We boarded our plane and arrived in D.C. around 2:45pm. After eating dinner, we found the gate for Ethiopian Air. We were definitely in the minority. There was an Orthodox priest and several women dressed in traditional Ethiopian attire also waiting for the plane. (The style looks very similar to the type of clothing worn by Indian women.) One of the older women approached the priest and bent down to kiss a cross in his hand. It was very interesting to observe. Of course we were also being watched. When we got in line to board the plane, some of the passengers got the nerve up to ask us why we were on the flight. Mom jumped right in and made friends with many of the passengers before the flight was over. We were on the plane for 7 hours before we stopped in Rome to refuel. I actually tried the internet connection there (but I didn’t have a password.) Our 45 minute scheduled stop turned into 2.5 hours. They wouldn’t even let us stand up! We finally got underway and most of us got a little sleep before we landed in Ethiopia. On the plane we hooked up with another family that was also adopting. The husband couldn’t come so the mother and grandmother were traveling. We had to first get our visa to enter the country. Next we went through customs. Because our refueling stop in Rome took longer than expected, we didn’t arrive in Ethiopia until about 9:30pm. It took about an hour and a half to get through customs. We changed US cash for birr and claimed our luggage. Of course before we do anything about it, a very pushy gentleman had collected all our luggage and was standing there waiting for a tip! Welcome to Ethiopia. He insisted on pushing our luggage out of the airport and had already told us he we get us a ride. We had to get downright rude with him to get him to listen to us. We had already arranged transportation with the Ethiopia Guest House.
Thank God there was a man there holding up a sign with my name on it. He took over and shooed the other man away. His vehicle was an old Toyota van. He and his partner proceeded to toss our luggage on top of the van and strap it down (through the open windows) with rope. Before we were out of the parking lot, beggars were approaching the vehicle, asking for money. After a long and dark car ride we turned onto a very rocky dirt road. All of us were very nervous. The van pulled up to a walled in compound with barbed wire atop the walls. The driver honked the horn and the gates opened. On the inside it looked like a very nice bed and breakfast. They helped us carry our stuff up to our room, which by the way, was on the fourth floor. Ethiopians don’t have elevators. Once we settled into our room, we pretty much passed out.
This last picture is our room in Ethiopia.
We boarded our plane and arrived in D.C. around 2:45pm. After eating dinner, we found the gate for Ethiopian Air. We were definitely in the minority. There was an Orthodox priest and several women dressed in traditional Ethiopian attire also waiting for the plane. (The style looks very similar to the type of clothing worn by Indian women.) One of the older women approached the priest and bent down to kiss a cross in his hand. It was very interesting to observe. Of course we were also being watched. When we got in line to board the plane, some of the passengers got the nerve up to ask us why we were on the flight. Mom jumped right in and made friends with many of the passengers before the flight was over. We were on the plane for 7 hours before we stopped in Rome to refuel. I actually tried the internet connection there (but I didn’t have a password.) Our 45 minute scheduled stop turned into 2.5 hours. They wouldn’t even let us stand up! We finally got underway and most of us got a little sleep before we landed in Ethiopia. On the plane we hooked up with another family that was also adopting. The husband couldn’t come so the mother and grandmother were traveling. We had to first get our visa to enter the country. Next we went through customs. Because our refueling stop in Rome took longer than expected, we didn’t arrive in Ethiopia until about 9:30pm. It took about an hour and a half to get through customs. We changed US cash for birr and claimed our luggage. Of course before we do anything about it, a very pushy gentleman had collected all our luggage and was standing there waiting for a tip! Welcome to Ethiopia. He insisted on pushing our luggage out of the airport and had already told us he we get us a ride. We had to get downright rude with him to get him to listen to us. We had already arranged transportation with the Ethiopia Guest House. 
Thank God there was a man there holding up a sign with my name on it. He took over and shooed the other man away. His vehicle was an old Toyota van. He and his partner proceeded to toss our luggage on top of the van and strap it down (through the open windows) with rope. Before we were out of the parking lot, beggars were approaching the vehicle, asking for money. After a long and dark car ride we turned onto a very rocky dirt road. All of us were very nervous. The van pulled up to a walled in compound with barbed wire atop the walls. The driver honked the horn and the gates opened. On the inside it looked like a very nice bed and breakfast. They helped us carry our stuff up to our room, which by the way, was on the fourth floor. Ethiopians don’t have elevators. Once we settled into our room, we pretty much passed out. 
This last picture is our room in Ethiopia.
I'm so excited to read about your journey!
ReplyDeleteRandom thoughts: I think this is the first time that I've ever seen Ben. He already has that "proud papa" look, too. :)
The room at the guest house looks very nice. I'm assuming that that is mosquito netting?
Yes, I was wondering about the stuff on the ceiling as well. I thought the guest house was all bunk beds. Good to see you and Ben had a regular bed. Loving the story.
ReplyDelete