March 3, 2009

This has been a week of lots of great things. Just today I walked by myself about a mile to the home of one of my Ethiopian friends (Tigist) to give her a birthday present. I made it the whole way even stopping in a music store to purchase four CDs I wanted, all in Amharic. I stopped to give a blessing to the beggars, greeted children and all the while not being afraid of cars on the very narrow streets. Even crossing the street by myself with no traffic guard!

Then I passed a bridge where they were burning garbage, then…. I stepped in some Donkey Doo…….. Then I made it to my friends to have a fun time.

Today is a Holiday in Ethiopia. It is the celebration of the battle of Adwa. But Saturday was a work day. It was also the day the Ethiopian Bead Society had planned to hold their meeting at the Trampled Rose. It was hosted by Deborah Zinn who has been working on the volunteer bead project for several years now.

I made early arrangements, double-checked all orders, questioned all involved employees just to make sure nothing went wrong. Then just a little before they were to arrive I noticed that there were no beads that the women had many ANYWHERE!!!!! I said only one bad word (that was for my mom).

The man who had the ONLY key had left and was on the other side of the city of 8 million. But…. Kassa saved the day and just as I gave up, he arrived!!!

Promise to be continued……