Goodbye to Ethiopia...a list of our "last things"

The Donkeys and the the Jambos The Mountains and Macchiatos The Ladas and the Salamnos Dinich Tibs and Shiro!!!
t The view from our house in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia... One last misty walk around our neighbourhood... Playing during Ethiopian Kiremt (rainy season) Our final fire with Eucalypt Timber which grows wild in Ethiopia thanks to The Emperor Menelik's importation over a century  ago...I still remember our first day in Ethiopia and the smell of the cooking fires and my Aussie husband looking bemused as he said "It smells like Australia?" My last organized running event in Addis Ababa,organized by the worlds greatest ever runner Haile GebrSelassie... Our first and final Toga Party in Addis...(Thanks Beth n Ralph : ) My husband The SunBard's farewell gig at Enya's Kitchen supported by the Moonbeams..it was a magical musical night. Big thanks to Enya! Going out for our last date night in Addis... One more cup of buna (coffee) with Girma... We packed up our life...again.
Leaving Ethiopia on a 2 am flight to Brussels, Belgium.
Ethiopia...wow...what a journey that was!  It was the most EPIC experience of my life It taught me another level of humility, gratitude, heartache and love I will never forget its people, culture or landscape
As expats we are on the move...every time we travel my kids amaze me. They are so flexible and patient throughout the whole process...often calmer than my husband or myself!
We left Ethiopia and had our first stop in Brussels to visit my brother and his beautiful family. It had been too long since we had been together. We had such a wonderful visit and  even managed to squeeze in a quick road trip to Luxembourg, the Saarland and  France.

Now we are in my hometown, enjoying all the sights, sounds and of course, tastes of Nova Scotia. I am relishing this blessed time I have to slow down, be with my children and share my country with them.



In two weeks we will hit the road again. This time our first stop will be Taipei, Taiwan to visit good friends who are starting out on their 'new' life there - then we will arrive in Kuala Lumpur to begin our next chapter...

Meskel...

I was looking through some of our photos from last year and came across these ones of Zoe and I in our traditional Ethiopian dresses. We were dressed up for the annual Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of Meskel ~ The Holy Cross.

The Meskel celebration includes the burning of a large bonfire that is based on the belief that Queen Eleni had a revelation in a dream. She was told that she shall make a bonfire and that the smoke would show her where the true cross was buried. So the Queen ordered the people of Jerusalem to bring wood and make a huge pile. After adding frankincense to it the bonfire was lit and the smoke rose high up to the sky and returned to the ground, exactly to the spot where the Cross had been buried.

During the day huge bonfires were built in the streets or courtyards of homes and then the children spend time decorating them with flowers. As soon as the sun sett and the first stars in the sky appeared, the bonfires are lit. Men and women joined together in a singing and dancing ritual around the fire until it burns down to ashes.

It was quite the spectacle to be a part of, one that we enjoyed watching as a family and community member in our qäbäle. (neighbourhood)

Habesha Baskets...

Traditional Ethiopian basket market in Axum These vibrant baskets are use for food storage and as a serving table A kaleidoscope of colours and patterns

Mixing Indian textiles with Ethiopia baskets Baskets from Salem's boutique - one of my favourite shops in Addis Ababa Learning the traditional art of basket weaving Basket market section in the Mercato in Addis Ababa   Ethiopian woman making Injera bread - the main staple of their diet which they carry in large woven baskets    A big Injera basket on her head - Bhar Dar, Ethiopia    Water carrying 'baskets' made from hollow gourds      Used to carry and store milk, these are made of guords, basketry, mud/clay and leather and adorned with cowrie shells.  Both the meal and the table are being carried on her head    

Some women love shoes...for me it is baskets - and each country in Africa has there own tradition arts in terms of basket weaving. 

Ethiopia has a wide range of different types of baskets from the milk storage vessels made from hollowed out gourds to the tall table like baskets made from wicker wrapped in colourful threads.

I have gained quite the collection of baskets here from all over the country that I will be happy to look upon in my future house/s. Each one will remind me of our adventures in this land. 

 

Life in Ethiopia...This time last year

This time last year - everything was still fresh and exciting to us. Fasika (Easter) in Ethiopia is a very important holiday and celebrated differently to the way it is at home. 

Last year we went to Ababa Villa (www.abbabasvilla.com) for their 'fasting' (vegan) brunch. It was a beautiful day spent eating great food, relaxing in their amazing garden while listening to a live jazz band & meeting new people from all over Addis Ababa. 

We hope that Ababa Villa chooses to do it again ~ we'll be there!

1. welcome - and we felt it

2. the two angels

3. exploring her new surrounds

4. little fingers exploring

5. the front entrance to the house

6. balcony dinning

7. The space was enhanced by beautiful quotes such as this

8. This one is always running...with a car in his hand!

9 & 10. the boys - looking for gum nuts

11. little gardener

12. Zoe loved this butterfly banner

13. locally made chairs set up in a sunny spot

14. traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony

15. another great quote to live by

16. little pockets of seating dotted throughout the garden

17. getting set up for the vegan buffet

18 & 19. such a lush garden setting