From 1966-68 we were stationed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Our daughter, Jolene, was in the third grade when we arrived that summer. School was delayed till October because they were building a nice, new American School. The old school was in the center of Addis in an old building down the street from the “Hanging Tree.” Yes, if someone committed a very bad crime, he was hung by a tree for three days. The tree was right on the school route, so the children got an early lesson in capital punishment. Thanks goodness they delayed school that year, so my daughter never had to see that sight. I must admit her school experience was less than desirable (she had four teachers in the fourth grade), as it was very difficult to get and hold a teacher. Living conditions were not the best! It was a marvelous experience for all of us, overall, and we made friends there who have remained friends over the years. The children all had horses so we held horse gymkanas (I think that is what they called them) at the school periodically.
Originally an Instant Memory from Operation FootLocker, a part of Military Brats of America.
