Day 1 in action

Mother Teresa orphanage

Today was an overload of the senses. It was like discovering a new color and trying to describe it. Utter disbelief, shock, culture shock, poverty.

We went to the Shola Library. No kids so the group is going back tomorrow.
We went to the Chavel Library. Wow. School full of kids. We had been warned about camera but didn’t believe it until we saw it. You pull out a camera and 20-30 kids run over with 30 smiles, pose and then they want to see it. I have great memories of today. We read to the kids and we had them read to us to practice their English. We donated some books on dreams. We asked the kids their dreams…….. teacher, artist, doctor, football player. Mainly teachers and doctors. The kids were the essence of joy.

Traffic and driving today was terrifying. Utter anxiety. There are no road rules here. No Accidents and actually by now I am used to it but the first four hours in the car was filled with white knuckles, screams and all of us uttering *oly *hit every 2nd sentence. I’m not afraid of my experience so far except for the driving/ traffic. Well that and the two guys who guard the gate of our hotel at night, dressed like militia, hell, they probably are.

Lunch today was at the Sheraton Hotel. It’s built like a palace and has 3 compounds within the border of the hotel. The food is all western food. Western portions. I ordered pizza, when it arrived I felt like crap. We all could only eat half and have decided here on in any meals, we’ll share. The poverty is unbearable. 50% of the population earn $100 per YEAR. 36% in the rural areas make $36 per year!. High security at the main western hotels, mirrors under the cars, complete sweep before you can go in. I am very glad we are not in the main tourist hotels!!

The Mother Teresa orphanage. First we entered the teeny tiny baby room. Most of them have been left at the gate of the compound by their mothers or by strangers who found them on the road. 90% of them have HIV and/or AIDS. Next we went to the infant room, 1, 2 and 3 years with no one but the nuns caring for them. The hardest and most fun room was the toddlers or kids around 5 & 6 – room was filled!!!!!!!!! With them, they would tug on your shirt, or just simply grab your and that child was basically yours until we left. I had lisa, she clung to me the whole and playing with the scarf I was wearing. She booted any kid who came near me. We went into their dorm where we were greeted with about 30 more. The kids were climbing all over us and just hugged us. Clung to us. Desperate for human contact. Hoping we would take them with us.

We met the doctors and volunteers, saw the adult kids make silk scarves. Then Tammy, Noel and I had a meeting with the head Sister. Tough cookie! From Czech Republic. Noel and Tammy went to request that I teach the older kids how to knit scarves because the re-sale in the US could earn them up to $100,000 to $150,000 in the first year. I’m headed back to the orphanage tomorrow to teach, along with Ruth, 18 year old Francie and anyone else I can teach tonight.

Unfortunately I will not have any photos from the Mother Teresa orphanage or my experience there. Photo’s are forbidden and the reason is tragic. Westerns were coming to the orphanage, taking photos, heading back to their country and raising money for the orphanage. Donors would come to Ethiopia and want to see what their money had done, they would meet with the head staff and inquire about the use of their $1000, $10,000……… the orphanage never saw a cent. It’s quite the racket where people use their photos of the orphanage to raise money for themselves.

Most of them will never be adopted, we met one child who has been adopted and headed for the US. Its rare. You have to be able to provide information on how you will pay for all the medical and pharmaceutical required to medicate a HIV child.

Tonight we are headed back to the Orphanage with Dr Hodes and his 17 kids for Shabas dinner. Yep a Jewish doctor in a catholic orphanage. Love it!! We ARE allowed to have camera tonight as it’s a private family dinner.

Highlights!!!!!

You have NO idea how much Obama is everywhere. Obama café, Obama store, t-shirts everywhere. When we visisted the grade 5 class at Mother Teresa orphanage one kid says where are you from? We say America, he smiles and says oh yes Obama Nation. A 9 year old kid in an aids orphanage in Ethiopia. He’s on every magazine cover and square inch of advertising. Truly amazing.

You cannot take photos of camels. We have not tried and will not. If you are seen pointing a camera at a camel it is death by stoning – it appears taking pictures of a camel makes them lose weight. And that’s a bad thing.

Goats are everywhere. EVERYWHERE. They travel in small herds by their owners. They hold up traffic. Not the goats the freak’n owners on their CELL PHONES!!!! I kid you not. This country is so full of contradictions.