Ethiopia

I arrived home from Ethiopia on October 17th, 2010.  I believe I wrote one blog post about my trip.  One blog post that contained probably 1 or 2 pictures, and a quick overview of the experience.  It wasn't enough.  Here's the thing. . . life was harder than I expected when I returned home.  Much, much harder.  I didn't have time to get on the computer.  Heck. . . I didn't even have time to shower or eat, let alone blog.  But now I've been home for 4 months.  Each and everyday, the fog of my mind is lifting.  Each and everyday, the memories of the experience are also fading.  And that just isn't fair to K. 

So, 4 months later, I'm going to talk about the experience.

I left for Ethiopia on Friday, October 8th.  I've never woken up with so many emotions in my life.  This was the day that I would be leaving on a journey to meet my son.  This is the day I dreamed about since starting the adoption process.  TT woke up at her normal time that day, around 5am.  I fed her, and held her, and breathed in every scent possible.  I told my 3 month old baby how much I loved her, and that she may be confused by my absence for the next 8 days, but that I loved her, and that I was bringing home the missing piece to our family.  My heart literally hurt, and I kept saying to myself. . . how do I do this?  How do I leave her? A couple times that morning, I thought. . . I can't.  I just can't do it!  And then Nur would pop in my head. My beautiful baby boy. I needed to get him home, and I knew there was only one way to do that.

I also spent the morning of October 8th taking some video of TT.  I never wanted to forget her on this day.  And when naptime rolled around, I couldn't put her down, so she napped on me.  I wasn't going to put her down until I absolutely had to.

My Mom arrived to my house with my sister and my niece, and we still had a couple hours before leaving for the airport.  T and TT were going to bring me to the airport, but I think at this point everyone was concerned about my stability, and it was decided that it would be less emotional for me to just hitch a ride to the airport with my sister, mom, and niece.  And before I knew it, it was time to go.  My sister, mom, and niece went out to the car, and let me have a private moment with T and TT.  I tried to hold it together, but the tears started.  I held TT so tight and told her I loved her. I said my goodbyes to T and walked out the door.  T and TT waved as we drove away. My sister rubbed my shoulder and told me she was proud of me.  I felt torn. 

We got to the airport, and I enjoyed a couple of mind-numbing pints with my mom, and before I knew it, we were taking off.  I shut my eyes and sobbed.  I was so full of conflicting emotions, and so aware in that moment just how far this plane would be taking me away from TT.  And at the very same time, I realized that this plane was bringing me to Nur.  Conflicting emotions.

When my mom and I get together, we like to consume all sorts of junk food, so we spent the flight over the Atlantic eating candy, chocolate, chips, drinking wine.  Let's just say when we arrived in Amsterdam, my mom wasn't feeling the best.  Me. . . I just felt tired.  And, oh Europe, how I love you and missed you! And Amsterdam. . . you are one of my favorites of all!  We spent our time going in shops, eating, and resting, and before we knew it, it was time to go to our gate.  I quickly met a couple other families from our agency that I had been conversing with over email and telephone.  It wasn't hard to pick us all out. . . we were the white folks boarding a plane to Addis Ababa Ethiopia! :)

Our flight had a layover in Khartoum, Sudan.  Here, some people got off the plane, and our plane refueled.  We tried to stretch our legs, but were forced to stay seated.  My mom at this point was feeling very poorly, so I had a flight attendant bring her some Sprite to help.  She didn't look good, and we were in the middle of the desert in Sudan, our plane wasn't running, and it was HOT.  A couple hours, we took off.  Next stop. . . Ethiopia!!!

We got through customs in Ethiopia fairly quickly.  We purchased our visas, and we had drivers there to meet us.  It was all very organized.  By this time, it was Saturday October 9th, around 10pm.  We drove in the dark to our YGF Guesthouse, and I could see shadows of mountains in the distance.  We were all so tired, but upon getting to the guesthouse, we learned dinner would be served.  We all got a second wind, and the other American families who were with us all sat down and broke bread together.  And had some wine and beer.  We all talked about our travel adventures that got us to that day, and because the next day was Sunday, and we weren't able to see the children yet, we planned an outing for Sunday, and decided we would go to the countryside.

 A market on the way to a church we were going to visit.

 A church built underground.

 Children in Ethiopia love "Ferengies."  Aka. . . foreigners.

 The trees we sat under as we enjoyed a picnic lunch in the country. I can't even explain how surreal it was to be sitting underneath trees in Africa. 

A wedding we stumbled upon.

 Handing out pens to all of the local children.

Sunday, October 10, we all got in a van and headed to the country.  Ethiopia is a BEAUTIFUL country. It is also a country that has extreme poverty and hardships.  Yet everyone we met this day in the country, no matter how little possessions they had, were the happiest people I had ever met.  I quickly felt a little disgusted by how many worldly possessions I have.  How many completely unnecessary things I own.  These children came up to us with cow dung up to their elbows.  Our driver, Katamah, translated, and they wanted us to see their house.  The reason they were covered in cow dung was because they were insolating the mud walls in their home.  This family lived in a small hut, slept on the floors with their animals.  And I'm not talking a dog and a cat, I'm talking a cow and a goat.  They lived in a one room hut.  Yet they had everything they needed.  If you ever hear me complain about how I don't have enough possessions, I'm giving you permission right now to SLAP ME.

It was a wonderful first, full day in Ethiopia.  And the next day, I would be entering the blue gates of Toukoul Orphanage, and I would be meeting my son.  Here is a pic of me at the end of the day. 

Missing my one baby, and in anticipation of meeting my other.