Celebrations

The adoption week was full of celebrations with the folks at the Thomas Center. On our second day - the embassy day - they provided a feast that was cooked right there at the center. We ate it in the family room and it was very tasty!

These next photos were taken at a good-bye ceremony in the early evening on Wednesday. Two of the three families left on Thursday so this was our last time to be together as a group. When I saw this event on our schedule for the week, I had no idea it was going to be such a big deal, but they even had a gentleman sing and play his guitar for us. Abdissa gave a sweet speech about the importance of children growing up in a specific family, they gave out presents for each member of each adopting family, and of course, there were drinks and food.

All the children attended as well. They sat in these chairs waiting patiently for the food!

Here you can see the guy with the guitar. My hair looks very strange in this picture, but this is what happens when you're trying to grow it out and you don't bring any styling products to Ethiopia with you!


The event from above.

Right after the event at the center, they took us out to dinner at a fine Ethiopian restaurant called Hibir. I'm wearing the traditional Ethiopian shirt they gave me at the celebration beforehand.

And here's a photo of our meal. Every few people shared a round "table" covered with injera which is like a big round grey sourdough pancake. Then they plop little piles of stew-like mixtures on top. There are no utensils; you just rip little pieces of the injera and dip it into one of the piles. This was the best Ethiopian food we had on our entire trip and even though I'm not a big fan of the food there, I did enjoy this meal!