I have been invited to lead an English -
style international school in Addis Ababa on a two year contract. Nonetheless it
should be noted that the average life-span for a school director in an
international school is 18 months. International schools can be very fickle and
are often reluctant to change under inspired new Heads.
It is my largest International School i have
led with over 400 Primary students and 30 classroom and specialist teachers. It is a
truly international school with over 55 nationalities represented amongst the
student body. Apart from my South African Head of Early Years (Ms J) and part-time Head of French, Ms Julie, i am the only white face on the staff. I am very much aware of the Bwana syndrome.
I know Addis quite well, having travelled extensively
through Ethiopia for some two months in 2010. All transportation begins in Addis,
so i came through the city several times. It reminds me of the ubiquitous
Chinese cities during the early 1990s - plenty of incomplete glass and cement
building projects and a multitude of road-works distributed across the
city.
Ethiopians are part a complex system of
tribes. Only Liberia and Ethiopia on the African continent avoided any real
colonization and they are strongly independent. Almost all of my staff are
Ethiopians and i am bound to make serious guffs on the way.
It is said that one will return having tasted
Ethiopian water, and somewhat surprising myself, i have indeed.
It's going to be an interesting and
challenging journey for sure.
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