2008...in style

The last thing I thought I would be doing on New Year’s Eve 2008, and in all countries Ethiopia, was seeing a Rhianna and Akon concert with near to 25,000 other people. For those of you who know who these hip-hop stars are (Holla!) this was quite a shock. It all began with an innocent, albeit indulgent, trip to the Sheraton Hotel with my parents on December 29. Reputably the posh-est hotel in Africa and after having been there I agree; it’s the posh-est hotel I have ever been in in my life, we went for a taste of the high life with the ‘rents. Driving up Patty was tickled by the numerous Santa Claus’ climbing ropes of light all over the outside of the building. Inside, it was as if Christmas has thrown up: massive trees decorated in sickeningly over-the-top decorations, glitz and glitter, lights and shiny balls everywhere you turned. (Yes, we did get the proverbial family photo in front of the tree in the lobby. Are parents always this cheesy?) The icing on the cake, or should I say, the topping of all toppings, was the dessert buffet in the lobby café, complete with a chocolate fountain. I had never actually seen one of these in person; it was as if we were magically transported to an alternative Christmas reality when we walked through the metal detectors at the door. Were we even in Ethiopia anymore? Lori and I wandered in a daze, trying to focus on other things around us, while our minds still dwelled on the chocolate fountain – did we really need dinner? And then, a poster caught our eyes: “Rhianna and Akon at the Millenium Hall, December 31st 2007.” What?! Was this a joke? Of all places these artists could be to bring in 2008, they were going to be in Addis Ababa? After reading and rereading the poster a few times, my parents were interested and needed a full explanation of who these musical talents were. We found a scantily clad Rhianna singing her (overplayed) hit “Umbrella” on a nearby T.V. and my parents laughed. “You should definitely go,” said Allen.

Yeah right…but the seed was planted.

The day after my parents left was New Year’s Eve and we had no serious plans. However, we still had Rhianna and Akon in the back of our minds. Fortuitously my folks had some birr (Ethiopian currency) left over and decided we needed it more than they did. We refused, they insisted, force ensued, and of course the elders won out. So, here we were a few hundred birr richer and what better way to spend it than go to a hip hop show for New Years? The flyer said “Proper Attire Required,” which of course really meant, “Look hot or you won’t be let in!” What else were we to do but go all out? We found ourselves in the Piazza Market after breakfast and a trip to the Sheraton to buy our tickets, the last day of 2007. A few hours later our arms were laden with bags: two shiny new dresses, enormous earrings, a little eye shadow, red toe nail polish, and one pair of high heels. The last time we put on makeup was in October…this was a day to remember. After showering and getting gussied up we headed for a taxi, already 8pm, only fours hours left in 2007.

Arriving at the Millennium Hall was like arriving at a Hollywood event and walking down the red carpet. Everyone was gorgeous. Decked out for the celebration the concert-goers were dressed to the nines. Distracted by people-watching we soon found ourselves immersed in a sea of bodies, near the stage, cheering as Rhianna walked out onto the stage, her first trip to Africa, and we were there to welcome her. It seemed absurd. Here we were in Ethiopia, far away from our home in Alaska, after nearly three months in the country, wearing the same two outfits, using public transportation, eating every meal with our hands, volunteering, and then, to find ourselves, decked out, surrounded by almost 25,000 others, at a hip-hop concert in the capital city…surreal.

The evening was a beautiful blur. The music was better than expected, our feet hurt from dancing, and we couldn’t have had a better time. As the clocked turned the page, a new chapter began: 2008. Only minutes after we entered this current year, Lori and I realized how little we needed. In the midst of the bumping, grinding, and shouting, we lost our bag. Luckily, we really didn’t lose anything. To be exact: 2 black pashminas, 2 chapsticks, 400 birr (~$40), and the high-heels I had bought hours before. Thank goodness my feet hurt so early on that I changed out of my heels into my precious flip-flops! As we rode home in the taxi a couple of hours later, shivering and penniless, I couldn’t stop laughing. It was the perfect way to begin the New Year: with nothing more than we needed. Lori didn’t share my initial joy because, unfortunately, she was the one holding the bag at the time it was stealthily slipped away, but by the next day we were both smiling. It was a great evening, a brilliant story, and the perfect end to a very full year.