I’m ALIVE! Well I made it to Addis in one piece and by some miracle I found Nebeu’s cousin Abiti in the airport. Getting a visa and everything was really simple. We got a taxi and went to look at the hotels I was thinking of staying in. Abiti didn’t like the look of any of them so he said I should stay with his family for the night. So with that out of the way we went to play some pool. For lunch I had a burger, Pepsi and fries… no joke. I was trying to explain that I hadn’t had a burger in over 4 years but I don’t think the point got across. The burger was AMAZING. Pool was fun too.
Afterward we went to his house and I met his awesome mom. She’s hilarious. She took me to her friend Sara’s house who is a pilot for Ethiopian Airlines. Their house is really nice. They have a Samsung TV and a bathroom with a shower that has a tile floor. When I got there they were eating so I was obliged to sit down and eat even more food after I’d just eaten a burger for the first time in 4 years. The food was SO SPICY. And that’s saying something because I can handle pretty spicy food.
So I’m sitting there trying to eat this food, which is slowly incinerating everything in my mouth. All the while pretending like I’ve never eaten better food. Finally the pilot realized that I was literally on fire… I think my skin may have gone pale by this point. So they got me water and mango juice, which I now am addicted to.
Anyway… I ate myself into a coma… which they appreciated, and we went outside for a coffee ceremony. I love their coffee here. They thought it was funny how much I liked the coffee so now whenever they ask about me they are like, “Hey! How’s coffee doing?!” This would be the first of several nicknames I’ve received while in Addis.
Things I noticed on the first day:
Insane drivers and even more insanely packed taxis, donkeys walking in the road, shops everywhere, men holding hands, and bodies mangled from Polio.
More news to come, when I can get time and Internet access…
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hooray!!! You GO, girl! P.
FINALLY. I was about to be getting really freaked out that you hadn’t written yet.
I knew you’d come back to the dark side of eating meat someday Kayla…I always knew.
So proud u ate a burger love… You know I’ll be stalking you all summer. xo
I’m so glad you made it safe and sound! Thank you for sharing your adventures, Kayla. We love you! ~Auntie Maureen