Killing Time & Continuing Trip

Saturday morning we woke up, had the same breakfast we had every morning…well, at least i did. No real branching out for me…I ate french toast (well, french-fried toast..my thinking was that all parasites would be killed in the frying process…I was determined NOT to get sick).

Was able to get a call out to home to my parents house just to say we were there, we had met her. Communication was very difficult. We had trouble getting the phones to work and a couple times we would get the internet to work and the electricity would go kaput. Frustrating.

We got back in our favorite white vans and went back to the Holt office to square away our payment for our big trip on Sunday to Durame. We then went to the University Museum. Very interesting to see some of the cultural and historical things that have happened there.  Our entire group was dragging though. The adrenaline of traveling and meeting our babies the day before had worn off and we were WIPED OUT.  Be prepared for the 2nd full day there to be really hard to stay awake! We all ended up in the museum coffee shop..some sipping coffee…we tried the chocolate cake..not so good – looked MUCH better than it tasted.

Our group then went to the Lucy Gazebo for lunch. Once again, ordered pizza.  Interesting restaurant. They did the 1st of our many coffee ceremonies…still a little stumped as to whether they EVER wash the cups with soap or anything that would sanitize them? Anyone? There were some intense smells in there too…very incense-like. Overwhelming at times.  Couple of pics courtesy of the Schell’s….

We then got back in the vans (after seeing one of the biggest turtles I’ve ever seen…and watching all the men totally go crazy over the incredibly large poo left by said turtle) we did what seemed like a little drive around Addis to kill time. Got a bit frustrating as we were tired and just wanted to get back to our kiddos. 

We were ALLOWED back to play with Maleah. She smiled when she saw Clint (which totally melted him) and she was much more expressive and responsive to us.

We hung out there until they kicked us out…the babies had to go to bed…and we headed out to our cultural dinner and dancing night…THEY did the dancing – Clint was so bummed :) Traditional injera and many meat choices…all were ruined while driving up and seeing a large animal all skinned and ready to be cooked being pulled out of a van…just too “fresh” for me.  I stuck to the rice and the lentils. Once again, very tired that night. Just a long day after a highly emotional trip. Gearing up for the OTHER trip that I wasn’t thinking I really wanted to go on….more on that tomorrow.