I had a hard time transitioning back into American life after our trip to pick up Nes. I was prepared for it this time, and having a couple of friends who understand has been a huge help. Many people are shocked that I loved Ethiopia. Yes, the bathrooms leave something to be desired, but I have lived with outhouses before so I know it can be done.
The things that I loved were the Communal life and the open acceptance that there are things we don't control. I live in a cold climate, so much of our lives is lived indoors. This allows us to isolate ourselves from our neighbors and the people driving by. In Ethiopia life is lived outside. While we were driving around we could see people washing their laundry, threshing their teff, bathing their children, chatting, having coffee, just living life. It was fascinating. We drove by a post office in a rural town where there was a huge crowd. I asked the social worker why all the hubbub at the post office. He explained that a few people had post office boxes, and they in turn delivered the mail to their friends and neighbors. How would you like that? All of your bills being delivered by your brother-in-law. He explained that the Ethiopian culture is much more communal than our individualistic society. We are able to insulate ourselves and feel like we don't need our friends and neighbors. It isn't real, but we like to think it is.
I was thinking about this trip. It wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been for a large network of people that got involved. Having Michele and Heather allowed me to go places and meet people I never would have met. Taking Honeybee got her family involved. Her family in the US helped my family, they did fundraisers to send her, which got more people involved. My dad came and took care of my family which got even more people involved. It was truly a community trip. I certainly did not do any of it by myself, and I am so grateful for all of the people that helped out.
We also quickly realized that we had to live each day by faith. We had sent messages ahead and asked to meet family members. Some we had phone numbers for and some we didn't. We expected appointments to be made and confirmed ahead of time. Pshaw! We had to learn that no matter how many times we asked they were going to make the calls when we got to wherever we were going. Honeybee has been well acclimated to American life. She had a watch and was constantly telling us how many minutes we had before we were supposed to be at the next appointment. We eventually took her watch and hid it. What she didn't realize is that we did not have a car, so we had to wait for our driver. We didn't know where we were going. We didn't have a phone or a phone number and we didn't speak the language so they wouldn't have understood even if we had tried to explain. We made it to all of our appointments. We met with everyone we wanted to meet with. Everything worked out in God's perfect timing and we had no idea how any of it happened.
The hotel we stayed at in Jimma had the sign at the top of the post behind the door. We all laughed heartily at that. When we left in the morning we had to give them our key. Huh? In America you get to keep your key, and you feel safe knowing your room is locked. Why? The person at the desk can still get into your room, the cleaning lady is coming in with all of your stuff there. In Ethiopia they just take your key so there is no illusion of security. We kept our huge sums of money with us. When we returned some lady down the hall came out and handed our key to Jubilee. She had her hair full of soap and clearly had some position with the hotel, although I have no idea what it was. All of our stuff was still there, God by praised.
What can I say? I miss the messiness of life. Life in America seems so controlled. I know it is an illusion, but it is easy to slip into the false security of having everything run relatively smoothly. The power comes on every time I flip the switch. Everybody drives down the right side of the road, between the lines. The cows and goats are all fenced in. Buses run on schedules. When things don't run on schedule everyone gets all uptight. Not in Ethiopia. They just sit patiently and have faith that eventually it will all work out, and it does. When our driver locked his keys in the car, someone came along with some wire and in five minutes we were on our way. When I forgot my passport at the German embassy, the driver said no problem. He dropped us off at another orphanage so we could take pictures of some of the kids, and he drove back to the guesthouse and got the passports. Then when I got into the embassy and they told me I didn't need the transit visa anyway, I said, "no problem," and went shopping. It all worked out, and we were all okay with it. I know, it's weird, but I loved living like that.
The things that I loved were the Communal life and the open acceptance that there are things we don't control. I live in a cold climate, so much of our lives is lived indoors. This allows us to isolate ourselves from our neighbors and the people driving by. In Ethiopia life is lived outside. While we were driving around we could see people washing their laundry, threshing their teff, bathing their children, chatting, having coffee, just living life. It was fascinating. We drove by a post office in a rural town where there was a huge crowd. I asked the social worker why all the hubbub at the post office. He explained that a few people had post office boxes, and they in turn delivered the mail to their friends and neighbors. How would you like that? All of your bills being delivered by your brother-in-law. He explained that the Ethiopian culture is much more communal than our individualistic society. We are able to insulate ourselves and feel like we don't need our friends and neighbors. It isn't real, but we like to think it is.
I was thinking about this trip. It wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been for a large network of people that got involved. Having Michele and Heather allowed me to go places and meet people I never would have met. Taking Honeybee got her family involved. Her family in the US helped my family, they did fundraisers to send her, which got more people involved. My dad came and took care of my family which got even more people involved. It was truly a community trip. I certainly did not do any of it by myself, and I am so grateful for all of the people that helped out.
We also quickly realized that we had to live each day by faith. We had sent messages ahead and asked to meet family members. Some we had phone numbers for and some we didn't. We expected appointments to be made and confirmed ahead of time. Pshaw! We had to learn that no matter how many times we asked they were going to make the calls when we got to wherever we were going. Honeybee has been well acclimated to American life. She had a watch and was constantly telling us how many minutes we had before we were supposed to be at the next appointment. We eventually took her watch and hid it. What she didn't realize is that we did not have a car, so we had to wait for our driver. We didn't know where we were going. We didn't have a phone or a phone number and we didn't speak the language so they wouldn't have understood even if we had tried to explain. We made it to all of our appointments. We met with everyone we wanted to meet with. Everything worked out in God's perfect timing and we had no idea how any of it happened.
The hotel we stayed at in Jimma had the sign at the top of the post behind the door. We all laughed heartily at that. When we left in the morning we had to give them our key. Huh? In America you get to keep your key, and you feel safe knowing your room is locked. Why? The person at the desk can still get into your room, the cleaning lady is coming in with all of your stuff there. In Ethiopia they just take your key so there is no illusion of security. We kept our huge sums of money with us. When we returned some lady down the hall came out and handed our key to Jubilee. She had her hair full of soap and clearly had some position with the hotel, although I have no idea what it was. All of our stuff was still there, God by praised.
What can I say? I miss the messiness of life. Life in America seems so controlled. I know it is an illusion, but it is easy to slip into the false security of having everything run relatively smoothly. The power comes on every time I flip the switch. Everybody drives down the right side of the road, between the lines. The cows and goats are all fenced in. Buses run on schedules. When things don't run on schedule everyone gets all uptight. Not in Ethiopia. They just sit patiently and have faith that eventually it will all work out, and it does. When our driver locked his keys in the car, someone came along with some wire and in five minutes we were on our way. When I forgot my passport at the German embassy, the driver said no problem. He dropped us off at another orphanage so we could take pictures of some of the kids, and he drove back to the guesthouse and got the passports. Then when I got into the embassy and they told me I didn't need the transit visa anyway, I said, "no problem," and went shopping. It all worked out, and we were all okay with it. I know, it's weird, but I loved living like that.
3 comments:
That sign is priceless. Glad you made it back with your Huge Amount Of Money! I can remember the crushing post office crowds in Africa, too. Why would anyone want to queue up quietly between the velvet ropes after that exhilarating experience? TAB and a lot of LOL. Crazy moments make better stories. :)
TOTALLY agree!!! I loved Addis so much and can't wait to return there some day!! We have since been to Tanzania, and are now in the process of moving to Tanzania to a remote village. I CAN NOT wait to start living life in that communal way.
-lindsey
I am so with you on loving the way they live outside in Ethiopia. It is the same in Mexico where my husband is from. If we could figure out a way to survive financially in one of those cultures we'd be gone in a heartbeat!
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