Amritas asked in the comment section of the previous post for a status report on my level anxiety about traveling to Ethiopia. Several things impact that level including, but not limited to, the very real possibility that I will be making a major excursion overseas by myself. I will go over alone but come home with a likely heartbroken, petrified and squirmy kindergartener who has no earthly idea if I'm an okay person or not and who may not even want to know for a very long time.
I would say that this stage, I am settled with the idea of going to Ethiopia to pass through another stage in the adoption process. It, honestly, reminds me of my overall feelings of having a baby. I was okay with the idea as a whole. When and if I broke it down, however, and thought for any period of time on one particular step (like labor and actually pushing a child forth or, in this instance, trusting the Lord will protect my always testy tummy from anything that would make me hurl, the dreaded plane trips to and fro, and the very real possibility that bonding may not show signs of life until we are back on US soil for days) I could become very anxious.
So, overall, I am okay with the entire idea and I know I can do it (what other choice, right?). However, many steps need to fall into place and lots of information gaps have to close before I feel more comfortable with the several steps.
I love spending time reading blogs and personal accounts of those who have already been to Ethiopia and those who are planning to go. One thing I am super stoked about is that Ethiopia is the birthplace of one of my favorite things on the planet -- coffee. I have heard and read about the coffee ceremonies held in Ethiopia and cannot wait to observe and participate in one myself! This is one thing that I am almost 100% certain I will enjoy when it happens.
One particular blog I regularly read not only explained how the ceremony progresses, but also provided photos! You may be as amazed as I was to watch the progression of the coffee bean into a drink I cannot wait to try in its home country. Of course, I'm even more amazed at the young woman who writes the blog and the important work she and her colleagues are doing in a region of Ethiopia that holds a special place in my heart for reasons that you will know as our story is told.
Wow, thanks for the long answer! It covered so much ground I wasn't expecting at all! Like coffee! (I never drink it, so I don't think about it.)
Do you have any linguistic fears? I've asked you about communicating with M3 before, but I wonder you'll communicate with everyone else when you're in Ethiopia.
Posted by: Amritas | February 15, 2009 at 03:24 PM
Oh, you will enjoy so many wonderful things about Ethiopia! I'm excited to learn more about why you are excited about the region where I will be working. Thanks for the linkage :)
Posted by: Sophie | February 16, 2009 at 05:19 PM