Tuesday 6/29
So, last night we arrived home about 6:00 after our ride in a tuc-tuc (Robert, I don’t have video, but I have a photo) – here they are called Bajaj –It was pretty funny, the three of us (Neeha, Liana, and I) were in the back, driver in the front, and then we pulled over, and two more people got in, one with a suitcase! What a crack up! Who knew you could fit 6 people in one! Then we caught two minibuses (packed with like 14 people – like a VW van/bus)….what an experience. Better than a city bus though and far cheaper than a taxi. The next was during meal preparation the electricity went out…okay, I guess no internet tonight (last night), so the headlamps came out, we have a gas stove (thank goodness) and showers were delayed until this morning (water heater is electric). It came back on in about an hour….
After yesterday’s trip to the airport, and no call last night…I decided to hire Ahmed again to head to the airport to see if my luggage had arrived...So, by now I know the routine and I am confident pretty much flashing my luggage claim envelope and passport and breezing by security…upon first look I didn’t find it…went to the office, and *presto* the computer said it was there, and the lady even knew which room! You would’ve thought I won the lottery when I saw my bags. I joked with Ahmed and Neeha that it was a “do-over” and Welcome to Ethiopia! – fabulous….let the games begin. I was able to give Ahmed photos of his sister and nieces (they live in Dallas) that I had packed in my bag, he was SOOOOO happy to see them…it was really great.
Today out at foster we were a little more coordinated…we managed to get some towels from the supply room and we are going to make some bolsters for positioning and play. Neeha brought the duct tape (shades of Romania, Noel, but nicer set up for sure!). We worked with 5 of the 6 kiddos on the list (Dr. Makeeas added one this morning). The caregivers seemed to be happy we were there and were also trying some things along with us. They enjoy laughing when we try to repeat the words in Ahmaric – this is a hard language, that is for sure! But, they are very patient and it is all in good fun. So we left at 2:00 today to go back to the office to meet with Belay (sp?) as he is in charge of a lot of things here, so it was good to check in, let him know what things we could do for them and to please make sure to tell us if there are specific things (developmental, updates on the kids)….
Of the children we are working – many have difficulties due to CMV, TB, CP (which I am sure with this one guy was from anoxia at birth, as his tone and posturing is so much like a near drowning patient I had years ago). Sweet, sweet babies, let me tell you. I am in baby heaven, that is for sure. We love seeing the kids that are matched with families already and they have their soon to be family photos in the albums at bedside (you know the kid books that you put pictures on that are soft sided, etc)….it is great to know soon they will be going home. And these kiddos are in good shape, really. So, here we are – end of day 2 – of work anyway. All remains well and I am in much better spirits now that my luggage has arrived…intact, etc. So, I will now go and do some posts for school…..until next time….
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Adventures abound!
Monday 6/28
Well, I meant to post yesterday (Sunday) while I was at the internet, but got caught up in answering emails and doing school work and completely forgot about the blog! Sorry!
We arrived on Saturday night…that “we” would be me, Neeha, and Neeha’s luggage….I think mine stayed back in Detroit….Got to the house, which is nice, three bedrooms, small kitchen, t.v., and secure. It is walking distance from a bunch of things and Neeha and I are learning our way around.
Yesterday was a relaxing day, in the sense that we are 10 hours difference in time, so adjusting there; made our way to the internet and also to the grocery store. More exciting yet was homework last night!
This morning started our day going to the airport (which you need to not only pay for parking but pay to get a ticket to enter the airport. I went to claim my luggage….*sigh* no luggage. Went traipsing up to the KLM office, to find out that “it should be on the 9:35 flight (it was 9:25….) GREAT! Go down, talk to Ahmed our taxi guy, and let him know I need to wait……Kenya Air arrives (don’t ask me why it got switched to them…) …..*sigh* no luggage. I was smart enough to pack a few extras in my carry on, but they will be well loved by tomorrow. Needless to say I am getting a bit crabby about the entire situation.
We made our way out to “Foster” today, which consists of 4 different homes in this neighborhood that make up the foster homes. They are not in the order of 1,2,3,4, but in the order they rented the houses. These homes house about 125 children, ages birth to 11 years old. We toured all four homes and got the “lay of the land” – then went back to Foster 2 to work with a few of the kiddos….Oh my, they are sooooo stinkin’ cute, - I can hardly stand it. The facilities are nice, great staff ratio and with what they have are doing amazing things. The care giving is far different from Eastern Europe and the babies get much love, cuddles, and held for each feeding (no propping bottles at any of the houses. We met with the doctor, and he helped identify 5 kiddos that need some assistance. Neeha and I are trying to figure out how and what to do with the rest of our time, to work in some suggestions, play activities, structure, etc. The wheels are turning after day one.
Getting to and from Foster is quite an adventure – today on the way there we were in Ahmed’s cab, that was due to the airport run. On the way home we take these vans, that are chucked full of people, and they run anywhere for 1 – 3.5 Birr per leg of your ride….Birr is about 14 Birr to 1 US dollar….so, they are not expensive, but we need two legs each way. Listening to the driver’s assistance call out the stops, is going to take some getting used to. Very interesting.
The temperature is much cooler than expected…Neeha and I the two “California girls” are cold much of the time – especially in the evening. We will adapt, no doubt. The rain comes mid afternoon, each day. Last night had a storm around 1 a.m. Speaking of time – here’s one for you….in Ethiopia it is 2002 (not 2010)….and their clocks are different as well….7:00 a.m. (world clock) is 1a.m. ET (Ethiopian time)….go figure. I haven’t tracked down the “why” to this yet, but when you are asking people to meet you, pick you up, etc. you need to specify world time or ET. Very funny. I haven NO idea on the year….but Neeha and I decided we both liked being 8 years younger.
Neeha and I were going to go to the internet to post this after diner, but the electricity just went out (thank goodness for gas stoves). We are not sure if it is just in our neighborhood or all over; we may venture out to see…..
Okay, that’s about it for now….I have left out some funny stories for time saving (one, the original conversation when my bags didn’t arrive) and well, about our little critter friends in the kitchen….let’s just say I am getting good at removing my sandals and smashing…. Know we are well, safe, and trying to find our groove here ….Until next time…jms
Well, I meant to post yesterday (Sunday) while I was at the internet, but got caught up in answering emails and doing school work and completely forgot about the blog! Sorry!
We arrived on Saturday night…that “we” would be me, Neeha, and Neeha’s luggage….I think mine stayed back in Detroit….Got to the house, which is nice, three bedrooms, small kitchen, t.v., and secure. It is walking distance from a bunch of things and Neeha and I are learning our way around.
Yesterday was a relaxing day, in the sense that we are 10 hours difference in time, so adjusting there; made our way to the internet and also to the grocery store. More exciting yet was homework last night!
This morning started our day going to the airport (which you need to not only pay for parking but pay to get a ticket to enter the airport. I went to claim my luggage….*sigh* no luggage. Went traipsing up to the KLM office, to find out that “it should be on the 9:35 flight (it was 9:25….) GREAT! Go down, talk to Ahmed our taxi guy, and let him know I need to wait……Kenya Air arrives (don’t ask me why it got switched to them…) …..*sigh* no luggage. I was smart enough to pack a few extras in my carry on, but they will be well loved by tomorrow. Needless to say I am getting a bit crabby about the entire situation.
We made our way out to “Foster” today, which consists of 4 different homes in this neighborhood that make up the foster homes. They are not in the order of 1,2,3,4, but in the order they rented the houses. These homes house about 125 children, ages birth to 11 years old. We toured all four homes and got the “lay of the land” – then went back to Foster 2 to work with a few of the kiddos….Oh my, they are sooooo stinkin’ cute, - I can hardly stand it. The facilities are nice, great staff ratio and with what they have are doing amazing things. The care giving is far different from Eastern Europe and the babies get much love, cuddles, and held for each feeding (no propping bottles at any of the houses. We met with the doctor, and he helped identify 5 kiddos that need some assistance. Neeha and I are trying to figure out how and what to do with the rest of our time, to work in some suggestions, play activities, structure, etc. The wheels are turning after day one.
Getting to and from Foster is quite an adventure – today on the way there we were in Ahmed’s cab, that was due to the airport run. On the way home we take these vans, that are chucked full of people, and they run anywhere for 1 – 3.5 Birr per leg of your ride….Birr is about 14 Birr to 1 US dollar….so, they are not expensive, but we need two legs each way. Listening to the driver’s assistance call out the stops, is going to take some getting used to. Very interesting.
The temperature is much cooler than expected…Neeha and I the two “California girls” are cold much of the time – especially in the evening. We will adapt, no doubt. The rain comes mid afternoon, each day. Last night had a storm around 1 a.m. Speaking of time – here’s one for you….in Ethiopia it is 2002 (not 2010)….and their clocks are different as well….7:00 a.m. (world clock) is 1a.m. ET (Ethiopian time)….go figure. I haven’t tracked down the “why” to this yet, but when you are asking people to meet you, pick you up, etc. you need to specify world time or ET. Very funny. I haven NO idea on the year….but Neeha and I decided we both liked being 8 years younger.
Neeha and I were going to go to the internet to post this after diner, but the electricity just went out (thank goodness for gas stoves). We are not sure if it is just in our neighborhood or all over; we may venture out to see…..
Okay, that’s about it for now….I have left out some funny stories for time saving (one, the original conversation when my bags didn’t arrive) and well, about our little critter friends in the kitchen….let’s just say I am getting good at removing my sandals and smashing…. Know we are well, safe, and trying to find our groove here ….Until next time…jms
Friday, June 25, 2010
Off and running....well, not so much...
Greetings! Here I am, I made it through security at LAX - what a funny thing....you would think that they would have it down to a science, not down, backed up to the next terminal! Well, I discovered last night that I am not too old to pull an all-nighter....I would like to say that I was out living it up before departing for this adventure....well I was, at PTN, you know, getting reports finished, goals written, faxed, returning calls at 2 a.m., and getting school stuff ready so I didn't have to haul three text books with me! Winston is off to Jacqui's for the weekend and then moving on to Vivian's for the duration....Minina is safe and sound (as well as carrying around her baby in the wee hours of the night) at Melissa and Dale's. A HUGE heartfelt thank you to them all for assisting - that definitely made this trip possible! A big thank you too, to those of you (if you are following along) that made donations to help support his trip! I have 49 pounds of donations in my one suitcase and all of my stuff packed in my 26 pound duffel - I even impressed myself! - So, know that I don't get in until Saturday night - for those of you on the West Coast - Addis Ababa is 10 hours ahead of PST. So I will try and check in on Sunday to let everyone know we have arrived safe and sound and all that jazz! Neeha will be meeting me in Amsterdam, and Mark, the PT from Philadelphia will fly in on Monday night. So, I will finish my breakfast here at El Cholo (tempted to order a banana margarita, but it is afterall 9:30 a.m.!)....until next time!
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