Day 8 in Ethiopia (Friday)

The kids and I got a good night’s sleep and for the most part didn’t wake up until after 7:00. I didn’t feel really well in the morning so we took a few hours to get ready and down to the restaurant. We barely made it before the buffet closed so breakfast was quick.

Dawit picked us up at about 2:00 so I could finish up the last of my shopping. On my shopping list was toys for the kids. I thought it would be cool to get some Ethiopian toys, but Dawit informed me that such a thing doesn’t really exist. He said we could go to the import store, which we did, which is full of plastic junk from China. But I was desperate to pick up some sort of “new” entertainment for the flight so I got a Barbie phone with answering machine for Emma (sure to regret) and some other cell phone contraption that doubles as one of those water toys where you push the buttons to try and get the rings on the pole. When we got back to our hotel Dawit surprised me with a beautiful woven Ethiopian basket and lid, and told me that he really likes our family. The feeling is definitely mutual – Emma even drew him a picture the other day which he displayed on his dashboard.

It is occurring to me that we will be leaving in less than two days, and I am a little bit sad – although completely home sick. This trip has been different for me in that I haven’t found myself as passionate about the city and the people (maybe ‘passionate’ is the wrong word), and I am less “shocked” by what I see. I think it’s partly because it isn’t new to me this time, partly because I have been so focused on my kids and family, and perhaps also because we are so far removed from things here at the Sheraton. One thing I liked about staying at the Damu in January was that we were really in the heart of things and we felt like part of the community. I do still have an incredible love for Ethiopia and the people, and I especially love the way everyone shows affection to Isaiah and completely dotes on Emma. Even Biniam gets lots of attention from other adults, and I love the way they come up to him and start talking to him in Amharic. And I also still ache for the people who suffer here and who live in what can’t even be described as poverty. The other day two boys came up to our car begging, and in a split second I gave them the box of Emma’s leftover grilled-cheese sandwich and fries. As we pulled away I watched as they sat down, opened the box and prepared to share a meal. Somehow to me that felt so much different than handing out a few birr and I suddenly wished I’d saved our leftovers from every meal to hand out.

One memory I am sure to cherish here is our little ritual at the security checkpoint in our hotel lobby. There is an x-ray machine where we put all our bags through before we come in. Without a doubt, Emma grabs a little “bin”, puts Timmy in it, digs in her pockets for any coins she might have, sends everything through the x-ray, then picks it up on the other side. We all wait while she grabs Timmy, hugs him as if they’ve been apart for ages, puts each coin back in a pocket, then grabs her bin and heads back through the security line going the wrong direction to put the bin back at the front. This completely disrupts the flow of the security line, but no one seems to mind and everyone – including the security guards, watch in amusement and delight.

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It is now 5:50 and Brian and Biniam should have landed about 20 minutes ago. I am praying they are safe and on time, and am hoping they are in the mood for some Ethiopian food. Today is the last “fasting day” while we are here which means we can get vegetarian dishes along with our meat dishes. There is nothing like an assortment of 15 veggie dishes to go along with our incredible beef tibs and tons of injera.