Away Again

Well I'm off to part two of my worldventure. I have arrived in Ireland. I have a feeling it won't hit me that I'm here until a few days in but right now I feel extremely excited about what this trip has to offer. My main focus on this trip will be to finish the rough draft of my novel, whether I'm stuffed in the corner of a small pub scribbling away while laughter and Irish music fills the room, or waking up on the top of a mountain watching the sun rise in the distance.

Apart from that, I plan to see as much as I can, not only in Ireland but Scotland and England as well. Although it won't be as breathtaking as it will be in person, I will be sure to take enough pictures so you can try and feel like you're there with me. My only hope is that the rain holds off on my days of travel, but I'm sure I'll figure it out day by day.

                               Thank you to everyone who has and does read this blog!

Walaita Sodo

After a longer than expected trip, we arrived at the hotel in Walaita Sodo just before halftime of the Brazil v Germany game. And, to my great surprise, found that Brazil had dug a significant hole for themselves being down 5-0. I can say however, I was able to get a few laughs out as the cameramen panned the stands to sobbing men, women and children. Argentina will have some work cut out come Sunday, but I’m happy that I will be able to enjoy the game with my best friend back in the states.

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Because of our delay in travel, I was only able to spend one full day with the kids, but a full day it was. Our first objective was to stop at a handful of houses where the poverty and need for support is at a very high level. Many of the houses are made up of widowed mothers with two or three children. The kids were forced to drop out of school to find work and they are all under the age of ten. Medical care is too much and some even travel to the local hospitals to take the left over scraps of food to bring back home. One house in particular was a mother, who two years ago, her husband passed away from diabetes; but, while he was still alive, she would carry him from their home to the hospital to receive any sort of care he could get. Over a long period of carrying him back and forth, her bones and nerves started to deteriorate and she is now suffering from deformed limbs and paralysis. It was devastating to see the fear in her eyes for how she was going to support her children in the condition she was in. The rent for her home is 40 birr per month which is the equivalent of about two dollars and in her situation was still too difficult to handle. I am glad to have been there to know she will soon be receiving help.   

Kids at the Compound

As we finished up with the homes, we traveled to the compound where the group homes are located. I was introduced to the staff of the sister organization of my parents called B Loved. Each group home has a house mother and house aunt that watches over the children, cooks and helps them to develop as individuals. After introductions we were treated to an Ethiopian lunch and for those that know me, I will eat just about anything. With a full stomach and a smile on my face, I went outside to spend time with the kids. I brought out a soccer ball and we played and laughed and I was climbed all over by dozens of kids for the better part of five hours. I showed off a little as well by spinning the ball on my finger and got quite a few oohs and aahs. Throughout the day I met and hung out with upwards of fifty children and they each, to their own degree, accepted me as family. Another highlight with the children was putting my GoPro camera on a few of the kid’s heads and watching them run around taking videos. The day ended with hugs and plenty of smiles all around.

On the way back to Addis we were stopped by a crazy man wielding a very large stick and had to pay him off so he wouldn’t hit us or the car. The events of this trip continue to get better. After we survived the zombie attack, we stopped so I could take some pictures of the more traditional houses used in the bush area. They are intricately designed and decorated and each building serves a different purpose. The family that allowed me to take the pictures was extremely nice and their kids were happy to join in on a few of the pictures.

 

After my three dollar shape up, I had plenty of goodbyes to say to the local boys and the family I stayed with while I was there. It was hard to leave because of how well I was accepted and the joy this trip brought me; but I can say that part one of my adventure has come to and end. That being said, I know for sure that at some point, Africa is somewhere I visit again.

Princess of Ethiopia

Time Flies

It’s crazy to think I've been here as long as I have. And Sunday was a really amazing day. I was able to attend an Ethiopian church service where the worship took me back to the days I spent at LU in Convocation, surrounded by people singing their hearts out in praise.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsHsdgjm5n8&feature=youtu.be)
I came away feeling extremely blessed. Afterwards, we were taken out to lunch by a friend of my fathers—to a Chinese restaurant I might add—and then back to his mother’s house where I took up the attention of two precious little girls. They climbed all over me, we sang “Do you want to Build a Snowman,” they painted my thumbnail pink and we giggled. I hope they will remember me as much as I will remember them.

If there is one thing I’ve learned so far, it’s that if you have something to accomplish in Africa, you better have an entire day or two free to do it. Something as simple as getting a driver’s license renewed in America can be done by simply going online, clicking a few yes or no boxes and possibly standing in line at the DMV for an hour. Now I know an hour may seem like a lot, and of course we all have other things to do; but, imagine being stuck in traffic for an hour, then having to go to the US Embassy for an appointment, spending another hour there, being stuck in traffic for another hour because of a four car accident with one turned completely upside down.

Once you’re through, you have to sit in line at Foreign Affairs for another forty minutes only to be told the Embassy didn't put a raised stamp on your form. So once again you’re back in traffic to get the stamp, then back to foreign affairs to get clearance and by the time you’re done, you have to drive to the US equivalent of the DMV only to be told there closed and to come back in the morning.  Patience is something quickly learned.

Amongst all the chaos, I've been able to connect with some of the local boys the past several nights and play Fùtbol until the head lights from passing cars are the only source to see the ball. They have no fields; only slanted, uneven hills occupied by thorny vegetation, goats and small boulders. The goals are simply stones placed three paces apart. Before I arrived, they were playing with a children’s sized, semi-flat rubber basketball, but thanks to the kind hearts of Sherburne-Earlville Central School, I was able to bring several soccer balls with me.  They were an extremely grateful group of kids. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzmhuQj4ogg&feature=youtu.be) As many sports enthusiasts know, even when there is a major language barrier, something like soccer, is universal. Having only learned a few words so far, making eye contact with a teammate can be enough to score the winning goal. Some of the relationships I have built allowed me to invite a handful over to watch a World Cup match and for those that know me well; know that chocolate is not something I normally share with others. But, it was a treat watching them devour an entire bag of Peanut M&Ms.

Another thing I learned is that even thousands of miles from home, back yard competition can still lead to heated arguments. One in particular resulted in me having to break up a fist fight. I can’t be sure what the problem was, but it was bad enough that they each ended up grabbing softball sized rocks to bash each other with. Luckily, we were able to calm them down and continue playing; and as I write this I have to laugh because there is a part of me that wishes I had my camera rolling while the fight was going on. I guess that’s just the boy in me.

On Tuesday we leave for Wolaita Sodo, which is another town about four hours from Addis where my parents have connected with some group homes. I hope to donate some of my no longer worn shoes and clothes as well as the rest of the soccer balls. Upon my return, I will have roughly one day before I’m back on a plane to the US. I, as I’m sure many of you as well, have a number of things you regret in your life; I for one still carry some of those heavy regrets around to this day. But there is one thing I will never regret, and that’s taking this trip. No matter how much my back hurt from being in a car for five hours, or how inconvenient I feel it can be at times to not have internet access; being able to change someone’s life in even the simplest way is extremely fulfilling. Not everyone is meant for Africa, or a third world country for that matter; but my encouragement is that you step out of your comfort zone and embrace the joy of putting a smile on someone’s face.