Friday, June 15, 2007
Day Seven: Sunday (We're Home)
We made it home today. It was a long, but nice flight home. Besides going through Immigration and Customs, one of the first things Karen and I did was get and ice cold Diet Coke and a Dr. Pepper. Oh, the soft drinks tasted so good. It's amazing that it's sometimes the simplest things that make us happy. It's good to be home. The drive home from the airport was fun because Taya seemed mesmerized by all of the different things she was seeing from her window. She was tired, but tried to stay awake so that she wouldn't miss anything. Gabriel slept nearly the whole way home.
The Coffee Ceremony
The Coffee ceremony is one of the most recognizable parts of Ethiopian culture. Coffee is offered when visiting friends, during festivities, or as a daily staple of life. If coffee is politely declined then most likely tea (shai) will be served. The coffee is brewed by first roasting the green coffee beans over hot coals in a brazier. Once the beans are roasted each participant is given an opportunity to sample the aromatic smoke by wafting it towards them. This is followed by the grinding of the beans, traditionally in a wooden mortar and pestle.
The coffee grounds are then put into a special vessel and boiled. The boiling pot (jebena) is usually made of clay and has a spherical base, a neck and pouring spout and a handle where the neck connects with the base. When the coffee boils up through the neck it is poured in and out of another container to cool it, and then is put back into the boiling pot until it happens again. To pour the coffee from the boiling pot, a filter made from horsehair or other material is placed in the spout of the boiling pot to prevent the grounds from escaping.
The host pours the coffee for all participants by moving the tilted boiling pot over a tray with small, handleless cups without stop until each cup is full. Some of the coffee will inevitably miss the cup but this is done to prevent the coffee grounds from contaminating the brew. One extra cup is poured each time. The grounds are brewed three times: the first round of coffee is called awel, the second kale'i and the third bereka ('to be blessed'). The coffee ceremony may also include burning of various traditional incense such as frankincense or gum arabic.
The coffee grounds are then put into a special vessel and boiled. The boiling pot (jebena) is usually made of clay and has a spherical base, a neck and pouring spout and a handle where the neck connects with the base. When the coffee boils up through the neck it is poured in and out of another container to cool it, and then is put back into the boiling pot until it happens again. To pour the coffee from the boiling pot, a filter made from horsehair or other material is placed in the spout of the boiling pot to prevent the grounds from escaping.
The host pours the coffee for all participants by moving the tilted boiling pot over a tray with small, handleless cups without stop until each cup is full. Some of the coffee will inevitably miss the cup but this is done to prevent the coffee grounds from contaminating the brew. One extra cup is poured each time. The grounds are brewed three times: the first round of coffee is called awel, the second kale'i and the third bereka ('to be blessed'). The coffee ceremony may also include burning of various traditional incense such as frankincense or gum arabic.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Day Six: Saturday (Our Last Day)
Today, we checked out of our hotel. The staff at the hotel were amazing. Most of them spoke English quite well. This was a blessing. Because we managed to have one of the ladies translate for us so that Karen could talk with Taya. This was very helpful after last night. Because they were able to help us better explain to her what all was going on so that she felt much safer and happier about being adopted and leaving Ethiopia.
After we checked out of our hotel, Karen and others from our group went to Gabriel's foster-home and said goodbye and thank you to his nannies. One of the nannies even spent some time with Taya braiding her hair. It was really beautiful after she finished. I hung out at a nearby coffee shop with Gabriel.
One of the nannies also did a "coffee ceremony" for our travel group. Karen and the others told me that it was a beautiful ceremony. After leaving the foster-home, we all went shopping again to get a few more things and had lunch at a coffee shop that, except for its name, would have looked just like a Starbucks here in the States. They had really good food.
Somewhere around 7:00 PM, we all went to the airport and waited for our flight home. We were happy to be coming home, but sad to leave as well. The Ethiopian people are so gracious and friendly.
Our flight home was pleasant as well. Karen and Taya sat across the aisle from Gabriel and me. There was an Ethiopian lady sitting with Karen and Taya that was very pleasant. She was travelling back to the U.S. with her sister and their children. Her niece was a little bit older than Gabriel. She spent a large part of the flight talking with Karen and Taya.
I, also had an 80-year-ol gentleman sitting with Gabriel and me that was also very nice. He played with Gabriel at times and made pleasant conversation with me. He also played with Gabriel a couple at times. He told us that Gabriel was a athletic, handsome boy and Taya was a intelligent, pretty girl. He was travelling to the U.S. to see his children and grandchildren. He also told me that the meaning of the name, "Addis Ababba" is "new-flower." This seems to be a very beautiful and appropriate name, especially for the people of Addis Ababba.
After we checked out of our hotel, Karen and others from our group went to Gabriel's foster-home and said goodbye and thank you to his nannies. One of the nannies even spent some time with Taya braiding her hair. It was really beautiful after she finished. I hung out at a nearby coffee shop with Gabriel.
One of the nannies also did a "coffee ceremony" for our travel group. Karen and the others told me that it was a beautiful ceremony. After leaving the foster-home, we all went shopping again to get a few more things and had lunch at a coffee shop that, except for its name, would have looked just like a Starbucks here in the States. They had really good food.
Somewhere around 7:00 PM, we all went to the airport and waited for our flight home. We were happy to be coming home, but sad to leave as well. The Ethiopian people are so gracious and friendly.
Our flight home was pleasant as well. Karen and Taya sat across the aisle from Gabriel and me. There was an Ethiopian lady sitting with Karen and Taya that was very pleasant. She was travelling back to the U.S. with her sister and their children. Her niece was a little bit older than Gabriel. She spent a large part of the flight talking with Karen and Taya.
I, also had an 80-year-ol gentleman sitting with Gabriel and me that was also very nice. He played with Gabriel at times and made pleasant conversation with me. He also played with Gabriel a couple at times. He told us that Gabriel was a athletic, handsome boy and Taya was a intelligent, pretty girl. He was travelling to the U.S. to see his children and grandchildren. He also told me that the meaning of the name, "Addis Ababba" is "new-flower." This seems to be a very beautiful and appropriate name, especially for the people of Addis Ababba.
Day Five: Friday
Today, is a bit more laid back and relaxing. Since Gabriel's still a little sick, I stay back with him in the morning while Karen & Taya hang out with our group. I also start packing up some our things for our trip home.
In the afternoon and evening, Karen switches out with me and I go with Taya and our group to the museum, the lion park and dinner. It was a good afternoon. There were several children at the museum who were fascinated by our cameras and camcorders. Takele (our driver) was a big help. He translated some of the plaques and explained why some of the things we saw were important to the Ethiopian culture. We also got to see Lucy (oldest known human remains in the world).
The lion park was a fun experience as well. I sometimes get troubled emotionally by zoos. I think it's the fact that these beautiful animals are caged. But, I do see zoos as a way to see animals that a person normally wouldn't get a chance to see. However, it was fun to do this with Taya because she had fun.
The evening got a little rough because Taya started getting tired and "melted down" when she started realizing what was going on (her adoption).
In the afternoon and evening, Karen switches out with me and I go with Taya and our group to the museum, the lion park and dinner. It was a good afternoon. There were several children at the museum who were fascinated by our cameras and camcorders. Takele (our driver) was a big help. He translated some of the plaques and explained why some of the things we saw were important to the Ethiopian culture. We also got to see Lucy (oldest known human remains in the world).
The lion park was a fun experience as well. I sometimes get troubled emotionally by zoos. I think it's the fact that these beautiful animals are caged. But, I do see zoos as a way to see animals that a person normally wouldn't get a chance to see. However, it was fun to do this with Taya because she had fun.
The evening got a little rough because Taya started getting tired and "melted down" when she started realizing what was going on (her adoption).
Day Four: Thursday
Today is an exciting but rough day. Gabriel has been sick. He just had a cold, but got over it. But, now he's been thowing up a ton. I lost count of how many times.
We figure out later, that until now, his formula has been made with tap water. We have been using bottled water. We switched back to tap water and he seems to be improving.
Today is also the day of our embassy appointment.
Except for Gabriel being sick, things go well.
We figure out later, that until now, his formula has been made with tap water. We have been using bottled water. We switched back to tap water and he seems to be improving.
Today is also the day of our embassy appointment.
Except for Gabriel being sick, things go well.
Day Three: Wednesday
Today was the "Big Day." Between 8:30 & 9:00, Deb & Cat bring Taya & Gabriel to our room. This was a surprise. Because they had told us last night they would be bringing them separately. Except for Taya, all of the children with our group came from the agency's foster-home. We also meet Dave & Heather.
I'm excited. Because Gabriel & I bond intantly. The really hard part is that he won't happily go to anyone else (even Karen and that's heart-breaking).
Later, we all go shopping and lunch. Then we return to our rooms to recover and spend some time with our new children. Then we go out for dinner and call it a night.
I'm excited. Because Gabriel & I bond intantly. The really hard part is that he won't happily go to anyone else (even Karen and that's heart-breaking).
Later, we all go shopping and lunch. Then we return to our rooms to recover and spend some time with our new children. Then we go out for dinner and call it a night.
Day Two: Tuesday
After, a really long time on our flights, we are finally in Addis Ababba. We got in some time between 7:30 & 8:00 PM Ethiopian Time. Then we meet Cat, Debbie, and our (really incredible) driver, Takele. He ended up being a huge help with Taya during our stay. Excluding Dave & Heather, We also meet the rest of our group. We will meet Dave & Heather in the morning. Then we go to our Hotel and crash for the night. We are so exhausted.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Day One: Monday
We left Goshen around 5:45 AM on our way to Detroit. This was the beginning of a really long trip. The drive to Detroit was wonderful. At least for me, I kept falling asleep while Karen drove. However, I don't that part of it was all that great for Karen.
We felt good about how our flights were set up. Because we had about a four-hour layover at Dulles. This ended up being barely enough time. Our flight from Detroit to Dulles was only supposed to be an hour-and-a-half. But, it did not end up that way. It ended up being close to a five-hour flight. Yes, you read that right. Five hours...... When we arrived at Dulles on time, the pilot began to circle Dulles about five or six times, before announcing that we couldn't land due to bad weather. So, we flew to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and sat on their runway for about two-and-a-half hours, refueled, and then returned to Dulles.
With the layover, we actually arrived at the Ethiopian Air terminal just in time to board.
From there everything else was smooth sailing to Addis Ababba.
We felt good about how our flights were set up. Because we had about a four-hour layover at Dulles. This ended up being barely enough time. Our flight from Detroit to Dulles was only supposed to be an hour-and-a-half. But, it did not end up that way. It ended up being close to a five-hour flight. Yes, you read that right. Five hours...... When we arrived at Dulles on time, the pilot began to circle Dulles about five or six times, before announcing that we couldn't land due to bad weather. So, we flew to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and sat on their runway for about two-and-a-half hours, refueled, and then returned to Dulles.
With the layover, we actually arrived at the Ethiopian Air terminal just in time to board.
From there everything else was smooth sailing to Addis Ababba.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Sunday, June 3, 2007
We Leave In The Morning!
Well, the day is almost here. Karen and I leave in the morning for Addis Ababa. Then, Wednesday morning, we will finally get to meet Taya and Gabriel. We will not have internet access. But, we will take pictures and I will be keeping a journal. So that we can share our experiences and joy on our return home.
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