Ethiopian Dinner and New Friends

After our seminar today we took the little boys into Vancouver to Fassil's Ethiopian restaurant for dinner. We had been told about this restaurant from other adoptive parents and really wanted to try it out. We managed to find parking right in front of the restaurant and we stepped inside. It was a tiny place with bright green and lime green walls and big painting style pictures on the walls. There were only a handful of tables and nobody to seat us, so we helped ourselves to a table.

Shortly thereafter, a man imerged from the kitchen and welcomed us. He asked what we wanted to eat. I said to him, 'Well, actually we have a bit of a story. We are hoping to adopt from Ethiopia and have heard rave reviews about your restaurant from other adoptive parents. We have heard that it is best to ask you to recommend what you think."

He brought the kids cranberry juice and then told us to wait a few minutes.

He then proceeded to serve another couple that was in the restaurant. A few minutes later, he called us into the kitchen. We took the children and followed him in. He showed us the tiny kitchen and each of the ingredients and taught us how they were cooked and what they were called.

Learning to Cook Ethiopian Food

As he was doing this he mentioned spices and I mentioned some new adoptive aquaintences, S. and L., who have adopted little M. I told him how I knew that they had brought him back some spices when they went on their adoption trip. He lit up and said that yes, they were like family now. He told me that last time L. and S. were there they pitched in and were helping wash dishes after they had all eaten! They had also met him through their adoption journey.

At that moment the front door opened and he saw a family enter and he exhuberantly told us that this was an adoptive family, and to come, he would introduce us. We all exited the kitchen and followed him out. He immediately greeted the little ones with great tenderness.

Two New Little Buddies

I thought I recognized the lady (but how could I as we live so far away). He introduced us to her and her husband and I asked them their children's names. She told me they were Moses and Ayana and I said to her that I knew her! I knew the children's names from our Yahoo group!! And she is English, like me, to boot! :o) We all began chatting and learning what we could about each other. It was wonderful. About the names - the ironic thing is we have chosen Ayana (or Ayanna) for our first daughter's middle name. We have also, already seen her first name in two other places on the adoption blogs and it is *not* a common name. We thought we were original with our names! Oh well. *smile* Maybe they are 'Ethiopian names'!

Lesley and Justine

Cooper and Briton had a great time with her little ones who are nearly 2 and nearly 3. They also have three older children, similar in ages to our three oldest children.

Our children were all so friendly with each other and certainly not shy!

What was neat in the atmosphere in this restaurant was the owner's family was away and so he was running the show alone. The family that we met tonight jumped in and helped serve their own family. It was really kind of neat. You can go to your typical factory style restaurant or you can go to a restaurant where they owner sits down and chats with you. And that is what happened to us!

The meal was interesting. I enjoyed the food, but got indigestion from taking the two year old! LOL!! We were served a plate of injera with the food all served in piles on the injera. We then had rolled up pieces of injera to rip up and pick up the stew/salad/sauces with. This worked great for Ray and I. Briton was quite cute taking his pieces of injera and trying to pick up things and then creating a pile of his 'used' injera beside himself.

Briton and His Stack of Used Injera

Cooper Loved the Lamb

After the family we met had gone home for the evening, the owner sat down with us and asked us why we wanted to adopt from Ethiopia (I should mention - he is Ethiopian). We told him our reasons and he educated us on many fronts. It was really neat, but also a bit difficult to visit because we had two small children who were tired of sitting and they had been sort of sitting for 2 1/2 hours!

We had to leave to get them home and as we were leaving he began telling us to keep in touch with him and that when we went to Ethiopia he would have his son, who lives over there, get in contact with us. His son would be our tour guide and help us out while over there. I understand this is something that happened to another adoptive family that met this kind man. We truly felt blessed to have met him!

We are so thankful that tonight we met this man and this other adoptive family. It will be so special to have connections with other Ethiopian families! I should mention, their children are gorgeous!!! My husband said it was touching when he saw our four year old and their nearly 3 year old hugging. He told me later it made him think what it will be like for our son, in hopefully a year or so!

Ayana and Cooper