Comments on: The Colors of Ethiopians: Where Are You From? http://www.tadias.com/02/04/2009/the-colors-of-ethiopians-where-are-you-from/ Ethiopian Business and Lifestyle Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:54:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Naomi http://www.tadias.com/02/04/2009/the-colors-of-ethiopians-where-are-you-from/comment-page-1/#comment-11987 Naomi Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:53:52 +0000 http://tadias.com/?p=462#comment-11987 I know HOW U FEEL! I have gone through being annoyed of people asking me where I'm from. Others time I feel unique and I sometimes like people guessing--in a way. I am straight up pointy nose- light-skinned- poofy wavy haired Ethiopian. I often get stared at for several minutes until the person comes up with an uncertain answer. Like when I was at a buffet- this person was just staring and staring until they said- Are you mixed? Wait no-- Indian/Mexican? Or are you black or Egyptian?ONCE someone guessed Dominican republic mixed with Asian. I just chuckle and say- I am Ethiopian. By the way- my aunt is German and is married to my Ethiopian uncle. ;) Maybe they'll have a Ethiopian-German baby! I know HOW U FEEL! I have gone through being annoyed of people asking me where I’m from. Others time I feel unique and I sometimes like people guessing–in a way. I am straight up pointy nose- light-skinned- poofy wavy haired Ethiopian. I often get stared at for several minutes until the person comes up with an uncertain answer. Like when I was at a buffet- this person was just staring and staring until they said- Are you mixed? Wait no– Indian/Mexican? Or are you black or Egyptian?ONCE someone guessed Dominican republic mixed with Asian. I just chuckle and say- I am Ethiopian. By the way- my aunt is German and is married to my Ethiopian uncle. ;) Maybe they’ll have a Ethiopian-German baby!

]]> By: Dani http://www.tadias.com/02/04/2009/the-colors-of-ethiopians-where-are-you-from/comment-page-1/#comment-11957 Dani Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:32:30 +0000 http://tadias.com/?p=462#comment-11957 Hi, You have no idea how much this has touched me. I no longer feel alone. I am also half Ethiopian! Every time people ask me what am I and I answer them, they say, "NOSA!!" But I am! I live in the US now but I still follow Ethiopian customs! Hi,

You have no idea how much this has touched me. I no longer feel alone. I am also half Ethiopian! Every time people ask me what am I and I answer them, they say, “NOSA!!” But I am! I live in the US now but I still follow Ethiopian customs!

]]> By: My self as I am http://www.tadias.com/02/04/2009/the-colors-of-ethiopians-where-are-you-from/comment-page-1/#comment-11818 My self as I am Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:04:22 +0000 http://tadias.com/?p=462#comment-11818 The same happended to me...in all my life.. I was born in ethiopia (Berodà - harer Region ) from an Ethiopian mother (from the Norten cuntry origin) and from an Italian father- They met each oter during some road & bridge constructions perdiod during teh 70thies..so I am old enough.. I left my birth land and moved at first to Rome then to the north -est of Italy- But the question was always the same: when I was in eTHIOPIA RURAL CHILDEN USED TO CALL ME IN DIFFERNT WAY DPENDING FROM THE TIME : <em>TALIYAN. cBA, RSISINA & IN GENRAL FERNJI-</em> In Italy at first sight they take me as a southern Italian; then they used to call me as a : Argentinian, brazilian and in general mediterranean blood person- But never, no one used to guess what my origin is - I any case I feel : 100% ethiopian and 100% italian even if most of my life I spenti it in Italy- If I do not explain nothing of my life, everybody looks me lihe a southern italian person; but suddendly if I explain them mu origine of : ethiopian woman and italian man- It seems that the only fact that counts,d epending on the country I am is - the other/oppiste par t of me in rekation of the place where I am . The only difference is that: when I am in Ethiopia in any case I am respected for what I am-; on the other side in Italy, as soon as I say my birth place , immediately tehir mind go to the stertipic sighe of Ethiopia: famine, death and povery- No matter my origin is in real life... So, in any case, I will nevery forget my holy home land Ethiopia (nice and still pure country with along & century long culture) and my at the same time beloved country of my father Italy- my relatives in both countries are rich in culture, tradition, history The same happended to me…in all my life.. I was born in ethiopia (Berodà – harer Region ) from an Ethiopian mother (from the Norten cuntry origin) and from an Italian father- They met each oter during some road & bridge constructions perdiod during teh 70thies..so I am old enough..

I left my birth land and moved at first to Rome then to the north -est of Italy- But the question was always the same: when I was in eTHIOPIA RURAL CHILDEN USED TO CALL ME IN DIFFERNT WAY DPENDING FROM THE TIME : TALIYAN. cBA, RSISINA & IN GENRAL FERNJI-

In Italy at first sight they take me as a southern Italian; then they used to call me as a : Argentinian, brazilian and in general mediterranean blood person- But never, no one used to guess what my origin is -

I any case I feel : 100% ethiopian and 100% italian even if most of my life I spenti it in Italy- If I do not explain nothing of my life, everybody looks me lihe a southern italian person; but suddendly if I explain them mu origine of : ethiopian woman and italian man- It seems that the only fact that counts,d epending on the country I am is – the other/oppiste par t of me in rekation of the place where I am . The only difference is that: when I am in Ethiopia in any case I am respected for what I am-; on the other side in Italy, as soon as I say my birth place , immediately tehir mind go to the stertipic sighe of Ethiopia: famine, death and povery- No matter my origin is in real life…

So, in any case, I will nevery forget my holy home land Ethiopia (nice and still pure country with along & century long culture) and my at the same time beloved country of my father Italy- my relatives in both countries are rich in culture, tradition, history

]]> By: babble http://www.tadias.com/02/04/2009/the-colors-of-ethiopians-where-are-you-from/comment-page-1/#comment-11804 babble Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:42:38 +0000 http://tadias.com/?p=462#comment-11804 Hallo Tigist: Not only you but also a lot of tourists feel uneasy about this kind of entrusion particularly in northern ethiopia where the people are "less calmer" to use the turists own words. On the colour matter, ethiopians fancy white or fair colour to the point of adoration. This is not necessarily unique to ethiopian. However, ethiopians seem a bit obsessed with skin colour. They seem to read everything of a person from the colour of his/her skin. Take the people from Shoa have six categories of skin colour complexion. You are in africa where people can get very entrusive in to your privacy. Hallo Tigist:
Not only you but also a lot of tourists feel uneasy about this kind of entrusion particularly in northern ethiopia where the people are “less calmer” to use the turists own words. On the colour matter, ethiopians fancy white or fair colour to the point of adoration. This is not necessarily unique to ethiopian. However, ethiopians seem a bit obsessed with skin colour. They seem to read everything of a person from the colour of his/her skin. Take the people from Shoa have six categories of skin colour complexion. You are in africa where people can get very entrusive in to your privacy.

]]> By: Keffey http://www.tadias.com/02/04/2009/the-colors-of-ethiopians-where-are-you-from/comment-page-1/#comment-11061 Keffey Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:56:20 +0000 http://tadias.com/?p=462#comment-11061 Tigist... This caught my eye, especially the bit about Yohannes. I remember when he asked you that! I might not be mixed but I understand fully; "You're not black"... "You look Indian though?"... "I didn't even know Ethiopia was in Africa".... Hope you are well. Mum still thinks of you when the topic of vegetarians arise! Lots of love, Keffey. Tigist…

This caught my eye, especially the bit about Yohannes. I remember when he asked you that!
I might not be mixed but I understand fully; “You’re not black”… “You look Indian though?”… “I didn’t even know Ethiopia was in Africa”….

Hope you are well. Mum still thinks of you when the topic of vegetarians arise!

Lots of love,

Keffey.

]]> By: Abiy http://www.tadias.com/02/04/2009/the-colors-of-ethiopians-where-are-you-from/comment-page-1/#comment-9441 Abiy Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:34:43 +0000 http://tadias.com/?p=462#comment-9441 Hi TG ENKUTATASH / happy Ethiopian new year/ you are beautful Ethiopian thank u for sharing ur life story Abiy from India Hi TG
ENKUTATASH / happy Ethiopian new year/ you are beautful Ethiopian

thank u for sharing ur life story

Abiy from India

]]> By: CB http://www.tadias.com/02/04/2009/the-colors-of-ethiopians-where-are-you-from/comment-page-1/#comment-8618 CB Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:08:03 +0000 http://tadias.com/?p=462#comment-8618 t's like reading my life story here haha. I am half ethiopian ad half czech and I experience the exact same thing! The questions, the guesses everything haha. I always get nods from middle eastern people and spanish individuals. t’s like reading my life story here haha.
I am half ethiopian ad half czech and I experience the exact same thing!
The questions, the guesses everything haha.
I always get nods from middle eastern people and spanish individuals.

]]> By: Genet http://www.tadias.com/02/04/2009/the-colors-of-ethiopians-where-are-you-from/comment-page-1/#comment-7554 Genet Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:30:25 +0000 http://tadias.com/?p=462#comment-7554 Wow Tigist, you have described exactly how I have always felt. People give me bewildered looks when I tell them I'm half Ethiopian. Granted, my skin is almost the color of porcelain. Most of the time I usually get "But I thought Ethiopians were...black!" I am very glad I found this post! Wow Tigist, you have described exactly how I have always felt. People give me bewildered looks when I tell them I’m half Ethiopian. Granted, my skin is almost the color of porcelain. Most of the time I usually get “But I thought Ethiopians were…black!”

I am very glad I found this post!

]]> By: teach http://www.tadias.com/02/04/2009/the-colors-of-ethiopians-where-are-you-from/comment-page-1/#comment-7256 teach Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:53:23 +0000 http://tadias.com/?p=462#comment-7256 PEOPLE!!!! DON'T GO ALONG WITH WHAT PEOPLE CALL YOU!!!! DON'T DO IT. of course as Habeshas, people try to guess our ethnicity and ask questions that to us seem silly, but that is the extent of some people's ignorance. I know it is hard! But please be patient with them when people ask "how far is Ethiopia/Eritrea from Africa?" take it as an oppurtunity to teach people something they would've never known. Then one day they will say " yes I met a very nice Ethiopian/Eritrean who told me all about their culture" and they will be able to speak about it a little bit becuase of what you explained to them. Don't be mad at people who don't know, take it as a chance to teach them about the rich culture. But when you do things like say " yes I am Egyptian." that may keep you from having to answer some questions, but it also keeps them ignorant. PEOPLE!!!! DON’T GO ALONG WITH WHAT PEOPLE CALL YOU!!!!
DON’T DO IT.

of course as Habeshas, people try to guess our ethnicity and ask questions that to us seem silly, but that is the extent of some people’s ignorance.

I know it is hard! But please be patient with them when people ask
“how far is Ethiopia/Eritrea from Africa?”

take it as an oppurtunity to teach people something they would’ve never known.

Then one day they will say ” yes I met a very nice Ethiopian/Eritrean who told me all about their culture” and they will be able to speak about it a little bit becuase of what you explained to them.

Don’t be mad at people who don’t know, take it as a chance to teach them about the rich culture.

But when you do things like say ” yes I am Egyptian.” that may keep you from having to answer some questions, but it also keeps them ignorant.

]]> By: Mi http://www.tadias.com/02/04/2009/the-colors-of-ethiopians-where-are-you-from/comment-page-1/#comment-7101 Mi Sat, 28 Mar 2009 05:37:40 +0000 http://tadias.com/?p=462#comment-7101 Hi Tigist, Your color is very Ethiopian. I mean you look Ethiopian, if you you go to Ethiopia plenty people have is light complexion, especially in Addis Ababa, the capital city. I live in the U.S. and everywhere people ask me if I am Spanish, Indian but no body believe i;m from ethio . Hi Tigist,

Your color is very Ethiopian. I mean you look Ethiopian, if you you go to Ethiopia plenty people have is light complexion, especially in Addis Ababa, the capital city. I live in the U.S. and everywhere people ask me if I am Spanish, Indian but no body believe i;m from ethio .

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