June 2009

Life in the North

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/24/2009 - 2:31pm
To say that life in the north is hard, does not even begin to describe it. Americans, myself included, define hardships as losing hundreds, or thousands of dollars in the stock market, paying too much for medical care, going without our favorite drink to make our grocery budget, and making ends meet so we can repair our car. Yet, we forget that it is only our wealth that causes those 'hardships.' Have we ever been thankful that we had hundreds or thousands to lose? Do we consider ourselves privileged to even have a hospital in our town?

Yemrehane Christos

Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/22/2009 - 7:09pm
The next day we took a one and half hour drive to visit what is arguably the most amazing of the churches in the area. Yemrehane Christos is a cave church, built in the 10th century by King Yemrehane Christos. The church compound is built in the mouth of a large cave, on top of water. They first built a platform as a base for the cave and today you cannot tell that there is water underneath, except for places where there are holes in the floor. The church itself is built of black basalt chips covered with wood and rock, with a layer of marble near the top.

Rock Churches of Lalibela

Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/22/2009 - 6:11pm
I've been a bit overwhelmed thinking about how to share the northern part of our trip with you. We saw SO much, learned so much, and encountered so much poverty that it seems impossible to process it all. But, here it goes.

The most amazing historical site to see in Ethiopia is Lalibela. It is a town of 20,000 people situated on top of a mountain. What is so spectacular about it?

Beautiful people and a midnight scare

Submitted by admin on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 6:28pm
If our trip had a low point, Bahir Dahr was it. However, it did provide us with some good laughs and a look at a very different part of the country. Located in the northwest corner of Ethoipia, Bahir Dahr is as close to dessert that we got. Winds from the Sahara Dessert blow through and create dust thick enough to prohibit planes from landing for weeks at a time. This was also the hottest place we were.

Paradise Lost, Cannabis, and a Taste of Home

Submitted by admin on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 1:12am
Our next morning didn't start off too well. We sat down for breakfast with our guide and driver. Suddenly the thought of food didn't seem too appealing to me, however, I knew I'd regret it if I didn't eat, as we were going to be on the road for most of the day. I ate what I could of my scrambled eggs, toast, and drank my papaya juice.
As the men around me talked, I entered into that familiar battle with my stomach.

Crocs, Pelicans, and Hippos - Oh My!

Submitted by admin on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 2:15pm
After our daily two hour lunch break, we spent the afternoon on a boat trip. This was again, refreshingly un-American. We stopped in town, our guide got out and found our boat captain (a weathered Ethiopian man) and another mystery man (I think maybe to guide us on the winding paths through the brush down to the lake). They hopped in the back of our jeep, we nodded, and took off.

The Dorze People

Submitted by admin on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 1:03pm

Our second day we first tried to visit a national park to see some zebras, but the roads were too muddy for travel and we didn't want to risk getting stuck for days. It worked out well because we got to spend a leisurely morning with the Dorze people. I suppose I'm tempted to say that whatever I'm writing about was my favorite part of the trip, but this visit really was a favorite - beautiful scenery and very, very fun people.

Hossana

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 1:06am

Ethiopia Trip South

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 12:12am


I am quite excited to finally be able to post about our trip because it gives me a good excuse to re-live it and look at the pictures. Our week of traveling around Ethiopia was amazing . . . as in the best trip we've ever had. Our adoption week was, of course, incredible.

No Parasites!!!

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 12:05am

We are happy to report that we have the internet, so you all can finally read about our trip and that Tate is parasite free!!! We took him to the doctor the first week we were home and he checked out fine. Yippeeee! I was gearing up and bracing myself for some awful diapers, but was pleasantly surprised by them in Ethiopia (I know that is a strange thing to say, but I was) and was very relieved to not have to deal with parasites, or ring worm, or scabies, or lice, or any number of things lots of adopted babies have.

The first days

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 7:30pm

Gotcha Day

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 7:19pm
We are beginning to resurface here in the US after our trip, but only beginning. My parents have been staying with us and being a big help. My dad went back home this morning and Joseph got sent out on a conference, so now it's me, Mamush, and grandma until Saturday. We're working on the staples like eating and sleeping now and I'm longing for a stretch of sleep that is longer than 2 hours. Mamush is great during the daytime though and smiling and laughing.