November 26, 2008

I just arrived home Sunday from a ten day stay in Spain on my way back from Ethiopia. Mundo Coropente, the organization that named us “Women who Change the World”, was the perfect example of not only organizational skills but what people working together can do to make a big impact to make the world more fair. Not only are they wonderful as an organization but how lucky I am to have new friends.

They had organized almost non stop interviews and speaking opportunities that gave us a big chance to let the world know how unfair it is that women in Ethiopia are still suffering from Fistula.

My friend Elena invited me to stay in her home where I feel more like a sister than a house guest. We spent every last moment talking of ways to improve what we are doing and how to do more. We did sneak in a few topics about fashion, food, etc. Speaking of food! The food in Spain!!!! Wow!!!!

She was the perfect translator because she had just been in Ethiopia helping me to write project proposals and reports so she knew what I was trying to say from her own experience.

It was also a big treat to meet with my friend Pedro who is opening a Spanish wine distribution in Addis, and with Pedro’s mother. I’ve never seen a mother and son who look so much alike. We also had time with Trilby and Victoria. Some of my favorite people in the whole world!

As I left Ethiopia I felt the pain of escaping to “my other world” and leaving all those who I love so much behind. Kassa, our Country Representative, never has a break from the difficult bureaucracy nor a moment without worrying about the legal issues that are always near. The women that have one years time to change from not even knowing their favorite color to being a strong woman who is ready to take care of herself. It’s so hard to say “Good Bye”.

But also with that pain is the joy of remembering our graduates that really are living a successful life feeling like, in a strange way, they were lucky to get fistula and then their chance for a life of hope. To leave my Ethiopian friends like Terefa that are always there for me no matter what time of day or night and of course our little dog Ishi who couldn’t stop crying on my last day. How did she know? But how nice it is to come back to friends like you. I hope I’ve told you all how much I appreciate you and how important you are to me.

Now is the time for us to celebrate our Holidays but lets not ever forget who we are and how much we have.

I’ll be going back to Ethiopia in February 2009. If you’d like to join me and see for yourself there will be a group coming around the dates of March 14 to the 24th. So let met know….