Hi Gordon!

Got back from an amazing trip to Ethiopia and just wanted to drop you a line. I actually went back to your website and re-visited the photos to reminisce :)

Spent most of my time in Gondar. Ate lots of injera (!), visited the markets - turning down the man who was trying to sell us his newly slaughtered chicken, made friends with lots of kids on the streets. You were right, the people there are very warm and friendly - I loved it! Unfortunately, didn't get a chance to visit the Simien Mountains, but spent a few spectacular days travelling in Lalibela and Axum. The 1st piece of the stele from Rome was returned to Axum the day we arrived - the town was in a great celebration!

Teaching SCI rehab in the new physiotherapy program in Gondar was great. SCI rehab is different in Ethiopia than in Canada - actually non-existent. But it's very exciting to see the development of rehabilitation services in a region where no emphasis was placed in this area before.

The students were fantastic, and will have a lot of challenges ahead of them when they graduate to advocate for physiotherapy referrals for the people there. As I understand, individuals with spinal injuries are currently shipped to some sort of residential setting, where they may have very limited rehab services (if any), and certainly no access to much else.

I tried to instill in them that even despite an SCI, there is still much potential for independence if these people are given the appropriate resources, and that their role as physiotherapists is a very important one to help them achieve this.

Anyway, just wanted to drop you a quick line about my trip. Good luck with your future travels! I'll check your site again to read all about Kenya!

ada