Macchiato Mania

Morning macchiato (note message from Desu):

Afternoon macchiato (ala Sheraton):

Does this make me an addict?

Bami  had a lot of fun Rahel/Azeb time today as I did some JDC work.  As you well know, we are anxiously awaiting the Embassy decision in our cases.  The last communication we received was that the Embassy needs to check the certification of the orphanage with the Ethiopian government.  Sounds to me like bureaucratic busywork but we have no control and can only keep our fingers crossed and practice our yoga breathing.  And drink coffee.

Until tomorrow….

--J and B

Washer, Dryer, Copy Machine…CHECK

We did it!! 

Thanks to the generosity of many of you, together with the other Adoption Avenue families and their networks, we successfully raised the money needed to cover the equipment requested by the Biftu Orphanage. 

Today J. Mo, Bami and I had the PLEASURE of going shopping with Tariq (Biftu Director) and Mr. Bere (AA Program Director) and it was a GREAT time on several fronts.  We got to spend time with two fantastic people whose life work has impacted ours immeasurably, and who are a part of our Ethiopian family.

It was also very gratifying to have set a goal, seen it to completion and to know that the orphanage will be operating with optimal equipment for the foreseeable future. 

I am incredibly humbled by all of YOU who so easily and generously contributed…THANK YOU!!!

GO TEAM BAMLAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the interest of transparency, here is the accounting and some pics from our FUN, FUN day!!

Copy Machine and extra ink:  Ethiopian Birr 39,986.00=$2,352.12

Washer: Ethiopian Birr 11,986.96=$705.12

Dryer: Ethiopian Birr 8,130.43=$478.26

TOTAL: 60,103.39=$3,535.49

 

                                                                                  

On another less consequential but still exciting note, I tried something new today for the FIRST time in my life…coffee!! 

Well, it was actually a macchiato and it was made especially for me by Desu, the Semien’s barista.  It was not at all bitter and tasted more of warm sweet milk than coffee.  Since coffee drinking is such a big part of Ethiopian culture, I am happy that I can now stomach at least one type of coffee drink but, to minimize the vice, I am going to limit myself to drinks bearing secret messages.

Love and Goodnight from Addis,

--Jen and Tali Bami

Your Face is Ugly But Your Food Is Good

OK, perhaps something was lost in translation, but after a 10 minute conversation about the phrase, KAFIT FITU FITU, we were left believing that that is the proper thing to say when you arrive to someone’s home as a guest and they serve you good food.  Or it might mean something about love.   I don't suggest trying it out on your Ethiopian neighbor (if you like him/her) because we really have no idea.  

In any case, we had a wonderful surprise tonight.  Mengi, Rahel and Azeb came over with a totally homemade Ethiopian feast.  They brought Shiro Wat, injera, imbasha (bread), salad and buna (coffee.)  For dessert: pastries and popcorn.  It was such a sweet gesture, totally yummy and really fun.  They tried to teach us a little Amharic and the conversation got quite silly, as you may have already guessed.  It was a welcome break from the anxiety of thinking about this week's Embassy decision.

During the day, J. Mo, babies and I enjoyed the food, sun and grounds at the Sheraton which was also a very nice respite. 

We explained our Embassy situation to Mengi, Rahel and Azeb and they are going to pray for us.  My cousin Jackie has been instructed by her sister Karen to go into the yoga pose "where every part of the body is crossed."  Several people have written to say that they have a "good feeling" about this week's decision.  Keep those positive vibes, prayers and postures coming!

Love and Goodnight from Addis,

--Jen and Tali Bami

Self-preservation

Self preservation suggests that I stay positive and focused.

I focus on Tali Bamlak.  I look into her big brown smiling eyes and work and pray for a deep, positive and secure attachment that will carry her through her life.  I focus on the beauty of this precious time and how very lucky I am to be here with my beautiful baby.  And I focus on the richness of this experience for me now…and for us later.

The consequence of all that “focusing,” however, is often blocking out the very painful reality around me.  But once in a while, the dam breaks and the flood gates open.   Today was one of those days.

J. Mo and I had lunch with an adopting family who came to Addis to meet their babies and for their first court visit.  They are a young couple (@30 years old) with 4 biological children at home and are adopting 2 boys—one 6 months and one 13 months old. 

In addition to getting to know their babies, they have spent the week gathering information about the birth parents of their children and their respective backgrounds.  Yesterday they had the rare opportunity to meet the mothers of both of their sons.

In each case, the mothers were unmarried teenagers from very poor rural areas about one hour outside of Addis.  In each case, the babies were relinquished by their mothers citing situations of rape. 

Each girl was painfully shy and one looked malnourished and possibly very ill.  They came to Addis accompanied by older female relatives who, for the most part, spoke for them.

Apparently, there are cultural misunderstandings that babies adopted out will become house servants.  To be a house servant means that you are provided with shelter, food and clothing and is often more than parents can provide.  In this case, the girls and their families were encouraged to come to this meeting by the orphanage director who wanted to broaden their understanding of adoption and what it really means for their babies. 

The couple (I am not using their name to protect their privacy) explained that their boys would get the same love, number of hugs and kisses, education and discipline as each of their children.  They showed them a family photo and told the two mothers that these children will be brothers and sisters.  The mothers broke down in tears. 

Totally and utterly heartbreaking, right?   Try that kinda thing seven or eight times a day.

My solace?  See below.

That and chocolate.

Love and Goodnight from Addis,

--Jen and Tali Bamlak

Bami and Boys Birthday Bash

What a blast we all had at Dr. Rick’s celebrating baby birthdays (TBK= 6 months, Bedasa and Shikuri=8 months) and Shabbat.  Rick is still out of the country and we PARTIED it up (don’t tell him pleaseJ).
 

Mengi drove Fitz and I around gathering supplies while J. Mo and Azeb had about 15 kids and young adults back at the house entertaining the babies.

 

After the Shabbat rituals, folks ate dinner and we started the Birthday party. 

We had 2 cakes:  one “fasting” (non-dairy) and one definitely not: chocolate all the way.  We also picked up soda, strawberries, oranges, mini plums, candy, cookies, roasted chickpeas, watermelon and dabo (sspecial Ethiopian bread.)

The girls organized a Buna (coffee) ceremony complete with grass on the ground and popcorn and soon after the Happy Birthday songs, the dancing began. 

Hope the pictures capture the fun.

Shabbat Shalom (#9) from Addis,
--Jen and Birthday Bami

Embassy update and TBK is 6 months old!

As it is Thursday, J. Mo, baby crew and I headed over to the U.S. Embassy to check in with our buddy, Evan Elliot (who I learned today is from Leadville, CO and his father was the city’s mayor for 8 years!). 

We were pleasantly surprised to learn that the investigator is currently in the region (Harar) and due back tomorrow and will submit his report by the middle of the next week.

The goal of the Embassy investigation is to confirm the orphan status of each case in question.  If the investigation satisfies the Embassy’s definition of an orphan, it can issue the visit and schedule the exit interview within a few days.

If they are NOT satisfied, the case gets sent to the USCIS/Nairobi Office which conducts another investigation.  This generally takes about a month.

What to think…

Best case scenario, we could be out of here within 2 weeks.   It is also quite likely that our cases will be sent to Nairobi and be another @5 weeks.  I know of 3 families from our adoption agency whose cases have recently been sent to Nairobi for further investigation.  

I don’t even want to think about a worse case scenario, so I won’t.

On a less anxious note, TBK turned 6 months old today!!  As such, we splurged and had a great time lunching at the Sheraton.  We are having a bigger celebration tomorrow night with the Hodes’ household --to coincide with our 9^th Shabbat.

My mom sent Tali a beautiful note and reminded me that today is also the yartzeit (death anniversary) of my Grandmother, Selma “Eamie” Sax Pink.

-----Original Message-----

From: pat kraft

Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 11:24 AM

To: Jennifer Kraft

Subject: To Tali Bamlak Kraft

Dearest Tali,

Thanks to your cousin Karen, we are reminded that it is your 6th month birthday and your Poppa and I join the rest of your family in wishing you a long and happy life, and an especially fun day in celebration.

    

Today is also a day of reflection for me.  Looking back 14 years ago, your Mommy was with me when we said goodbye to my mommy, "Beamie," your Great grandmother ....an expected but sad day for so many people that loved her. Two days ago I received in the mail a plaque that had hung in our synagogue in Benton Harbor, MI, for many years, commemorating the many good deeds she had accomplished....

So my little one, your name will always be Beamie to me, no matter what we call you, to honor the memory of both of your great-grandmothers who truly lived life doing deeds of "loving kindness."

May your awesome Ema raise you to follow these precepts with humor, love and much joy...HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you and  love to your Ema."

LOVE and can’t wait to hold you.  Uncle Gary thinks you are terrific.  He arrived home exhausted but happy last night.....Poppa and me."

Love and Goodnight from Addis,
--Jen and Beamie

A Day of Rest

Today Tali Bami and I stayed close to home and caught up on rest from our busy week with Uncle Gary and a few nights of interrupted sleep for various reasons.   She is busy making noises and reaching for things and can stand with assistance longer than she used to be able to.  Working on those ski legs!

Our wonderful part time babysitter, Rahel, stopped by this afternoon just because she missed Bamlak.  Rahel calls Tali Bam “my pastry” because she is so sweet and explained that she thinks about Bami all the time and hears her cute little sounds in her head.  I totally get it. 

I LOVE being there when she wakes up from a nap or sleep and being the first thing she sees.  How do people not eat their young, I want to know?!?!??!

This is a nice Italian man who is staying at our hotel.  He calls Bami "Bambina Bellisima"!!

Ciao from Addis,

--Jen and Pastry

GAK's last day in Ethiopia

I just said goodbye to my big brother and am still a bit teary.  We had a GREAT time together and it means SO much to me that he now knows and loves Tali Bami and that he has shared this experience with both of us.

Today the 3 Krafts lunched at Lucy...

and then walked over to the national Museum where he met the restaurant's namesake himself (well, actually a copy of Lucy because she is on loan in the U.S.) 

While Gary wandered around the museum, TBK and I sat on a couch near the entrance and, as usual, she attracted quite a bit of attention.  At one point, we held court to a group of tourists: 2 women from Sweden and 3 from China.   While one of them held Tali Bami, they asked me a lot of questions about her, the adoption process, etc.  They were very sweet. 

Gary came to tell us that Fitz had arrived and we said goodbye to our new friends.  When we were out of earshot, Gary told me that he overheard one of those women telling the other, "that looks like it was meant to be."  I cried.

We also walked passed two Ethiopian women in their 60's who stopped to say hello to TBK.  One of them asked me in fairly good English if she was adopted, where was she from, etc.  I told them that her name is Bamlak and the one that didn't speak English pointed to the sky and then to the baby.  I smiled and nodded.  As we parted, they told me to take good care of the baby.  Again, tears.  The approval by Ethiopians of me as Bami's mother is very meaningful.

After the museum, Fitz, Gary and I took a ride out to Fikru's to visit and see his beautiful house and incredible painting studio.  We had a great time.

Tali Bami took Fikru's jacuzzi for a test drive and we both dug the disco-like shower with its lights and piped in music.

Fitz and Tali Bami in Fikru's garden...

One the way home we stopped at a spice shop so GAK could pick up some berbere-- a unique Ethiopian cooking ingredient which consists of about 16 different spices-- and some chili pepper powder (he likes it HOT!!).

Mengi came to pick him up to take him to the airport and received an ABO hat which made Mengi smile from ear to ear.  They exchanged e-mail addresses and Mengi told GAK that he was really going to miss him.  SWEET!!!

A last goodbye just before the airport run....

I am SO grateful to GAK for schlepping across the globe to be with us.  We love him and miss him already!!

Love and Goodnight from Addis,

Hanging Out

I have taken a few pics of our abode, in case you were wondering what our digs are like.  As you can see, we have several different zones.  One is for storing and assembling what goes into 13. 6 lb Tali Bamlak, the other is for dealing with what comes out.   In case the health inspector is reading this, there is a good 4 feet in between the two.

In the afternoon Fitz and Eden took Gary to the Mercato, rumored to be the biggest market in Africa.  It is a crazy place, a mini city, where they say you can get anything from a carburetor to a camel.   Not a shopper, I was shocked when he came home with a gifts for the babies—little baseball hats!!  Gary also gave Fitz an ABO(Aspen Base Operation) hat and so here we are (in the sleeping zone) posing with our new hats.  

Our amazing friend Shaun has apparently been concerned that being limited to Channel 2 was damaging our cultural sensibilities so he brought over his hard drive and downloaded loads of TV shows and movies onto to each of our computers. Good riddance Arnold Schwarzenegger!!

Bath time was super fun.  J. Mo was encouraging Bami to get wild with her feet like the boys.   Ask me to see that video someday if you need a good laugh.

And finally, we took Gary over to the Sheraton so he could see the palace and have the best Indian food ever.  We had a great time.  Over dinner we decided that Bedasa is going to grow up to look like Fikru.  What do you think!?!?

While I am writing this, Uncle Gary is beginning his tutelage of his niece.  she is sitting on his lap mesmerized by his mastery of A Monster Ate My Homework (an I Pad video game).  He made it to level 7.  She is VERY impressed.

Love and Namaste from Addis,

--Jen and Co.