कमिंग तोगेथेर Coming together…

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….