PROCESS
Rakeb is currently working on preparing for the visa interview!
We still do not have a date locked in for that, but it is really the next (and
biggest) step in the entire process!
Amanda and I are planning ahead as if she will be coming here for
sure. We just moved into a new place! Instead of a 350 square foot studio
apartment we now have a two-bedroom, two bathroom condo that is in Denver’s
East High School district! We now meet all of the requirements that Amicus asks
of host families and we are ready for Rakeb to arrive!
RAKEB
Rakeb’s little sister Akleysia recently turned 12-years-old! I
had the opportunity to chat with her for a few minutes during my last phone
call to Rakeb, and I asked her what she did to celebrate her birthday. I was
expecting to hear that the family went to see a movie, that they ate a special
meal, or other friends from her school came to spend time with her. I heard
none of this though. Akleysia informed me that for her birthday she and Rakeb
took a walk. That’s it. While this seemed sad to me at first, I was surprised
to hear no hint of grander expectations in her comments. She seemed fully
content to have just taken a walk with her big sister to celebrate her
birthday. Yet another reminder that other cultures have much to teach us
Americans about life.
Akleysia. This picture captures her essence perfectly!
ETHIOPIA
I have navigated public transportation in NYC, Chicago, Denver,
London, Switzerland, France, Panama, etc… but nothing comes close to comparing
with the chaotic system in place in Ethiopia. Here are your options. If you are
just navigating the capital city of Addis Ababa then you can…
1)
Get a normal taxi. Depending on the time of day, how white
you are, and how far you are going this ride should cost between $3 and $10.
2)
Hop on a minivan taxi. These taxis carry up to 15 people
in them and travel on specific routes. I wouldn’t recommend trying this alone
the first few times you jump on, but sooner or later you might figure out the
system. These rides will take you to all parts of the city and cost between
$0.05 and $0.20. This is actually what I did the whole time I was in Addis
Ababa. It is an adventure in itself. It doesn’t matter if you are elderly,
disabled, or a pregnant woman. Nobody will think twice about shoving you
(literally) to ensure that they get a spot on the minivan. Elbows and a reduced
sense of compassion is a must if you plan to use this system.
Minivan taxis lining the street
3)
Brave the city bus. I never worked up the courage to do
so, but it is even cheaper than the minivan taxis. The reason I never tried it
out was because I have no idea where they go, how much it cost, or how to even
get on. Usually when one passed me the doors would open and there was a wall of
people clinging to anything they could grasp inside the door (including other
people), so they didn’t fall out. The brave souls were not deterred by the
apparent inhospitable environment and somehow merged into the wall of beings.
Maybe on my next trip I will give it a shot.
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