The final stages of the countdown

Really? Is this REALLY my last Tuesday in Africa? Am I never going to watch MTV Arabia at night anymore? It still does not seem real. I feel like Sunday is so far away. I have been looking forward to going home for so long now, I can't even believe it is here. This has been the longest and quickest 3 months of my life.

This place has become my home. Even though it is considered a guest house, after a few weeks, you stop being a guest. Which is good, and bad. Good because I feel at home, and can do what I want... but bad because the workers stop treating us like a guest. You broke your toilet seat, and it wont stay on the toilet long enough for you to sit? Solution? Tape it yourself! Your bathroom smells because there is no running water? Solution? Use the other bathroom so yours does not smell. (I am not sure why my examples have to do with toilets... but they do.)

All that to say, I think I am going to miss this place. Mostly the people. Our cooking/cleaning lady who I can't remember her name. Every morning she greets us in Amharic, and yells GOBEZ when we answer. Every morning. It is exciting. Every time. And Desta, who I found out, spells his name Destaw. He is just a fun guy. He does what we ask, no questions... even if it is compleatly redicilous request. Like asking hime to wake up early on Aprl 1 to help us fool someone. Which we did, and it was EPIC. And here they call it April The Fool. Which is a fantastic name, and one I am going to use henceforth. Or hiding a sheep from someone. Or help making food in the kitchen because I am afraid of rats. Or jumping in on random dance parties. He is just a bundel of fun. Today for example, Deanna and I were sitting in the living room, reading, and could see Desta(w) through the window. And he was straddeling the railing of the front poarch and laughing. He saw D and I watching him in confusion, and came inside to inform us that he was riding a "gamel" (camel) like we did a few weeks ago. What? We laughed, hard. I guess there is not much to do outside all day, when you are just guarding the house. And Amare. I wont miss getting beat up daily, and being teased ALL the time. This man is pure Ethiopian. But is funny, and kind, and basically a walking party. And I will miss Masre, and Amen, and the Kalkidans (there are 2) and Faven, whom we nick-named flava flave. And our american friends. I don't know if I could have done this with out them. Kaela and her roomates. And her house. Like America in Addis. I have spent weekends there pretending that it is normal to be white. And eating food with utensles, and watching movies. And taking showers. I love little America. And I love Kaela and Co for letting me vent, and complain, and for helping me realize that my feelings are normal, and I am not the only one who has culture. Apparently Deanna is a freak, and I took her culture shock. I had it bad enough for both of us, and then some.

Oh Deanna. She is the best travel buddy one could ask for. Who else would be up for staying awake until 3am, just because I think it is a good idea to acclimate ourselves to the US a week early? Or to take random walks to the garbage dump, or not shower for weeks, and not complain about it? I think that traveling with anyone else for this amount of time would have killed me. But not Deanna. WWe have not been separated in these 3 months. Not once. Even in the hotel in Awassa, we were told that we could not share a room, so we paid for 2, but only used one! We wake up in the morning, and have little meetings to inform each other what we missed out on while the other was sleeping. Like dreams, or thought that may have occured in the early morning. I don't know what I am going to do without her in America. It is a good thing that we have made plans to go to lunch and see a movie the day after we get back. Wean ourselves slowly.

Sooo, I can't remember the point of this blog. I like people I guess? It's true. I love them! But am excited to see my family. My nephews are leaving me videos on Facebook telling me to come home, so I will! And my BFF is about to have her baby, my namesake, and I would not miss that for the world. I applied for a job already, and God willing will have one ASAP, and can start my life in Washington. I am excited. But Africa will always be apart of me. I am already planning my trip back. And still want to adopt from here, even more so now. I want to make this place a regular part of my life. I am offically addicted. And I like it!