Announcing: Sophia Salem Dianne Vlieg

We have a daughter!  we passed court this morning.  While in a small waiting room with over 100 adoptive and biological families waiting to see the judge the enormity of this hit me.  I saw many parents walk out of court with big smiles and relief.  I also saw many biological families that were also very happy that their children have the opportunity for a good and privileged life, I was very sad for them and almost broke down a few times.  I also had a huge lump in my throat.  The emotions that I really went through are indescribable. The judge was a beautiful young woman who really appeared to want the best for the children and our families.  When see said that she is ours and it is irrevocable I broke down and could not stop until we were outside.  Prayers are answered!  I weep as I type this.  Afterwards Neil, Laura and myself went to the cafe next door.  They didn't have coffee, no coke, no Mirinda only water and Fanta; so we celebrated.  back to the hotel.to call Mommy about her daughter....best call ever!
I then went for a walk and met two men who worked at a near hotel.  They took me to a traditional cafe near Bole.  We had traditionally coffee that was roasted on the spot.  We were in a very small room sitting on very low stools and everyone was talking, Sudanese, Somali's and Ethiopians and me the white guy.  They had some fun teasing me.  Now I wait for Germacho to pick us up to go to the orphanage to "meet" our children.  There we will have a celebration as the staff there and children get the chance to say goodbye.  This will be very difficult, bitter sweet but good in the long run.

Decision Day Part Deux

I have a very good sleep last night and did not wake up to the Muslim call to prayer.  Woke up at 7:00! Whoopee! I feel great, the sun  is shining and getting quite hot.  Before breakfast I had my morning ritual coffee at Cafe Pearl.  Then I stopped at a Kiosk ( a 6"x6" version of 7/11) to buy snacks for at court; bottle of water, 1/2 oaf of local bread and some spicy tomato nuts for 11 birr (65 cents).  I was just delivered my breakfast in the lobby, smells great.  I have all of my documents ready including my passport.  I hope we pass today cause I want to have a goodbye party for the kids at the orphanage!

Can you spell P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E

This is the end of a very long day.  While waiting to go to court this morning, Neil, Laura and myself were commenting that this is not over yet and to expect the unexpected.  We got to court and were promptly told that the judge was staying home with a sick baby (can't get angry about that).  FRUSTRATING!!!!  Yeah that made me cry a bit again.  Maybe tomorrow because the judge has twice as many file will go more quickly through each....wishful thinking.

After I got back to the hotel I call my driver and friend Marcos to pick me up.  We first went to the Mercato, largest market in Africa with over 8000 vendors and as I found out 8 million customers and parking for 18 vehicles.  So I said lets skip it and go elsewhere.  Bought 2 kilos of fine Ethiopian coffee beans for about $2.50, I wish I could take more.  We also had a coffee there, best coffee in the world.  Next up was the Piazia (?) and actually ran into Elizabeth the director of the orphanage.  She is confident and praying that court will pass tomorrow. Last I went shopping at the vendors around the Post Office.  Much better and more managalbe to shop.  Highly recommended to future travels but hire a driver for the day.  If you stay to the AfroLand Guest House ask for Marcos, he lives 3 meters away and he will negotiate for you to make sure that they don't rip you off.  Don't be too afraid of the 1978 Datsun 1210 with one original tire, front seat belt doesn't work and to start it he puts two wire together.  he is a good driver and you would be lucky to drive faster than 25 km/h.  For about 5 hours with me he charged 400 birr, about $22.00 and he saved me at least that much in haggling and advice.  I decided to take him out for pizza for dinner at Italian Pizzaria, very good  food and fairly cheap.

Good restaurants on Meskal Flower and Bole that I have been to are
Back yard: Western food and music
Jewel of India towards Bole a little pricey for Addis but very good Indian food
Italian Pizzeria across street from Afroland: very nice space, good food, better pizza than Bruno's about same price.
la Parissienne Cafe almost at Bole, very nice outdoor patio, excellent coffee and croissants, good for breakfast
Pearl cafe: across street good coffee and cakes.  very good service.
Shebasha:  Check if they have music at the night you want.  very good Ethiopian food.  Try theTej - honey wine - live singers and dancers, quite noisy but recommended.

In the coming days I will blog about other musts and avoids.  Also about reasonable prices. If I am at the orphanage tomorrow I ask about what they need for donations.  Food purchase is always needed.

Please let me sleep, the judge show up and have a favorable judgement.  I need to party!

Day of Decision

I am off to court shortly.  Germacho will be picking another couple and myself up in an hour.According to what I am told a decision should be made within three hours.  I might no have internet connections until much later.  Probably about 9:00 AM Alberta time.  I had a horrible sleep last night, I must be a little anxious.  My stomach has just been churning.  I pray that it will go well.
Yesterday evening we had quite  a storm, torrential rain with a lot of nearby thunder and lightening.  At least I will not be alone at court, there is another couple from Edmonton that I have gotten to know as well as I have met some people from the USA who all have court today.  I hope that flights will be going through Europe on Friday as all the talk on the BBC is about the flights cancelled so far in Scotland.

Today's post is quite a ramble, that's how I feel.

The day before Court

Today, Monday, has been the most amazing day.  Elizabeth, the director of Abanzer, picked me up at 10:00 AM, and off to a market that gives good prices.  With some of you donations we bought:

• Formula,
• Tomato sauce
• quick oats
• marmalade
• rice
• soup stock
• wipes
• peanut butter
• toilet paper
• yeast
• baking powder

They are so thankful, they only had a couple of days left of formula and no money.  They were trying to buy on credit, now they can go about a month.  On our way back from the market we stopped at the original facility of the orphanage, Selam first stayed there.  It is still an orphanage but from another group. When we were unloading supplies staff and some children helped unload. 

I then went into the classroom where the children thank us all for the food.  Again they sang for me.  One girl about 10-11 sang Fishers of men in English for me.  Then as a group, like FFCA, they recited the English alphabet...A as in  apple B as in.....  Then they listed the parts of the body.  Finally they counted to 100.  Please note that 60 is pronounced SIXITY!

At this point Selam was out getting official send off pictures as tomorrow might be her last day at Abanezer.  When she came back she was so happy.  Lots of smiles and she kept grabbing my nose, good grip.  Then she would get a handful of my cheeks and pinch...ouch! Then I was fed lunch: Shiro Wat and scrambled eggs with hot peppers and eggs with Berberie (hot curry like spices). We then had another coffee ceremony, yummy.  One more visit with Selam before I left.  She put my finger in her mouth and she cut her first tooth today!

When I left I got many thankful hugs mixed with tears of joy from the staff, that i am passing on to you, because they do not have to worry about food for awhile.

I diarized this while at an outdoor cafe.  the guy sitting across from me is well dressed in a suit and is a dead ringer for Obama!  I bought a bottle of water and was charged 1.50 birr...about 9 cents.  Please remember to tip this people when you are here.

Please pray that court goes well tomorrow.  I will be picked up at 9:00 AM (midnight Alberta time)

Meeting Our Daughter for the First Time

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Well day two was great.  I slept okay but was awoken by the Muslim chants, singing, yelling and by all of the roosters.  I decided to walk in the morning.  I walked to Meskal Square.  It’s a huge square with sort of an amphitheater around 3 sides and the road on the other.  There were hundreds of people playing soccer on the gravel pitch, quite a sight to see.  Lots of joy around.  Almost every little boy that walked by with their mother wanted to shake my hand or high five me.  I felt like a rock star.  It rained most of my walk but I didn't really get cold or wet.  I stopped at a cafe called Khalidi's I think but really it was Starbuck with some hot food selections.  Their menu, decor, music and logo are strangely similar to Starbucks.

I had made arrangements with Germacho to b ring me to the orphanage.  It is in a relatively wealthy neighborhood but the side roads we wouldn't even drive a 4 x 4 on.  There I met the director Elizabeth, a fantastic caring woman who many of the children call mama.  Very shortly after i got there she brought me to the baby room and I saw Selam for the first time.  My eyes were pretty wet as they are now thinking of her.  She is so small but beautiful.  Almost right away she gave me a small smile and held my fingers.  When I pulled away she reached for my arm and put her hand on it.  I showed her a picture of her Mommy and new big sister Josina.  I am so proud of them and Selam.  The nanny's love these children so much and they just move around the room holding the baby's.  I think there were 11 or twelve in a room a little smaller than my own bedroom.  But it was so clean, no poopy smell anywhere.  I was toured around to meet all of the other children.  One little toddler boy Eyob is so cute and once he warmed up to me he wanted me to play with him and his train.

The orphanage is short of many supplies so today, Monday, we are going shopping for formula, medicine, sugar etc.  I was then taken to a room for a coffee ceremony.  One young girl on staff was roasting the green coffee been on a small charcoal fuel stove.  She served us slightly sweetened popcorn, two types of cold pancake; one of them was cooked with a lot of spice.  It was fantastic.  The coffee was the freshest you can ever have.  Roasted and ground minutes before serving, try that Tim Hortons!  A little boy came into the ceremony and asked in Amharic to Elizabeth if they could sing for me.  About 20 kids of all ages came in and sang three praise songs for me with actions and huge smiles.  It was so touching.  Apparently this is the first time they have done this.  I hope they do this for other people in the future.

I feel quite safe here walking out on the streets, even at night.  I have not seen an angry or upset person since I have been here.  I don't think we can say that in Canada. 

First day in Addis

I landed in Addis at 6:30 AM but only got 2-3 hours sleep on the plane.  Asefa picked me up and was at the hotel by 7:00.  My rom was not available until noon so they let me use a room to shower and shave, I was pretty rank.  They then made me breakfast while I waited for the bank to open.  At the bank they confiscated my camera while there.  Then time to explore.  Stopped at the Parisienne Cafe for a coffee (expresso) and a Mirinda (orange pop). Total was 11 Birr, about $0.80. Next time to buy a local SIM card for $4.00.  The streets are just packed with people, lots of beggars, very sad. All along the main streets are tiny shacks that have all sorts of stores in them,  People take pride in them, even sweeping the street in the front.  The women are dressed immaculately.

Note to all, cars will not stop or slow down for pedestrians.  Be very careful.  Has pizza and beer for lunch but just about fell asleep on the table. 4 hours sleep in two days.  So I went back to the hotel for a power nap.  I am having wireless issues in my room but not the lobby.  Facebook has locked me out for some reason.  I just Skyped Tammy, quite a challenge with the 8 second delay in audio and video. 

The best news is that I get to meet selam tomorrow.  They are picking me at 2:00 PM.  Time to find a place for dinner now, just about 8:00 PM.