Killing Chickens

I began this post at 8:00 am ETHIOPIA time.

We lost a day here, because of the 10 hour exchange. So though, back home it is 10:00 pm, here it is 8 am the following day. Today it is Thursday, August 21!

We slept well. I woke a number of times to use the bathroom. I tell you. There is something about the airplane and this travel. The system is blocked up!! I hope it unblocks or I might explode! LOL! More than you wanted to know? Well, just preparing you fellow adoptive parents that follow behind us! :o)) Ray says he is fine, except he had the runs a couple times. I made everyone take oregano last night before bed.

Perhaps it was all that oregano oil? Denise asks. *snicker*

I was awoken this morning at 6:00 am to a very pleasant sound – the sound of the Muslim call to worship. That and a rooster that lives in our yard. I can hear birds cooing, crickets chirping, and other than that it is very quiet. The call to worship was beautiful – very melodic and gentle. So pretty.

I got up immediately to record the sounds, and Ray got up to get ready for his big day. On one hand I would love to go with him and Colt, but on the other hand we have lots to do this morning. I have to go through the suitcases and figure out what is really ours – very little – and what is going on our first outing in the car.

I am so excited. Last night, Abebe told us that there is a little orphanage around the corner from us. He said the children are so skinny – they barely have any clothes. We think we see a great need there. As I write this, I hear a chicken in the house. I believe it is about to get butchered!! Colt just came in (10 minutes ago) and told me that Abebe was telling him that he would show him how to butcher a chicken. He used his hands to show a chopping motion! LOL! Abebe laughs constantly. The chicken is now gone. Poor thing. I suppose that is dinner!

So, back to the orphanage. We will go and see them, see their needs and then take Abebe and go shopping. I am so pumped. I am already in love with this country. It wasn’t hard to happen. I loved Mexico. Ray only saw that it was a holiday country and a poor country. I spent two weeks there on my own, hanging with the local and I got to know the heart of the people. There is something so special about people who don’t have everything! Their values are so different!

So right now, Ray and Colt have left. Colt didn’t want to take the video and still camera. I don’t want to look like a tourist. Sorry, kid, you’re white. You’re a tourist!! LOL!!

Dane is out in the courtyard filling up a soccer ball. I am about to go through our luggage and prepare for our afternoon!!

More to come.

11:00 am – Ray and Colt just got back from their class. It wasn’t what they were expecting unfortunately. They basically were hoping to create a new program and see who we could send and for how long. They need new books to teach the program. That would be a good thing to send later. Ray might see if he can buy them some tools before we leave.

Dane spent the morning hanging with the girls and Abebe. I unpacked all our donations and sorted out what was going where. After that I had a shower. Okay, that was chilly! I have to find out how the water works! In the meantime, I was quick!

A little later, Dane came in and told me was going to butcher a chicken for dinner. And he did. You should have seen him running all over the yard chasing chickens!! He had a big smile on his face. I think he is having a blast here in Africa! A real boy!

Later on, I cam outside and found him with one chicken in arm and chasing the other one. I asked him if he was going to chop off it’s head. Yes, he said. I said, “You are a true African!” *smile* Abebe laughed.

Dane did the business AFTER I left, and when I came back out later, he was sitting with his hands in a bowl taking bits and pieces off the chickens feathered body. Yuck!

After this, Abebe taught Colt and Dane how to use a homemade whip to crack like a gun. Colt, the boy that will not be conquered by anything, mastered it in no time!! Dane is still working on it.

Oziopia Court Yard - Whips and Guys

The children had created the little wired vehicles that they push around with a stick. They are so creative! The little girl we are staying with who is about 10, likes to draw. So I was able to lend her one of the books that I am giving to the orphanage. I would give it to her, but she has a pretty good life with her mum, sister and brother.

3:00 pm

Right now, we are down in this area of town where the internet café is.

Internet Cafe, Kaldi's Coffee, Mall Shops - Near Oziopia Guest House

We took a minibus with Abebe. It cost us 50Cents for all of us to ride the bus for about 10 minutes. I love where we are. It is so Ethiopian, versus big city Addis. There are tiny shacks everywhere, versus the big buildings that they have in town. Abebe tells us this is where we see the people for real. Everyone is so friendly!

Noone worries about their child taking the minibus to school; not like in Canada, where we would worry about them getting abducted!! I would say, based on what I have heard, that it is safer around here than what we are used to. It is certainly friendlier!!

In the Mall Shops - Injera Tables? Or Hats?

Boys With Abebe Our Wonderful Oziopia Host

It is certainly the rainy season. Within minutes, when it begins to rain the road is a huge mess of water and mud.

The Intersection By the Internet Cafe