After today's shenanigans, Kates and I have decided that we should make a running list of TIA ("this is Africa") happenings: the comedic, the heartbreaking, the joyful, the sad...it's life!
Example: Our morning started off with traffic jams due to a religious holiday. As we waited in bumper to bumper Addis traffic, our taxi stalled. The driver climbed out and lifted the hood to fix it, but unfortunately it started to roll with him underneath it. Luckily, we pressed the brake before it ran over him and the driver's life was spared. We walked/ran the rest of the way through the traffic to the amusement of a Habvesha audience.
Due to the religious holiday, more beggars were on the sidewalks--a whole array of strange diseases, young mothers, street children, elderly blind men, etc. The scope of problems can be overwhelming, and it is difficult ot know how to respond to so much need. Seeing the disparity of wealth and lifestyle between the average Ethiopian and American (or even betweeen wealthy and poor Ethiopians) convinces me more that our expectations of "quality of life" are often faulty. But if you want to hear more of that rant, ask me about it later....
Our day continued with English lessons at IEICA, computer and games at Hanna's Orphanage, a hail storm, and a search through Bole to find Graham. That ended semi-unsuccessfully but we did get his friend's phone number...and interrupted his wedding when we called him. The day wrapped up with conversations with an Ethiopian Food for the Hungry employee, a forty-five minute walk home, and Asni's tacos and brownies. YES.
Sorry that these blog updates have been so sporadic,but now that Mom and I ahve a plan, I promise things are looking up. Love you all!
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