| Ciao Asmara: A Classic Account of Contemporary Africa |  | Author: Justin Hill
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy Used: $5.25
as of 3/19/2010 21:18 EDT details
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Seller: brit-books-usa
Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 770,567
Media: Paperback
Pages: 224
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 4.7 x 0.6
ISBN: 0349117748
Dewey Decimal Number: 301
EAN: 9780349117744
ASIN: 0349117748
Publication Date: April 1, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A novelist’s deeply affecting account of working as a teacher in the war–torn African state of Eritrea—shortlisted for Britain’s prestigious Thomas Cook Award.
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| Customer Reviews:
 30 years of war: the Aftermath + more war September 17, 2006
Loves the View (Hawaii)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Looking at a map of Africa, this country with so much coast line should be prime real estate. There should be harbors, hotels and snorkeling galore. Unfortunately, what it has had has been war. Maybe even more to come.
Last year I read Michela Wong's "I Didn't Do It For You" which details Eritrea's very sad history. Justin Hill's "Ciao Asmara" brings the country much more to life. His light prose style belies strong content and incisive observations.
Through his experiences teaching (teachers chase the students into the classrooms with sticks; class size may be 75 students; with only a few rooms schools have 2 shifts) making friends among the those from "The Field" (who seem to have something like a post partum depression) and meeting various long and short term travelers (from those studying rare fish to those seeking a retirement home), you learn what it is like in the aftermath of a 30 year war. Not only have the people been physically and emotionally damaged, education is hard to come by, and even if you have it, with the economy in shambles, you can't use it. Those who are best off are those with relatives abroad and the veterans who have managed to secure gov't jobs.
The book has some photos that leave you wanting more. You can get more elsewhere on the net (esp. the Art Deco buildings) by searching Eritrea.
The description of Hill's evacuation is great ("Don't jerk me around!" "Fill out the BLUE FORMS!" "I can't deal with this.") and how luggage maximums are reduced by the hour.
If, like me, you're like "travel" books that introduce you to different people more than the food or sites, this book is for you. Other good reads describing day to day life include South of the Clouds (China), The Califf's House (Casablanca) and Es Cuba.
 An interesting find February 20, 2006
John Speer (Seattle, WA United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I noticed this book by chance on a library shelf while searching specifically for something else; it looked interesting, so I got it out as well. Pretty comprehensive look at post-independence Eritrea at a grasp-able level, including photos. Would make a great book to take along while traveling, etc.
Good Read and Interesting Story December 16, 2008
Robert R. Kudyba
Like the author, I spent some time in Asmara and travelled to places like Keren and Massawa. I really enjoyed my time there, so I can relate to his story very well.
This is a good read for anyone who has worked in Eritrea and like myself, you'll probably feel a tinge of sadness when you get to the end of the book.
Good on you Justin.
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