Journal Entry from December 19, 2008

So my massage at 10:00 didn't happen until 11:15. Things here are very laid back in terms of time. A culture not governed by the clock, that's for sure! The massage was okay, but a bit too gentle, my aunt does better.

After the massage I had to shower from the massage oil used. Eli had a good early morning, but got tired too early. The early nap meant he was tired in the early afternoon as well. So, Jeff laid him down right before lunch. He ended up with an hour nap. The bad part was this meant he would not take a true afternoon nap later.

Lunch was a pasta dish with spinach and carrots. It was pretty good. The Italians were at their Embassy appointment in the afternoon and the other two couples were volunteering at an orphanage. The family we went to our Embassy appointment with were getting ready to go home.

We tried for an afternoon nap for Eli around 5:00, but it didn't work. Jeff gave him a bottle and he was OUT, but as soon as Jeff put him in the crib he was awake and quite playful actually. Around this time, the Italians got back. We sat with them while they ate. Oh - before this in the afternoon they did a coffee ceremony for the family leaving.

Whenever a family leaves the guest home the staff performs a coffee ceremony. They cook coffee beans over a fire, grind them up and make coffee. Everyone raved over the coffee the first ceremony I saw... so even though I am not a coffee drinker, I decided to try it this time. Eli was with a nanny and I did put in a fair bit of sugar... but actually I really liked it! Jeff - not so much :).



We took a few pictures as the family left at 6:30 and also of the Italian family so we wouldn't forget later. Around 7:00 the other 2 couples returned. Aki wanted to go home and shower, so we planned to leave for dinner at 8:00.



Since Eli did not get a late afternoon nap, we decided to feed him and put him to bed. Around 8:15 we left for dinner. The restaurant tables faced a stage. The tables were set up with 8 chairs in a U shape. In the middle was a small circular table called a "mesob". Aki's girlfriend Rihanna joined us - and as outgoing as Aki is, Rihanna is equally as shy. Aki ordered dinner for us. He ordered 4 meals (for 8 people) for us to share. Aki and Rihanna ordered wine while the rest of us ordered water.

First a waiter brought a pitcher of water, soap and a bowl. We washed our hands at the table. Then a large platter was set on the mesob with injera bread covering the platter and more rolled up on the sides. Then the waitress proceeded to pour mainly meat dishes on top of the injera bread. The way one eats is communal. So, you tear off a chunk of injera and use it to grab chunks of meat. The injera itself was kind of an odd flavor. The best equivalent we have is probably sourdough bread, but this was more sour than that. The meat was good, and very filling. I soon had enough and the various spices began to wear on me, also making me full I think.

The best part about the experience was the dancing. It was amazing to watch! There were 3 women and 3 men dancing, one woman and one man singing, and 3 men playing instruments. One of the instruments was the same (but much bigger) that we had purchased to take home as gifts. It was called a Crar, kind of like a harp. The show had many songs, and just as many costumes. We even got to see dances from Rihanna and Aki's cultures. Aki got up and danced too - trying to get others to join him. Jeff did! The best part was that Julie got it all on video - which we are trying to get a copy of off her camera and onto our computer before we go. When Jeff sat down, Rihanna danced with Aki, then when she sat down a young boy with Downs' Syndrome came and danced with him. This was the final song and then we left.



The dinner cost 498 Birr. Each of the three couples (Aki excluded) paid 200 Birr ($20). We gave 50 Birr to the band and 52 to the waitress. We were so glad to have gone out and to have had the experience!

We got back to the guest house at 10:45. Then Eli woke up about 11:15. I fed him 6 oz and he went back down. We awoke again at 2:30 for 3 oz and at 5:30 for 3 oz. Then he was up for good at 6:30.

The first then we did when we woke up was start packing. We seem to have so much extra space. We brought so much clothing to donate - 2 suitcases worth. Then there were the diapers we brought that Eli had used, as well as baby food and clothes he wore that we are leaving as well. (It was warm weather in Ethiopia, so Eli wore clothing appropriate to that, but back in OK and in OH it would be cold and the clothing would not be appropriate).

We have some souvenirs to take home, but not much in terms of space. We also will carry the diaper bag on the plane now, whereas we did not before. I wish I had not brought my computer, but rather a larger carry-on item. Now I am trying to pack a change of clothes, makeup, and a few toiletries in the computer bag, as well as the items for Eli that are not fitting in the diaper bag. Clearly we have diapers, but also gas drops, Tylenol, cereal puffs, baby food, formula, bottles, water, wipes, clothes, toys, a blanket... and surely I am forgetting things too. (FYI: I included photos of the guest house "grounds" below and the exterior of the guest house above)


Packing is not entirely done, but it is not far from it. Next we ate breakfast - eggs and an orange smoothie. Then Jeff fed Eli bananas and shortly thereafter I took a shower. The shower here is okay, but boy will I be glad to get back to a good shower. (FYI: I included photos of our guest house room below)



Oh - I forgot to mention, Eli's VISA came at noon yesterday, a bit frustrating for us. We were told we could not leave yesterday because we would not have our VISAs until 5:00 pm. So we could not leave any sooner than the 11:00 pm flights and the only flights headed where we needed were at 7:00 pm. So, it turns out we would have had plenty of time to make the 7:00 pm flight. Boy would it be nice to already be on our way.

I will insert here that in hindsight it was good we did not leave the day earlier. There were weather conditions in NY that would have prevented us from landing. Also we would not have gotten to have our traditional dinner - which we so appreciate now.)

Also before dinner last night we did talk to Abi. Mom said she was doing so well - that we must have prepared her well. It was good to hear her voice. She sounds so grown up on the phone! When we get to New York, we will call her from there.

Right now Eli is sleeping. Jeff probably is too. Eli needs a good nap now and this afternoon before the airplane ride. I am not sure how all this will go. Hopefully he will sleep for a good portion of it. But in all honesty from the time we leave the guest home - 3:00 pm till we get home to OK - 5:15 pm on the 20th the trip is a total of 35 hours (don't forget the time change). So, I am a little nervous about how it will go.

Because of Eli we are supposed to get bulkhead/bassinet seats (the bulkhead seats on a trans-oceanic flight have anchors that support a bassinet for infants under 25 pounds). However, in order to get these seats we have to be at the airport early since they won't assign us these seats until they actually see Eli. So, we are supposed to arrive 4 hours early.

So, what is left is paying out, lunch, and the coffee ceremony. And hopefully another nap from Eli. Looking back now it seems that the trip went fast (and even faster now as I type this up!). I know that in the midst of it, it sure didn't feel like it though. (I have included pictures of different guest house staff below.)



I also forgot to say that according to Eli's birth mom the father was Mr. Abel which really makes us glad that we are changing his name to Eli. We would never have wanted him to be named after that man. In fact it seems odd that the mother would name him after the father as well given her circumstances. So, it also makes us wonder if maybe the police named him after the father by default. Either way, not good.