Ethiopia Day 2

Ok we're not even going to talk about how long it's been and when I should have written this. Forgive and forget right? :P Blogger is having issues and not letting me load pictures. Hopefully I can try again in a week or so. Sorry :(

The second day started a bit like the first, up before the "wake-up" call, ugh. We left early to visit Ephraim at his care center. The boys were waiting for us again, ready to play and get some much needed attention. Don't get me wrong, the nannies do a great job and they know every child's name but there is only so much attention they can show when they are so out numbered. Ephraim was more comfortable with us but still so very quiet! We went into his room to hang out and get out of the sun. We took some pictures and then he decided it was his turn to be the photographer. He took lots of pictures. We were getting bored but he was loving it. Once he came over to me to show the pic he just took and it had timed out. So, I hit the necessary buttons to bring it back and from then on he knew just what to do and hit those buttons every time to show us his handy work. He's so stinkin smart!

One of his better ones, most were of our feet!

After about a million photos of our legs and feet, I decided it was time to bring out the bat mobile! I wish I could show you a picture of his face when he saw it move on it's own! Again, bragging about his power of observation...the bat mobile came with three barrels with a joker sticker on one end. I first placed them on the ground sticker side up and lined up the car to hit them. From then on, when he would set them up, he would make sure they were sticker side up. I didn't show him that's what he should do or even point out the stickers, he did it on his own. Brilliant I say, just brilliant!

He wanted a picture of his new toy!

We were informed that since September, he has been attending Grade 1 in school (NOT our first grade but more like a Pre-K/Kindergarten). He has been learning how to write his name in Amharic. Earlier that day we had Mimi, the guest house owner, write his name in Amharic for us. Once we showed it to him, he grabbed the pen, flipped the page and started showing off his skills. Sure the first time he wrote it he left out a letter but that's normal. The other times he wrote it correctly. ;) He and Chris did some doodles together and of course I got it on video like any good mother should. tehe

So then we played some soccer, then bat mobile, then back to soccer. With him being used to living and playing at 8,000 feet above sea level, this super kid is gonna kill me when we get back!

I went into the office to talk to the director for a bit while Chris and Ephraim were playing soccer. While in there, they got out his photo album. Chris started saying "mommy" and "daddy" when pointing to our photos and soon enough he started repeating him! Chris called me out and I knelt down to him in order to hear his tiny voice. Chris pointed to me and said "who's that?" so naturally Ephraim said "who's that" HA! Then Chris said "mommy" and he repeated "mommy", then he pointed to himself without saying anything and Ephraim said "daddy", then back to me "mommy", then to him "Ephraim".  It was so great having that be the first thing you hear your child say!

Then, it was time to leave. :( I bent down and gave him a hug and he gave me two huge wet kisses on my cheek and the same with Chris.  It was much harder to leave this time.

Once back at the guest house we had a traditional coffee ceremony. Well, sort of. We didn't do any research on it until afterwards and the girl making the coffee didn't speak much English. In a coffee ceremony you drink three cups and each serving has a different name, the last means "blessing".  The other couples were visiting their babies in the afternoon so they left after the first cup. We got full and stopped at the second. So much for our blessing! Hahaha! We'll do better next time!

The hut at the guest house

All ready for the coffee ceremony

beautifully decorated!

After coffee we did some great shopping and let me tell you, I could have bought a lot more stuff!!  I just need to realize that maintaining his culture isn't going to be solely in a wall painting or a dress. The hard part was dealing with the begging children. We were informed ahead of time that there would be children and mothers and a few adults begging for money or food. We were told that if we did give them something then there would instantly be a dozen more, even if you only saw one to begin with. We were more than welcome to give something but "warned" of the side effects. So what do you do? Give food or money to a starving child then be swarmed by dozens more or not give anything? As soon as we got to the first store there were about three people asking for something. A mother with a baby, and two children. One of the children had been severely burned on their face. It was near impossible to maintain my composure. I decided to wait until we were about to leave. We finished our shopping and a little girl was walking back to the van with me saying "please miss, pretty miss" trying to get me to buy gum. Then we were joined by another girl. The others had already left, I believe Zone's mom gave some granola bars out. Once everyone was in the van, I gave each of the girls a birr and hopped in. Before we could pull out there were several more begging for money.  You know that the country is stricken with poverty, it's one of the reasons for adopting from there but you just don't realize how bad it is until you have a dozen tiny hands reaching for something you can't solve with a few bucks and a granola bar.

For dinner we went to a touristy restaurant called Lod Abyssinia. They have traditional music, singing and dancing. It was incredible. I loved getting to see the positive side of the rich, ancient Ethiopian culture.

One of the traditional singers :)