Day 222- Ilboru Lodge and Friends
Wednesday, February 13th, 2019.
Today we went to Ilboru Lodge, in the neighborhood where we first stayed. Sunshine and I were excited to use the pool and spend a relaxing day like we did in Arba Minch. Well, we couldn't use the pool. I even called the owner and told her that we were staying with Fred, the Airbnb host but that was the wrong thing to say. The owner told us that the pool was only available for hotel guests. I asked if we could stay and have lunch and of course, she said yes to that. We were so disappointed because it was a hot day and the pool was empty.
I was also upset that we couldn't invite our local friends into the lodge. Sunshine was excited to invite Daniel and Catherine, the kids from a small shop across the lodge. I didn't even bother asking because when I spoke to the owner she said, "let me talk to the gate person so they can let you in, they are very strict." I explained to her that we were already in. I felt very uncomfortable and unwelcome. Plus, the food was very expensive. [Gregory's note: the first clue is that the prices are in dollars! For example, a pizza was $7, coffee and beer were $3-$4.]
I texted Honorina (the cook from the old house) to see if we could come and visit, but since people were living there, she came to visit us instead. She is a real sweetheart. I don't know why I feel so fond of her. [Gregory's note: maybe because she cooks and cleans?] Anyway, I was surprised when she showed up by the pool -- I didn't think they would let her in. We hugged and chatted for a while. She told me that she won't have a job after March because the host might be selling the house.
After a while, we were hungry so we decided to leave the Lodge and eat our peanut butter sandwiches outside at Mama's store. [Gregory's note: "Mama" is a title here as well as a description, so when people address Lili, knowing she has kids, they call her Mama. Here, Lili is referring to the woman who runs the shop, Daniel and Catherine's mother.]
When we left the lodge, Mama was sitting outside with an Irish guy who lives here and other locals. We chatted for a while and as we sat, Gregory showed up on the back of a motorcycle! No comment. Well actually, yes. I guess I need to explain that these are another way of transportation to get around. They're cheaper than a taxi but I'm not sure how safe they are. Not to mention the helmet that who knows how many people have worn on their heads! [Gregory's note: I don't think those helmets get a lot of use!] Now, no comment! [Gregory's rebuttal: modes of transport here are as follows: contract taxis, private cars that work as taxis, dala dala (minivans that hold up to 18 or so), tuk-tuks, and bodaboda, which are pikipiki (motorbikes) for hire. Going up the dirt road was actually much smoother on a bike since they can avoid the ruts. It was pretty cheap, too, and it's great when there's traffic.]
We sat [in chairs on the dirt] outside Mama's store and chatted for a while [Gregory's note: with drinks from the shop next door]. I was waiting for Catherine to get out of school. When she finally arrived, she was so happy to see us. Half an hour later, she had to go to religious education class and asked Sunshine and me if we could walk her, so we did.
By then, I was ready to go home but Daniel, her brother, said that it was a short walk. Well, it wasn't that close [Gregory's note: it's an African short walk -- see my note about distance in Addis] but it didn't matter, we saw another side of the neighborhood which was like a small village with lots of trees and green areas. We saw a huge tree and Sunshine and Daniel played for a little bit. When Sunshine grabbed the big hanging branches, she almost smashed a tiny chameleon!
When we arrived at the church, there were many kids waiting and they all welcomed us, yelling "Mzungu" (white/foreigner) and "Karibu" (welcome). Catherine felt so happy and proud, I could tell. She held Sunshine's hand for most of the way. We dropped her off and walked back to the shop. On the way, we met Daniel's aunt who said that I looked very young to have a child of that age! I liked her right away, ha, ha!
We made it back and Gregory and his Irish friend were having a beer and a good time but Sunshine and I were ready to go home. We visited another of our new friends who is making Sunshine a pair of sandals. [Gregory's note: he's the world's hardest-working Rastafarian! I love to stop by his shop: he has pictures of Haile Selassie and he's always playing reggae.] By then, even Daniel wanted to go home but Gregory was having a great time. I wanted to call Freddy, our private driver to come and pick us up but he is expensive so we ended up taking a tuk-tuk back home (better than squeezing into a daladala!).
The tuk-tuk left us at the entrance of our dirt road and we walked home. We had a great day but for some reason, I felt drained. I also needed to take a second shower after walking in the dirt and sitting in the tuk-tuk. I don't know, you just feel covered in dust! [Gregory's note: you are covered in dust.] I made chicken teriyaki (Daniel taught me), white rice, and buttered carrots for dinner. I'm thankful to be here with happy people -- it is contagious. They don't try to sell us anything, they are genuinely nice and just want to be around us!
[Gregory's note: there is a Swahili word, pamoja. It means we are all together or everything is connected. It means you are connected to other people, to the earth, and the earth is connected to the sky, etc. So there is an underlying understanding of connection among people here.]
For pictures please click here
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7r5qDemSQ2misEJA8
Today we went to Ilboru Lodge, in the neighborhood where we first stayed. Sunshine and I were excited to use the pool and spend a relaxing day like we did in Arba Minch. Well, we couldn't use the pool. I even called the owner and told her that we were staying with Fred, the Airbnb host but that was the wrong thing to say. The owner told us that the pool was only available for hotel guests. I asked if we could stay and have lunch and of course, she said yes to that. We were so disappointed because it was a hot day and the pool was empty.
I was also upset that we couldn't invite our local friends into the lodge. Sunshine was excited to invite Daniel and Catherine, the kids from a small shop across the lodge. I didn't even bother asking because when I spoke to the owner she said, "let me talk to the gate person so they can let you in, they are very strict." I explained to her that we were already in. I felt very uncomfortable and unwelcome. Plus, the food was very expensive. [Gregory's note: the first clue is that the prices are in dollars! For example, a pizza was $7, coffee and beer were $3-$4.]
I texted Honorina (the cook from the old house) to see if we could come and visit, but since people were living there, she came to visit us instead. She is a real sweetheart. I don't know why I feel so fond of her. [Gregory's note: maybe because she cooks and cleans?] Anyway, I was surprised when she showed up by the pool -- I didn't think they would let her in. We hugged and chatted for a while. She told me that she won't have a job after March because the host might be selling the house.
After a while, we were hungry so we decided to leave the Lodge and eat our peanut butter sandwiches outside at Mama's store. [Gregory's note: "Mama" is a title here as well as a description, so when people address Lili, knowing she has kids, they call her Mama. Here, Lili is referring to the woman who runs the shop, Daniel and Catherine's mother.]
When we left the lodge, Mama was sitting outside with an Irish guy who lives here and other locals. We chatted for a while and as we sat, Gregory showed up on the back of a motorcycle! No comment. Well actually, yes. I guess I need to explain that these are another way of transportation to get around. They're cheaper than a taxi but I'm not sure how safe they are. Not to mention the helmet that who knows how many people have worn on their heads! [Gregory's note: I don't think those helmets get a lot of use!] Now, no comment! [Gregory's rebuttal: modes of transport here are as follows: contract taxis, private cars that work as taxis, dala dala (minivans that hold up to 18 or so), tuk-tuks, and bodaboda, which are pikipiki (motorbikes) for hire. Going up the dirt road was actually much smoother on a bike since they can avoid the ruts. It was pretty cheap, too, and it's great when there's traffic.]
We sat [in chairs on the dirt] outside Mama's store and chatted for a while [Gregory's note: with drinks from the shop next door]. I was waiting for Catherine to get out of school. When she finally arrived, she was so happy to see us. Half an hour later, she had to go to religious education class and asked Sunshine and me if we could walk her, so we did.
By then, I was ready to go home but Daniel, her brother, said that it was a short walk. Well, it wasn't that close [Gregory's note: it's an African short walk -- see my note about distance in Addis] but it didn't matter, we saw another side of the neighborhood which was like a small village with lots of trees and green areas. We saw a huge tree and Sunshine and Daniel played for a little bit. When Sunshine grabbed the big hanging branches, she almost smashed a tiny chameleon!
When we arrived at the church, there were many kids waiting and they all welcomed us, yelling "Mzungu" (white/foreigner) and "Karibu" (welcome). Catherine felt so happy and proud, I could tell. She held Sunshine's hand for most of the way. We dropped her off and walked back to the shop. On the way, we met Daniel's aunt who said that I looked very young to have a child of that age! I liked her right away, ha, ha!
We made it back and Gregory and his Irish friend were having a beer and a good time but Sunshine and I were ready to go home. We visited another of our new friends who is making Sunshine a pair of sandals. [Gregory's note: he's the world's hardest-working Rastafarian! I love to stop by his shop: he has pictures of Haile Selassie and he's always playing reggae.] By then, even Daniel wanted to go home but Gregory was having a great time. I wanted to call Freddy, our private driver to come and pick us up but he is expensive so we ended up taking a tuk-tuk back home (better than squeezing into a daladala!).
The tuk-tuk left us at the entrance of our dirt road and we walked home. We had a great day but for some reason, I felt drained. I also needed to take a second shower after walking in the dirt and sitting in the tuk-tuk. I don't know, you just feel covered in dust! [Gregory's note: you are covered in dust.] I made chicken teriyaki (Daniel taught me), white rice, and buttered carrots for dinner. I'm thankful to be here with happy people -- it is contagious. They don't try to sell us anything, they are genuinely nice and just want to be around us!
[Gregory's note: there is a Swahili word, pamoja. It means we are all together or everything is connected. It means you are connected to other people, to the earth, and the earth is connected to the sky, etc. So there is an underlying understanding of connection among people here.]
For pictures please click here
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7r5qDemSQ2misEJA8
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