Comments on: MeQenatatu Minu Lay new?

By: abi

abi — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:36:46 +0000

i don’t know what this whole thing is about, but while staying over in va over the summer i also had a misfortune incident in which i walked into an eritrian lunch place then i wuz bout ot leave so i asked this kid at the counter’bout my age in an offhand cool ethio-slang for the check, he gave me a kind of bizarre look as if he wanted to say what the fuck kind of gibberish are you talkin’ u fuckin’gamo,then he politely spoke in english that he didn’t understand a word i said, so i embaressedly i just paid n’left. Sometimes its a genuine case of language barriers but other instances i’ve been at the misfortunate ends of many a confused states where conversations and broken english jumbled with hostile back n forth attempts of speaking with the same ethio homies has left me really dazed.

By: mimi

mimi — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 23:20:40 +0000

Maybe it’s you who was showing ” MeQenatat” attitude. I cannot stand it anymore Abeshas and their egos. They just stand and stare at you without saying hello. Did you have a smile on your face and offered her the good old Amharic Greetings. Probably not. You just stood there looking at her as if she is an alien. Then the only thing she can do is Take your orders in English as she does for all other customers.

By: Temelkach

Temelkach — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 22:52:52 +0000

sinaweded= siniwaded…

By: Temelkach

Temelkach — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 22:49:13 +0000

Chelema.LOL…that was great!Dayuuuuuuum!
PPlu have you heard of the Abdu Kiar song, “Fikir Be’Amaregna”…hell, I’ll bet I’m the last one to listen to it but it has prety good lyrics…it has a line that goes sth like…actually a few lines that are valid….

Endemin Adrehal Aylew Gorebetu, bideset Bekefa, Ezaw zegeto betu’n. Anchi Ye’Abesha set, Chinqetun eyayesh, Kanchi lela Lesu man alew teyalesh. Le’injera enji Ferenjigna, sinaweded Egna Le’gna..Ye’miyamereben Ageregna…Fikir Be’Amaregna

Need I say more?!

…

By: CheLeMa

CheLeMa — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 05:27:44 +0000

This might interest you (since we’re speaking of language). I went to a small town in the desert of Arizona to do some Geological studies for a company I was interning. The town has approximately 300 people living in it. Almost all of them are your typical southern accented, Harley-Davindson-bike-lovin’ red necks (Cool people though, that just happened to be their thing). Anyway, I am sitting there talking with a colleague (who is a white american) and there comes a 40 something years old white man. His head was bold, and he had a mustash that was curled upward from both ends. He was supposed to be our local contact for some accessories. He introduced himself as Jack (had a heavy red-neck accent). For a moment I thought he owned a slave or something from the way he looked at me(“I didn’t like the vibe”). Then, suddenlly his cell phone rang(i was quite impressed that cell phones worked in that shit hole). He waived his “LeBA” fingure (his way of telling us to hold for a sec) and answered the phone. Hello he said, …(paused)… then continued… ABO MeN TADerQiGNALeSH BenaTiSH, I told you I will be there… (I was like…haa? ) the dude spoke amharic. To this day, he won’t forget the look on my face. We became friends afterwards. It turns out, he was the son of a missionary, and technically, he is Ethiopian. Born and raised in Ambo. Go figure…

By: tata

tata — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 01:50:15 +0000

Ozzo- You are right people don’t have to live big cities the first 2-3 years. They have to get in to the system in different cities before they move in. Most of my buddies who came to D.C has taken them more than 10 years. Beside, they know the first two sentence with a perfect English without an accent but when you go deep and start conversation they can’t keep up with you. I am not trying saying most habesha’s are like that but…you know…

By: Temelkach

Temelkach — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 03:46:18 +0000

Tobian, here is a sisterly advice…
Don’t run away from situations! It’s not very unique that some Abesha guys…hell, a lot of other Non-Habesha guys too..melakef but if you smiled the first time and nodded your head to show your acknowlegment to the somewhat interesting Selamta, you wouldn’t get to the ” hi babe” stage. Remember when you were in grade school, if you laughed off the first joke at your expense, there won’t be any coming your way after that. In this case, they just wanted your attention and by hiding away, you turned it into a cat-mouse game…Le’wedefitu, Konjit , don’t be on the defensive, if you actually listened to their meaningless and harmless lekefa, it’s actually pretty entertaining…you’re taking life too seriously, k …says Dr.Temelkach..hell, who needs Dr.Phil.

By: Nolawi

Nolawi — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 15:51:36 +0000

I do love kilomamos comment betam arif arif…

By: Debritu

Debritu — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 15:35:49 +0000

Once I was visiting my cousin out of town that just had a baby. So I decided to run some errands for her and went to an Ethiopian store to get some injera. I guess depending on my hair style and outfit I can look either a typical Abesha or a mixed African American.
Anyhow, I was in line waiting for my turn to pay for the injera in this small and crowded store, and there were two Abesha guys standing next to me staring and smiling. After a little while their stare kind of made me uncomfortable so I said “Selam” just to break the ice. Well that just gave them the go-ahead to ask me the burning question they had in mind “Amarigna tenagerialesh ende?”, so just to humor them I said “bedendb adrege”. Those two guys burst out laughing like I was some comedian. I guess they were curious as to why someone who wasn’t Abesha was buying injera. Their silliness kind of put a smile on my face.

By: DINGAY RAS

DINGAY RAS — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 18:49:23 +0000

Timo,

You missed the point I think. I’d rather be remembered as a CEO who gave warm smile to strangers everyday. It is not about CEO Vs parking attendant. Besides, there is nothing wrong with helping your people. We all do it.

Honestly, I am glad that we are the positive people we are. I am known to be the most friendly person at work. And I can trace my friendly attitude to my abesha roots which we all share. It is natural to all of us. But the point is we can still do it ethically.

Cheers,

By: Timo

Timo — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 18:33:02 +0000

Stay positive people. Fact is we have more in common than differences. Most of us are so busy trying to prove who we are to strangers that we seem to have lost our way.

At the end of the day, I don’t know about you, I rather be remembered as a parking lot attendant who gave a warm smile to strangers everyday and did what she could to help people, rather than a CEO who never gave a damn about anybody. I thank God he has put me in a position to help my people, and hell yea, when positions open up in my workplace, I advertise and encourage abeshoch to apply first if they qualify for the position. If they are new comers, I will even help them with redoing their resumes and give them “inside tips” etc.

By: Rahwina

Rahwina — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 10:35:52 +0000

Shalom,
I’m sure you have noticed that I didn’t say I was offended by having been not spoken to in Amharic, instead I said I was surprised. and it is after noticing my expectation that I wondered why in the hell most ppl expect others to speak to them in Amharic and not just continue in the language the person chose to speak.As you have noticed in the story, I did that.

By: celebratelife

celebratelife — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 05:21:49 +0000

Kilomamo, Love, love, love your comment. Never judge a book by its cover.

By: kilomamo

kilomamo — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 04:25:59 +0000

Tobian,

I wish you handled the situation differently….

Let me tell you few years back shortly after I moved to this country, I use to work as a janitor in one of the downtown buildings. Passing by the executive offices I always use to wonder, if one day I will have an office like that moving to a professional career. By the time I get to start my work in the early evening hours most if not all employees would be gone. The few that stayed behind to work often never even acknowledged the fact I was there. There were few that spoke to me and showed interest as to what my goals and future plans were. Let me tell you I appreciate those people very much. And they have inspired me to do better. I hope next time when you see an Habesh that may have not made it as far as you did please show them some interest and talk to them. I can assure you not only can you inspire the person but by allowing the person to know you will improve the “I don’t know her why should I care LE-KE-FA as well”

As to me I have not made it to the corner executive office yet, but let me tell you I have come a long way. One of the things I always do is treat the janitors or now affectionately called building sanitation engineers with as much respect and attention as any of my staff or colleges.

Tobian, I hope you try this new approach next time. If you do the result I suspect will surprise you…

By: Nolawi

Nolawi — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 04:13:06 +0000

oreo, you are so right, thanks for putting it in perspective… i didnt look at it that way…

sorry tobian, for some reason i like messing with tobian…

By: ShalomShalom

ShalomShalom — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 03:39:37 +0000

i never never understood why exactly people from crappy cities crapped about DC – and “LA, Dallas, San Jose along with DC”. if you’re gon talk shit about abeshas in DC, then why do you keep going there? and why do you keep hanging at shitty places?

you can find ‘timbahuam’ people or fara people or disrespectful people in any city. same way you can find the other extreme in any city. it just depends on where you go and what crowd you hang with.

and Rahwina, other people have already said it but what about just talking to people in the language they prefer to talk to you? Taking offense because of their choice of language and trying to decipher that is where the stuff goes wrong. if you are worndering, ask them. don’t wonder or play detective. most people are upfront with stating the reason, if they are intentionally avoiding speaking a language.

and the abesha hook-ups in abesha operated stores of any city are kewl – be it vegas, dc, atl, new orleans, seattle, richmond, nyc, etc… free parking. free fast food. free cookies. free souvlaki. free appetizers. free drinks. free flat iron. i’ll take it! why? because i love the Robin Hood in people. more people need to rob the rich and give it to the poor.

By: Oreo

Oreo — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 03:39:18 +0000

Nolawi abedehale?? I think once a person is wearing some kind of uniform or just working for any kind of company calling a customer ” hey babe” is NOT his right! would he say that to another person that’s not abesha? NO I’m sure he didn’t mean anything bad but that’s just not Professional. I think the problem is we don’t know the limit to what extent we should get comfortable with a person cause he/she is Abesha!

By: Nolawi

Nolawi — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 03:07:56 +0000

Tobian Tobian Tobianye you know I love u right gin

why do I always have a problem with your two cents?

its a free country; if the door man wants to say konjit and whistle minamin that is his mebt… yes if u mentioned it to the manager, he might get fired for harassing customers gin what is the big deal… so what he whistled TAKE IT LIKE A COMPLIMENT…btw you must be hot “oooooooooooowieee” hot beyigna konjit ye tobia lij

celebrate life, thank you for clearing up the confusion… i was impressed that rahwina our northern friend knew what it was…

By: Marina Wotete

Marina Wotete — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 02:18:51 +0000

Rahwina, this is a “HOT” Topic!! Thank you for posting it!!!!!
That word, “Habesha Nesh/Neh??” does exist in our vocabulary!! Perhaps the your Habesha sister should have known to use it on you! Then again what if you didn’t seem Amharic speaking Habesha to her?? I agree your communication needs civilized discourse. Well, if you ask me from my past experience, I have run into many Habesha’s when I asked “Habesha Nesh/Neh??” They seem to answer “Aowo” or sometimes I get the usual Excuse ME?? Then I know where either they don’t speak Amharic or as simple as they don’t want to at that moment… We need to learn a lot from each other, specially us who lives in the states. We need to do some soul searching and face our weakness, and be kind to each other. Only then can we talk to each other in Amharic.

Let’s take DC Habesha’s for fun… DC Habesha’s are they treat each other with disrespect, they have little circle of friends, but with their differences always debating about Habesha’s who ignored them when spoken to in Amharic. DC Ethiopians!! They can’t even be friends unless they think alike, hate alike…. They do not see beauty in differences. Even in simple conversation that starts with “Habesha Nesh/Neh”. Instead of listening to what you are saying in Amharic, they want to know why you are speaking to them in Amharic, and what you are saying, and they go with guessing your motives… the cancerous tradition of conspiracy theory is also there. The confusion of conservatism and liberalism (which is associated mostly with people with open minds) does not help. Then comes “yiluNta” the mother of all mis-communication. And we have all brought it over here and are trying to nurture it on foreign soil.

M&W

By: Tobian

Tobian — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 22:37:46 +0000

Dingay ras ... yes! Something like that. I don't understand why habesh professionalism breaks down when other habesh are around. I dislike it when i travel for work and I meet habesha doormen at hotels (more specifically in Ohio). If i am walking/talking with workmates the selamta becomes a slight bow of the head and eye contact. Actually I'm not sure if they do it, but I do it. If I'm by myself, all of a sudden balefku bagedemku kutir, it becomes 'konjit' or some untowardly comment. One time, from some Tewodros wannabe bale shuriba habesha lij it was, 'hey babe'. Indae?!? Ere behig amlak! What if a co-worker who they're not aware of is right behind me? Do these guys realize it is very inappropriate? Worse yet, what if I was in a foul mood and reported this? So far my solution has been limited to taking side doors, or calling co-workers ahead of time to coordinate what time they'll be heading to the lobby. To my coworkers probable chagrin, I also make sure I run a few min late. There aren't many habesha pple where I live. At least I don't know where they live/work. I don't know if this is supposed to be 'normal', but it sure don't sound right.

By: Kach Sefer k9 K07

Kach Sefer k9 K07 — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 21:15:13 +0000

I go to DC for two main purpose, to eat Enjera and to chit-chat in Amharic. I bit surprised to see Habesha with no Amharic fluency living in DC.

By: ???? ??

???? ?? — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:59:31 +0000

Along the same lines one of the things I feel unconfortable about is when abeshoch want to let me go without paying for parking, coffee etc… What makes me unconfortable is you can see them trying to hide it from the boss. There was this cashier at a cafeteria in my work place who took my $20 dollar bill and gave me back exactly $20 but in smaller bills and coins pretending to have charged me. I didn’t want to argue in front of her coworkers because she will get in trouble but I don’t really want them to steal to do me a favor. I don’t mind paying for my coffee. A smile and MOQ YALE SELAMTA BAMARIGNA goes a long way to making the connection.

If you have noticed, if they are the owners of that business, they make sure they charge you.

By: celebratelife

celebratelife — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 18:26:21 +0000

Just in…confirmed by someone who has an excellent command of the Amarenga language… MeQenatatu translates in English as showing off or feeling too hot for. Timo, Sorry arrogance is not the list, LOL

You guys, not to go off subject but then there are those that speak English (and they’re fluent in Amarenga) when they’re visiting Addis they are also know as the whats upoch. That’s a hilarious scene.

By: blenmark

blenmark — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 16:55:02 +0000

….i take the blame for judgeing and for being a sterotype…i assume ‘amharic’ is the only language that all ethiopians speak and when i hear ppl speak other languages i see them as weird….i think it is because for most we grew up in addis and were not exposed to other culutres/languages.

above all i say ‘selam’ or ‘dehena walachew’ no matter what….they have the right not to respond but as one says i come from a rich warm culture and i love it.

By: really

really — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 14:33:52 +0000

I was at the airport last summer with my sister. We were standing in line at the security checkpoint when an arabic looking guy was pulled over for further inspection by a black security agent. So I said to my sister “just watch, he will take us next” in Amharic. So the guy looked at me with a straight face and said in Ahmaric “Enante, wede fit hidu”. My mouth dropped! He cracked a little smile. He didn’t “look” Abesha and that is the whole point. Let alone assume that they speak Amharic…