My thoughts to this point on the trip

Zemi has shown me a side of Ethiopia that I didn't know about.  I would describe Zemi as a very successful  business woman and Ethiopian citizen.  She owns and operates a beauty school for her main income, but even in this endeavor, she helps many girls living on the street by providing them free scholarships to her school.  These girls learn a skill and can then have a way to provide a living for themselves and get off the street.  I was witness to this once.  We were stopped at an intersection and she recognized a girl she had seen begging there since she was little.  The girl was now old enough to attend the beauty school.  Zemi honked her horn, asked the girl for her name and asked her if she would be interested in attending beauty school to learn a trade.  The girl was very excited and information was exchanged.  She will be off the street soon. I was so touched.

Zemi's charity work is amazing as well.  Of course, you are familiar with the Joy Center for Autism, but she is active in many organizations to promote the education and involvement of autistic kids in Ethiopia.  Everyone knows who she is, and she is very respected.  She is also very busy.  While Kayla and my day at the Joy Center is 9-3:00, Zemi often does not come home until well after 8 or 9 in the evening.  She also runs the NIA Foundation, a non-govenment foundation that helps women, children and parents of children with autism.  It has been a very humbling experience to be a part of her life for the past two weeks. 

While my prior visits to Ethiopia were focused on poverty, polio, and disease, this pre-trip has introduced me to a different side.  Not everybody in Ethiopia is starving or living in a run down hut!  Zemi has a beautiful, yet humble home.  She assures me that many people she knows live in very luxurious homes here.  So it is possible to live in Ethiopia comfortably and safely.  The roads are getting much better as both the Ethiopian government and the Chinese are building and investing here extensively.  Buildings are sprouting up everywhere. As the basic needs of the people are getting met, technology will get better.  Right now, the dial up internet I am attached to is 54.6 Kbps, which isn't too bad, but much slower than we are used to in the US.  In prior years I was told to not walk around unaccompanied.  I have learned Addis Ababa is one of the safest cities in the world.  Just use common sense and leave the jewelry, extra money and flashy video cameras at home. 

The food here is some of the best I have ever eaten.  I don't know if I ever want to open another can of vegetables in my life after eating fresh cooked green beans, tomatoes, etc.  Avocados are a favorite when mixed with lime juice, onions and garlic.  Collard greens with fresh garlic cloves will become my new dish at home.  I want to cook like this when I go home.  I have taken to drinking my tea and coffee with no sugar so as to get the full flavor, which is a surprise to many women here, as sugar is always added to the drinks here.  They do like their sugar!

After school, Kayla and I spend a lot of time with Jo Jo.  Yesterday we took him for a long walk to the bank to get some birr.  He loves his chocolate bars and will attack Kayla's pockets if he thinks she is hiding something in there!  In fact, at home, we have to lock up the big bag of M&M's she brought with her because he knows they are there and he wants them all!  We give him a few every afternoon, but he still trys to unlock our bag many times every day! We walked by "The Burger Shop" yesterday and Kayla asked "Please, please, let us get a hamburger!"  So we entered the little local cafe and ordered three hamburgers and fries.  Jo Jo was in heaven!  He kept opening the cook's door to watch them cook his food.  They were very kind to him.  So after the bank, a CD shop to get a Teddy Afro CD and an authentic Ethiopian music CD/DVD (for 27 birr each-less than $2), a stop at the candy store and a hamburger joint, we went to the fruit stand for more avocados.   It was an exciting walk for all of us. Jo Jo isn't allowed out much because he recently started to have seizures, so Zemi has to be very watchful of him.  I feel comfortable with my first aide and life-guard training, that I could assist him if he has a seizure with me.

I have come to really love Jo Jo and have a great respect for Zemi and the work she is doing here and the sacrifices she is making in her own life to help the children of her own country. 

I know that the next two weeks will be different from these past two weeks.  We will see children with polio, and the horrible disfiguring disease NOMA, and we will see the Fistula hospital.  We will be exposed to so much more need and poverty as we Rotarians are taken around to places all over Ethiopia that need our help and we are given opportunities to render aid and get involved with projects to aid and support the places we are visiting.  We will see other Rotarian water projects, libraries, clinics, and orphanages.  I can't wait to show Kayla this side of humanity, and how service to others is the key to individual happpiness.  When she can learn to forget her own problems and quit needing to have more and better things, and stop focusing on herself, her looks, her clothes, then I have done my job as a mother.  When she opens her heart and her life, and I know she will, to the poor and the needy of this world, she will find a contentment with herself that nothing or nobody can ever take away.  She will find true happiness; that is what I am doing here this year.  I am teaching my daughter service above self.  I love her so much, and this is the gift I want to leave her with.

I also want to thank my husband Greg for giving us the opportunity to come here and experience this.  He lets me use the money from my business to do things like this rather than use it for bills or a better, richer life-style.  There are many other things that we need to be buying for the house or cars.  So in this way, I am blessed as well.  Thank you, Greg, for holding down the fort and taking care of our little dogs, the house, the cars, and the bills.  And thank you fellow Rotarians for all the service you do around the world. 

A day of shopping in Addis Ababa

Today Zemi took Kayla and I shopping at the local markets.  She has a relative that makes traditional Ethiopian clothing at this market, so we stopped to get Kayla her authentic souvineer dress.  Abdul owns his own dress shop and he made the dresses that Kayla and I are wearing.  Kayla's complete 3-piece ensemble was 550 birr, which is about $43.85!  I didn't buy the one I am wearing because I already have an Ethiopian outfit from a prior year.  Kayla had many to choose from, and finally choose the one in this picture. We had a little model show going go!

Beautiful Kayla

Beautiful Kayla with her Mom!

Ok, so we're have a bit of fun!

The market was very crowded and very busy.  Abdul, the young dress maker, accompanied us and ensured we were given the best prices.  Kayla bought some bead necklaces, including a head piece with matching necklace and bracelet, and we bought a few scarves and a couple of baskets.  It's really the only day we will be able to shop because once our Rotary group gets here on Sunday, it's go, go, go.  We had a great day and took some great photos. I am in my Rotary shirt because I attended the Rotary Club of West Ababa meeting that morning.

Abdul, Me and Kayla at the Martket

A very busy market

The Shiro Meda Market Place

Kayla modeling her new bead wear!

Islamic Wedding Celebration

This morning we went to a Muslim pre-wedding celebration.  It is a very festive event.  We were greeted with the traditional "la la la la la la la", and in turn, we welcomed others as they joined us. It was fun for Kayla and I to learn how to do this.  Just before the ceremony, we took the kids on a walk to the fruit stand and bought bananas.  They are learning to do things like this for themselves.  Here is the picture from that.

Kayla walking with Joy Center kids to market

Back to the wedding.  It was the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony with bread, figs, engera, berberi, and shiro.  It is interesting that one of the staple dishes here, shiro, is made of chick peas.  It is the main ingredient of hummus, which is a main food in the middle east.  Shiro is a favorite of Kayla and I.  We eat it at almost every meal.  We were so welcomed at the ceremony, and we had a great time.  They had got together earlier that morning to make a big batch of berberi, another spicy dish, that will be eaten at the wedding this weekend. We were invited to have our hands and feet painted with the henna later on in the week.  If we have it done, I will post the pictures. Notice how colorful the clothes of these ladies are.  It is just beautiful!

Kayla being greeted at the ceremony

A sample of the food and ladies present

Very lovely ladies

Kayla and Zemi eating engera and berberi

Walking around Addis Ababa

Kayla at the market

Walking around Addis Ababa is such an adventure! We were a bit nervous to do this the first few days, but we couldn't just stay inside all afternoon, and everybody kept assuring us it was totally safe. Our first outing was to the fruit and vegetable stand with Alemsea. That afternoon, Kayla and I took off  with Zemi's map in one hand and our camera in the other. Our goal was to find the Sheraton Hotel. We loved the sights, the sounds and the smells of Ethiopia. There are beautiful fruit stands, basket stores, butcher shops, shoe shiners, and many other little street shops. Kayla had a few 1 birr in her pocket to hand out to the homeless or needy as she saw fit and felt comfortable doing so.

Our first stop was at the Hilton where our Rotary group stayed two years ago. We bought a couple of scarves, and some snacks at the grocery store. We then headed in the direction of the Sheraton, but missed the turn and ended up walking much further than necessary. I finally asked for directions and was turned around the way we came, but eventually we arrived at the beautiful Sheraton Hotel. It's a very nice but expensive hotel. We walked around the grounds and checked out the pool. It costs about $10 to swim here. We only brought 400 birr (about $32) with us and we had spent it on the way here on the scarves and snacks, so we didn't have enough to go swimming! The weather was chilly, so we didn't mind not swimming today. The walk was refreshing and it felt good to stretch our legs. We will walk somewhere everyday now.

Addis Ababa on our walk

On Saturday we drove to the building Zemi is building.  It was beautiful.  We needed petrol, but the stations were either all out of gas or there were very long lines.  The price would be increasing on Sunday, so everyone wanted to fill up.  We had to head home and wait for gas on Sunday. Kayla and I took a short walk to a basket shop, but the skys were about to open up!  The weather has been a chilly 68-72 and rain everyday since Thursday.  Sometimes there is thunder and lightning and sheets of rain.  It's been flannel PJ's every night for sure the last few nights.  Petrol is about 11.23 birr per liter, which a figure to be about $3.40 a gallon with the price increase.  Zemi bought 17.21 liters for 200 birr Sunday morning.

Kayla and JoJo

Sunday morning brought us a visit to the prison.  Zemi has a friend who accidently hit and killed a man with his car, and was sentenced to 8 months in prison.  It seems unfair and is such a shame because people are running randomly into the street constantly and not paying attention to where they are going.  All of the responsibility is put onto the driver no matter what.  Hitting or killing a goat can be very expensive as well. We didn't actually go into the prison.  Kayla, I and JoJo waited for Zemi and ate fresh soybeans we just bought and some candy that Kayla bought on a little walk. Driving in Ethiopia is not on my "adventures to have" list!

A typical street market

We spent the afternoon with Zemi's family at her childhood home.  We experienced the awesome original Ethiopian coffee ceremony.  It is an important ceremony in many ways. They roast the coffee beans right there, grind them, and brew them.  The first round is very strong, and the next two rounds get a bit weaker. The coffee is served with popcorn, candies and cookies.  The whole thing takes about two hours.  By the time we are done, I had enough caffeine in my system that I could jog home! Ha ha.  We must partake in all these ceremonies so as to not be rude! :) You can't get any fresher ground roast than right under your nose!

The Ethiopian coffee ceremony

Last night we took a walk to the Ghion, the hotel where we will be staying next week.  Teddy Afro was in concert at the stadium and we walked right by it.  The people here love him to death.  He is somewhat of a freedom rebel here and very popular and very talented.  The whole ground shook with their stomping and yelling and singing!  Thousands attended his concert. I will try to get a CD of his music here.  It is very good.
Farewell for now.  I will post again in a few days.  We are attending a birthday party tonight for a friend.

Thursday is Picture Day at Joy Center

Kayla and her new friend

Trying to get everyone lined up

Thursday was picture day at the Joy Center.  It was a challenge in itself to get the kids together in a group and stay put for the photo.  Some of them didn't understand what we were strying to do, and some of them just wanted to play with the balls; not take pictures of them!  I needed the pictures for the people who sent the balls as gifts to the school, and helped with the printing of the uniforms.

Finally!  Kayla and I are in the back.

Kayla playing ball with the kids

Kayla and I do many things at the school with the kids.  We jump rope, play ball, sort beans, help them use the computer, draw pictures, help them write their name, phone number and ABC's, and many other educational activities.  These kids are getting visual therapy, occupational therapy, sensory therapy, speech therapy, and massage therapy.  I am trying to get myself on the list for the next massage! Ha ha.  Kayla hangs out mostly with the boy above.  He has formed quite an attachment to her.  She helps him all day, even assisiting with his meals.  She enjoys, yes, folks, enjoys getting up in the morning and coming to the  Joy Center.  Miracles do happen! This is truly a special place, and it is a joy to be working with these children.  Zemi, a Rotarian, has done an amazing job with this place.  Yeah for Rotarians around the world making such a difference! Ciao!

What's different about Ethiopia?

Kayla, Rhona, Jo Jo and Zemi

Seada Adem is the financial head of the Joy Center. We are working together in the accounting dept.

Alensi, a huge help with Jo Jo and a fabulous cook!

Kayla and Jo Jo at the Joy Center for Autism

A display of the wonderful food here! Engera is in the top left corner.

Today I thought I would point out a few things we find different.  First, the internet is much slower and harder to get on.  I just typed up a huge blog, and the electricity went out, so I have to start over.  I will save occasionally.  Lesson learned!

We hear a call to prayer about 5 times a day.  It is beautiful and enchanting.  No matter what religion we are, we should all take a moment at least five times a day and thank God for everything we have been given and for this life and the opportunity to serve others.  Serving others brings joy both ways; to them and to us!

Fresh vegetables only!  No canned veggis here.  Fresh green beans, squash, eggplant, tomatoes and too many varieties of cooked beans and lentils to mention.  Very little to no meat.  It is fabulous.  Zemi has a young lady helper, Alensi, who is cooking our fabulous meals.  We even come home to a spotless house after a day at the school.  She is such a big help with Jo Jo as well.  Engera is the main source of bread and is high in protein.  It is fermented teff that is rolled and cooked thin like a crepe.  It is spread on the plate and covered with Shiro, a spicy Ethiopian sauce, and vegetables.  The bread is torn off in pieces and you eat the food with the bread.  This is Kayla's new favorite meal she is requesting for lunch everyday!  We drink only bottled or boiled water, tea or coffee.  The Ethiopian coffee is local grown and strong.  It definitely helped us overcome the 13 hour time difference! We are now sleeping all night.

Donkeys are different.  Cars share the road with donkeys, goats, and cattle.  Driving is an adventure in itself!  People are randomly crossing the road and there are very few stop lights.  The roads do seem better than a few years ago, at least in down town Addis Ababa.

Autism is different for us. Kayla is making quite a few new friends.  They love her hair, the color of her skin, the smell of her, and playing with her.  She gets up every morning excited to go to the Joy Center.  SHe has cried a few tears for them as she was learning about the challenges they face and felt sad that many of them cannot communicate like we do.  The children here are so special, and it is a joy to be here.  We are learning and loving so much!

The language is different.  We are learning a few Amharic words:  thank you, hello, goodbye.  We are learning some basic sign language used by some of the autistic kids. Today we are taking pictures of the kids in their uniforms with the new balls.  Maybe tomorrow, if the internet is cooperating, I will be able to post them!  Take care, and God bless everyone!  Rhona and Kayla

Joy Center for Children with Autism and Related Developmental Disorders

Tying an autistic kids hands behind their back was not uncommon before the Joy Center.

The Joy Center is a special place for special kids!

Kayla and Jo Jo

Monday, October 5th Today I am writing you from the office of the Joy Center.  Kayla was playing jump rope with the kids earlier, and now she is in the T.V./Music room working with the kids.  There are different classrooms for different areas. There is a sensory and massage room, a beginning academic room where letter sounds are learned, and an advanced learning room where they work on basic computer programs and start to learn to read.  There is a life skill room where they learn to clean themselves, brush their teeth, make a bed, learn to sit still, play nice together.  There's another room where they work on fine motor skills like folding things, stringing beads, and matching shapes.  They teach the older ones basic cooking skills and basic life skills so that they can hopefully one day take care of themselves.  It is an amazing place!  The staff ratio is one teacher per two students.  I am so impressed, and I've only been here a couple of hours.  We have so much more to learn and do here.  I can't wait to dive in and work with these great kids.  We have so much to learn.  About 40% of the kids here are non verbal, so I don't know how we comunicate yet, but I am sure we will learn.  They are sweet kids. There are about 62 kids at the school at this time, with another 20 coming within the next few weeks, so Zemi is getting busy!

Are trip here was long, long, long.  My ankles were so swollen.  I slept a good bit; in fact, I don't even remember stopping in Rome for an hour.  Slept right through it.  We had wieght issues with our luggage in DC with Ethiopian Airlines, but they eventually let us bring all the crayons and pencils rather than leaving them in a great pile in the middle of the airport floor!  I also think customs, in Ethiopia, thought we might be reselling the supplies, so I mentioned Rotary, Polio, Autistic Joy School, about anything they might understand to have mercy on us and let us through!  They let us go....

We are staying with Zemi Yenus, the founder of the Joy School in 2002, and a fellow Rotarian.  Her son, Jo Jo, 18 is autistic.  He met us with enthusiasm last night, but was especially happy when he spotted Kayla's M&M's!  We gave him a basketball, and he was SO happy! We had a great night sleep last night.  The bed is great, the food is wonderful and fresh and different.  We eat with our fingers-so cool!!  We are loving the sights, the sounds, the smells, the people, and everything that Ethiopia has to offer.  I am so happy to be here and to be doing this.  I can't post pictures right now.  No pictures are allowed at the school, but I will post other pictures of Kayla and I and Zemi and Jo Jo later when I have the means.  Take care and know we are safe and sound.  Love to all, Rhona

Our adventure to Africa begins today!

Kayla is modeling one of the school uniform shirts we are donating.

Aloha to everyone! Today is a big day for Kayla and I. We are embarking on the adventure of a lifetime! We are headed for five weeks to Africa. It takes about 30 hours of flying time to get to Ethiopia, not to mention the layovers. Today is Friday, and we will get there on Sunday night. Ethiopia is 13 hours ahead of HST.

The first two weeks, Kayla and I are staying with Zemi Yenus who owns the Joy Center for Children with Autism in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She is a fellow Rotarian. We will be helping her out at the school with the kids, and even helping her with the business end of it. Whatever she needs. On October 17th, we will join abut 60 other Rotarians from the Washington and Canada area and spend a week doing polio immunizations around the countryside of Ethiopia, visiting schools, handing out school supplies, doing service and visiting places that need our help. It is an amazing group of people, and it is an amazing opportunity. The last week, about 20 of us are going to Uganda for more service work. I have my own little project there that I have raised funds for. It is a grinding mill for a very remote village in Northern Uganda. This grinding mill will provide relief for the village women as well as a source of income for the village as they trade with other villlages for the use of the mill. I plan on taking lots of pictures, lots of video, and sharing it all with you.

This is my 3rd trip to Ethiopia, but this is a very special year. I am taking my 15 year old daughter, Kayla. She will have an opportunity to see the suffering of others, to serve others, and to help others. She will reach outside of herself, and her comfort zone to be of service to others in this most critical time of her life. She will return a different person, a more grateful person, and a less worldly person. She will learn that serving others is the key to a happy life. She will be grateful for the life she lives and the blessings she enjoys. One cannot travel to Africa and do what we do and not become a better person. It is not easy. We cry lots of tears. We see unimaginable suffering and sadness, but we also get to experience the joy that we bring to others by a simple pencil, or a box of crayons. To some, that is the most wonderful gift; and we become part of their life for a day.

Sometimes, such simple things bring such great joy. That is so amazing. It makes me appreciate everything I have so much. My safety, my home, my food, my family, my job. I am so very blessed, and so this is my motto as I travel the next 5 weeks: BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN MUCH, I TOO MUST GIVE!

I have so much to take with me: pencils, pens, crayons, 60 uniform shirts for the Autistic school, clothes and personal belongings for 5 weeks, medicines, enough finances, a little comfort food, gifts for hosts, etc... We have four big bags to check, two carry on suitcases, and two backpacks!

I have done the cleaning, the laundry, paid the bills, washed the dogs. It is time to go. I will miss everybody. I have never, ever been gone this long, so I am a bit nervous this time. I am also arriving alone, not with 60 other Rotarians! Pray for me, Kayla, our safety, and service. We will keep you in our prayers as well. I don't know how often I will get to a computer, but I will definitely be keeping a journal, and will post everything as soon as possible, so keep checking my blog!