I'm BAAAAACCKKK!!!

I am back. I am here. I love Delhi. :)

Background first, and then I'll get to my love for India, where you will just roll your eyes at how happy I am:
Our last night in Addis, I threw Haven and Selah their first sleepover. We watched a movie which started AFTER their bedtime, and then the 2 Ethiopian girls and 2 little Segebarth girls lined up their pillows sideways on the double bed and lied down. If you know anything about four 6-7 year olds lying on a bed within reach of each other, you will understand why I slept on the bunkbed where I could see everything that was happening and be the grouchy "mom" that tells them to stop whispering/giggling/singing/tickling-and-touching each other/laying on each other/wiggling and go to sleep.  All that said, the sleepover was really fun, and it was great leverage for getting them to obey the 3 days before ;)


My goodbye to Eyerus happened at an unexpected time, so that was good as I didn't have time to be all sappy. The goodbyes at the airport though...that was hard to watch. I couldn't help but cry when I saw Miyco hug all his friends. I can't imagine what he was feeling--but it must be impossibly difficult to say "goodbye for now" to his lifelong friends whom he's around 24/7 as he goes to a country where he knows almost no one and doesn't completely understand the language or the lifestyle.  All will be well in the end, but it's gotta be hard now. 

Stacy, Karlee, and the gang all had their tickets messed up, so we had to wait quite awhile to get all those fixed in Addis. It involved the little girls sitting on either the luggage or the carry on part of the luggage cart, playing silly games and listening to their iPods.  They finally got their tickets and were bumped up to business class  (Thank you, Karlee, for crying).  Naturally, my ticket was fine, so I was supposed to be in Economy. But instead I snuck up to business class and sat next to them, which wasn't necessarily appreciated by the flight attendants--but they let me stay.

I come from a family where we did road trips growing up because flying was often too expensive, so...this was amazing.  We had like 3 feet of leg room, our seats could recline into an almost flat position, the snack menu included gourmet food, and my spinach fritata [on real plateware with a tablecloth and real silverware] was to die for. It was purely lovely.  I couldn't help but think that someone who designs the interior of planes must be twisted to create seats like the lopsided one with the bar sticking up into my gluteals on that one dreadful Royal Air Maroc flight, when they have the capability to make something this nice. I do realize that people who fly business class PAY for it, but still...isn't there a happy medium of reclineability and legroom without paying an extra $800?

We had a long layover in Germany, and by that point I was just antsy to come to India. Then the second (of the day--200th of the weekend) round of goodbyes began, and Haven kept telling me, "But I'm going to miss you, Marla," when I went to my terminal--and I'm going to miss all them, too. 

I found my gate and my Indian people in the airport, and it was lovely to be surrounded by them again. I had eaten 2 spicy dishes while in Addis, and I probably had way to much of them both times.  And, considering that if I cook, I make Indian food, I was missing my curries and lentils desperately.  On the plane to Delhi, I could have screamed Hallelujah when they asked me if I wanted channa masala, palak paneer, or chicken curry.  I am well aware it was not the best Indian food in the world, but it seemed to be at that time!  (Funny side note: you know you are on a plane to India when the toilet paper runs out and no one cares or bothers to mention it to a flight attendant.)

Then, I got to Delhi :D  As I ran up to Barkha, and gave her an enormous Indian hug for 3 minutes (not really following cultural customs here), I realize EVERYONE keeps taking glances at us, if not full blown staring.  It's ridiculous, but that made me feel like I was truly home, and I could not have been happier. :)  When we quit hugging, the heat hit me and I had a quick moment of "HOLY CRAP, it's hot here!"  But that was probably just because I've been staying in the cool weather of rainy season in Ethiopia's mountains, and now I'm back to loving the heat and sweat and the blast of the fan on full speed.

The rest of the boring story: we stayed up til 5 a.m. talking about boys and life, she took me on my first "scootie" ride this morning, I am avoiding unpacking even though I have no idea where anything is in my luggage, I just ate bhindi and roti for lunch, I've already had fun times fighting with the ATMs, I need to hold a funeral for my hindi speaking skills, and tonight I think we are going to go to a 3 1/2 hour Bollywood movie--just because we can. 

If you cannot tell with the amount of emoticons in the above text, I am inexplicably happy to be back! :)

The Story of Ruth

Can you feel the love and joy between these girls and their Habesha brother and his friends? :)  These photos have nothing to do with today's blog, but they recap a lot of our fun from previous days. Enjoy!

Ok, onto the real blog post: 

I remember having these rubber finger-puppets when I was little. They were biblical figures, and each came with a book on tape. I guess I never took naps, so Mom would send me to my room with my books and puppets while SHE got her rest time.

Anyways, I can’t remember which ones I had other than Daniel and the Lion’s Den, but I can kind of picture maybe having one of Ruth? Maybe not, but I know I had a book on tape of Ruth’s story at some point, and I know I used a puppet or SOMETHING to act out her story to myself on an almost daily basis.  She was (and probably still is to this day) my favorite Bible story.

So, Ruth lost her husband, who was of a different culture and faith than her own. Ruth decided to join her mother-in-law, Naomi, as she returned to her homeland, which probably led to a lot of culture shock for Ruth.  Anyways, key thing here is the thing I remember most from childhood:

Ruth said to Naomi, “Your God will be my God, and your people will be my people.”

That’s how I feel about India:  Her people will be my people. It’s as simple as that.

The story goes on and Ruth goes out and gathers leftovers from fields to feed herself and Naomi, because they don’t have an income. One thing leads to another as God directs their paths, and Ruth meets and falls in love with her prince charming, Boaz, and they have their as-happily-ever-after-as-it-can-get.

I know I am not as poor as Ruth was when she started picking up wheat in her new foreign “home,” but I am fairly poor in comparison to most Americans who decide to move across the globe. Yet, just as God provided for Ruth, I’ve really been seeing Him show that I can trust Him in providing for me.  Through donations, selling my car, the dollar to rupee conversion rates, being told by the OT organizations I can count volunteering hours for most of my continuing education credits, etc., God is reemphasizing His role in all of this.   And it’s pretty cool to watch.

I feel like I should also touch on the Boaz part here, even though I would rather not.  I don’t know if God has some 5 foot tall mustached Indian man for me, or if he has a John Abraham (google image if you need), or if He has a whole bunch of brown 5 year old little men to steal my heart.  I have no idea, and frankly, right now, I don’t care.  Over the past year, through life, this trip, conversations, readings, and observations, I have seen that it is truly easier to do what I’m doing while being single.  And that might be what He has in store for me long term—I don’t know. 

Whatever it is, I know—and can say with actual belief for the first time in a long time—that it is good. And not only, that it is good, but that it is best, and it is His best.  That may not sound like much, but for those of you who know a bit more than others about my story, it is huge.  That statement still comes with tears, but it is a breakthrough, and I know you are rejoicing with me in your hearts. Thank you for the past, present, and future prayers regarding my heart. I love you, and good night from Addis Ababa

INTERNET HAS ARRIVED!!

Nanny life has been better lately, as the girls and I have gotten to get out of the house a bit more lately.  It still hasn't been all fun and games, and I was informed today that I was mean--but I can live with that if threatening to put LEGOs away leads to a quiet, happy hour of 4 girls playing nicely together. :) Stacy also gave me a break and sent me on a massage the other day, which was thoroughly appreciated! AND today we got internet!!!

Travel-wise, we're not doing "cultural" things per se, because I travel with 2 six year olds, but while they play with their stuffed Alvin and the Chipmunks in the car, singing "Me, I want a huuuulaaa hooop" in true chipmunk fashion, I observe the world. 

And, luckily for me, any time we go anywhere, we get stopped in traffic on the way there so I have plenty of observation time!
We have been to a regular park, and a national park where we could feed the baboons by hand (the animals roamed free through the rest of the park though, so we decided we'd play it safe American-style and get back in the car).  We've been to "Lion Park Zoo" which is just that: Lions and maybe 15 other animals (notice I said animals, not types of animals) in small cages.  But the lions were actually running around and we got to watch them feed them and touch a baby gazelle so that is all pretty cool compared to American zoos.  And it will remain cool in that weird African-city sense, until PETA finds out about it.   And we went to an international church which was refreshing. Sidenote: We sat by Indians. :D  (I love Indians, and I love that you can find them literally everywhere).

I am still loving the people, but I have a really hard time opening up and being friendly to the men. I'm trained for India, where "you save your smiles for your friends" and don't make eye contact with men you don't know. Here, the culture is "touchy" and while I'm okay with that for women and children, I still forget I can make eye contact and conversation with the guys.  But our driver and I have become friends this week so that's at least progress. :)

I know most everyone here is in love with Ethiopia, but, frankly, I'm just not. I love the people, yes. And I wish I could take Eyerus and the poor woman who sat in front of us at church last week and everyone else into my home forever. But, I'm just not feeling that pull for Ethiopia itself, which is sort of disappointing, but then I remember I have my India.

All that said, simply watching a man cross a busy street with friends' assistance, while his bare feet and toes scrape the blacktop and concrete due to something no more complicated than foot drop (where you can't bend your ankle up towards the sky) is heartwrenching. And that is only a 30 second snippet of being stopped in traffic in the middle of Addis:  that isn't anything compared to what the Stacy and the rest of the team see.

I have "deeper" stuff to write, but it's 1:30 a.m. and I still just don't know exactly how I'm going to say what I want to say. So, await another post. Good evening, America!

Mary Poppins had it good.

(Friday) 

As I sit here writing this post, in preparation for the day that we have semi-reliable internet that will allow me to upload it, there are 2 Kazakh, 1 Ethiopian, and 1 Caucasian American girls singing (and periodically dancing) to the Bollywood tunes coming from my laptop.  It’s pretty darn cute.

Anyways, back to Mary Poppins:

Everything in the world that she wanted could fit in a small handbag that appeared to weigh less than three pounds, whereas I traveled with 100ish pounds.  Mary Poppins could distract her two children with a simple song, dance, and spoon full of sugar.  When that wasn’t enough, she could take them to magical places with the slightest tap of her parasol.

(Or from what I remember anyways)

Needless to say, as I’m nannying the 3 little Segebarth girls plus a little girl “Eyerus” who is living in the guesthouse waiting for her adoption to be finalized, there are a few moments that I am envious of this Mary Poppins.  I especially wish I had her “floating” or flying ability when I’m chasing all four children up two flights of stairs, around the balcony, back down one flight of stairs, around the balcony, down the other flight of stairs, through the clothesline covered in wet sheets, around the front porch, and everything all over again. If you didn’t guess, my exercise for this month consists of tag, and I am sure I will get quite a few miles in. 

I haven’t actually been beyond the guesthouse walls since arriving from the airport, excluding the retrieval of one bouncy ball that was thrown over the gate, but we’re pretty happy playing on the guesthouse grounds.  Our days begin with a little girl styling my hair each morning after my shower (we’ve had to make a schedule so everyone gets a turn, and if I have a shorter haircut by the end of the July, someone probably singed my hair with their mom’s straightener).  Then Addi and I make and remake multi-story LEGOs houses, while the little girls make abstract buildings.  Afterwards, we take 20 minutes deciding who gets which Barbie and play happily for an hour or two before someone takes someone else’s accessories. After lunch, I take a board exam study break, and then comes our “Starburst” break, followed by much needed energy-relieving time of tag and every organized outdoor game you can think of.

After teaching one of them to the girls, Eyerus asked me: “Why do we say ‘Mother, may I?’”  That, my dear, is a question I cannot answer.

(Sunday)

And, now we're at the Sheraton soaking up some reliable Wifi.  The girls and I have been out of the house quite a bit the past couple days. We went bowling, to church, and a couple of restaurants.  Sometimes the girls have been a bit overwhelming--but I can't expect them to be experienced travelers at ages 6 and 10, so I can't complain.   I don't really feel like a lot has happened, but maybe that's just because it's a different type of travel than I'm used to. 

I miss my India, and I'm ready to be there, I will say that. :) There is a lot that reminds me of a mix between India and Morocco--except that 90% of the buildings are under major construction here in Addis.  

The people are quite beautiful and friendly.  I am loving that, although I am still in the Indian mindset of not smiling or making eye contact or touching men in general, much less ones that I don't know.  Here, the driver or guard greets me each morning as I come downstairs/outside with a loving handshake and occasionally an arm around me.  Everyone else seems to have adapted to it, and am trying to lose everything that I learned last summer--but that's not much happening. 

I am probably not going to be posting again until India, unless some miracle happens and we have Wifi at the guesthouse.  In the meantime, ciao!