This educational fieldtrip benefitted from the regular interactions with and generous assistance from Dr. Facil Tesfaye and Dr. Kofi Yakpo. We are particularly grateful for their timely feedbacks, guidance and supervision throughout the semester. The academic staff and student buddies from Bahir Dar University, University of Gondar, Aksum University and Addis Ababa University deserve special recognition for stimulating discussions on Ethiopian languages, socio-cultural developments, history and many more. Their contributions invited us to make deeper intellectual reflections on various issues. They do not necessarily endorse the ways that their expressions are interpreted in our research, and we take full responsibilities for any possible errors.

 

Furthermore, we would like to extend our greatest gratitude to all those institutions that made this trip possible and successful: these include the Faculty of Arts, the African Studies Programme, and the Department of Linguistics at the University of Hong Kong, the Ethiopian Airlines offices in Hong Kong and Addis Ababa. Special thanks goes to Ms. Yodit Fikre, the regional manager of Ethiopian Airlines in Hong Kong, who provided us with great assistance on our pre-departure arrangements. Last but not least, our sincere appreciation also goes to our host, Mr. Ashenafi Kassa of Celebrity Ethiopia, who took care of us throughout our stay in Ethiopia. 

 

The learning process has been greatly fruitful and rewarding with the support from all the abovementioned individuals and institutions.