5/23 Day 5 Coffee Ceremony

5/23 Day 5 Coffee Ceremony

We were honored to be invited to share in a traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony this afternoon. Tigist, the head cook and her helper prepared the scene beautifully for us! First they lit the charcoals to roast the coffee beans "buna" and the smell is smoky and fragrant! Next popcorn was offered as a light snack while the beans were roasting. Tigist said the women usually prepare the coffee on Sundays after church and it's a very social event. She joked and said its not for men, it would be too much work for them! When the beans were almost done roasting you could hear them pop and crack open. It was so relaxing and the smell was wonderful. Next, they ground the roasted beans and put a carafe of water on the coals. Then, they added the fresh roasted and ground coffee to the carafe. Tigist asked if we took sugar and we all said yes. We invited them to join in our coffee with us. We thanked them over and over for their hospitality. We told them how special it was for us to have been a part of a coffee ceremony. I think it was the best cup of coffee i have ever had. Both babies were taking in the scene getting a little fussy now and then. There was a gorgeous breeze and really nice Ethiopian music playing in the background. I am so glad I got to experience such a unique Ethiopian ceremony with our son. I keep wishing Jason was here to see everything. I only hope my journals and pictures will help tell the story!

Tyler is napping and I just finished sink laundry. He is doing better with the bottle and i hope by the time we have to get on the plane on Thursday that he will be taking the full thing!

I am loving our guest house. The food is outstanding, the place is so clean and spacious it really feels very much like a home and not a hotel. Today Kari, Jeremy, Evan, Tyler and I had lunch in the common room. The boys had their bottles and played on the floor while we had our Lipton soup from our Nalgene bottles! Even though it was circumstantial I am so glad we were "home bound" for the past two days. I. Think the children AND adults needed it! I think all of us are very much the same easy going type of people. They are very aware of cultural sensitivity and we do our best to mirror those around us. It's been an amazing experience here and i am so glad we chose Jemimah Guest House! (pronounced JEH-mee-mah).

Tomorrow we have some business to take care of at the Bethany office. I think Abel said he'd be here for us around 10:30 am but i will have to check with Kari. I know we will have breakfast at 7:30 so we will have plenty of time to get ready for Abel. I need to remember the money for the embassy fee, the paperwork, and i forget what else! I do have it written down.

I am excited to meet the other families and kids tomorrow too. There is another family coming to the Jemimah House tonight and I so know how they are going to feel!!

I look forward to Jason's call tonight! Also, going to check email in a bit too!

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