Dear ECS,
During the last weeks of our time in the U.S., you kept
asking about our “new house.” You knew
we were heading to a place with more stability and permanence than we had enjoyed
over the last several months in the U.S.
Always a perceptive one, even at a tender two years old.
And now we are in our new home. Mom just put you down for the night in your room. Before that we had a really delicious Ethiopian meal prepared of dry chicken tibs, rice, salad, green beans and a veggie medley by one of your lovely nannies. You ate rice and mangoes. Just like you have a great time pretty much wherever you find yourself here in Addis, and beyond.
And now we are in our new home. Mom just put you down for the night in your room. Before that we had a really delicious Ethiopian meal prepared of dry chicken tibs, rice, salad, green beans and a veggie medley by one of your lovely nannies. You ate rice and mangoes. Just like you have a great time pretty much wherever you find yourself here in Addis, and beyond.
It has been really nice to settle into our “new house” here
in Addis. It is a big one, with a vibe
that a buddy said was a little 80’s Miami Vice vibe. Our house is high -- in terms of
elevation. It sits at about 8,500 feet above sea level. For a big, bustling city, we lucked out to
have a house that is very quiet since it is several hundred yards off the
nearest busy street.
We also look out over rooftops and greenery from our porches to a degree that we could never have anticipated prior to arriving. Then there is the big and beautiful yard, with a mix of horticulture. It has flowers, a nascent garden that is fighting the good fight against the rainy season, large palms and a nice stretch of manicured grass for you to run around. You also have really taken to the big driveway, most of the days I have come home from work and you have been playing in the yard, pushing your mini car around the driveway or getting pushed around while talking on the phone. I let the talking and driving slide thus far, since it brings you so much joy.
Another nice part of our “new home” is its proximity to our work. Mom and I have about a 10 minute ride to work in the morning and maybe 15 minutes on the way home. For this city, that is right down the street. This means more time to play with you. We have even run home from work an evening or two a week thus far, which is liberating.
We also look out over rooftops and greenery from our porches to a degree that we could never have anticipated prior to arriving. Then there is the big and beautiful yard, with a mix of horticulture. It has flowers, a nascent garden that is fighting the good fight against the rainy season, large palms and a nice stretch of manicured grass for you to run around. You also have really taken to the big driveway, most of the days I have come home from work and you have been playing in the yard, pushing your mini car around the driveway or getting pushed around while talking on the phone. I let the talking and driving slide thus far, since it brings you so much joy.
Another nice part of our “new home” is its proximity to our work. Mom and I have about a 10 minute ride to work in the morning and maybe 15 minutes on the way home. For this city, that is right down the street. This means more time to play with you. We have even run home from work an evening or two a week thus far, which is liberating.
Other than those runs, which skew towards the utilitarian
based on the hustle and bustle of the streets to get home, we are actually well
set up for urban running in our neighborhood.
The older streets in our neighborhood are these old cobblestone gems,
winding throughout the hillside.
Yesterday your mom and I went for a run during your nap that took us along a number of these streets up to a beautiful orthodox church with a commanding view of the entire Addis valley.
Along the way, kids ran with and laughed at us, we chugged through a post
wedding party and a few feet from a large black cow grazing in a
muddy field. All from our house.
You enjoyed the hustle and bustle of seemingly inexhaustible and innumerable loved ones in the US prior to moving here to Addis. But, and I am almost assuredly biased, you are thriving in your “new home.” Your vocabulary and speech is astounding, and your development has continued at such an arresting pace for weeks on end. You are wickedly funny and take great joy in telling a good joke. You are laughing so much – and to be fair it helps having an inflated multi-stage kiddie pool with a mini slide in your living room.
You enjoyed the hustle and bustle of seemingly inexhaustible and innumerable loved ones in the US prior to moving here to Addis. But, and I am almost assuredly biased, you are thriving in your “new home.” Your vocabulary and speech is astounding, and your development has continued at such an arresting pace for weeks on end. You are wickedly funny and take great joy in telling a good joke. You are laughing so much – and to be fair it helps having an inflated multi-stage kiddie pool with a mini slide in your living room.
love,
dad
It's great to hear an update from you all!! I can't believe how much E has grown. We think of you often and hope you're settling in!
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