Another Week Finished

Sometimes it is hard to believe that we have been here for almost 2 months! At other times it seems like we have been here forever...

Sorry I'm not sorry that soon you will be shoveling snow and we get to wear Tshirts, shorts and flip flops all year :)

This is the puppy that Cameron and Carolyn want us to adopt.  There are 5 of them so it's hard to pick a favorite!!

Get ready to say "AWWWWW"

          This is a young Ethiopian artist we met in a shop.  His name is Emanuel and he brought us to his tiny studio to show us some of his paintings. I find them beautiful.

He took us to a wood, leather and ceramic working shop where we bought some handmade furniture

This is also a work of art!! These smoothies are very common here.  We go to the little market where I get all my fruits and veggies and enjoy these.  The layers from top to bottom: Mango, banana, guava, papaya and avocado.  You squeeze the lime on top and then eat the smoothie with a spoon.  These cost only 70 cents Canadian.  We will not get scurvy here.

Can you guess the most common flavor of cereal in Addis Ababa? The dentists must make a mint here! I challenge you to make up and post a name for a  chocolate cereal that hasn't already been used below...

Cameron playing some football aka "soccer".  Football is a huge passion in Africa.  Everywhere you go there are people sitting in restaurants and shops watching games.  Children use whatever is at hand for a ball.  I have seen them use plastic water bottles, rag bundles and all shapes and sizes of deflated and half inflated balls.  There is so much razor wire surrounding houses and buildings that they are constantly getting holes in them. In the video you can hear one of the guys yelling "Baby!" "Baby!"

Last but not least.  Warren downloaded all the Astrix and Tintin comics. Jao had all the Lucky Luke's in French so they are all enjoying some down time reading comics  

More Day to Day

On a walk through town.  A bridge with goats crossing. 

I think they need to call a plumber...

A local green house :)

They have a dream.... Ready for 2012 (obviously according to the Ethiopian Calendar)

The Reality....

There is a massage place on our block.  Apparently you can get a "Swidish" Massage.  Also shown is an organic soon to be steak.

Grilled and served with organic lettuce, tomato, carrots, onion, garlic, jalapenos, zucchini and papaya.  I bought a 7 lb beef tenderloin (organic because it all is!) for 23 dollars Canadian!!! Everything that you buy local is organic...VERY organic! Dirt on everything, chickens mostly plucked, rocks in raisins and grains.  Delicious, colorful, flavorful and healthy! 

"Our" puppies sure are growing...Their eyes are just opening, and they have started to toddle around and growl at each other.  SO cute :)

We were invited to some of Gelila's Relatives for supper

Sitting outside with my little friend while on the fire my favorite Ethiopian dish was cooking.  "Tibbs" : Grilled lamb or beef, sometimes served in a spicy sauce

Cameron enjoying a delicacy of RAW beef.  Not rare but really raw,  not even passed through a warm room, but raw! Ethiopians cut it into small pieces and dip it in a spicy paste.  It is enjoyed on special occasions.

Warren and I were invited by a business contact to enjoy a "pre-opening" meal at his new Italian Restaurant. It was delicious!  Warren almost swooned over the fettuccine Alfredo with bacon. It was the first time he had had bacon in over a month!  Pork is not readily available here.

 

This is some of the craziness that goes on when there is a football (aka soccer) game on.  The game was between Ethiopia and Nigeria.  Ethiopia lost so things were subdued but if they win you do NOT go out.  Mayhem occurs.

Pretty sure this isn't legal, even in Ethiopia!

We had to drive the wrong way on a one way street because our street was swarmed with people

                                          

Friends

Back row: Jaosoa Rabemila, Andy Robijn, Rosemary Wise, Jenneane, Warren, Karol and Mark Sanderson

Kneeling: Carolyn Sanderson, Cameron, Mindy Buell, Jolena Epps

Making Lunch

We were SO excited to find a Betty Crocker Cookie Mix!! I think it worked out to cost 7 dollars Canadian.  It was worth it! :)

Wednesday Night. We prefer to meet by candlelight, cell phone flashlight and headlamps.....Makes for  lovely ambiance 

After 4 days with no power Warren decided to try getting the generator in the yard working.  It was GREAT to have some hot water and be able to charge all our phones :) The noise from the generator wasn't bad at all...if you wore earplugs!                         

Birthday Party for Mark Sanderson

Cameron learning some very important life skills: Jao teaching Cameron to hand wash clothes when there is no power

Bokatu and Cameron washing dishes after lunch.  Cameron better be careful or his face might stay that way!