Empowering African Nations Since 1981

When I was initially assigned to Bahir Dar, I'll admit, without even seeing the city, I was disappointed that I wasn't located in Addis. Afraid of leaving my metropolitan lifestyle in New York, I figured being in the capital city would be the easiest transition to settling into the place I would temporarily call home. Yet, after reaching Bole International Airport only to face cold climates, overcrowded streets, and difficulty breathing due to high altitudes, I became optimistic that perhaps a placement on the source of the Blue Nile wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Bahir Dar is a wonderful area based on Lake Tana, full of history and rich in culture. The warm sun, streets lined with plush green palm trees, and an array of exotic birds happily greet each visitor. Its historic monasteries just a simple boat ride away, the Blue Nile Falls, and among other things, the "Obama Cafe" makes this half urban half rural city an ideal tourist attraction for Habesha and Farengi alike.

As I'm sure with anyone, the adjustment period was uncomfortable - stares, overcrowded taxis redefining the term personal space, and the uncontrollable need for men to shout "Hello Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana" each time I walked to my destination. But, I can finally say that I am no longer cheated in price by the bajadge drivers (a hard lesson learned) and have settled in quite nicely.

Bahir Dar University, the largest institution in the Amhara region, claims a whopping 43,000 students, enrolling close to 8,000 freshmen just this year. It is indeed a center for academic excellence, and like most universities in-country, strives to reach its full potential despite its lack of necessary means. I am fortunate enough to have a highly motivated and ambitious Dean who stresses the importance of research and desires to see the School of Graduate Studies gain national and international attention as a first rate institution where BDU is a marketable name and its graduates are recognized as contributors to the global world.

As we struggle to grow horizontally and vertically, expansion faces opposition that I believe only time and an increase in trained personnel can amend. Communication barriers often make tasks that seem easy on the surface an extended project, and the lack of resources we take for granted at home, like access to ejournals and other research materials, do not allow our students to reach their full potential making them competitive with their peers in respective fields. Yet, despite these challenges, our students, especially those in the areas of science, never cease to amaze me with their hard work and determination. It is my hope that my tenure here will assist in standardizing procedures, gain funding from outside resources, and develop international partnerships that will benefit all parties involved.

I am grateful to be in Bahir Dar. I have met extremely generous people, climbed the Simien Mountains, and even danced at someone's wedding. My weekends are spent volunteering at a local community center, and I co-facilitate a weekly English language improvement lunch with female academics who have graciously welcomed me into their circle. I look forward to the journey that lies ahead and accept each challenge as a blessing that stimulates spiritual, professional and personal growth.