We Miss Ethiopia

One of our favorite parts of Ethiopia was getting to know our driver, Dadi. He was such a wealth of information and loved telling about his country as he drove us around Addis to do sightseeing. It was obvious that he loves is country and talked about the history, people and customs with such pride. We learned so much from him that we will be able to pass on to our daughter someday. It was invaluable.

students on break milling around outside their school gates

heading up to Mt. Entoto

young girl carrying eucalyptus branches down the mountain to sell in the city

It was beautiful up there!

You could see all of Addis. Dadi could pick out the Mercato, Embassy and the orphanage from here. Amazing. The smell from the eucalyptus trees was so strong it was as if we were covered in Vic's Vapor Rub.

We gave a soccer ball to this sweet family who lives in the forest. The girl was so excited to show her brother when he got home from school.

a cave in the monastery

passing out our kids' leftover Halloween candy on the way down- maybe we should have passed out toothbrushes, too :)

Back at the guesthouse after a long day. This is the frenchman who started the Toukoul Orphanage after adopting an Ethiopian orphan himself.

Aster, who helped start Toukoul as well.

A gal who worked at the guesthouse. She was so sweet but the language barrier was there so all we could do was smile, hug, and laugh with each other. Wish I had studied Amharic before we came.

Ethiopian barbeque

Giant turtle that Nyah can come back and visit when she is 50 and it will still be alive!

Orin tries on the Sleepy Wrap that doubled as our "carseat"in Ethiopia.

Nyah playing with her friend who had been in the crib next to her at Toukoul.
It was time to head to the airport. I was bawling. I did want to be home again but I didn't want to leave Ethiopia. Orin and Dadi shed tears for each other as well. So many overwhelming emotions when you are there that it is hard to process them all until much later.