This morning we were up a bit later – tired from all these days of running around. It is exhausting how much we have packed into our time here! But it has been well worth it. The boys have their own room on a floor below us. And the girls are with us. We got up and headed down to breakfast. I had ordered pancakes for all of us. They arrived looking like crepes. They were delicious!! The girls did not like them and so we asked for their bread and jam to come earlier. They had that with tea (shy) and were very happy. I suspect we shall continue that at home. Herbal, of course, but I will be buying lots of Ethiopian tea also!
As soon as we were done breakfast we headed outside and found a taxi driver that works for the Weygoss.
Friendly Africa!
We told him we wanted to go shopping and so he took us to the main post office. Right outside of it there is a strip of little market shops. We spent about three hours walking through these shops. Who knows how much too much we spent, but our driver helped us. I bought presents for the boys back home and a beautiful coffee pot, coffee cups, coffee table, and stool, plus a painting of a little Oromo boy carrying a lamb. I also bought the girls Oromo bronze traditional bracelets. Later, we will go and buy silver for them, plus CDs of the music here. I should mention that our driver was very helpful and helped us to get better prices. He also carrying our parcels and helped look after the girls.
Our Friendly Driver Helping Me Buy
Negotiating For Me
Negotiating All My Drums!
There was a point when one child had to use the bathroom. I was pointed up behind the market stores and I wandered up there. One lady questioned me and I said, “Shint”. She pointed to the ground. So guess what we did – right there in the middle of the cobblestones, between parked cars and corregated tin shacks. When in
Early in the afternoon, it began to pour with rain and we headed into a coffee shop. The boys ordered frappucinos (which I was certain they would not carry). The drinks arrived and they were cappuccinos. It was funny because at breakfast the boys had ordered milk and had received steamed milk. When in
We continued our shopping with the boys buying some spear heads. They had tried to get knives but I said: no way. I was not taking a chance on a child getting a cut from an old knife that has been who knows where! The spear heads will stay on the wall or be put away til they leave home. Too risky, not knowing what they have been used for! They were collected from villages before being sold.
When we were done our shopping we headed to Cloud 9 for lunch. I am determined to eat out three times a day, plus have snacks twice a day. I have two weeks of eating to do in a three days!! *grin* The boys loved the stores in the mall of Cloud 9 and want to go back. Colt’s more interested in buying sunglasses, tshirts, jeans, runners, belts – anything clothing. As usual the girls ordered spaghetti with meat sauce – that is all they ever order!!
There was a fair bit of food leftover when we were done eating, so we had them package it up, along with the 7 bread rolls. As we left the building we were aware of a group of about 5 children about 40' feet from us. One boy of about 13 was wearing a little one of about two years in a sling on his back. There was a boy with him missing an arm, and two girls. They came towards us and put out their hands.
I opened the package and handed them all the leftovers – about 4 different trays of food. As I handed it to them I said, “Share,” as I looked the one boy in the eye. He said he would and then they dashed off. A few minutes later, just before we were getting in the car Ray spotted them sitting in a group eating their lunch. I wanted to see if they would mind if I took a picture of them, so I went over. I later learned that one of the door men from the Cloud 9 mall followed me to be sure I was safe.
I approached the children, showed them the camera, and asked if I could take a picture. They beamed and said, Yes. (There is one child that chose to hide rather than have her picture taken. The rest smiled.)
After I took the picture I asked the children if they were related. The one boy carrying the small girl, were brother and sister. The rest were just friends. I handed the one boy with the baby a ten birr note, and then gave 10 birr to another of the children and told them, Give this to your mother. (They may be homeless and without mothers, but just in case they aren’t, I was hoping it would get home.)
As we were talking, suddenly the van that was parked directly to the left of the children (they were pretty much leaning up against it), began to back up. The baby was directly behind one of the back wheels. It was the most freaky moment. The children screamed – I yelled and began banging on the back of the car – and the car stopped. My heart was pounding!! After it was all settled I left and went back to the car. A few minutes later, after they had finished eating, I saw the children walking away. The little one was still crying. What a frightening moment!
There was another incident later. As usual we were being surrounded by children and so we were not giving anything out as it was turning into a mob situation. We were in the car and trying to drive away. There was one little boy that I remember at the window. He was persistent. We finally pulled away from the crowd and headed fast down the road. About ½ - 1 km later we pulled to a stop, and lo and behold, there beside us, standing at our window was the little boy from before. He had been running behind us the whole time and we were not aware.
We could NOT say no. My throat was full of tears, as I said, Give him ten birr. He deserves it. Look how hard he worked for it!
We opened the window and handed him ten birr and told him to take it to his mother. You should have seen the beam of delight! He said, Thank you. And then as we drove away he stood waving, waving, waving, and smiling so big, and we kept waving at him. Then suddenly, he took off at a run, across the street, and down the road. That was the most wonderful moment!
On our way home to our room we saw a lady with two children on the side of the road. When we parked the car I dashed out of the parking lot and went down to her. I didn’t want people knowing what I was doing, so I acted nonchalant. I walked up to her, crouched down and quietly gave her ten birr. She thanked me and then we began talking. I asked her her children’s names: Elias and Abraham, and her name was Hannah. I said, “Abraham – Father of many nations.” She said, “Yes, the Bible.” After talking for a moment, I left and headed back to our room.
We put the girls to bed for a nap, and then Colt, Dane, and I headed out for the internet café.
Later, that night we headed to the Traditional Dinner. That will be in another post.
