Well, Peanuts. We are home.
Safe and sound, after many adventures.
I'm struggling a little with what to say about our journey. I'm not even close to processing it through, really. This was the hardest trip for me, for my heart. Not because the children were along; in fact in some ways it seems like maybe fate arranged for my Littles to be with me so that I would be able to get through the hard parts. It's just that some of the new programs we have at AFC bring us nose to nose with a reality that is hard to accept. I'm both happy to be home in my fortunate world, and struggling with having left behind so much work, as well as the lovely things we will miss. And we do.
Little One in particular melted into Ethiopia the moment She stepped into it. She immersed Herself in every aspect- I could write a whole long post about this- and spent most of Her first morning home shedding fat tears and trying unsuccessfully to forgive me for taking Her away from Ethiopia when She had told me so many times that She didn't want to leave.
Miss is trying to get through the shock of a barrage of time zones and yet another transition; and for Her the trip was more complex than Her sister's instant love. But I can say definitively that the experience as a whole was hugely character building, growth inducing, and full of learning and fun for them both. I'm very proud of them. I'm very happy that I was able to give this gift to them.
And also very, very thankful that at the end of our scheduled time I had this unbelievable ability to, as if by magic, ferry them to a land where the water is clean and flows without end, where food piles up on the pantry shelves, where miracles are possible inside sparkling hospitals, and the air is crisp and fresh. I think of the mothers I have met who can never even dream that for their children.
I'm washing the laundry in a machine, I'm planning a party for a few days from now, and I'm feeling a little numb. Emotionally, I feel as if Ive been dunked in hot then icy water and I haven't shaken off the feeling of disorientation yet.
But the house mothers packed me a suitcase full of injera and spices, and I made a (pretty darn good if I do say so myself) Ethiopian dinner for us and the family we have visiting us, and I have ArifZen radio and that eases the sting a little. And to help me get through the strangeness of this country and culture, I have what got me through the one I visited- my two amazing little daughters, who keep me busy and grounded by so constantly and unfailingly reminding me of what matters, what is important, and what I'm here for.
It's possible that I'm suffering from culture shock complicated by a severe overdose of gratitude. For what we have here at home in the US, and for the wonderful (and even the hard) things we found in Ethiopia. When I begin to recover I'll be back with stories. Right now, I'm going to go to the tap, pour a glass of water, and drink it. I'm going to enjoy it very much. One of the side effects of this shock/overdose I'm afflicted with is that the water in my kitchen, at the moment, tastes extremely sweet.
Safe and sound, after many adventures.
I'm struggling a little with what to say about our journey. I'm not even close to processing it through, really. This was the hardest trip for me, for my heart. Not because the children were along; in fact in some ways it seems like maybe fate arranged for my Littles to be with me so that I would be able to get through the hard parts. It's just that some of the new programs we have at AFC bring us nose to nose with a reality that is hard to accept. I'm both happy to be home in my fortunate world, and struggling with having left behind so much work, as well as the lovely things we will miss. And we do.
Little One in particular melted into Ethiopia the moment She stepped into it. She immersed Herself in every aspect- I could write a whole long post about this- and spent most of Her first morning home shedding fat tears and trying unsuccessfully to forgive me for taking Her away from Ethiopia when She had told me so many times that She didn't want to leave.
Miss is trying to get through the shock of a barrage of time zones and yet another transition; and for Her the trip was more complex than Her sister's instant love. But I can say definitively that the experience as a whole was hugely character building, growth inducing, and full of learning and fun for them both. I'm very proud of them. I'm very happy that I was able to give this gift to them.
And also very, very thankful that at the end of our scheduled time I had this unbelievable ability to, as if by magic, ferry them to a land where the water is clean and flows without end, where food piles up on the pantry shelves, where miracles are possible inside sparkling hospitals, and the air is crisp and fresh. I think of the mothers I have met who can never even dream that for their children.
I'm washing the laundry in a machine, I'm planning a party for a few days from now, and I'm feeling a little numb. Emotionally, I feel as if Ive been dunked in hot then icy water and I haven't shaken off the feeling of disorientation yet.
But the house mothers packed me a suitcase full of injera and spices, and I made a (pretty darn good if I do say so myself) Ethiopian dinner for us and the family we have visiting us, and I have ArifZen radio and that eases the sting a little. And to help me get through the strangeness of this country and culture, I have what got me through the one I visited- my two amazing little daughters, who keep me busy and grounded by so constantly and unfailingly reminding me of what matters, what is important, and what I'm here for.
It's possible that I'm suffering from culture shock complicated by a severe overdose of gratitude. For what we have here at home in the US, and for the wonderful (and even the hard) things we found in Ethiopia. When I begin to recover I'll be back with stories. Right now, I'm going to go to the tap, pour a glass of water, and drink it. I'm going to enjoy it very much. One of the side effects of this shock/overdose I'm afflicted with is that the water in my kitchen, at the moment, tastes extremely sweet.
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