Chapter Five (I'm starting to forget things! Oh NO!!!)

Chapter Five: Our trip to the monastery was on the next to the last day we were in Addis. This was a bittersweet time for our family. We were sad that we did not get to see and do more and So relieved to be coming home shortly.

Thursday evening the chef at the guest house prepared some traditional Ethiopian food. It was wonderful. So much better than the food we have had at home. The injera was good, a food I don't usually care for. The beef (or was it lamb?) was tender and delicious. I was impressed. Ethiopian food is usually something I can take or leave. I ♥ ethnic foods, but usually my palate prefers Thai, Persian or something more savory like that. Making the injera with actual Tef does make a difference it appears! ;)

On Friday, Feb. 6, we woke and prepared to pick up Ruby and Roman for the final time. This was to be the very last time they would wake up in an orphanage. The last time they would be fed, diapered and caressed by their nannies. The last time they would smell the delicious Wot cooking for the older children and the last time they would see *true* sunshine for several more weeks! At home in Washington State, it would be raining and possibly snowing for awhile still.

If I did not feel too teary when I first met my baby girl and infant son, this was to be the day I would. The feelings of emotion that came over me, realizing that these two perfect little souls were now free from poverty and orphan life overcame me in a way I cannot begin to describe. They were truly all ours & we were heading home. Not knowing if we would ever return, but hopeful we will. After being home now for these past 11 weeks, the urge to return is great and the love for Ethiopia has only grown stronger.

I cried when the nannies turned Ruby & Roman over to us for the last time. These women did this act practically every day. To them, it was part of their job. I believe it is a very sad event and brings them also a bittersweet feeling to release the children they have cared for so diligently. I gave each of them a hug and tried to express my gratitude. I wondered which gifts they had each taken of the items we brought for them. I wondered if they were thinking about the babies waiting for them to care for upstairs or if they were thinking of Ruby and Romans future in a western land. None of this is relevant except for I cannot imagine doing this job and having to let go of a child I have cared for, for so long. Much like foster care here. Selfishly, I could never do it.

We packed our many, many suitcases full of souvenirs and clothing and Wendi drove us to the very crowded airport that evening. It was so strange to see how busy it was. When we had arrived at 3:30am nine days prior, the airport had been dead. Now, throngs of people, all seeming to be going the same place as we were congested the parking lot and terminal. Wendi took us as far as he could go and we all tearfully said our goodbyes. He will never be forgotten. Andrew gave him the flashlight and money that we had saved for him. We promised to keep in touch and assured him that the special package w/ spices and a Valentines ring for his girlfriend would safely make it to Seattle.

Customs was actually a breeze and after filling out more paperwork for our visa's, we were on our way to the gate.

Our first stop was to be in Khartoum, Sudan. We would not be getting off, but others would and new passengers would come aboard. I have to admit that after hearing all the media coverage of things that happen in this place, it was hard not to have some fears.

Ruby and Roman slept peacefully, as they were still on their regular schedule and it was nighttime. I was not feeling well by this time and I could only stomach hot tea. Ruby, when she was awake, only wanted my tea and showed her very stubborn side, demonstrating that she was not going to mind her new mommy and keep her hands OFF. Finally, as a last resort, I firmly, but gently, smacked her hand and said "NO!" She immediately smacked me right back...Showing mommy that this was not going to be the best form of correction. She continues to be a very smart and stubborn little girl, wise beyond her years and definitely a child we have to stay one step ahead of at all times. A marvelous child though, indeed. I wouldn't have her any other way.

Roman was having a very difficult time with his upper respiratory infection. It caused him a lot of pain, especially taking off and landing. The poor little guy would spit up all his formula and cry his little heart out. He just needed to get home and see his new doctor pronto!! We realized that he could only stomach about 1-3oz. at a time and then he'd need to be burped. Not quite up to par for a 7 month old!

But we were on our way home & that was all that mattered!

I am currently typing w/ one hand and feeding Roman with the other arm so will sign off for now.

Next chapter will explain our new found disgust for the United ticket counter in Frankfurt and be the close of our Ethiopian journey. I hope to actually finish this portion this week! Fingers crossed! Leave me a message if you are so moved to! ;)

Peace,

drubek

Chapter Four continued briefly! (Silly Me!)

I was having a mental lapse last night when I typed the last blog entry. When I talked about the second crater, I said we didn't stay as long there...not as pretty, blah blah blah...Well, that is because I honestly couldn't remember it being that great. BUT SILLY ME! I don't know why I forgot about the fruit juice!

When we went to the second crater, we sat at a restaurant and had the MOST wonderful fresh juice. The kids and I had mango guava, and Andy and Wendi had mango pineapple. Very fresh, very safe to drink. YUM~YUM!

Drubek

Chapter Four (finally! =)

Life is certainly busy with two little ones, so close together. Plus, having a 13 and 10 year old with their own busy itinerary, I haven't had a lot of time to blog. But here I am...

Where did I leave off last?

Oh yes...We were indeed able to make two day trips outside of Addis. The next day, after Elliot's eucalyptus forest event (the cipro worked wonders!!!) we went out of town to see two craters. The drive was very bumpy, a lot of road construction that never seems to get finished. The route we took involved a lot of heavy trucks, apparently the main road to Sudan, I believe...my memory being fuzzy now. But anyway, it was a main thoroughfare into other parts of Africa. And I think I've mentioned it before, but with very heavy, black exhaust emitting from each vehicle, it was hard to breathe at times. Wendi, our driver, was fantastic about passing these other trucks, cars and buses. Often times at the cost of our being fearful for our lives! These Ethiopians!!! They drive like maniacs! But we love them!

The first crater we stopped at was deserted except for us. There were two young men, early 20's I'd guess, who came over to take our entrance fee and write a receipt...good thing we had pens =). I was surprised we had to pay to see the crater since things like this are free in America. It was very beautiful, though. Across the lake was a couple of large resort looking buildings which Wendi said was the compound for the Protestants. This lake had very leaky looking boats that we could pay extra to be taken out in. The crater looked deep and the boats looked too rickety so we decided not to this time. We posed for a few pictures and then headed back up to the Range Rover.

The next crater was not as pretty and we stayed an even shorter time there. It truly was more exciting to be driving along, taking in all the sights on the way. Seeing the people, the countryside and how everyone lived outside of Addis was so fascinating! Plus, I just loved handing out the pens and paper to the students and children we would encounter. That was a highlight. Not because I felt like such a grand person for 'doing that' but because we got to interact with these joyful people. Have I said how beautiful in spirit they all are? They are amazing.

The next day we finally got to head back up the eucalyptus forest hillside and experience that trip. And my, what beauty. I fell in love with that drive. One I will never forget. Lovely. The air smells fresh and minty...eucalyptussy...ok, not a real word, but you get the whiff...=) The donkeys heading into town with their heavy burdens, the women and men who chase after them, the women carrying their own heavy loads to sell in town. As I mentioned before, the athletes training up and down the hillside, so full of energy and vitality. People always on the go to somewhere...town, home, chasing goats and sheep. They are always busy but not too much to look the way of a Range Rover coming down the road...big waves and huge smiles welcomed us wherever we went. SO wish our camera had not run out of batteries. We did get much more video footage and some day will upload some of it to here.

We drove to the largest christian orthodox monastery there, with it's huge domed ceiling. First, we had to read a sign and attest that we had not had sexual intercourse with each other for 48 hours and I also had to attest that I was not on my period...that being said, we were then able to take the monastery tour. Our guide, a very knowledgeable and delightful priest, started the tour by having us remove our shoes before entering. It was built in the 1960's, and not being that old, I was quite surprised by how musty it smelled inside. It was fairly dark, no lighting except for the sunshine in through the beautiful stained glass windows. We were not able to photograph using flash, so we just got video inside. There were murals depicting the last supper, the trinity and Mary and Jesus. Jesus on the cross and other disciples. The stained glass was spectacular. Each one showing different Bible characters. Daniel in the lions den, Abraham, Noah and the ark, Jonah and the whale, and many others. The opposite set of glass had the disciples. After the tour, our guide/priest gave us a miniature sermon...which was really, really awesome!!! He told of the importance of bringing up the children in the church, teaching them to love their Lord and Savior. Teaching them stories straight from the Bible, God's word. To show the example of what we would like them to be and being consistent. It was really neat. My family talked later about how our denomination, Seventh Day Adventists, was so much like what this priest was talking about.

After the tour, we were invited to go on the hike up the mountain side to the sacred cave. Where the holy water flows from the ceiling of the rocky crevices, healing all Orthodox Christians of their ailments. This was a lovely hike. At one point, the trail opens up to this plateau that could be taken straight out of a Robin Hood movie or like a forbidden forest. I can't even explain it...except mysterious and lovely.

At the cave opening, we went through a small gate. Priests were sweeping the entrance, even though it was a dirt and rock floor. We took our shoes off and went inside. It was damp and musty. The interior was about 20X20. The priest told of how the founder of this cave prayed for over 20 years and walked with the Lord. At the end of his meditating and communing with the Lord, this saint lost one of his legs from being on his knees so long in prayer. Again, some of my recollection may be off as there has been a lot happened since hearing the story and visiting the cave...But, it was very interesting.

Well, my 13 year old is home from visiting a friends for almost two days and I'm going to hear about her time there. I will try to write more soon!

Drubek

Chapter Three

Chapter Three: When I last left off (If I can type for very long before Ruby wakes up from her nap!) I was going to tell about how Andrew and Chloe were on the mend. They had been sick for about three days and I was feeling like a woman without a country! Elliot and I had been caring for the babies each day (what a trooper that ten year old of mine! He was my right arm!!). I think I mentioned this already. He would hold Ruby in the back seat and I would have Roman and we would transport them back and forth from the orphanage to the guesthouse each day.

Well, when the sickies in our family were up to it, we finally were able to consider a day trip out of the city. (We had already given up on the idea of our trip to Awassa...a two day trip). We headed towards this lovely mountain filled with eucalyptus trees. About 5 minutes into our drive, Elliot suddenly says he doesn't feel well. He initially thinks it's because he didn't eat enough breakfast. So I gave him a fruit leather. Almost immediately upon eating that, he asks for a bag! Producing a gallon size zip lock, he empties his stomach into it. Wendi, our courageous driver pulls over and without a question, takes the barf bag to a dumpster...which I have to say is kinda funny considering there is garbage all over the streets anyway, yet the dumpsters are always full, too!
We continue our drive. Wendi points out that the athletes train on this mountain, which is about 8000 feet. Which is why they come to America and whup our butts!! We see numerous runners training, having no problem breathing at all and running full speed up or down the mountain! On the side of the hill, there are beautiful carvings of the Lion of Judah, a church in Lalibela (known for their amazing stone churches), other animals and Haile Selassie, the king of Ethiopia.
Elliot suddenly clutches his side and basically screams in pain...apparently Montezuma's Revenge was in full force. Wendi pulled over along the road, about a 1/4 of the way up the mountain and I dug out some TP for my anguished son. Andrew and Elliot were quite the site, running into the eucalyptus forest! Twenty minutes later (and seeing numerous donkeys and women with bundles of eucalyptus branches on their backs coming down into town w/ their loads), Elliot emerged, glad to be rid of his load!! (Ok, that was bad...) Apparently, it was pretty bad!! The great thing is we had a prescription for Cipro which helped him tremendously.
Needless to say, we turned around and headed back to the guesthouse so Elliot could recover fully. We actually made the trip the next day and it was a great success...more on that in Chap. Four...

Ru just woke up so I need to continue this again later. Hopefully sooner than later, anyway. I'll also try to get Andrew to upload a video of this beautiful eucalyptus mountain side. It was so lovely. One of my highlights of the trip (minus the sick kid!)...

Drubek

Video of us meeting the babies for the first time.

New pics before we get too far along! =)

Ok, I promise to finish the saga of our trip, but here are a few pics for you to enjoy! Everything is beautiful and going well in our family. We couldn't ask for a smoother process in bonding!