Preparation:
This is my dog telling me he would miss me :)
We also helped Dr. and Mrs. Northcott fill out cards for the attendees - cards that included a puzzle piece to go along with the theme of each piece of the puzzle being vital to the big picture,
While waiting for more to arrive, I walked around a bit, taking some photos. I caught these two outside visiting in the yard:
I would very quickly get to know and love Bisrat (on the left) as he is central to the operations of the organization in Ethiopia and is a truly great guy. We saw him daily and he was an immense help. I also loved his sense of humor - he has such a quick wit!
Before long, everyone had arrived and we had a short little "ice breaker" activity, led by Lynn. We were to get into small groups and share something new we had learned with the others.
Dr. Northcott began the main portion of the meeting by handing out a couple of puzzle pieces to each person in attendance. He then asked one of the attending to take his piece up to the whiteboard and place his piece in the correct place. Clearly he was confused as to where to put it - there was no way of knowing where the piece was meant to fit! Then he called on another to also place his piece on the board. They each just chose a spot and stuck their piece down. Then a woman came and did likewise - equally perplexed by what they were being asked to do.
Dr. Northcott then explained that it is difficult to know where our piece fits when we can't see the "big picture". He then brought out the photo showing what the completed puzzle was to look like.
Soon, everyone was able to bring up their piece, and the puzzle was soon completed.
The completed puzzle was a photo of a group of children in their programs. This was the "big picture" that they needed to keep in mind when running their programs and making decisions. It was a very effective exercise.
The rest of the meeting followed with training in areas such as prioritizing, and time management.
The rest of the expedition members got just as much out of the training as the employees did, I think.
Jayne was the official note-taker and did a great job at it!
After the training, we had lunch brought in from a restaurant across the street. I ordered the vegetable soup and it was so good. It really hit the spot. Most of the others ordered pizza, but as we all know, I already had my share of that!
We enjoyed lunch out in the yard. It felt amazing to soak up that sunshine!
Before everyone dispersed, we took a minute to take a group photo to remember the occasion.
We didn't have much downtime after the employees left before we were piling in the vans and on our way to visit the first education center of the expedition! So exciting!!
The first center we visited is one that is right in Addis - the Gulele center
The center, like all of the Canadian Humanitarian centers, is located inside large walls, with a locked gate and a security guard on duty. As we drove up to the gate we passed many happy children on their way to the center from school. They were curious about the white people in the vans, but of course they knew the Northcotts and knew we were expedition members there to visit them.
Our goal for this day was to get the children all through medical examinations with Dr. Northcott, then have me photograph each child to update their files and have a nice new photo to give to their sponsors. Some of the other expedition members helped with taking the child's weight and height and recording it, after they had seen Dr. Northcott. Then they sent them around the corner to see me and my camera.
I was a little shy at first - as were they - but in seconds they had me laughing and vice versa. I learned quickly how to say things like "You are very Beautiful" (BETAM KONJO NESH) and "Smile!" (sahk) as well as "thank you" (Ama-say-gen-ale-ho). We went through almost 50 kids, if I remember correctly. They were so easy to photograph - so quick to smile. They all liked to peek at the screen on the back of my camera afterward - just to catch a glimpse of their own photo.
After we completed the medicals and photos, we had some time for me to teach a class on the basics of photography. Now, I had no frame of reference for what these children could possibly know about photography, or even cameras.
I had to have an interpreter, which was also new to me. But we got into a rhythm and it went fine. After the class, the kids took turns playing soccer and cleaning up for dinner. I took a few photos. I was timid about photographing the kids at first - and I think they were also timid at first - but we warmed up to each other after a while :)
I have to tell you about these two - when I was taking their photos, they were acting so cool, mucho macho. I mean, they are teenage boys. I had fun teasing them and we exchanged a few laughs. On our second visit to Gulele, I was handing out copies of the photos I took of the kids (more on that later) for them to keep, and these two were incredibly grateful. They almost had tears in their eyes and kept saying "thank you! So beautiful!!" Then they did me the HUGE honor of offering their dinner to me. I couldn't accept - I mean, this was their one good meal for the day - but they were very insistent. They wanted to show me their gratitude for my having given them a photograph of themselves. It was a special thing for them to have a photograph of themselves, and I quickly realized just how special. I loved the generous gesture these young men showed to me, and it won't be forgotten.
We ended the day having dinner at a beautiful Italian restaurant. I don't even remember what I ordered. - it might have been a burger. I think my brain was taking in everything I saw and experienced that day. It was a lot.
Day 4 - S.S.C.M, Shopping, and Kirkos
I slept like a log, then was up early enough to get in a shower before breakfast - only to discover the power was out, meaning no hot water, or even water pressure. That meant I got to become acquainted with the water barrel form of showering (dumping cool water over my head using a pitcher.) It was definitely refreshing! I didn't mind it. I had a bun from a local bakery and orange juice for breakfast and took some time getting online (I used an Internet stick from Bisrat most of the time - when it worked. I honestly didn't really miss the Internet most of the time.)
We started out every morning with a team meeting, outlining our schedule for the day, discussing how we are all doing, and being given instructions.
We started out the day (which also happened to be "Flag Day") at SSCM (Supporting Street Children and Mothers) which is a place where students and guardians can receive vocational training in a number of areas including metal working, wood working, and hair dressing.
We were greeted by the manager there who gave us a tour and updated us on the new and exciting things happening there. I didn't understand a lot of what he was describing, but he was sure passionate about it!
We were then treated to a tour of the facility and caught a glimpse at the wonderful work being done there. Not everyone is an academic, so this place provides training that will give them marketable skills and a chance at a career that will provide well for the them. The most popular program (among boys and girls) was the hair dressing program. It was packed!
I was amazed by how they heat their curling irons - they heat them up over an open flame. So different than what I'm used to - but these students are pros!
The metal and wood working were really neat - they learn how to make all kinds of things. This kind of work is quite physically demanding, especially in the work force. They are not the most popular choices at SSCM for this reason.
After touring the facility, we were treated to a traditional coffee ceremony. Now, this would be something that would become the norm during our visits in Ethiopia. It is a sign of respect and is quite the process. They take green coffee beans and roast them over hot coals until they are brown
I am not a coffee drinker, and they are very kind about not expecting me to drink the coffee - no offense taken - but from what I hear, Ethiopian coffee is quite thick and rich stuff. Nothing like it in the world.
They traditionally serve their coffee with popcorn, which is prepared kind of like kettle corn - with a little bit of sugar. It is quite good (and a bit addictive!). They also served us some bottled water, which hit the spot as the day was a hot one and they don't have air conditioning.
We had some time after our tour, so we headed to Churchill street to do some shopping. There were hundreds of stalls with people selling touristy stuff - most of the same types of things. We were told that you have to haggle for everything (mostly because we were white, 'Ferengi') except if we shopped at a place called "Hannah's". Hannah is a friend of the Northcotts and sells high quality goods for set (and fair) prices. It was a relief to shop there. I was thrilled to find an ebony carved nativity, which was the #1 thing I was hoping to find for myself. It was less than $10 CDN. Crazy. I bought a couple of small things, but I didn't have a lot of spending money at the time because my money transfer hadn't come in, yet. I even had to borrow some from Mike to get the nativity, which he was happy to lend.
After shopping, we had lunch at The Bow hotel (Bed & Breakfast) in Addis. This place is owned by friends of the Northcotts (Raz and Aster) who used to live in Calgary, AB, but live in Addis most of the year now. Their B&B is rated #1 in all of Addis, and I could see why. It was clean, well kept, had beautiful rooms, and a strong Internet connection (which we expedition members loved!). We were led to a beautiful balcony restaurant that was all arranged for us when we arrived.
I ordered a traditional Canadian breakfast with pancakes, hashbrowns, eggs, sausage, fruit, and more. It felt AMAZING to eat food that was so familiar. Connie ordered a salad (seeing as this was one of the very few places we knew would be safe to order fresh veggies) and it was beautiful!
We enjoyed visiting with Raz and Aster and spending a few minutes online - sending emails, posting photos, and chatting with loved ones - while we had such a strong internet connection. It was like an oasis in a desert! LOL!
I spent a lot of time visiting with this group of girls who were so brilliant and took the time to teach me to count in Amharic. They were so funny and loved to laugh as I tried to wrap my tongue around those difficult words. I then taught them how to count in french and german - which they loved. The one girl in the center and I hit it off and I gave her the nickname of "teacher" which she ate right up.
Once everyone had arrived we gathered inside the center where we were all introduced. The kids were given the challenge to repeat back the names of all of the volunteers, which they did an amazing job of.
We split up into groups - one group went out into the courtyard where Connie taught them a class on bullying. They were super impressed with her uniform and took her very seriously.
After the classes were done and we were spending some free time in the courtyard, I noticed one of the older boys hanging out near the back gate, so I went over and began to chat with him. During the conversation he asked me about my family and I showed him a photo on my phone. I asked him if he had any siblings. He smiled, looked at all of the kids playing in the yard, and said "Yes. I have 50.". That choked me up and had me realizing how important these centers were for these kids. It wasn't just about getting an education or a hot meal - this was about a sense of family, belonging somewhere.
It was enjoyable to watch the kids horsing around with Dick and Connie and others. They sure loved to have fun and laugh, which amazes me knowing what I do about some of their horrific backgrounds and sad circumstances many are in.
I instantly fell in love with this group - and was overwhelmed by the love they willingly showed me, someone who had barely walked into their lives a couple of hours prior.
We had dinner at a gorgeous Chinese food restaurant in Addis - I can't remember the name. The inside was beautiful and clean, and the food was delicious. There are many workers in Ethiopia from China as China is involved in building much of the infrastructure there - so it really wasn't that strange to be eating at an Asian restaurant while in Africa :)
Around the dinner table we chatted about the day and what our feelings were. I don't get emotional often (except when I'm feeling the Holy Spirit) but I was very touched by the kids I saw that day and the great hope and faith they show.
After dinner we headed back to the house where most people hit the sack. I had photos to edit so that we could have them printed and ready to hand out to the kids when we visited the center again. I had a few of these late nights, but I didn't mind the quiet and alone time to ponder on what I was experiencing.
Day 5 - Kality, Kirkos (part 2), Home visits, Sabahar, and the Yod Abyssinia
PC: Days For Girls website |
In about a half hour we pulled up to the Kality center
Deb and Dick welcomed and greeted those who were there - Deb knows everyone's names. I don't know how she remembers everyone.
Once everyone was situated, Dick began by giving a female reproduction and a bit of an anatomy class, explaining why girls get periods and why they are perfectly normal and healthy. It was eye-opening to hear some of the myths and misconceptions surrounding female reproduction that exist in certain cultures, particularly in the third world. I could see the "lights" going on as he explained the biology of it.
Bisrat translated - the two of them work seamlessly together.
After she finished her demonstration, each young woman was able to come up and pick out a packet to keep.
Hiding behind his mother's skirt was the cutest little guy I ever did see.
He was super shy and didn't even want to look at me, at first. But, he really couldn't help stealing a glance or two, and every time he did, I would make a funny face or play peek-a-boo with him. It wasn't long before I got a shy smile.
He was just beginning to eat his little lunch of rice while we played.
His mother smiled as she watched the exchange.
As we were preparing to leave the center, he took his plate and reached it out toward me, offering to share.
It meant so much that he, who had so little, was willing to share with someone he really just met. Such generosity.
I even got one extra little peek-a-boo from him as we started to drive away.
On the way home from Kality, we stopped at Sabahar, a company that creates exquisite handmade Ethiopian textiles. Kathy, the founder and manager, is friends with one of our expedition members, so she gave a little tour around the facility.
They use all natural dyes and make their own threads. They had many lines where yarn was drying after having been dyed.
These were cocoons where they get their silks from. So cool!
The company was located in a little Oasis, right in the city. It was like a tropical paradise in there.
The colors of their threads were so gorgeous. I just wanted to take a bunch home with me. Unfortunately for me - they don't sell their yarn because they go through it too quickly making their textiles.
Sabahar is a fair trade organization who focus on sustainability and providing work opportunities for artisans in Ethiopia. It was neat to see.
The resulting products are exquisite. You just have to feel them in your fingers to understand the quality. Absolutely gorgeous.
I purchased a few gifts here for some extra special people in my life - people who, I felt, deserve something a little extra special. I bought a couple of scarves, some handkerchiefs, and a tea towel.
We headed back to Kirkos for our second visit. I was looking forward to seeing those kids again. They were there to welcome us with their big smiles and open arms (did I mention they love to hug?). We started out by singing "You And I" - a song written and performed by Andrew Allen in support of the CH programs. They helped to perform the song at a concert while he was there on an expedition, and they loved to sing that song.
After singing together, we split into two groups again. This time, one group went inside the center with Mike to learn some basic Karate and self-defense. They loved it.
The other group was with me, learning photography basics. This group was much more interested in what I was saying than the group at Gulele was. I think this was because they have a photography club at the center so the kids had some experience with photography. My interpreter (and one of the mangers of the center) was Abiy and he was really passionate about photography, too. I would say a short sentence, and he would go on and on about what I had said. It was so cute.
I had fun acting out different scenarios with them and showing them what kind of light is best in different situations. I felt better about that presentation, and think I did a much better job than the first time.
After the classes, we had fun playing with the kids and learning some of their games. They love clapping games and playing tag.
We didn't play long because we had some home visits to make. I was looking forward to visiting these great kids in their own homes and getting to know their guardians. But I was also hesitant because I knew that I would be witnessing these amazing kids in some disturbing circumstances. I wasn't sure how my heart would handle or process what I would be seeing.
The first place we stopped (the group split up into two groups because most residences can't accommodate more than 2-3 visitors at most) was at a little boy's home. It wasn't too bad at all.
His home had four walls, a roof, and even two rooms (a main family room and a room where they sleep) with some furniture, electricity, and even a little TV. It was a comfortable looking space, though quite small. It was nice to speak with his guardian and see the support he has at home.
I caught myself thinking, "hey, I was expecting a lot worse." This wasn't maybe what we were used to in Canada, but it was safe and comfortable with the necessities of life (and even a few "niceties")
The second place we stopped was a different story. This young mother lived in what I can only call a "hut" of sorts, put together with cardboard, tarps, and a couple of old mattresses for walls. It was tiny and I could see it offered no security whatsoever.
This mother provided for her daughter by washing the laundry of the people who lived in the neighborhood. One day a tragedy struck when her little hut was set on fire and all of her belongings, including the laundry she had taken in to wash, were destroyed. She already made next to nothing, had to pay rent on her little hut, and now owed the people in the neighborhood for the clothing that had burned. She was in dire straits.
Through the interview process (one person asks questions while another records the information) we learned that Canadian Humanitarian had provided a couple of mattresses to make walls out of, as well as some basic necessities like a few new dishes/bowls etc.
When it came time to ask if she had anything to tell us that we could pass along to Canadian Humanitarian (giving an opening for them to ask for something or express some needs) and all this sweet mother said was her profound thanks and gratitude for the CH program and the blessing of having her child in the program. She didn't ask for a thing. It was amazing to me. I could feel a paradigm shift happening to me as I observed and listened to these humble, grateful people.
I knew that I would never look at my Canadian home the same way again - my home in a safe country, with security for my daughters, and all of life's comforts.
Dinner was extra special that night - we were headed to the Yod Abbyssinia! It's a traditional Ethiopian restaurant which not only serves traditional Ethiopian food (so good) but also provides entertainment in the form of a live traditional music and dance. The dancers are unreal and the music is very lively.
The lighting was quite dark which made getting good photos really difficult, but I got what I could.
The performers dress in the traditional clothing from the different regions they were representing in their dances. It was interesting to see the costume changes and to enjoy the different types of music.
Now, the FOOD! It is so delicious. We had traditional injera (a sourdough flat bread - very spongey - made from teff flour) with a variety of different foods like Wat, Tibbs, and more, which you eat by tearing off a piece of injera and picking up some of the stew-like dishes to eat.
I sat next to Ketema who tore off a piece, picked up a few different foods, then fed it to me. It was a sign of love and respect. Then I did the same for him. We did that around the table and it was a cool tradition to experience. Besides, his food combinations were awesome. He knows exactly what flavors mesh well together.
Once we were home, I spent quite a while editing photos and getting them ready. Then it was off to bed!
As we drove the winding road up to the top of Entoto Hill, we passed by many women who were carrying enormous bunches of firewood/kindling down the hill. I could only imagine the weight bearing down on their bent frames. Getu said that the bundles of kindling weighed about 100 lbs and that these women made the trek up and down the mountain twice per day. I just couldn't imagine.
It was difficult getting a photo as we drove past. If we stopped to take a photo, we would be expected to pay them.
Once we neared the top of the mountain, we pulled over and climbed up to a look out point where we were able to get a beautiful view of the city. It was a bit of a smoggy day, so the photo isn't the clearest. We ran into a large tour group there who were from Germany, I think. Many of the group were taking several photos of the locals near by, but when they would hold out their hands for a donation, the tourists ignored them and walked away. I paid one woman I took a photo of - even though she didn't see me take it. She had been spurned by some of the other tourists, and I felt bad.
We continued on up to the top of Entoto and first decided to tour around the palace museum. We had to leave our cameras and phones so that we couldn't take any photos inside. I was super hesitant to leave my camera equipment, but they had little lockers where they would be secured. Getu also stayed outside to keep an eye on things, which made me feel better.
The museum was a tad underwhelming, though it was kind of cool to see some of the old artifacts from their previous royal families. We had a tour guide take us through, and it maybe took 15-20 minutes total.
Getu then acted as a tour guide around the grounds where he showed us the old palace buildings where the King could see for miles all around. It gave us some great insight into the history of the Ethiopian Monarchy. The palace consisted of several different buildings which looked quite primitive compared to what we're used to. It was even considered primitive back then, compared to the palaces he abandoned to come to Addis.
Getu pointed out the first Eucalyptus tree ever brought to Ethiopia - it was enormous! The Emperor Menelik II approved the planting of the Eucalyptus trees as a solution to the deforestation happening as trees were cut down in droves for firewood. The Eucalyptus tree is fast growing and can be harvested every 10 years. Now these trees line the countryside, especially on Mount Entoto. But this tree was the very first, and it's still standing tall!
The St. Mary's Church on Entoto Hill was very interesting looking. Their churches are painted in vibrant colors with murals of their saints painted on panels along the walls. It is still in operation, I guess - and there were several people there to worship outside and around the church.
After our visit to Entoto Hill, we made a short stop to the market nearby for Connie to pick up some things, then headed to the Hilton Hotel for lunch. I didn't take any photos - I guess I was too busy stuffing my face with the Cajun chicken and ice cream I ordered. The dining area was outside in a gorgeous covered deck.
We had an enjoyable time visiting over lunch, and then headed to the nearby Gulele center for our second visit. This would be the first center where I would be handing out photographs to each of the students. Deb ordered 6X8 prints for each student and they turned out beautifully. I couldn't wait to hand them out to the kids.
But first, Jayne, Lynn, and I would be going on a few home visits while Mike and Connie taught their self-defense and bullying class.
We passed by some eye-opening sights. I could hardly comprehend that what I was seeing were homes. Places where people actually lived.
We passed by some eye-opening sights. I could hardly comprehend that what I was seeing were homes. Places where people actually lived.
I thought these were some kind of wheelbarrow but was told they were also homes.
The first stop was sure a memorable one. We drove to a back street and entered into a gated area. I saw a building/home there and thought "Well, this one is one of the good ones". There were several women who came out to meet us, including this happy and colorful woman. I think she lived in one of the rooms in the house, but I'm not sure. I just couldn't resist taking a photo of her.
We greeted the mother outside the building, who then led us, not into the house, but around the side. Here we had to traverse through a narrow (and I mean NARROW) passage between the side of the house and the metal fence. I had to turn sideways, suck in my gut, and shimmy through about 20 feet of this, with the pointy ends of nails poking through my clothes as I went.
The ladies in the compound were laughing and cheering me on. I had visions of getting stuck and I am already a little claustrophobic. But, I thankfully made it through and around to the back of the home where I saw the actual living accommodations of the student and his mother. It was a tiny lean-to set up between the back of the house and the back fence, with pieces of corrugated metal and other scraps (tarps or what have you) for a roof. We couldn't even fit inside to visit, so we kind of sat on a small mattress that protruded out into the entrance of the shelter.
The ladies in the compound were laughing and cheering me on. I had visions of getting stuck and I am already a little claustrophobic. But, I thankfully made it through and around to the back of the home where I saw the actual living accommodations of the student and his mother. It was a tiny lean-to set up between the back of the house and the back fence, with pieces of corrugated metal and other scraps (tarps or what have you) for a roof. We couldn't even fit inside to visit, so we kind of sat on a small mattress that protruded out into the entrance of the shelter.
We couldn't fathom where she and her children fit in that tiny lean to which was stacked with their minimal belongings. We asked if they slept on the mattress we were sitting on, and she told us that she rented out that space to a tenant to help pay the rent. What? You mean she was paying RENT on that tiny little shack, with a leaky roof and no where to even sit? I could hardly believe it. I could hardly believe that her son was the happy, bright boy in the Gulele center - looking sharp and doing well in school. How could this child live in these conditions? And thrive? I was totally taken aback.
I couldn't help but feel angry at the discrepancy between what I was seeing here, and the excess that I saw everywhere in North America. How can that be fair? How can we, who have so very much, turn a blind eye to people who are in such need, and who could have their lives changed with so little from us? It changed me in that moment. I couldn't ever forget what I was seeing or how it made me feel. Something had to change.
Our second visit was to the home of a sweet girl in the program. They lived in a small room in a little community, surrounded by other rooms/apartments. It was smaller than most bedrooms here, and it was their entire house. There was no parent there, only an older sister who ran things while their father was away trying to find work. I could see the love and affection those two sisters had for one another and I realized just how vital our relationships with those we love are.
As we left their little home we came across this woman who was busy weaving in her doorway where there was some light. One thing I noticed about the people in Ethiopia - no one was idle. Everyone was busy doing something.
Our next visit was in a gated community which had a couple of clay walled homes. One of them was the home of one of the Gulele students who lived with his aging grandparents. And I mean AGING - they were both 98 years old.
They begged for a living, which was getting more difficult as his grandmother was going blind and deaf, and mobility was getting more difficult. I realized what a sacrifice it was for them to send their grandchild to school and the program when he could be helping them earn money or food instead. They truly want what is best for their grandchild and at great personal sacrifice. I admired them greatly.
I had to laugh because, when we tried to open the gate after our visit, we found that it was stuck pretty tight. As we tried to wrench it open we heard a shout from down the hill by their home and saw grandpa running (literally running) fast up the hill toward us, where he gave the gate a swift kick until it swung open. I couldn't believe how spry he was for his age!
We made one final home visit - this time was to a nice little 2 bedroom home that housed about 7 people. The main room had some old furniture and even a little black and white television which was playing a documentary on Michael Jackson. Awesome.
The child's mother, grandmother, and other relatives all lived here together (they must have slept in the back room together - the room behind the hanging blanket). The mother had prepared a traditional coffee ceremony for us - again, at great personal sacrifice. I had to decline, but I was honored that they would do that for us. We understood that they felt it a great honor to have us in their home, which was foreign to me.
After the last home visit, we headed back to the center where we caught the end of the presentation that Mike and Connie were putting on. The kids were totally enthralled!
I had the chance, once presentations were done, to present the kids with copies of their portraits as well as a gift to the center of a Project Life album and card kit to keep at the center to document the visitors to the center and give them a place to write notes to the kids there. It was very well received - the kids' faces lit up when they saw that they each got to keep a photo of themselves. It was such a treasure.
This was the little boy who lived in the lean to behind the house which we visited that evening. I hoped that his mother would enjoy having a photo of her son and feel proud of the young man he was growing up to be.
Inside the album, we placed a photo of our expedition group that we had taken the day before as well as some handwritten notes of love and gratitude to the people at the center. It was a nice little keepsake for the center.
One of the security guards who hadn't been there the day I was doing the portraits asked if I could photograph him. I realized that it wasn't just the children who rarely saw images of themselves. I was happy to oblige.
And, of course, there were a few others who wanted more photos of themselves. I could only oblige a couple before the sun was all but gone.
Then it was time to eat - on the menu: spaghetti. This was the meal where the two teenage boys offered me their meal in gratitude for taking their photo and giving them a copy. I did take some photos of the kids getting their food, but it was so dark that it wasn't easy to get a decent shot.
We had dinner at home, which I skipped because I was feeling quite physically and emotionally exhausted, and hit the sack after a very fulfilling and eye opening day.
I didn't get into a lot of the group shots because I was usually the photographer. But here is the group at Halecu - and we all fell in love with these kids pretty quickly. One thing I noticed quite quickly was that these kids were different than the kids I had met in the previous centers. I could tell that their clothing was in rough shape, they were very thin, and just looked like they were in rough shape. Still had huge smiles on their faces, though.
Even the kids got in on the snacks, which they totally loved.
This was a new center for the organization and these kids were brand new to the program. None of these kids had sponsors and this whole idea of having an education center, having their school tuition paid, and being fed was new to them.
It is hard work in the heat, even for kids who grow up being used to it.
Even though there weren't a lot of kids to work through, the wait was still quite a while. These kids were so patient and well-behaved while they waited their turn.
Dr. Northcott said that as he examined each child, he would ask them if they had any health concerns to tell him, and without exception, they all said "no", and without exception, they had something that would require attention. They just aren't concerned with themselves at all. He showed us some children who were suffering from the effects of malnutrition - lacking in basic vitamins and things like Iodine in their diets. Some children had yellowing hair, others had absolutely tiny limbs, and others had bad cases of head lice. There were many medical problems, but thankfully these would be treated and these kids would be feeling better in no time.After the measuring and photos were finished, there was still quite a wait for the kids to get in to see Dr. Northcott, so Connie and I spent an hour or so breaking adult sized multi-vitamins in half for the kids to have each day. Costco donated a few bottles of these vitamins but they needed to be smaller for the kids. We ended up with blisters but had a great chat and knew we were helping out.
I even had a chance to chat with Lyndon a bit online and find out that things were going well back at home. It's always a relief to touch base and reconnect with my loved ones at home.
We met at the restaurant for supper. With lake Ziway so close (as in a block away) fresh fish was the obvious choice for dinner. I ordered grilled fish with rice and roasted veggies. The veggies weren't cooked very much, and it's not wise to trust uncooked veggies there, so I stayed away from those, but the fish and rice were amazing. I was so hungry! It's a good thing portion sizes are enormous in Ethiopian restaurants.
I headed to my room after dinner, feeling quite a bit of home sickness for the first time. Maybe it was the chat with my husband, maybe it was the weight of the things I was witnessing, maybe it was exhaustion - but I had a good cry. I also had to stay awake into the night to finish editing photos so that we could get them printed to hand out to the kids the next day. It wasn't long before a migraine started, which was not a pleasant thing. Thankfully it only lasted a couple of hours and I was able to get some sleep.
I slept quite well after my headache decided to hit the road, and met up with everyone at the breakfast table. After a delicious meal we headed back out to the village of Halecu and to the center. It was Saturday, but most of the kids were already there and cleaning up at the water pump.
After dropping us off, the vans had a bit of trouble getting back out of the yard. There was a ledge that it couldn't get over without some help. Too funny.
We decided to teach the kids how to make paper airplanes and they absolutely LOVED this simple idea. It took some time to help each of them learn how to fold the paper into the plane shape, and demonstrate how to throw them, but once they got the hang of it, it was party time!!
Paper airplanes ended up on the roof, outside the fence, and everywhere else. It was actually sad because we opened the gate to go and retrieve some lost airplanes and we would see the kids from the village standing outside, yearning to be a part of what was going on inside. We left a few paper airplanes out there for them. I wished we had enough funds to support each and every child in Ethiopia.
The kids were split into two groups and Deb explained what each group would be doing. She opened one of the suitcases we had packed and showed the kids the many, many books that had been donated for the new library at their center. Half of the kids went with Jayne, Lynn, and Mike to help put books on the shelves and to have a chance to read some of them.
Then I explained the Project Life album and cards that we were donating to their center and showed them how it worked. The loved that, too. (But I think were still a bit preoccupied with their photographs.)
It was so satisfying to see the kids who received the blankets sewn by some of the YW in our ward, including my own daughter. These kids were beyond thrilled with them.
Such a precious group of children!
She cared deeply for her children and, like the others we had previously spoken to, was filled with gratitude for the opportunities that the CH programs were giving to her child. It was humbling to listen to her.
Outside, the kids were waiting quietly for our visit to close. I found this beautiful young girl carrying her infant sibling on a sling on her back. Such a beautiful young woman who deserves a chance at a future.
These families are very close to one another and help each other with everything. It is the family unit beautifully at work. I hurt for these little ones, though, who had so little - clothing literally falling apart, but who shared an easy smile with us strangers.
After home visits we had some time before dinner, so a few of us walked across the street from our hotel to a super swanky hotel which shared their pool facilities with people staying at the "Bethlehem" hotel.
Just walking across the road from our hotel felt like I was in a documentary film.It was crazy how different the grounds of the neighboring hotel looked - it was like a completely different world, stepping through the gate.
It was lush, green, elegant, clean. It was situated right on the banks of Lake Ziway where we could see a bunch of large birds bathing - geese, storks, and cranes galore!
Seeing how close they were to so much water broke my heart because of the thousands of people nearby who are suffering from the drought.
A few of our group actually decided to swim while the rest just relaxed by the pool in the shade. I took the time to catch up on my journal writing. I heard the water in the pool was pretty cold - ha ha!
Dinner was fish, again (I mean, it was freshly caught from the lake and I couldn't say no!" and another late night editing in my room. I was going to miss having my own room, my own space, but it was our last night in Lake Ziway. My clothes were so filthy that I didn't even want to pack them in my overnight bag. I felt grimy to the extreme. Blah!
Walking across this street really made me feel like I was living in a documentary film!
I absolutely loved the enormous tree in the courtyard of the other hotel grounds, and watching the enormous storks and cranes who roosted in the branches.
The pathway to the edge of the lake passed right by the tree and gave us a really nice view.
We passed by the occasional boat filled with travelers on their way from one part of the lake to another. This one was pretty full!
I enjoyed watching these pelicans watching the fish that this fisherman was trying to haul in.
We pulled ashore and hopped from the boat, narrowly missing getting our feet wet. We followed our guide along a path that crossed by an old hut and we saw a couple of elderly people watching from the shade. We also caught glimpses of some goats, sheep, and chickens. We were told that this is the last family who lives on this island, but that it used to have many more living there.
As our boat pulled away, I was struck by how simply these people live out their existence and how peaceful it seems.
Our next stop on the lake tour was "bird island" which is essentially a small island completely covered in bushes/trees where large numbers of birds (fishers and others) come to roost. It was't an island that we could stop off at, we just slowed down and floated near it for a while to see the hundreds (or even thousands) of birds hanging out there.
Finally, it was time to head over to the area of the lake where the Hippos like to hang out. The guide said there were hundreds of hippos in those waters, though we saw maybe a dozen surface. I was so nervous to be around them, knowing how dangerous they are, but we kept a safe distance. I was able to get a couple of shots of them surfacing using my telephoto lens. I can't explain how crazy it felt to be floating in their natural habitat and seeing them right at home.
We made one quick stop on the way home to buy a couple of watermelons then arrived back at the Eden house to discover that the power was out! With all of the scholarship students about to arrive for dinner and a program, and the sun quickly setting, it wasn't welcome news. I had a super quick "shower" with the barrel water, dressed, and brought my camera equipment downstairs to prepare to photograph the scholarship students as they arrived. With no power and very little light, I had to improvise and use my flash, which I diffused and bounced off the ceiling, along with a tiny bit of window light still available. We hung up an old table cloth on the wall as a make-shift backdrop. The photos turned out pretty good, considering the circumstances.
While they continued to arrive, they filled out some cards for their sponsors in America.
Others were awarded with brand new, handmade quilts - they were gorgeous:
It was a great evening, but the students had to head back before it got too late. Most of them were taking transit which is notoriously slow there.
Before one student left, Dick noticed that he had no shoes. He measured the boy's feet against his own to see if maybe his own shoes would fit him.
It reminded me of the place these kids really came from and their amazing stories of strength and overcoming adversity. Amazing.
I had some photo editing to do, but didn't stay up long as I was starting to feel under the weather. I headed to bed hoping for a good sleep and better health the following day.
That morning some of the guys were busy painting the extra room where they would be moving the offices. It looked amazing! It was too funny that they found live wires and other "interesting" things about how that room was put together. Thankfully they were careful and no one got hurt. They managed to fix the electricity and paint the room a much more soothing color than the flourescent green it started out as.
After a lazy morning, we need to get some money changed and some other team members need to get online to do some work, so we headed to the Sheraton. Connie and I didn't have anything to do online so we decided to take a little walk around the hotel grounds. It was gorgeous!
After the hotel we headed to the Alemgena center (I cant remember where we had lunch - I'm thinking we grabbed something at the house before heading to the hotel.)
Before we stopped at the center, we made a pit stop at a very special place. One of the CH students, "T" had started his very own shoe shop and we just had to check it out. This kid had no one left in the world when he was brought off the streets and into the CH program. He was quite sure that he had no future, and wasn't sure how long he would survive. But this young man has drive, determination, and a charistmatic personality that proved to serve him well in accomplishing some pretty big goals. He is currently studying heavy duty mechanics and running his shoe shop on the side to earn money and provide for himself.
His shop is located in a tiny slot of space that wasn't worth much so it was just given to him. He managed to build it up so nicely that now others are coveting the space. He built shelves, a roof, and even created a "lobby" type front entrance out of tarps where he rents the space out to a young girl who makes and sells coffee while people wait for their shoe orders. T does shoe repairs and excitedly shared with us a little bit of the process. You could see the pride in his eyes as he told us about his shop and the success he is finding there. A true success story!!
This was our first visit ever to the Alemgena center, and not a great time to not be feeling 100%. I had about 50 students to photograph and I needed my energy. I was excited to meet these kids.
Half of the group was working on cards for their sponsors while the other half was getting their medicals, and I was busy photographing kids as well.
After photos were done, we brought out the large parachute to play while kids finished up getting their medicals. We didn't have a ball to play with so Mike donated one of his shoes to the cause. The kids loved it and managed to get it flying pretty high. It even hit a few innocent by standers in the head. Oops!
While the kids were waiting for dinner, a few of the girls wanted to get some photos with me. I'm not really sure why, but I obliged. They are just a loving, affectionate group!
I spent some time visiting with some of the older kids who were playing some games and waiting for dinner.
It was one young man's turn to help prepare the coffee for dinner - he was grinding the coffee beans by hand. It was a lot of work.
Dinner was served and it looked delish! By this point I was really starting to get hungry. The kids were really enjoying every bite.
Two of the staff members also wanted a portrait done and were quite specific about how and where. They were adorable. I was happy to oblige them as well.
Before long we were getting ready to head out, but I had to get some photos of the kids helping with clean up. It was so nice to see kids helping out without arguing or complaining. Our North American kids could learn a thing or two about gratitude and co-operation from these kids.
The sun set quickly and the moon was a glorious full one. I wish I could have captured it better, but with the equipment I had - this would have to do.
Like I said, my evening wasn't great when I realized I had lost all the photos from the day, however there were a couple of bright spots - #1, it wasn't our first visit to a Yod Abyssinia restaurant AND I knew we would be going to Kality once more before returning home, so I would have another chance to get the kids there photographed. I just wouldn't be able to get them the prints before I left, to give them in person. Oh well - doesn't help to dwell on things we can't change.
The market is divided into specific types of wares and there is a "block" for everything from electronics to spices. You really had to know exactly what you were looking for, and then where to find it. Thankfully, I wasn't looking to buy anything and I was just there to enjoy the ride.
Connie and Mike were there to buy some specific spices, however, so Getu managed to maneuver his way through the narrow streets filled with people until he arrived at the spice market. It was nearly impossible to find a place to park so the best he could do was to stop long enough for them to hop out, then drive very slowly (you can't drive any other way down those streets). Getu asked me to keep the doors locked and keep my camera strap safely around my neck. It wasn't safe.
We had crawled forward quite a distance when there was still no sign of Mike or Connie. Getu was clearly worried so he pulled to the side (which was difficult when there were literally crowds of people and livestock pressing against us on every side) locked the van doors, and jumped out to run back for them. I'll admit, I was feeling a bit nervous alone in the van while the hoardes of people pressed in on every side as they passed. I was relieved, after only a minute or so, to see Getu returning with both Mike and Connie in tow.
We made our way back through Merkato, being in awe at the sights. I couldn't capture well the crowds because I didn't feel comfortable taking photos when the crowds were pressing in on our van.
We made one more quick stop on the way home - Mike wanted to purchase a specific kind of basket for making ingira and Getu knew just the little, out of the way shop to find one at.
We had lunch at the Eden house (Ichiban) and then got prepared to head to our second visit to the Alemgena center.
Connie gave her bullying and self-defense presentation which was well-received by the kids.
We had to make it back to the house in good time because we had a special evening planned with the CH office staff and their families we had to get to!
The Canadian Humanitarian office staff (and our amazing drivers) are some of the most outstanding people I've ever met. They truly made our entire experience much more pleasant. We were having them and their families over to the house to have dinner with us. We ordered in traditional food, again, as well as prepared some canned ham and buns with cheese.
We did some visiting with their families before digging in to dinner. Here is Dick with Ketema's family:
Getu's family wasn't feeling well, so we weren't able to meet them, unfortunately.
Bisrat's family is so cute and friendly. It was so great meeting and getting to know his wife and boys better.
Connie gave Bisrat and his family some t-shirts that her sister had made and sent for them.
Then Dick brought out his guitar and started playing some sing-along songs. It was a good time. The kids all wanted a chance to sit on Dick's knee and strum the strings. They loved it.
Even Getu got in on the guitar-playing fun. It was hilarious to see him sitting on Dick's knee!
I took a group photo before everyone had to start heading home to get the little ones to bed.
Since I didn't have photos to edit (I didn't want to chance ruining any more of my memory cards getting photos off) I made an early night of it and hit the sack after catching up on my journal.
Then it was my turn to present the photographs to the students who were so excited and anxious to have their turn, I needed help to hand them out!
Before we left, we all gathered in a circle and sang "You & I" together, which brought out some emotion in me. I saw the entire couple of weeks flash before my eyes and the bright futures I saw in the eyes of the kids as they sang brought tears to my eyes.
You and I short Kirkos from Bobbi-Jo Grunewald on Vimeo.
We headed back to the house to have supper. I wasn't feeling too hungry so I just had a PB&J sandwich and hit the sack. It was really hitting me that this would be my final night in the Eden house - my final night in Ethiopia!
We were led into the center and were seated while some of the women prepared (what else?) a coffee ceremony!
The birthday party kicked off with all of the birthday kids seated at a head table with party hats and colorful plates and bottles of soda. There was a program for everyone including recitations and lots of dancing! It was a true party!
Soon it was time to sing happy birthday and enjoy some cake, soda, and cookies! I was stuffed but the kept wanting to serve us more.
What would a birthday party be without gifts? Each child received a gift from the center. They were all pieces of much-needed clothing. The kids were in heaven.
Dick was playing with my favorite little buddy (remember, my peek a boo buddy?) He looked like he had some pink eye, poor guy. But, he wasn't deterred by it - he was having the time of his life!
And that was it! Before I knew it, it was time for us to head back to the house, grab a bite to eat, board the vans with our gear, and head to the airport. It was a sad goodbye to Bisrat and Ketema (Getu had a family emergency to deal with, so he wasn't around to say goodbye to). I knew I would never be the same after this trip. The trip home seemed to take forever - we landed in Ireland for re-fueling, we almost missed our connection in Toronto (they really need to work on their connection system where luggage is concerned) and made it back to Alberta by just after lunch time on Halloween day! My hubby was there to greet us at the Calgary airport and we (and thankfully our luggage) were loaded up in the Northcott's vehicle and Lyndon drove us back to the Hat before dinner time. It was great to see the girls again, and to give my hubby a big kiss! The reunion was a bit overshadowed by the fact that it was Halloween night and the kids had plans to go trick or treating. Lyndon's sister and brother in law were there with one of their kiddos and we had a nice visit while the kids gathered candy from the neighborhood.
Things I couldn't wait to dig into when I got home? Mainly fresh veggies. They were not safe to eat in Ethiopia so I really, really missed them. Those and some really good beef and chicken. It's just not the same there. Other than that, I snuck some of my girls' candy and had a nice long snuggle with my hubby. It was great to be home, and I knew that my perspective was forever changed.