Cold Days in July

Anna, Lisa and Eden

Hi All,

It's been much longer than I realized since my last post - every time I went to write, I thought that I had no new updates but now that I sit down, I realize there's been a lot going on!

We've said farewell to Anna which was bittersweet.  I am so excited for her and this next season of her life but she was also my "go to" person for many things Ethiopia, work and life. :)  I ran my first Kid's Club on Saturday solo - it went very well, even though we lost power.  I shared my testimony with the older kids in the afternoon so that they could get to know me and my background better.  They have the easier job - just learning one new name while I have about 70 to learn!  I am also preparing for our five week summer program which will start next week.  The older kids (grades 5 - 12) will come three days a week to supplement their English, Math and Science education.  It should be very fun but keep me very busy.

I am also (quickly) learning why so many people, especially ferenji, leave during the summer.  It's cold!  And rainy!  And it hails!  It is crazy.  I didn't bring enough warm clothes so my sister graciously mailed me two warm sweaters. :)  But on the flip side, if the sun is out, it can be nice.  So typically in the morning, I leave the house with no less than a t-shirt on, sweater, jacket, scarf, umbrella and sunglasses because you just never know.  The lightening here is also amazing - so large and close!  I've definitely screamed a few times! I've got about six more weeks of this weather from what I am told and I am counting down.  But yes, Addis can be quite cold, especially since most houses (i.e. mine) don't have heat or much in they way of insulation.

Language school is going well.  Learning Amharic has made me realize how much Spanish I still know.  Whenever I am trying to come up with a word, I default to the Spanish one.  I've even asked for "mas misa" which is Spanmarhic for "more lunch". :)   Some cultural lessons that I've learned through the language - There is only one word for ice/snow since it doesn't get THAT cold.  The equivalent of "my spouse" is used more than "wife/husband" which may designate that it's thought of more as a partnership, than gender specific roles (although I've yet to really see this).  All tools start with the "m" sound making it very hard to distinguish them!  There is also quite a few Italian (and even some French) words sprinkled throughout their vocabulary such as pomme for apple.  I have two weeks left to start to conjugate verbs (impossible!) and get introduced to their alphabet.  It's been fun to start to recognize various words while I am out in the city. 

I have also moved!  Easiest move probably of my life since it involved only the suitcases I brought here (and a few souveniers I've purchased).  I think I packed, moved and unpacked within 6 hours with the help of two friends.   It's a great place but I miss the two young boys terribly and Eden, my roommate, left the following day for a 6 week trip to the US but I am keeping busy and settling in.  My friend Muluken came over and made me my favorite meal here - shiro!

The boys at the Change House are doing full-time apprenticeships during the week with various companies and organizations across the city so I haven't seen them as much as I would like but I did get to watch them play soccer after church yesterday which was a ton of fun.  The sun was out so I soaked it up!  We are about to celebrate their one-year anniversary of being in the House and it is so great to be a witness to the transformation that these boys have gone under.  We just got their grades from this past year and many ranked within the top 10% of their class - so so so proud of them! :)