Week 1

Week one went by, and it was wonderful! When I first arrived I was given the day to rest and get settled, so I slept. The next day I got to meet the kids. They are so happy and cheerful. My house mate and I hit it off right away. Her name is Jill. The kids are on break this week and last. We spent the week coloring gifts with for the kids sponsors. After I would do crafts with them and Jill would play sports. The food here is good, though very spicy. The mammas and kids think its so funny when our eyes water. Coffee is a huge part of the culture here. Every day after lunch they serve some in tiny cup, because its so strong. I'm usually not a coffee drinker but I like Selom's, shes the cook. They even have a special coffee ceremony, where they roast the coffee beans first then gind them and make them into coffee. I havent seen that yet but its a holiday on thursday and I think they are having one then. The holidayis called Meskal. Its for "the true cross".  The stories goes that an Ethiopian woman found the cross of Jesus. So they build a big bonfire a put a cross in the middle. Which ever way the cross falls is the way to the true cross. Its only religiously important to the orthodox. To everyone else its just apart of culture. Unlike most countries the traditional colors here are white. Inside the village is nice and beautiful, but outside is very sad. Kids sitting on the side of the road, trash in the streets. Saterday a school came to do community service. That day was easy because all Jill and I had to do was supervise. We went to church sunday with the Mammas and the kids. We couldnt understand a single word because the pastor spoke Amharic. But we could feel the meaning. After service a man walked up to us and stood before Jill clicked his heels, saluted and bowed, then turned to me and did the same. The mammas where laughing too so we new it wasnt the traditional way to greet some one. Well that was the first week. I'm looking forward to the next!