Ethiopian food.......

It is Sunday evening here. Last night we went to a traditional dinner ceremony complete with Ethiopian food, dancing, and a coffee ceremony. The food was really although some pot had chicken feet and boiled eggs in it......we passed on that one. During dinner, they danced several traditional dances specific to the 16 nations here in ET. We saw about 5 or 6 different ones before leaving. Our guide requested they do the dance for our childrens' nation, Kenbatta and they complied. It was great. At one point Matt was up dancing. I don't know, you'll have to ask him! It was a great experience and quite a beautiful display of the culture.

Today, the care center is closed so we didn't get to see Mason. However, a few minutes ago, I was overlooking the care center out the window and saw one of the nannies. I told her I wanted to see my baby. She brought him to the window and he waved and smiled at us. An unexpected treat to see him even for a moment. They took us to a resort/spa about an hour and a half away today. It was upscale even for American standards. Like a resort you would see in the carribbean. We had lunch and you could swim or kayack if you wanted. On all the tables were these beautiful rose centerpieces, similar to what we would see at weddings.......very expensive. Here in ET, a single rose is about 20 cents. Our guide Dawit, could not believe it when we told him what we would pay in the states.

Some other things about ET.......there is rarely toilet paper in any bathroom so you have carry your own. And the toilet paper cannot pass through the system so there are trash baskets next to all toilets for you to dispose of your paper. Also, there is rarely soap and if there is, it is bar soap.....and NEVER any paper towels. Driving here is nuts. There are no stop lights and the whole city is made up of round abouts for you to turn around. The thing I miss the most about home at this point is clean air. Rock on EPA! The diesel fumes and dust are overwhelming. Some of us in the travel group have befriended a little boy, Daniel, who lives right across from the hotel in a yellow painted tin shack. He has joined us for lunch and we have given him food and money, against recommendation of the hotel staff. There are 6 people living in his space which is extremely small and has dirt floors. He is very bright though and knows English fairly well. We get a lot of stares mostly out of curiosity. Similar to China.

Well, tomorrow we may get to take Mason for the night but I'm unclear about the schedule. We are planning a trip to the Merkato, the largest market in Africa, to do some shopping. We are anxious to spend some real time with him outside of the care center. Oh, any one of the best parts about this trip has been playing with the other children in the care center. They are all delilghtful and so eager for your attention. Some will just come sit down on your lap for a little loving. Matt brought a few hot wheels and they have been a huge hit with a couple of the kids, particularly one little 4 or 5 year old boy. And I'm partial to this one little girl who is about 2 and a half and she walks around carrying a baby doll all day. She loves to wrap it up in this bandana and give it a bottle. She reminds me of Kenz.

Well I need to share the computer while the connection is good. Love to all.........