Our guide asked me if I wanted to give it a try. I didn’t want to make light of their work, but he said people had tried it in the past and that they usually are happy to comply if you give them a tip. So I couldn’t pass up the chance…a kind, tiny but strong, lady set her bundle down and helped me secure it to my back. It took about four people to help me stand with it. I was able to take a few steps, but there is NO WAY I could have hauled it down the hill. I will forever be amazed at the strength of those women.
Next up was souvenir shopping. I am not a big shopper in general and it turns out my lack of enthusiasm carried over to shopping in Ethiopia as well! Our guide was great in finding us places to shop for authentic, quality items and even helped us settle on prices, even though he admittedly didn't enjoy that part of his job. I would have rather just paid the first price a vendor said because it’s simple and non-confrontational, but I guess that’s not the way it works. We got some pottery, a traditional dress for Lielti, a doll that is like the one she has at the transition home a blanket. The boys had some money from grandpa. They soccer jerseys, an instrument, and a chess set. I liked the small local market, but once we got to the city street stores, I was struggling. It was so strange to be just steps away from someone asking for food or money, someone who has no means to provide for themselves while we were buying things we absolutely didn't need. We asked our guide about giving money to people, but it was not encouraged. I will never be able to reconcile that circumstance between my heart and my head, whether it’s in the states or in Ethiopia.
The mood shifted even more toward sadness as we all realized what was coming. The boys said good-bye to their new friends at the TH and then it was time for the moment we have been dreading since we started this process. I have not been able to imagine what it might be like because I mostly tried to block out the fact that I would have to tell my daughter goodbye and fly back around the world. We hugged and cried and for the first time I saw her face with tears running down it. The boys gave their sister a hug goodbye and cried and then we gathered our teary selves into the van where we found the other family there crying too. As we waved at kids and drove away we saw Lielti’s friends gathering around her and hugging her, making sure she was okay. We headed back to the guesthouse to pack up our bags and head to the airport for a 23 hour trip home.
It was an amazing experience for all of us. Ethiopia won us over. The time at the transition gave me a chance to see my boys at their best, meet the amazing people who care for our kiddos before we even know them, and most importantly a chance to meet our daughter. We are so in love and can’t wait to go back and bring her home forever!