On the way home

I will try to respond to the various comments on FB  and here when I get home, particularly to those parents whose children I met.  I also want to connect with people who will be traveling soon to brief you on the needs at Abanezer, there are many, lets work together for our current and impending children.  It was so strange that I had to leave "home" to go back home.  I truly feel that Ethiopia is my home as well as Canada.

Thank you to everyone for your support, prayers, financial assistance to us and the orphanage etc.  It meant so much to me to see that in less than 2 weeks this blog had over 2000 hits from Canada, US, Middle East, Africa, Germany, Honk Kong, even Australia.

Africa has many stories to tell and I hope to relay a few of them over the next couple of weeks.

Pictures!

Sid has been unable to get an internet connection to send new pictures but he finally was able to today.  Enjoy!

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)