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Embassy Day!
By sandi | December 10, 2008
*Written on 12/4/2008
We didn’t get our luggage yet so Sunday best was not the case for us as we dressed for our embassy appointment. I wore my three day old jeans and a new t-shirt from Addis while Bill wore his new khaki pants that don’t fit that well because the size of the pants was not easy to tell and a new polo shirt.
We gave Paul his first shower today. It went very well. We were afraid it might not go so well because he hasn’t taken well to new things with us. Thankfully it was nice, and we had a clean boy on our hands. I can’t wait to see how he handles bathing in the tub with his sisters.
We hung out this morning playing with the children in the orphanage and giving them suckers. They LOVED the suckers and were so sweet. It certainly made me miss the Girls more. 
As the days wear on I am more and more wishing the world weren’t so big and that I could be there and here at the same time. I have said it before and I will say it again, having my family on two continents has been the hardest thing I have had to endure. First Paul when we were waiting for him and now the Girls as we are here without them. We check in on them daily via phone but it is still so hard. I cry each time I hear their sweet voices and cannot wait until we are at the airport with them in my arms.
The Embassy is on the other side of town from where we are. It was a very easy appointment. They asked us a couple of questions about our case and son and then told us that the Visa would be ready in the morning. It was nice to know that it will not be delayed.
After the Embassy we took Paul back to the House of Hope so that he could spend time there while we went to the mountain view. It was a long drive back through the city but we finally got to where the country began. It was beautiful! If I lived in Addis Ababa I would definitely live in the country. So much more beautiful and the people were so hard working. There were women who climbed up the mountainside, cut down branches and pieces of wood, tied them together, and then carried them down the mountain to sell as wood for a fire. This woman is resting while the sticks are resting on that block fence behind her.
They make around 40 birr for the entire load, which takes them 2 days to do. 40 birr is equivalent to $4 USD. The loads of sticks would weigh over 100 pounds our driver estimated. I cannot imagine doing this kind of hard labor but at least it is honest work, you don’t always see that in the city.
The drive up was beautiful, there were so many trees and it was nice and cool. Looking out over the city of Addis was amazing, It was interesting how the noise of the city seemed so quiet from up on the mountain.
They had the first palace ever built in Ethiopia and a museum that we toured as well.
It was quite interesting. Because Addis has a very high elevation anyhow, and then going up on a mountain it was easy to get winded when climbing the steps.
Here is Bill and I on the balcony of the first royal family’s home.
The countryside view looked so much like a painting.
This was a very typical scene on the side of the street as we went up the mountainside. The children are playing and the they are drying the berbere spice on a blanket. You see and smell this spice all over the town. People are either drying it, grinding it or roasting it.
When we arrived back at the House of Hope Paul was excited to see us. He held out his arms for me to pick him up. This is the first time that he has shown any preference for Bill or I. He generally prefers his Nannies and Tsegay, the coordinator. All of that is understandable and I would be worried if he didn’t want them more, he has lived the past four months with them, we are the outsiders to him. It was good to see him and I was happy he felt it too.
Topics: Adoption, Paul, Vacation | 5 Comments »
December 10th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
What a busy day! I’m still so sorry your luggage didn’t get there. I couldn’t imagine not having clothing and whatnot! Crazy.
I’ll be talking with you again soon, but I hope Paul’s settling in nicely
And, I want to know a list of places you went so we can consider our options for when we finally (hopefully in a couple of months or sooner) get to go!
December 10th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
We read your information it was great to hear about your trip. We agree he is sure cute. Ekim saw the pictures and he said he approves. What a nice family you make!!! I miss all those beautiful girls and hope they remember me the next time I come out west.
love you all Great Grandma, Great Grandpa Ekim and Aunt Jennifer.
December 10th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I never got around to doing my daily run-down after we got home. Your outings and daily excursions are bringing back so many memories…thanks for taking the time to write them down and share them.
December 11th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
The view is beautiful. That is so sweet that Paul is already excited when you come back. You must have been so touched.
December 3rd, 2011 at 10:53 pm
[...] This holiday season I have been recalling where I was exactly 3 years ago. For those who are new to the blog we were in Ethiopia picking up our son and learning about his country of birth. December 4th, 2008 we took a trip the top of Entoto Mountain. While driving to the top of the mountain you pass many people on foot. The most common people are women like this one. (I wrote more about her here. [...]