiopiaontherun.com/
