Embassy and Goodbye Party

Our second day in Addis, consisted of our appointment at the US Embassy, sight-seeing, and the goodbye party at AHOPE. We arrived at the Embassy to find that the power was out and that the generator was not working. They seated us all outside on benches while they tried to figure out how to open the doors that had electrical security settings. We only waited about 20 minutes, but it was enough time for one little girl to have to go across the street and practice her squatting skills, TAB. While we were sitting in the waiting room, CNN was showing the first news about the earthquake in Haiti. All I could think about was the Livesay's in Haiti, and if they were okay. Our appointment went well, no hitches. The HIV waiver was gone, and no one even mentioned HIV (except Gail, which caused me a small heart attack).

While we were at the embassy, Heather, Michele and Honeybee hired a driver and explored Addis. They visited the Holy Trinity Church, The National Museum, did a little shopping, and swung by the Sheraton. The Sheraton apparently has the nicest available toilets in town. The driver was recommended by friends of friends of Heather's and turned out to be a lovely Christian man, with some quality negotiating skills.


Real bananas that taste sort of vanilla like were available on almost every corner, sort of like Starbucks are here. They are really nothing like the bananas I get at Win-Co. No wonder Nes won't eat bananas in Idaho.

That afternoon we walked to Big AHOPE for Jubilee and L's goodbye party. It was a very bittersweet event. Jubilee and L dressed up in their Ethiopian dresses. L was a trooper and smiled throughout. Jubilee sat in the corner and sobbed. I sat next to her not knowing quite what to do. The house mother wished the girls well, they sang, the nannies each said farewell, and then we had snacks. It was really hard. We took a lot of pictures of the kids there. Several of them have families waiting in the US. The girls are being adopted, but many of the boys realize that their chances are slim. You could see in the children's faces that they were happy for the girls, but that hope for them was dim. The workers at the orphanage are trying very hard to help the kids to do well in school. There is hope, and these kids are all strong. L's aunt said goodbye to her, which sent us all into sobs.

Gail picked us up and took us all back to the guesthouse. L had to pack her bags. Gail escorted her home that night to the US. We missed her beautiful smile and ready translating skills. Jubilee and Honeybee curled up in one of the beds together. They listened to their ipod until they fell asleep. It was a very emotional day.

Heather and I had no trouble falling asleep, but we were up and at 'em around 4 most mornings. The call to prayer begins at 5:20, followed by a jet landing, with the second call at 5:50. I told Heather it must be the Ethiopian version of a snooze button. There were dogs barking most nights, and some kind of music almost constantly. I called it the Ethiopian soundtrack. You just don't get that here at night. I'm still not quite on my normal sleep pattern so the quiet seems odd. Thank God the Ethiopian coffee was outstanding.