Coming to a close...

July 23, 2010

Well, can any of you reading believe that it was 4 weeks ago that I posted a blog from LAX? Crazy – that’s what I think. I sit here alone at my dining room table, listening iTunes, having gone through my photos – WOW!, that about sums it up – As you can see, Kim, the expression doesn’t change much from Russia, clearly just the context.

Ethiopia has been a clash of cultures for me – it is so hard to describe and I hope those of you that see my photos will get some sense of what I mean. Now I have seen burros and oxen on the streets in Honduras, but clearly here old meets new has a whole new meaning. I will truly miss the morning herds of goats/sheep, burros hauling goods, random goat and kids (baby goats that is) waiting to cross the street, or lying catching some warmth of the sun, oh, and I can’t forget walking to the taxi with a small herd of cattle – I have a great shot of Neeha with the cattle – it was our first week, and what fun we had with that!

Tuesday and Wednesday Yemamu went out to Foster with me to do trainings in several of the rooms with the caregivers. They asked some good questions and were very open to suggestions. They have been watching me, trying things as I was there, but I was finally able to explain the “why” behind the things we had been doing. There were a lot of discussions about reflux (this is a huge problem with the majority of the kids), positioning, encouraging vocalizations, and play activities. I also spent two ½ days (this week) at Kebe Tsehei, mostly in the baby room. Oh how I wish the babies would be held to be fed. Some of them are, usually the tiniest – but of course as I type this I remembered they got a brand new baby (one day old) and I was sad to see that for that baby they were already propping the bottle…of course that means no burping, constant spitting up then with any position change, poor positioning (due to always being on your back and head cranked to the side to get and maintain the bottle), and all that good stuff…

Yesterday and today have been emotionally draining – yesterday was my last day at Kebe Tsehei. Clearly that was harder for me than leaving Foster – there are so many babies (not to mention the other 100+ kids) there – the majority will more than likely grow up there, or move to another orphanage when they reach age 8. Though some will be adopted – as some get transferred to Foster, and I met several families from Ireland and Australia who are adopting from there (hooray!). At least at Foster, the majority will end up in homes (in the U.S.) and the overall environment is far different (to the positive). I grew a little attached to a little girl, Mahlet (sounds like Mahilet, with a long i); it means nighttime prayers. The caregivers “picked her out” for me (after I had been holding her) as she was about as fair-skinned as I am! With the exception of her dark eyes, I have to say, we look quite good together. When I would walk by her crib she would see me and raise both hands…she is about 3 or 4 months old...so sweet. Last week she was sick, and this week, much better – and of course, how ironic is this, she has difficulty with feeding – not such a coordinated suck…go figure. Anyhow, so of course when I left yesterday, that was much harder – I had done (up until this week) of not really favoring any of the kids, etc….Well, I tried, unsuccessfully. I asked Alex (the PT) to keep an eye on her for me…

The caregivers today were so very sweet and forth coming with their appreciation for my time (and Mark and Neeha, too – you were missed!) – I had Yemamu with me so that he could translate as I said my thank-yous and good-byes… and for them, they could express themselves. I think for me personally the biggest compliment was that they said they had not had a volunteer come through that spent so much time with them (the caregivers), interacting with them, helping them, and taking time to get to know how things worked, etc within the houses. This to me means my approach and the advice/suggestions were taken well. They all hoped I would return next year and do more trainings. They appreciated all that they were shown and are looking forward to the activities that I said I would work on and send to get translated. I will also work on updating the donation list to get some more age-appropriate toys that will facilitate many of the developmental skills, along with a few other suggestions. It is all very exciting to see the care and interaction between the caregivers and babies/children. I rarely saw an unhappy caregiver (really I can only think of one occasion).

I also got to spend time (during a coffee ceremony they had for me) at one of the foster homes having general conversations (thanks to Yemamu) and they (the caregivers) were able to ask questions in general. As they came through in “shifts” (taking turns leaving the room to come down to tell me thank you), one of the caregivers (I thin she was the head caregiver of the house) said she often heard the caregivers talking about me – then specified “in a good way, all good things” that I was doing, helping them with in the rooms. She thought that was important because the information was being passed on to the other shifts. Great! Other topics that came up included when you are stressed or had an argument with someone and then you are caring for the children, can they tell (yes, the baby can pick up when you are stressed), is there a difference in development when you have a c-section vs. vaginal birth, they had heard of mother’s pumping their milk (vs. breastfeeding) and wondered why and if the baby still was able to breastfeed. All questions it seemed they had wanted to know, but no one to ask.

Liana left tonight. I will make one more hike to Limetree tomorrow morning for some great coffee and fresh fruit….submit my homework, post this blog, and Yemamu will come by so I can help him with some things on email for his application process to a seminary school in Kentucky (that will be interesting – Ethiopia to Kentucky! Wow-) anyhow, then getting some last minute souvenirs, packing, and that is about it. Will probably get to the airport extra early so as Amid has offered to drop me there, and then he will get to the gym. How lucky I am to have had Amid and Yemamu. I couldn’t have gotten to all the places without them or gone to the South – I am grateful for my new friends.

So, in closing, add another country I would like to return to – oh, which reminds me, I am a bit obsessed with all of the UN (United Nations) and WHO (World Health Organization) vehicles driving around….and there is a Medicines sans Frontires (Doctors Without Borders) on my street!!!!! How can I get a job with any of them!? Anyone know? Hmmm….Now that would be something!

Okay – I should get back to schoolwork – have to get a posting ready for tomorrow. I sign off with a heavy heart, but at the same time looking forward to coming home to see family and friends (and Winston and Minina) – maybe not so much the grind of work, school, and teaching, but 1 year down, two to go, right? Light at the end of that tunnel…then I can get to another tunnel (did I mention the UN or WHO or Drs. Without borders? Ahahhaha) – okay, time to sign off…thanks for following along, thanks for the comments (kim, thanks again for sending them) – they often made my day!

Your support, encouragement, and kind words (and regular emails from people) were and are definitely appreciated. I will try and post some photos to the blog after I return home. The internet connection was so slow here it would’ve taken a painfully long time; so stand by for photos…The next adventure is Spain, in the fall (November) – a little more glamorous, as I am teaching a feeding course, staying in a hotel, and hopefully staying for a few days to see some things….I’ll keep you posted ….then I think it isn’t until spring, which will be a return to Honduras…..hooray!

Thanks again – it has been great writing and posting….until next time….joni