Another Day at Sele Enat

Today was orphanage day again, but first we travelled to the Piazza (I believe shops built during the Mussolini occupation) to buy balls...soccer and volley. No Walmart here, everything small vendor. We are told by Lee (guest house host) that everything is cheaply made and doesn't last as long as in the states. We will never know, but the orphanage was filled with deflated balls, which is why we bought them.

Peggy, who works in a school, organized arts and crafts activities and I made some attempt to help, although as a non-teacher, this task was a bit beyond me. At the end there were crayons everywhere and markers with missing tops! 

Adanach was very attached to a two-year-old in the toddler room who was not yet walking. 

I attempted to play volleyball, but was quite rusty and almost immediately sprained my poor thumb. Peggy claims to have funny pictures of me attempting volleyball which I will not share here.

We had lunch at a little cafe, no sign, a block from the orphanage. This cafe was run by former Nannies of Layla House -- who were let go (as were all the staff) due to a problem (unknown). At that time Layla became Sele Enat.

At any rate, the nannies welcomed us and one thought she remembered Adanech. This was a real local cafe where workmen went for a quick lunch. The food was very good..Messer Wat? I need to learn the names of the dishes! They also had a lady in the corner making coffee and tea on a little brazier. The coffee was delicious! 

Driving and walking through Addis is a trip! Today we saw large cows, donkeys, and I think the same goats. No land planning here. As I look out from our kitchen, I see houses with small amounts of land surrounded by tall buildings, many unfinished. Everywhere there are cranes to building shells that look like they've been there for years. Walking so far has been either in dirt/mud or on sidewalks that have been dug up with many holes all around. Mind you there are areas that are city-like and stable such as the piazza, but it seems that there is quite a bit of the country inside of Addis.

Today we go to the ethnological museum where Lucy lives and to a fabric market.