Post from Ethiopia

I tried to post the message below twice from Ethiopia last week but couldn't due to the connection, so here it is. Better late than never. (By the way, we're home and doing well! Details and photos coming soon!)

From Tuesday night, May 27, 2008
I'm sitting here with Mekdelawit sleeping on my lap in the New Flower Guest House in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.That statement about says it all doesn't it? Except that Mekdelawit is amazing, her personality is the sweetest thing I've ever experienced. And, Ethiopia is everything I thought it would be and at the same time nothing at all like what I expected. Poor Mek-Dee (as the wonderful Ethiopian women call her, or sometimes "Mek-a-Dee") has had diarrhea since I picked her up on Saturday. I took her to the hospital twice and she's now on antibiotics for a bacterial infection in the intestines. (Which cost me about $4.50 for the visits, $1.00 for the lab test, and just a few dollars for the antibiotics and electrolyte powder. Absolutely everything here is different from the U.S.) Hopefully, her diarrhea will clear up before the long flight home on Friday. The good news is that she's not acting sick at all (but then again, how would I know), no fever, dehydration, etc.The days are busy here, but for the most part enjoyable. I love the food and especially the coffee. When I get home, I hope to write about all the details of this adventure, there are so many to remember.