The Weekend Is Here

We’ve enjoyed two days of sunshine. It really makes a difference to wake up to a warm, sunny day. I think we have all come to terms with the constant rain and mud, but when it is sunny we are elated.

Yesterday, I went with Bethany to another part of town. She takes one taxi and then walks another mile or so to work. It was so nice to have a long walk outside of the hustle and bustle of the city. She took me to the Children’s Home Society to introduce me to the staff while she went on to teach a course at the nursing college. CHS is one of the better orphanages in Addis. It has excellent nannies and nurses caring for the babies and toddlers; they run a tight ship. Many American adoptions are taking place there each month. While I was waiting to speak with the head administrator a couple from Minnesota arrived to pick up their baby girl.

I met with the doctor at the child care center where they keep the babies and toddlers. It was apparent that I was not going to be of much use to them since I am not a nurse. But the head nurse still gave me a tour of the center. I was so impressed with the level of detail and care they apply to each child. They document every aspect of the child’s life so that the adoptive parents and the child can understand his past. If they found him in the gutter they film that. There is such a contrast between CHS and the crowded HIV Mother Theresa’s Asco orphanage.

You soon realize that time in Africa is not viewed the same as in America. They are much more laid back here – time is not of the essence. I was told that the head administrator would be available to meet at 11:00 AM so I waited an hour and forty-five minutes in the office for him. He later called to reschedule for 2:00 PM. Since Bethany was done teaching we had to leave. I’m going to give it another try on Monday.

When we got back to our town, Tor Highloch, a man stopped us and said he saw us at CHS. He then continued to walk with us and tell us his occupation and life plans. Being white we get talked to and stared at everywhere we go. People like to practice English with us. A young girl tapped me on the shoulder, asked how I was and told me her name. The only other thing she knew how to say was “money.”

For lunch, Asni had made homemade fries and grilled cheese sandwiches. She is an awesome cook and always has food ready for us. At this rate we’re all afraid of gaining weight. The rest of the day was very leisurely since it’s the weekend. We decided to stay in have and dinner together. Some folks watched a movie on a laptop in the bedroom. But it is the goal of the house to remain culturally sensitive in our surroundings so we do not have a TV and do not use electronics in the main part of the house. Being here for four months I am wondering how I am going to keep up on the news in the rest of the world. I’m already losing track of time. The Internet is too slow to use. Fortunately, there are newspapers printed in English that carry international news.

Last night, Victoria became sick. Almost everyone has been sick at some point this week. We believe it is a virus. I am just praying I can resist it. She slept in my room to be nearer to the bathroom and was sick all night. Thankfully, she is feeling better this morning. Some of the girls went to the open wounds clinic at Mother Theresa’s this morning. I’m still trying to take it slow so I stayed in to read and write.

Two more visitors are arriving from the states this morning. Later today we plan to go to Abraham’s house for a coffee ceremony. Coffee is the largest crop in Ethiopia and is believed to have originated here. They know how to fix it. Rachael and I ordered a macchiato the other day and it only cost 35 cents. It was very good.

Asni and Hannah get the weekends off so the house usually cooks in one night and eats out the other. I think we’ll go out tonight…my first restaurant experience.