Day One in Ethiopia

We arrived in Addis at 7:30 a.m. and made it through the visa line, the money exchanging line, and the passport line, but then we really got bogged down waiting in the baggage claim line because our baggage never showed up! After filing a claim (which took forever!) we got to the Yebsabi Guest House about 10:00, and after a quick room check we left for lunch at an Italian restaurant (Avanti) with the other new arrivals.

Poor Savannah was overcome with tiredness, a nasty cold, little sleep, and then a harrowing, diesel-smoke filled ride to the restaurant. She barely made it out of the bathroom before it was time to head to the TH (transition home) to meet our boys. Once there, our turn came very quickly to meet our boys face-to-face. We had seen them peeking around the corner as they waited, and it was surreal to walk up the stairs and then wait as they led them out.

Our first reaction was, "Wow - they are so little!" Our four-year-old is just barely bigger than the two-year-old.  The boys walked out quietly and then stood in front of us, and we knelt down and gave them hugs, had a couple pictures taken, and then walked over to a nearby grassy area. When you don't speak the same language it is a little difficult to "break the ice",  but we found gestures, tickling, and playing soccer to do the trick.

We enjoyed a couple hours of just watching the boys, getting to know them, and trying to interact. Our little one was more friendly than we thought he would be and didn't cry, so that was a treat for day #1, and older brother seemed to enjoy most of the time. We did not have our nifty bag of fun gifts to give the boys, as that was in our missing luggage, but some other families gave us a few goodies to play with.

By the time we left the Transition Home, we were one bunch of wiped out folks. Two nights of very little sleep, coupled with taking in all the sights and sounds of this country, coupled with the emotions of meeting our new kids made it an amazing but exhausting day.