Sunday we just stayed at the guesthouse the whole day, as we were told "something was happening" and the roads would likely be closed. So no church or anything. It was probably the first day that I felt really homesick. Funny how when you are told not to go out, it is suddenly all you want to do!
Monday, we went to the Sheraton with our friends. It was lots of fun, but pretty expensive for our family, since there are 5 of us. The pool was SOOOO warm, even I had a good time! There was no rain the whole time we were there, and we joked that must be part of what you pay for! We swam for a couple hours in the morning, had lunch, played at the playground, tried to rest on the lounge chairs, and then swam again! So much fun! Bereket LOVED the water. I don't think he had ever been in a pool before, or maybe even a bathtub, as he had no concept of holding his breath underwater. Lots of coughing fits as he figured it out. But by the end, he had the hang of it.
Dave was pretty miserable Monday night and Tuesday, and at first we thought it was heat exhaustion, because we had got quite a bit of sun all day. He was feverish and had chills and just so wore out. He spent a couple days pretty miserable before we remembered to read the pamphlet that we got with the cipro, which said to take it if experiencing diarrhea and chills. Oops. So he started that, and quickly improved.
Tuesday, Karen, Candy and I had planned to go shopping with Marcos, leaving the men and kids at home. Candy wasn't feeling very well either, so we waited and left after lunch. We visited a scarf factory, where former wood-carriers make beautiful scarves to sell. When we got there, they told us the woman who ran the shop wasn't there, but would be back in "a few minutes". After 20 minutes, she phoned to say it would be another 20 minutes, so we walked up the hill to where there were some shops selling traditional clothing and other merchandise. I was able to buy almost all of the traditional outfits I wanted, and a tablecloth and a few other things. Then we walked back down the big hill, but the lady running the scarf store still wasn't there. We waited a while, and then she came and opened up the shop. Candy and I both bought lots of scarves, mostly to bring back as gifts. Karen had already been here a different day, so she only bought 2 designs she hadn't seen earlier.
After that, we visited the leather shops. Leather is very affordable in Ethiopia. Beautiful purses are $20-30 and coats are only $50-100. I'm not a big purse person (and the purses here are huge!), so I mostly just browsed as the other ladies shopped. I did buy a couple belts and a wallet. It was kind of a funny set up... 8-10 different leather stores all in a row. So you didn't really know if you were going to find something you liked better at a store further down, but at the same time, you didn't want to have to go to every store twice. So it was sort of a gamble to buy something. You had to just not look too closely at the next shop! haha.
After this, it was pretty much time to head home. We had thought we would be proactive about supper, so when we left the guesthouse, we had stopped at a nearby Chinese restaurant and picked out our order, and told the manager we would call when we were on our way back at 6. So we called, confirmed our order, and said we would be there in 20 minutes. They asked us to bring our own take-out containers, so we had to make a pit-stop and grab some. When we showed up, however, they hadn't even started preparing the food! I guess they wanted to see the money first? I wish they would have said that, as we could have paid up front! Anyway, supper ended up very late... Poor Ibssa was already in bed, but got up to eat a spring roll! lol. It was tasty, though; pretty much like Chinese food at home.
Just like Chinese food at home, though, it gave some of us upset stomachs... Not food poisoning, I don't think, just lots of heavy, greasy food hitting empty stomachs, with a dose of MSG to boot!
Wednesday, Dave and I weren't feeling very good, and we all stayed in our jammies all day! Lots of movies and ipad time and we basically just bunkered down and survived! Some days are like that. lol
Thursday was supposed to be Bereket's good-bye party at KVI, but the nurse called and asked if we could change it to Friday because she had something else come up. So we switched our plans around and went out shopping with Markos. He took us to the "Holy Market" which is not Holy at all; it just is timed around a religious holiday. It reminded me a lot of a home-fair or trade show back home. Karen had said that, and I had a hard time picturing it, but that really is the best explanation. Lots of little booths selling all sorts of things. I got a bunch of Ethiopian kids CDs, a few DVDs, some honey, lots of spices and shiro to bring home, an Ethiopian top for myself and we even got some honey wine. Oh - we even bought some spoons to use here in the guesthouse, as the choices are teeny-tiny or humongous, but wouldn't you know, I can't find them anywhere?! They weren't expensive, it's just annoying!
After we left the Holy Market, we went to a few more little shops. We bought our Mesob (injera basket) and more spices, and a few traditional Ethiopian coffee pots. We also bought a replacement backpack, since our zipper broke. The store near us had wanted 750 birr, but Markos found us one for only 200 birr! Much better.
After this, we went and picked up some boys that our friends Bekah and Arnie met when they were here. The oldest boy has a new job now working for a taxi-bus (he calls out the destination as the bus drives down the street), so he wasn't there, but we took the three young ones out for lunch. We wanted to take them shopping, as Bekah had asked me to get them some things they need, but they said the oldest boy had the key for the apartment and so they had no way to leave the stuff at home and continue working. So we made plans to see them again on Monday. They were so sweet, and it is hard to believe these little boys live alone and have to make their own way in the world.
The restaurant we ate at was close to GT, so Dave and the kids decided to walk home, and Markos and I dropped the boys off - but not before we stopped and bought some snacks to share with all the boys who couldn't come for lunch (it was so hard to limit lunch to just the three boys! I wish we could have taken all 10, but that would have been a little crazy). Markos and I then continued the shopping. I found most of the things on my "list" and it was easier to shop without such an entourage. Eventually, we had to go home, because I ran out of money! haha. Dave had a fair amount in his wallet, but he had taken it home with him. We stopped by the guest house to grab more cash so Markos could take me to the grocery store to buy the goodies for Bereket's goodbye party at the orphanage. Then it was home for dinner and bedtime.
Bedtime around here has been a mixed experience. The orphanage said Bereket napped, and some days we have done that, as he gets really whiny and tired at lunch time. However, on the days he naps, he resists bedtime. On this particular night, Dave had served the kids leftovers for supper while I was out. He let Bereket choose first, so he had the maximum number of options. He also was basically done eating before the other kids had warmed up their plates. Somehow, the fact that they were eating when he wasn't felt like a huge injustice. Dave gave him a banana and another snack, but eventually said he had eaten enough and it was time to brush teeth and go to bed. He has this whine/cry that he does when he is tired or frustrated or feels like life isn't fair. This night, he was brought to bed earlier than the other kids, as he was obviously very tired and they were still finishing eating (it was about 6:45). Oh my. The injustice! He whined/cried for 45 minutes, 3 inches from my ear. I have a hard time leaving him alone, because it is hard to know when/if the crying changes from "I'm upset because I couldn't have a third snack and Dad said it was bedtime" to "I'm upset because my whole world turned upside down". After a while, he asked for Dad, and while I'm guessing he hoped Dad would let him get up, he did fall asleep pretty quickly after Dave got there.
So Friday (after the party, which will be another post) we decided he should have a nap, so that he wouldn't completely fall apart in the evening. But that didn't go so well. He basically resisted for the entire time of what "should" have been nap time, and eventually we let him get up, because we didn't want him to sleep from 4-6 and then be up all night. Bed time went really well though.
Today we decided to try to do "quiet time" after lunch (play alone with small toys in the bedroom). That is basically what the other kids do while he naps, so it isn't like we expected him to be the only one. And after a bit of upset, he actually settled in and played in his room very well. So I think that will be the new routine. We all sort of need a break from each other by mid-day, but six is pretty old to sleep. Hopefully he gets the hang of the routine and this way bedtime should be easier too.
Ok, sorry for the massive post! I will try to be more on the ball this coming week!
1 comment:
Heather, you may want to read my blog post from a couple of weeks ago about fairness issues, etc etc. I don't have the link handy, but you have the link to my blog. I'd encourage you to read it because, like you, we have three kids and because it's REALLY easy for kids coming from nothing to move quickly into a sense of entitlement. Anyway, just a thought!
I'm thoroughly enjoying your updates, and am hoping and praying that your visa comes SOON!!
BLessings,
Ruth
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