Bye bye beautiful Bekoji!

  December 11, 2012

Well it’s the end of chapter 1- training. Today was my last day in Bekoji and it was filled with nostalgia trying to capture moments and images. The day was sweet and sad and amazing and touching. Funny how I noticed so many new things today- like the beautiful stonework on a house that I walk past at least twice a day. I finally got to go to the market with my host brother Mabrano today. It was a beautiful experience. No harassment, just lovely women patiently selling their vegetables or grains in the hot sun. The way they display the product itself is beautiful- little neat piles of tomatoes, potatoes, beets, green hot peppers, and colorful sacks of different grains and beans. I had fun taking photos and showing the women their photo, some of whom I guess had never seen a photo of themselves.

Today was also a lovely day of free time with no pressure to study. I took advantage of it by playing with Abi, my four year old “brother” and Tsion my ten year old “sister”. I tried teaching hopscotch, but somehow forgot the basics of the game. We also played a version of baseball, Tsion was smart and got two sticks one for each hand to hit the small plastic ball better.  Mabrano taught me the basics of making misir wat and I think I can cook it for myself now. It is very tasty so I hope I can master it soon. It is a thick sauce of lentils, garlic, birbiri (the red spicy spice used in most dishes), and shiro (ground dried beans). Yum!

At sunset the Bekoji group went for a walk into the fields. It was beautiful with all the harvested grain drying in little hut shapes and some men threshing the wheat in the fading gold light. Tonight I gave my family photos and some little gifts, pencils and a flashlight. A few days ago I gave them two small avocado trees and a coffee plant and they carefully planted them and made little shade huts to protect them. I hope they survive and bear fruit in the future. My host mom Ayelech gave me shiro, birbiri and atmit (a mix of grains that make a yummy cream of wheat type hot drink).  Over the daily traditional coffee we ate super yummy fresh kita (a warm flat bread) as oranges as a special treat. It has been wonderfully touching seeing how my family has taken me in. I truly feel part of the family. What a spectacular introduction to the kindness and openness of Ethiopia this family has shown me. I really really hope I can came back soon, with stronger language skills, and remain part of their lives.

I am going to miss the expansive views and rolling hills of Bekoji. The past two months have been a great nurturing environment to help me build my wings as I prepare another leap into the unknown. This little hatchling is ready to fly!