From Kamille:
Today we went to Hosanna.
Very tiring and overwhelming day.
We continue to try to call many of you, but it is very difficult to get a line out, sounds like there might be an over load on the circuit due to the holidays occurring here.
From Michelle: Sounds like they are starting to get a little tired.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Happy B-day Grandma Babe
Grandma Babe happy belated birthday. According to Ethiopian time I am only a few hours late in wishing you well on the you 35th birthday :-)
Your gift is still here in Ethiopia, will bring him home soon.
Your gift is still here in Ethiopia, will bring him home soon.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Finding Ice Cream in Africa
I am desperate for some ice cream. Now maybe there is ice cream in Africa, but there sure isn't any in the neighborhood we are in here in Ethiopia.
Ice cream... who would have known, not that I could have planned for it. Maybe ice cream dots. I've never actually eaten those things, but I really want some ice cream.
Tamene has been running around having fun this evening. It did occur to me as I was getting tired that at home I would have more endurance when the elevation isn't so high, back in MN... then it really hit me... he will have more endurance too! What???
He was fun to play with tonight, my cheeks hurt from laughing so hard.
Also, Tamene is not yet potty trained, this means that I am required to remember to change diapers at the appropriate times. Thanks to Jamie and Trent they actually remember this.
Four more days before we leave (I am ready to go now, nice place but I miss the kids).
Today we got a lesson in how to braid hair. Guess who's head they used to demonstrate on. I am presently sporting corn rows!
OK, Tamene needs a bath and then bed.
Take care. We miss you all!
Ice cream... who would have known, not that I could have planned for it. Maybe ice cream dots. I've never actually eaten those things, but I really want some ice cream.
Tamene has been running around having fun this evening. It did occur to me as I was getting tired that at home I would have more endurance when the elevation isn't so high, back in MN... then it really hit me... he will have more endurance too! What???
He was fun to play with tonight, my cheeks hurt from laughing so hard.
Also, Tamene is not yet potty trained, this means that I am required to remember to change diapers at the appropriate times. Thanks to Jamie and Trent they actually remember this.
Four more days before we leave (I am ready to go now, nice place but I miss the kids).
Today we got a lesson in how to braid hair. Guess who's head they used to demonstrate on. I am presently sporting corn rows!
OK, Tamene needs a bath and then bed.
Take care. We miss you all!
Update 9-28-08
We have Tamene with us today. I got to take a nap with him. That was the most precious moment, watching him fall asleep.
There are two guest houses and the other guest house (not the one we are in) has a couple of small dogs. We took Tamene over to see the dogs. We was quite excited about them at a distance, but did NOT want to touch them or be touched by them. I think it is a good starting point for him to get there with our dogs.
We are all home sick, but otherwise healthy.
I am off to play with Tamene!
There are two guest houses and the other guest house (not the one we are in) has a couple of small dogs. We took Tamene over to see the dogs. We was quite excited about them at a distance, but did NOT want to touch them or be touched by them. I think it is a good starting point for him to get there with our dogs.
We are all home sick, but otherwise healthy.
I am off to play with Tamene!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Guest House Visit
Tamene was with us for the afternoon. Trent went with the group to pick up the kids after lunch. Jamie and I waited back at the guest house. Trent arrived with Tamene later, he had been sleeping and was just waking for Trent to bring him back to us. He arrived without shoes (because of being taken directly from a nap). I brought 3 pairs of shoes not knowing what size his feet were. The 6 1/2 were too small, the 6/7 were crocks and he decided those were fun to kick off... pair three, 7 1/2 perfect fit.
We had a lot of fun with Tamene. I purchased a water bottle that had a "sports top" on it for him to drink from. He really enjoyed carrying it around and taking big drinks. Then he saw Jamie drinking from her "wide mouth" water bottle and decided he wanted some of hers... he took a huge drink and then let it drip out onto his shirt. We all laughed and he continued to become more dramatic with the drinking and spitting until he was taking a mouthful and spitting back into Jamie's drink. Jamie has a phobia around sharing germs with anyone, especially as it relates to food or drink. I don't know that she thought it was as funny as I did. Shortly thereafter she was sterilizing the bottle to reuse later. (And I am the crazy one???)
Tamene enjoyed riding around in one of those little red car riding toys... you know them, you see them at EVERY garage sale and Goodwill everywhere. It's like a Flinstone car where you make it move by scrambling your feet like Fred and Barney. Anyway, he decided it was his and he wasn't really interested in sharing. We had to pull him out a couple of times so that other children could play. He cried, hard... poor baby. I brought him in the house and put him in "the peanut shell" (if you don't know what a peanut shell is you can hunt down a description in a different blog - or use Google :-) He liked being carried in the peanut shell, I thought that was great since he is so active, I didn't know how we would contain him in the airport.
There is a an outdoor lawn swing that he snuggled into me with and let me hold him while he rested and drank from his water bottle. He wrapped his little hand around my finger and Jamie brought his blanket and he was so content and peaceful. Did I mention how in love with this kid I am?
They brought snacks for the kids, the older kids were to get cookies and the younger ones some other concoction that I wasn't going to be part of. Anyway I offered to let Tamene pick which ONE cookie he wanted and he attempted to grab all of them. So he ate that and I wrangled up a banana, this seemed to keep him content.
Also during all the play and running around the guard here at the house was very helpful, he was telling Tamene what we were saying and helping to translate to him. It was so nice, he really does follow directions well, but he is also very strong willed.
Eventually it was time to take him back to the care center. We got back on the bus and as we pulled into the care center he grabbed on tighter to me. I thought it was going to be too hard to take him in. I managed to flag down a nanny who came out a back door as Tamene was waving at her. I handed him over while he still had a smile on his face. We departed quickly and I am so excited to go get him tomorrow.
We went to eat at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant, we got to see dancing and we ate traditional food. It was fun, too much to explain all in this post, but it was fun.
More later!
We had a lot of fun with Tamene. I purchased a water bottle that had a "sports top" on it for him to drink from. He really enjoyed carrying it around and taking big drinks. Then he saw Jamie drinking from her "wide mouth" water bottle and decided he wanted some of hers... he took a huge drink and then let it drip out onto his shirt. We all laughed and he continued to become more dramatic with the drinking and spitting until he was taking a mouthful and spitting back into Jamie's drink. Jamie has a phobia around sharing germs with anyone, especially as it relates to food or drink. I don't know that she thought it was as funny as I did. Shortly thereafter she was sterilizing the bottle to reuse later. (And I am the crazy one???)
Tamene enjoyed riding around in one of those little red car riding toys... you know them, you see them at EVERY garage sale and Goodwill everywhere. It's like a Flinstone car where you make it move by scrambling your feet like Fred and Barney. Anyway, he decided it was his and he wasn't really interested in sharing. We had to pull him out a couple of times so that other children could play. He cried, hard... poor baby. I brought him in the house and put him in "the peanut shell" (if you don't know what a peanut shell is you can hunt down a description in a different blog - or use Google :-) He liked being carried in the peanut shell, I thought that was great since he is so active, I didn't know how we would contain him in the airport.
There is a an outdoor lawn swing that he snuggled into me with and let me hold him while he rested and drank from his water bottle. He wrapped his little hand around my finger and Jamie brought his blanket and he was so content and peaceful. Did I mention how in love with this kid I am?
They brought snacks for the kids, the older kids were to get cookies and the younger ones some other concoction that I wasn't going to be part of. Anyway I offered to let Tamene pick which ONE cookie he wanted and he attempted to grab all of them. So he ate that and I wrangled up a banana, this seemed to keep him content.
Also during all the play and running around the guard here at the house was very helpful, he was telling Tamene what we were saying and helping to translate to him. It was so nice, he really does follow directions well, but he is also very strong willed.
Eventually it was time to take him back to the care center. We got back on the bus and as we pulled into the care center he grabbed on tighter to me. I thought it was going to be too hard to take him in. I managed to flag down a nanny who came out a back door as Tamene was waving at her. I handed him over while he still had a smile on his face. We departed quickly and I am so excited to go get him tomorrow.
We went to eat at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant, we got to see dancing and we ate traditional food. It was fun, too much to explain all in this post, but it was fun.
More later!
Day two with Tamene
Day two with Tamene,
This morning we went to the care center to spend some time with the children. Tamene appeared to be waiting at the door for us, and ran out to see us right away. We see that he enjoys throwing things. It's like a physics test every time he touches something. He is not necessarily being naughty, just checking out how the world works.
He enjoyed wearing the sunglasses that we brought for him. He would put them on and take them off, over and over. He found many other toys to play with too. He would find a toy, pick it up, look it over, then throw it. He seems very bright, he seems to knows exactly what he wants and how to get it. There isn't really a communication problem.
All the Nannies, guards and other staff members always stop to talk and interact with him. Everyone grabs him to kiss him or flip him up-side-down. He recognizes and tries to get attention from any of those people who may be busy doing something else. He is very persistent.
He readily will come to Trent and I. If he wanders far away and we call him, he runs back!
We watched them eat lunch too. He followed the rules from the nannies, but didn't seem to like it much. It seems that he likes to make faces and is pretty easy to read (I think that comes from Auntie Jamie). He wanted us to feed him and so we only needed a little assistance from the nannies. The meal started with some kind of corn chowder and then there was a "lentil bake" of some kind. Smelled good, I would have eaten it, but it didn't look appetizing.
After they ate, the nannies lined them up against the wall to clean them up and give them a drink. Tamene was demanding that Trent stay in close proximity for this event. After lunch they lined them up again (this time outside) to sit on potty chairs. There about 10 little potty chairs all being donned by the naked dark bottoms of our cuties. Tamene was not happy to be away from us and proceeded to notify the child next to him, that he wanted more space by giving her a "nip". The nannies had to move the little girl away.
Then it was time to leave. We were sitting in the front of the bus, when some parents in the back called for me to come look. He was standing on the stairs with the nannies waving. We he saw me come back to wave I got an even bigger wave and a smile.
Now we are going to eat lunch, and then go back to pick up the kids to stay with us here at the guest house for the afternoon.
This morning we went to the care center to spend some time with the children. Tamene appeared to be waiting at the door for us, and ran out to see us right away. We see that he enjoys throwing things. It's like a physics test every time he touches something. He is not necessarily being naughty, just checking out how the world works.
He enjoyed wearing the sunglasses that we brought for him. He would put them on and take them off, over and over. He found many other toys to play with too. He would find a toy, pick it up, look it over, then throw it. He seems very bright, he seems to knows exactly what he wants and how to get it. There isn't really a communication problem.
All the Nannies, guards and other staff members always stop to talk and interact with him. Everyone grabs him to kiss him or flip him up-side-down. He recognizes and tries to get attention from any of those people who may be busy doing something else. He is very persistent.
He readily will come to Trent and I. If he wanders far away and we call him, he runs back!
We watched them eat lunch too. He followed the rules from the nannies, but didn't seem to like it much. It seems that he likes to make faces and is pretty easy to read (I think that comes from Auntie Jamie). He wanted us to feed him and so we only needed a little assistance from the nannies. The meal started with some kind of corn chowder and then there was a "lentil bake" of some kind. Smelled good, I would have eaten it, but it didn't look appetizing.
After they ate, the nannies lined them up against the wall to clean them up and give them a drink. Tamene was demanding that Trent stay in close proximity for this event. After lunch they lined them up again (this time outside) to sit on potty chairs. There about 10 little potty chairs all being donned by the naked dark bottoms of our cuties. Tamene was not happy to be away from us and proceeded to notify the child next to him, that he wanted more space by giving her a "nip". The nannies had to move the little girl away.
Then it was time to leave. We were sitting in the front of the bus, when some parents in the back called for me to come look. He was standing on the stairs with the nannies waving. We he saw me come back to wave I got an even bigger wave and a smile.
Now we are going to eat lunch, and then go back to pick up the kids to stay with us here at the guest house for the afternoon.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Update 9-26-08
Written by Kamille at 3:15pm our time,
Good evening, It is 11:00 pm here in Ethiopia. We are all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. No one is really ready to sleep (as it is 3pm back in the US).
This afternoon we took naps. Lucky for us we brought popcorn and we are currently negotiating some barter deals for other food, because people want our popcorn.
The dilemma of the evening is trying to get or receive calls from the US... Grandma Babe managed to figure out our cryptic messages by e-mail and I just got off the phone with her.
I am not sure if it is the 17 hour flight, or the altitude here, but we are all suffering from Kankles ( I am not defining this, but I bet you can find it on Wiki if you try).
Due to the Meskal Holiday there is a lot of activity around. Someone I work with (YS that's you), told me that part of the holiday is that children go around signing and wanting to get coins, candy, etc (a little like our Halloween, but with a completely different purpose). Early I heard children singing outside and immediately remembered the information about the singing children. I ran to the gate (there is a guard at our gate at all times). Anyway, I ran to the gate and opened it, Jamie came behind me and moments later followed by Trent and a fellow adopting father. I asked if the children could wait so I could take their pictures. They stayed and I took photos on my digital camera and then showed them the pictures of themselves. Jamie brought them candy, they were excited. After I rushed the door for what I "knew" was singing, harmless children, I was reprimanded by Trent and fellow father adopter for being unsafe.
More children came again later, I rushed to the gate again, this time with at least some caution. I knocked on the gate for the guard to let me see. As he squeezed the door open slightly, I could see several dogs barking and growling. The guard finally got them away so I could see the children. I wanted to give them birr (money) but others thought this would encourage more unwanted guests.
Ahh, yes there was another round of singers, this time the guard came to stop me before I even made it to the gate. I climbed up the gate to see young men chanting and standing close to our gate they had lit a small fire (maybe part of the tradition??) . We were not allowed to leave or go out to meet them. Though in my opinion it would have been safe, but that's just me). We went to the roof of the house and waved and took pictures. This encouraged them enough that some of our guests were unable to leave, for a while. We were told to go back inside. (bummer) The guys were yelling in English "No Problem", "What's up?". It was fun (ok, entertaining more than "fun"). They hung around for a while. Later it appear some of them returned to do some sort of coffee "ceremony" with the guard. I knew they were harmless (Right, right).
Now we are watching American Television and Blogging, it really doesn't feel like we are in Africa, maybe more singers will stop during the night.
Good night.
Good evening, It is 11:00 pm here in Ethiopia. We are all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. No one is really ready to sleep (as it is 3pm back in the US).
This afternoon we took naps. Lucky for us we brought popcorn and we are currently negotiating some barter deals for other food, because people want our popcorn.
The dilemma of the evening is trying to get or receive calls from the US... Grandma Babe managed to figure out our cryptic messages by e-mail and I just got off the phone with her.
I am not sure if it is the 17 hour flight, or the altitude here, but we are all suffering from Kankles ( I am not defining this, but I bet you can find it on Wiki if you try).
Due to the Meskal Holiday there is a lot of activity around. Someone I work with (YS that's you), told me that part of the holiday is that children go around signing and wanting to get coins, candy, etc (a little like our Halloween, but with a completely different purpose). Early I heard children singing outside and immediately remembered the information about the singing children. I ran to the gate (there is a guard at our gate at all times). Anyway, I ran to the gate and opened it, Jamie came behind me and moments later followed by Trent and a fellow adopting father. I asked if the children could wait so I could take their pictures. They stayed and I took photos on my digital camera and then showed them the pictures of themselves. Jamie brought them candy, they were excited. After I rushed the door for what I "knew" was singing, harmless children, I was reprimanded by Trent and fellow father adopter for being unsafe.
More children came again later, I rushed to the gate again, this time with at least some caution. I knocked on the gate for the guard to let me see. As he squeezed the door open slightly, I could see several dogs barking and growling. The guard finally got them away so I could see the children. I wanted to give them birr (money) but others thought this would encourage more unwanted guests.
Ahh, yes there was another round of singers, this time the guard came to stop me before I even made it to the gate. I climbed up the gate to see young men chanting and standing close to our gate they had lit a small fire (maybe part of the tradition??) . We were not allowed to leave or go out to meet them. Though in my opinion it would have been safe, but that's just me). We went to the roof of the house and waved and took pictures. This encouraged them enough that some of our guests were unable to leave, for a while. We were told to go back inside. (bummer) The guys were yelling in English "No Problem", "What's up?". It was fun (ok, entertaining more than "fun"). They hung around for a while. Later it appear some of them returned to do some sort of coffee "ceremony" with the guard. I knew they were harmless (Right, right).
Now we are watching American Television and Blogging, it really doesn't feel like we are in Africa, maybe more singers will stop during the night.
Good night.
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