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Topic: Hello Friends (Read 13800 times)
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Idba
Guest
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Today was just another special day for me. There is this one cafe outside of town that richest folks in town go to get away from it all. Although I found out about this place as soon as I got in town I was not sure that was the place for me. Allah has blessed me and my family and I am thankful for that but I personally enjoy dining and sitting with normal everyday folks. Those are the people I consider my kind of people, not snubish folks that look down on those less fortunate of them.
So today I paid a visit to that cafe by driving a really shitty car owned by a relative, folks I do have a good sense of humor. I intentionally drove this car just to see the reaction of people when I pull over to the huge parking space fill with the newest edition Land-cruisers and other Toyota cars. I went alone again.
As soon as I pull over to the parking lott almost half of them where looking not at me, but the car, and old 89 Mark II. I pull right in between two brand land-cruisers and I believe one of them is owned by Duqa Magaalada, the mayor of this city. Afterwards I walked slowly to the cafe to have a cup of tea and to observe area. As soon as I sat down almost all conversations stopped. For one I think most notice I was new to town secondly they had the look in their face that I did not belong at their cafe. One older man had the balls to say to me, "reer garoowe ma tihid ee xageed nooga imaatey?" Just the kinda question I was expecting. I told him I was the Old Garoowe, an old joke used by those who had relatives in the formatioin of garowe. When one says they are "garoowadii ******," few families come to mind and the man started counting these families to see which one I belong to. But right after he named my great grandfather's name his friend came and they walked to their nice looking cars.
To make a long story shorter the place I visited today is filled with the most arrogant, snubish, rich folks I have had the pleasure, or displeasure, of meeting in my life. This is where the rich folks meet with each other to talk about the newest "stuff" they have recieved from Dubai and other places. It is also where new comers from America and Europe share stories with each other of how they made it big doing such and such.
I went there not as a College Graduate who has a decent job but as a normal guy with an old rusty car I rented from a relative and the reception, to say it nicely, was not good. The tea I ordered was brought to me about 20 minutes after all the rich looking folks got theirs. No one accept the old man said hi and few even gave me those old fashion looks. I walked away thankful that I did not turn out like them, that I have had parents that raised me well, that I enjoy the company of those less fortunate than I am.
And I walked away knowing what life is like for poor Garoowians when they walked by these people. It must be harsh when someone who has just more materials than you looks down on you for been poor.
The gap between the rich and poor is getting wider and with it we have an un official caste system. The rich stay in their side of town while the poor live in the most crowded, no streats, part of town where most crimes occur and where no hosptals and good businesses are found.
I bet most other cities are just like Garoowe.
And finally, don't expect me to write another piece about this cafe. I don't plan on going back there anytime soon. I wll stick to small biibitos where normal folks are found. There is where I always belong to and always will.
Happy Ramadan
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Aabihii-Kacaanka
Full Member
Posts: 176
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Mr ABDI, thanks for sharing your interesting journey with us.
I have recently gathered that people with HIV and AIDS Viruses are currently increasing in numbers in both Somaliland and Puntland due to the increasing economic migarents from Ethiopia .
This is clearly a dangrouse situation, to what extent do people are aware of this problem? Is there an awareness program that exist?
I hope you can shade alight on this issue.
Thanks in advance.
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Idba
Guest
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I have recently gathered that people with HIV and AIDS Viruses are currently increasing in numbers in both Somaliland and Puntland due to the increasing economic migarents from Ethiopia .
AK, the sad reality of today's Somalia is that we no longer can say we are AIDS free. Indeed there are so many Ethiopians in these areas. That was the biggest suprise I have encountered when I came herejust few weeks ago.
Most of them do hard labor jobs that other Somalis in this area wont do. Most if not all construction work are done by them these days around here.
Ethopia has one of the highest AIDS invected people in Africa. Common sense would tell you that these migrant workers brought with them AIDS and that is why we heard about more and more Somalis invected with HIV in Somaliland, which also has huge Habashi population, and in Puntland.
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Idba
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You were the next door neighbor of my relatives for many years. Later you married my auntie and together you raised one lovely family of eight.
You were a member of Garoowe's old police force during the era of Siyad Bare. You made headlines when you refused to take a pay for a month you were sick by saying you did not want to take a money you did not work for. When the former government called you to fight in Hargeisa you refused to join that war too and you were jailed for that.
An entire city mourns your loss Dear uncle. You will be missed by your family and friends and the countless people from all walks of life that have known you through the years. You will be miss by Garoowe's mentally ill population that you volunteerily took care off for many years. You will be miss by your comrades from your days as policeman here in Garoowe.
The only sign one needed to know that you were loved by many was to simply look at how many people showed up at your funeral. It almost felt like the entire city was there. People from every corner of Garoowe showed up to pay their respect to you.
Even though we paid a final respect to you Dear Uncle, your memory and the legacy you left behind will last a lifetime.
For the many that known you and the countless people you took care of during your amazing life we say thank you and good bye.
I agree with one of your old friends who said "you were the best thing that ever happened to Garoowe."
You were the best.
We'all mourn today for your loss.
Rest in peace AEG.
May Allah grant you a place in heaven. May those closest to you, your wife and children, find peace in these difficult times.
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habia
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Dear uncle: I too say May Allah grant you a place in heaven. May those closest to you, your wife and children, find peace in these difficult times. And to you Idba and to your family, my family and I send you our condolences.
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Idba
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Thanks a bunch Habia.
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Waran Qodaal
Full Member
Posts: 117
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IDBA, first of all samir iyoo imaan , abtiga iyoo adeerka midu noqdo ba Allaha uu naxariisto.
Outstanding report my friend , wallahi waan ka helay sheekadaad inoola timid. So , maxaad tidhi , Geele from Hargeysa's airport and you kinda bounded for a couple fo hours eh?
Keep us posted waryee, and don't worry about all of them newly enriched mofos , the difference between you and them is that you are Garoowe's next mayor 
Peace my friend , and watch your 6 .
PS: Aren't you gonna push it to Las Canood?
Baxar
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Idba
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IDBA, first of all samir iyoo imaan , abtiga iyoo adeerka midu noqdo ba Allaha uu naxariisto. Outstanding report my friend , wallahi waan ka helay sheekadaad inoola timid. So , maxaad tidhi , Geele from Hargeysa's airport and you kinda bounded for a couple fo hours eh? Keep us posted waryee, and don't worry about all of them newly enriched mofos , the difference between you and them is that you are Garoowe's next mayor Peace my friend , and watch your 6 . PS: Aren't you gonna push it to Las Canood? Baxar
Good to hear from you again Baxar. I hope things are going pretty well for you in the desert you call home these days. You and I do have one thing in common, the landscape here looks much like Arizona and of course it is hot here for the most part of the year accept the windy season. But I have been to the hottest place in the world and that is Dubia. I almost don't want to go back there but I have to so I can catch British Airways to London on my way back to America. But that is months away.
I will definetely go to Las-Anod after Ramadan. Few other cities I will visit for a short stay include Qardho, Boosaaso and Burtinle. I would love to go to Eyl and LasQorey as well but I highly doubt that will happen. Another trip, another time.
Me next mayor of Garoowe? Waa maxey Habaarka Saaxiib?
I was hoping you would say "next President of Somalia."
But then again that would be habaar too. Who would want to run this country in this climate with all the headache and clanist crap that goes with it? I guess a determined leader with good heart and is a uniter wont hurt.
Someone like Abdullahi Yousuf right? 
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Idba
Guest
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Yesterday I had the honor of attending a meeting organized by the U.N and the World Bank. Members of Somalia parliament plus those regional Puntland MPs attending. Leaders of NGOs around the country were also present.
Even though I was invited by one of the leaders the armed security at the door turned me away and told me this was a private meeting.
After I got in to the car I had a clever idea. What if I told them I was a member of the media that were invited to attend? What if I told them I was a freelance writer for Somaliuk.com? And that is exactly what I did.
When I enter the room all eyes seemed to me on me. This was a room filled with members of Parliament and high level dignataries around the country and few media members. I walked right infront of the them and made my way on the back of the room were the journalists were sitting. The guy that invited me walked up to me and asked me to sit by him and I did.
First speaker was a man named Max who is one of the leaders of U.N.D.P, United nations Developmental Program. One thing he said that stuck with me was that the international community does not trust Somalia and that they are reluctant to invest huge amount of money and energy in to this country. I wonder what he meant by that? In Afghanistan and Iraq the world poured in Billions to rebuild the infrustructure but in Somalia we still have the roads the chinese built some decades ago.
The next speaker was a member of Parliament from Jowhar. He spoke of the need to rebuild roads, Ports...he mentioned Boosaaso Port.., and the need to build airports that Jet planes can land.
The meeting was long, about three hours, and we had a great open discussion after the speakers were done making their presentation.
The moral of the story, folks, is that saying I was a member of Somaliuk.com got me into a high level meeting full of high level officials. For few hours I was in the most peaceful place in town considering the hundreds of armed security men outside guarding the place.
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Kaj
Sr. Member
Gender: 
Posts: 397
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Hi Idba,
Waaw that sounds remarkable. I can’t believe they believed you were a member of the press. Mind you, you are kind of a freelance reporter.
My mum knows Max, but I didn’t know he went to Somalia I thought he was still in Nairobi. Anyway, I think what he meant is that Somalia is not such a rich country and will need a lot of investment. Like any investor will tell you, you need security for investment or the potential of higher returns. At this moment Somalia offers neither unless you are a black market dealer in drugs and arms. The government will need to ensure security first and have systems in place to convince international investors to invest in Somalia. Most importantly they should encourage domestic investment instead of looking for handouts from foreign donors. Being reliant on foreign donations doesn’t demonstrate good governance does it?
Well Idba, it sounds like you are having such an adventure. Take care and keep us posted.
Kaj
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Idba
Guest
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I absolutely agree with you that we should "encourage demostic investment." But Kaj we need help with that as well. It is not easy investing in a country that has a semi working ports and airports that are nothing but a dirt road. WE MUST build the infrustructure first and then start thinking about local and private investment.
The part I agree with the MPs yesterday most was the need to rebuild infrustructure and build new ones as well.
Your Mother knows Max huh? He seemed like a one decent guy and he spent many years travelling all over this land. At some point though they need to stop having workshops and silly meeting and start doing something useless for the people.
Have a good one
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