There are moments when I think about my journey to Ethiopia and muse about how I came to be in Bahir Dar.
But I know I’m not the only person or thing from the States that has made the voyage to this country, as I’m daily reminded by the t-shirts that adorn the chests of Ethiopian men and women in the streets of my city.
“How did that shirt get here?”
I ask myself this question almost as much as I ask myself how the hell I got here.
And I can’t help but marvel at the variety. Below, a smattering:
College t-shirts. They come from every corner of the US. A selection of those I’ve seen: Kentucky, Kansas, Kansas St., Creighton, Ball St., Tulane, Maryland, Ohio St., Stanford, Notre Dame, UCLA. The South Carolina Gamecocks. Duke Blue Devils and Michigan Wolverines. Nothing from UWM, though.
A proud display
Wisconsin sports teams are well represented. I’ve seen a Marquette Soccer shirt, Bucky Badger, and the Milwaukee Bucks. Milwaukee Brewers, too, if you count my Ganj-Box Section t-shirt (but I don’t). I’ve seen quite a few Packers Tees, including a 2007 NFC Champions shirt. Yup.
I’ve seen bezu military shirts. Desert Storm, check. Iraq Part II, check. I’ve seen a Vietnam shirt. You know, the one with the military ribbons on it. There are all sorts of shirts for myriad “warrior” athletic competitions. I’ve also seen a shirt for aafes.com. Really? AAFES made T-shirts?
My personal favorites are the hilariously random shirts. In one day, I saw two shirts with the phrase “s—faced.” Another said, “Hey, you’re a crazy b—-“ I’ve seen a shirt for Bloomington Parks and Recreation. One man’s shirt declared, “I’m a keeper.” Another, “Yes, I look this good all the time.” One that would normally receive a massive eye roll in another life made me a tad nostalgic: “Don’t Mess With Texas.”
If I didn’t know better, the shirts around town would have me convinced that Ethiopians are the most philanthropic people around. (Are they?) Charity run/walk shirts – what I call Michael Scott shirts – are everywhere. Pick any combo of distance and cause and I’ve probably seen it.
Then there are the always-enjoyable brand knockoffs. (I know these aren’t necessarily American exports, but they’re in English so just go with it.) Galvin Klein. Or Calvin Kline. Dolce & Gabana. Addidas. And, of course, that iconic Nike slogan, “Just Doing It.”
As I see more random shirts, I’ll be sure to share them. And, as always, I’ll ask myself, “How did that get here?”
Cheers.
I like the t-shirts supporting small town election campaigns for District Attorney, and I want to snap a pic and send it to those candidates, to show them the support they have here. There are a lot of random t-shirts for class reunions (and one family reunion…families make t-shirts for their reunions!?!) and high school sports teams/tournaments.
The camera-man at my swearing-in ceremony at the US Embassy had a shirt that read “I Put Out,” but if you went around behind him, the back said “…Cigarette Butts.” Hah! It’s an entirely appropriate public health and/or fire safety message!
T-shirts are one of my favorite things in Ethiopia. They’re insane. Someone (can’t remember who) told me that there was a photo op with the ambassador and some Ethiopian health folks, and the head Ethiopian was wearing a shirt about oral sex. Good times.