Thursday July 19 - We finally had a free day to do do some sightseeing and shopping on our own. A number of us took the kids to a mall not far from the guesthouse. I did buy a couple of things but most of the stores had clothing I could buy in the US. We had a snack, ice cream, at a coffee shop then we went to a supermarket and bout some snacks for the plane ride home. The rest of the day we stayed around the guesthouse. I was finally able to call Maya before she went to school (4pm Addis Ababa time). the kids had a great nap and I started packing the souvenirs in our luggage. That night we let the cooks have a night off and ordered pizza, it was good, though not quite the same as American pizza (some other kinds of spice in the sauce).

Friday July 20 - Friday AM was low key day, we finished packing and walked to the office to check e-mail. Later in the afternoon we all drove to the office to get our children's passports, life books and DVD's the staff had made for each child. One DVD was of their stay at the care center, just typical day to day stuff and messages from the nannies. The other DVD is of their birth family. CHSFS sent a videographer to video and interview the birth family. After dinner we left for the airport. Elias loved his first escalator ride in the airport. There wasn't much to do at the airport but wait. The kids found new friends to play with and ran around.

ready to go

At the airport

They didn't even start loading us on to the plane until it was our schedule take off time. Elias was excited to be on an "areoplan" though he didn't like having to wear a seat belt. After 15 hours, 3 tantrums, plenty of food, and not enough sleep we made it to Washington DC at 8:30AM. We made it though customs without a hitch, got our boarding passes for the flight home. waited in line to go through security for an hour and finally made it to our gate. We got some lunch before leaving. Elias liked the fries and ketchup but turned up his nose at the cheeseburger - we'll have to work on that. Sadly we had to say goodbye to Eva and Adam at the gate, we didn't make a big deal out of it because I wasn't sure how Elias would react to leaving Adam. Both kids fell asleep before take-off and I had to wake them to get off the plane in Minneapolis. After 17 hours of flying, numerous hours waiting in lines, incalculable hours of just waiting we were home. Maya and my parents met us at the airport. Both Elias and Meretech were exhausted and a little crabby but cheered up after some food then we all went to bed. That was it no other transition to MN time. They have been on MN time ever since. Nice. Watch here for more updates and pictures.

Farewell Ceremony

Wednesday July 18 - In the AM we went shopping for souveniers and gifts. I bought some traditional Ethiopian clothing for Maya and myself, some handmade baskets and some things made out of soap stone. There was a guy selling maps of Ethiopia out on the street and every time I walked of a store he followed me trying to get me buy one. I would have bought one too only he started out offering the map for 170 Birr, about $18 US dollars - I bought clothes for Maya and I for about 130 Birr or $14 US dollars so I knew he was just seeking to con the dumb Americans. We went to the Halie Selassie shop also and a music store where I bought two CD's of Ethiopian music. We have been listening to the music everyday lately and I can't tell you what they are saying but Elias loves it and sings along.
Wednesday afternoon was the farewell ceremony at the care center. All the children were sitting in chairs at one end of a large room, the parents lined the wall at the other end of the room. The children who were brought in by their nannies. As they entered the room the school-agers began chanting El-i-as, El-i-as, El-i-as and clapping. I started crying. The social worker gave a speech and handed out cards for each of the children. I started reading the one for Elias and started crying again. Then each child put a hand print on a wall painted to look like the Ethiopian flag. I had counted all the hand prints earlier (nearly 170) there was one for each child who has been adopted so far in 2007. We then had a prayer in both Amharic and English then the celebration with cake. Since Elias was the oldest being adopted that week he got to make the first cut in the huge cake.


After the ceremony Elias gave hugs to his nannies and friends for the last time. Then we took the children back to the care center to stay. The ceremony was emotional but it was so nice to have all the kids with us at the guesthouse, they added some liveliness and, of course, noise.

We're A Family!

Now they are mine!

Tuesday July 17 - Tuesday afternoon was the embassy appointment. In the morning we went to the National Museum. The actual bones of "Lucy" the oldest known human are somewhere in the museum and a cast of her bones are on display. The rest of the museum has historical artifacts like Imperial dress uniforms, stone statues, pots and paintings. On the third floor you can watch a weaver as he weaves and purchase all kinds of scarves, tablecloths and other woven cloths.
We went to the care center after the museum to pick up the children escept for Elias who was still at school. Elias was dropped of shortly before we left for the Embassy appointment. Both kids loved getting dressed in new clothes and shoes. We arrived at the American Embassy, made it through two metal detectors then were led to a room to sit and wait. There were 9 families in our group and it took about four hours to get us all through. I had to answer about six questions about E and M and sign my name four times. That was it, Elias and Meretech were mine forever.
We later went to the Hilton, a very beautiful hotel between neighborhoods of shacks, to confirm our flight out, check our e-mail and change more US dollars into Birr. Then we returned the children to the care center for one more night and went out to celebrate.
Our guesthouse manager, Massi, took us to the Crown Hotel for a traditional Ethiopian meal and to watch the dancers. The dancing was fabulous, one dancer looked like he was dislocating his shoulder everytime he jerked it around and one of the women put headbangers to shame with all the shaking, spinning and whipping of her head. The food was great though a little spicy for my tastes, Adam had an Ethiopian Special Beer. We went home exhausted and ready to sleep.

Monday I met the boy again

Monday July 16 -
Monday was the day I got to see Elias again. In the AM we had our orientation, went over our papers for the Embassy appointment and learned a little about the Ethiopian culture that was different from our own. The children were at the US Embassy for medical assessments so we didn't go to see them until after lunch.
When we arrived at the care center in the afternoon the children had just returned from their medical appointments, I went in to see if Meretech was done eating. As she was finishing her milk I noticed a boy sitting on the floor eating out of a bowl. I only saw him from the back and noted that he was bigger than all the other toddlers. On a second glance I realized that was my boy. Elias had returned to the toddler center with the other children instead of going back to his school. Once he finished his pasta we all went outside to play and wait for our turn to talk to the doctor.
Adam had brought a suction cup ball game. He started playing it with Elias and we discovered he had a pretty good throwing arm. Then we found a soccer ball and Elias ran around kicking the ball to various people. He has a pretty accurate kick too. So I'm thinking now I'll be the parent of a child in organized sports. At least I have a soccer player, a sport I know all the rules to so watching the games won't be so confusing. Note though that Elias does love to throw the ball up as far as possible - maybe basketball?
After a while of playing we met with the doctor. Basically I have two really healthy kids (Yay) that still need to have all their immunizations (Boo). After the doctor we went back to playing outside until it was time to leave for dinner.

Meet the Family

A traditional Ethiopian hut

Sunday July 15 - We woke up early (4AM), which was very early for those of us not adjusted to the time difference yet. Luckily I was still on night shift mode and was functioning pretty well despite the lack of sleep. We had a light breakfast of toast, packed some food for lunch and were out the door by 5AM.
When we stepped out of the gate the street was lined with eight land rover type vehicles. It was still dark and it was damp out. We climbed into the vehicles, one per family and drove off. The countryside was beautiful, very green and full of vegetation. Every once in a while we would come upon a village of huts or shacks. There were a few larger towns, Mostly though it was countryside with huts interspersed here and there.
We reached the city of Hosanna after four hours and made our way through packed mud streets to the care center. There were throngs of children outside the gate begging for candy. Some had learned enough English to ask "What is your name?". When we went inside the gate each family was led to a room where members of their children's' birth family were waiting. E and M's father and uncle greeted me with hugs and handshakes. We were able to talk to these men for about a half hour learning about the family life E and M had left and I was able to promise that the children would grow up being able to attend school and have the opportunity to do whatever they wanted in life. I also promised that our family would spend the rest of our lives learning about Ethiopia, so E and M may have an idea of their heritage. Their father was grateful but also very sad. I gave him pictures of E and M and promised more as they grew as well as letters. One great find was that their father did go to school and can read and write in Amharic. I should be able to find many people here who can interpret a letter for me.
We took pictures then had a candle ceremony, a symbolization of the birth family passing their children to the adoptive family. It was a very emotional day for all involved.
We toured the satellite care center, where the children stay until they are able to go to Addis Ababa. then we were on our way back. The drive back was exciting. All along the highway were people, men, women and children. We were stared at and waved to our whole way back. We stopped at a hut near the highway and were able to see how most of our children had lived prior to the orphanage. We saw people working, guiding their ox to plow the field. Children were the most excited to see us, shouting "ferengi" which means "white people", and waving frantically.
After retuning to the guesthouse Eva, Adam and I walked to the care center to visit with Meretech. She was excited to see us and even more excited when we pulled out a pen and paper for her to scribble. It was almost as if she had been craving the stimulation. She was warming up to us but still not making a peep. We walked back to the guesthouse (about a 15 minute walk) and stayed there for the remainder of the day, visiting with the other families picking up their children.

Ethiopia

My first meeting with Meretech

We're home now, but I thought I'd take you through my week in Ethiopia over the next few days. I was limited in my internet use all week so I used my few precious minutes on the net to stay connected to Maya back in the states instead of blogging.

Saturday July 14 - After a 15 hour flight Eva, Adam and I arrived in Addis Ababa around 9am. We were driven to the office of Children's Home Society with the other families picking up their children. We were given a packet of info about our children's stay in the orphanange then it was off to meet our children for the first time. Suddenly I was no longer tired and the rain didn't concern me I was going to meet my children! First we drove to the care center where the toddlers and babies stayed. We were shuffled into a room an taken one by one to meet our children so they could capture it on video. I met Meretech first, a quiet, tiny and shy little girl who wouldn't look at me. Then I was driven to the school and met Elias while he was eating lunch. He was all smiles and seemed excited to see me. We left Elias at the school, went back to the toddler center and returned Meretech to her nannies. Then we went to the guest house to unload our bags, find our rooms and eat lunch.
After lunch a couple of us returned to the care center. Upon entering my Meretech came over to me with a smile on her face, then sat in my lap to play with the doll I had brought. She was pretty defensive about her spot in my lap with all the other toddlers and I was happy that she would interact with me at all.
After playing for awhile we returned to the guest house for dinner and then a quiet evening before bed. We were all exhausted so sleep came easily.

We're Excited!

As you can see we're excited! I received word on Monday July 2nd that the US has approved the immigration of Eilas and Meretech. I leave for Ethiopia on July 12th! Maya can't wait for her new siblings to come home so that she can finally share her room. I'm wondering how long the excitement about sharing her room will last. I keep trying to tell her about the bad parts of adopting older children like the tantrums, breaking things, up at all hours of the night, and the fact that they won't love their mom as much as she does. She just replies "That's okay Mom." What a neat kid.
My sister and her husband will be traveling with me to pick up the kids. I'm thankful that I have traveling companions that are used to international travel and they are people that I get along with. Thanks Eva and Adam for spending your time and money to travel with me. I am so much more at ease knowing that I don't have to do the travel thing on my own.
I am going to try and post while I am in Ethiopia (we will have internet access at the care center). If we can figure it out I"ll post pictures too. Watch this space for updates.