Before that - just a few updates -
So we had a wonderful time Wednesday night at Alemu's home. A coffee ceremony, traditional food - which for Nate included french fries.
Thursday was a crazy day - the hotel and MUCH of the city lost water. Unfortunately the guest house didn't let us know till about 5:30 - would have been better to just let us know so that we would understand. And our TV lost signal again - but they finally fixed it.
So we had a taxi driver - a really great guy - when I unpack I'll post his name and info for anyone traveling. He works close with many agencies and hotels taking people places. He was so helpful! I can't even thank this man enough. I wanted to take Nate and go to ONE store to pick up a few more souvenirs! Maybe two - but this driver took us to a new section of the shopping area near the post office - so I got to find everything in ONE store. Then we wanted to convert our extra birr back to US $. the airport said if we do this, we had to have a receipt and go to a bank in town! Well guess what - they forgot to tell us we needed an airplane ticket - which we really couldn't get - had to check in at the counter! UGH - so that was annoying - oh and we had to wait OVER AN HOUR - but the driver was great - he talked so I could see what they were saying. And kept the mob away - there wasn't really any line! Ha.
but the interesting part - we met this nice young man from NY City that is Kenyan - and he was just there traveling Ethiopia! What an amazing young man.
So then the issues at the hotel - they forgot to arrange a driver to take us to the airport! i had asked for that in the morning and I guess the two shifts forgot to mention it - ends up the owner drove us in her own car and wouldn't take money! She had given us Thursday (half day) free because she felt bad about everything else. This time, we were early and check in was so easy! Some guy helped with all the luggage ALL THE Way to check in! Yeah - we even picked up a few more things while waiting. Ran into a few people there coming home as well.
Now to the 17 hour plane ride home. We took Ethiopian Air and I really liked them. Lufthansa is Great too! Both have pro's and con's in different ways - but highly recommend either to people traveling. Leaving at 10:30 pm was good. Both boys slept. Forced Nate to sleep at midnight to just shut his eyes. And he was out in minutes - and slept for about 7 or 8 hours! Curt got some sleep too. We were lucky to have the bulkhead and get the bassinet for Curt! NICE to have him sleep there for a bit and to even sit and play there! He liked it! Anyhow - this flight stopped in Rome for a crew change and refueling for an hour! Between all that and being so late - we all slept good and it made the first 6 hours go by fast. I know it was long - but in my mind with us sleeping it wasn't too bad.
However, they didn't really serve enough water or have it available like the flight over so we can get drinks on our own. So Craig and I were VERY dehydrated when we landed in DC. I was dizzy and he had horrible head aches! Curt was starving and melting down! We finally got through immigration and Curt is officially a US Citizen!!!!! Yes - important part - yeah! We'll get the final paper work in the next few weeks - but yeah! Anyhow - we got him fed and he was so happy. He was crawling ALL over the floor at the gate - normally probably wouldn't allow that - but man - he sure needed to just get out and move. And it was nice for him to just get around without clinging to me and Craig - he's feeling more comfortable and knowing we will still be there.
arriving in Detroit was a little surprise - I knew my sister in law Stacey was picking us up and figured my brother would come too - but my dad and his wife were there too - all with signs and little things for both boys! That was nice. Curt did pretty well, a few tears and trying to get back to Craig and I - ha! But they understood that. It was just nice to be see family and have a welcoming crew! And to just get home!
We stayed up as late as possible but our bodies were 7 hours ahead - Craig fell asleep around 5 or a little after. Nate and I ordered Pizza (even though we had some nice food for us - we will be using that today - thanks for family and friends). AT 7 Nate said he was taking a nap - we told him to just go to bed. Curt went down shortly after that. And Craig and I were both asleep shortly after that. Curt got up a few times, tried to sleep with us for a bit - and we ended up on the couch sleeping. Craig and Nate were up at like 4:50 this morning - and I got a bit more sleep!
Now - Craig's off to the store, Nate and I are hanging out and Curt is sleeping! yeah - we will get on a schedule and slowly getting all the advice from people with kids from Engida Orphanage as well! So that will really help with the adjustment.
ok in the car seat! yeah.
Hopefully we'll get into a good schedule shortly. I hear its not too bad. And the attaching is starting - which is good! Yeah! So all that we see over the next few weeks - please understand.
Thanks
Gail
Thursday was a crazy day - the hotel and MUCH of the city lost water. Unfortunately the guest house didn't let us know till about 5:30 - would have been better to just let us know so that we would understand. And our TV lost signal again - but they finally fixed it.
So we had a taxi driver - a really great guy - when I unpack I'll post his name and info for anyone traveling. He works close with many agencies and hotels taking people places. He was so helpful! I can't even thank this man enough. I wanted to take Nate and go to ONE store to pick up a few more souvenirs! Maybe two - but this driver took us to a new section of the shopping area near the post office - so I got to find everything in ONE store. Then we wanted to convert our extra birr back to US $. the airport said if we do this, we had to have a receipt and go to a bank in town! Well guess what - they forgot to tell us we needed an airplane ticket - which we really couldn't get - had to check in at the counter! UGH - so that was annoying - oh and we had to wait OVER AN HOUR - but the driver was great - he talked so I could see what they were saying. And kept the mob away - there wasn't really any line! Ha.
but the interesting part - we met this nice young man from NY City that is Kenyan - and he was just there traveling Ethiopia! What an amazing young man.
So then the issues at the hotel - they forgot to arrange a driver to take us to the airport! i had asked for that in the morning and I guess the two shifts forgot to mention it - ends up the owner drove us in her own car and wouldn't take money! She had given us Thursday (half day) free because she felt bad about everything else. This time, we were early and check in was so easy! Some guy helped with all the luggage ALL THE Way to check in! Yeah - we even picked up a few more things while waiting. Ran into a few people there coming home as well.
Now to the 17 hour plane ride home. We took Ethiopian Air and I really liked them. Lufthansa is Great too! Both have pro's and con's in different ways - but highly recommend either to people traveling. Leaving at 10:30 pm was good. Both boys slept. Forced Nate to sleep at midnight to just shut his eyes. And he was out in minutes - and slept for about 7 or 8 hours! Curt got some sleep too. We were lucky to have the bulkhead and get the bassinet for Curt! NICE to have him sleep there for a bit and to even sit and play there! He liked it! Anyhow - this flight stopped in Rome for a crew change and refueling for an hour! Between all that and being so late - we all slept good and it made the first 6 hours go by fast. I know it was long - but in my mind with us sleeping it wasn't too bad.
However, they didn't really serve enough water or have it available like the flight over so we can get drinks on our own. So Craig and I were VERY dehydrated when we landed in DC. I was dizzy and he had horrible head aches! Curt was starving and melting down! We finally got through immigration and Curt is officially a US Citizen!!!!! Yes - important part - yeah! We'll get the final paper work in the next few weeks - but yeah! Anyhow - we got him fed and he was so happy. He was crawling ALL over the floor at the gate - normally probably wouldn't allow that - but man - he sure needed to just get out and move. And it was nice for him to just get around without clinging to me and Craig - he's feeling more comfortable and knowing we will still be there.
arriving in Detroit was a little surprise - I knew my sister in law Stacey was picking us up and figured my brother would come too - but my dad and his wife were there too - all with signs and little things for both boys! That was nice. Curt did pretty well, a few tears and trying to get back to Craig and I - ha! But they understood that. It was just nice to be see family and have a welcoming crew! And to just get home!
We stayed up as late as possible but our bodies were 7 hours ahead - Craig fell asleep around 5 or a little after. Nate and I ordered Pizza (even though we had some nice food for us - we will be using that today - thanks for family and friends). AT 7 Nate said he was taking a nap - we told him to just go to bed. Curt went down shortly after that. And Craig and I were both asleep shortly after that. Curt got up a few times, tried to sleep with us for a bit - and we ended up on the couch sleeping. Craig and Nate were up at like 4:50 this morning - and I got a bit more sleep!
Now - Craig's off to the store, Nate and I are hanging out and Curt is sleeping! yeah - we will get on a schedule and slowly getting all the advice from people with kids from Engida Orphanage as well! So that will really help with the adjustment.
ok in the car seat! yeah.
Hopefully we'll get into a good schedule shortly. I hear its not too bad. And the attaching is starting - which is good! Yeah! So all that we see over the next few weeks - please understand.
Thanks
Gail
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