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