Sorry for the lack of words. The past few weeks have been a continuous stream of stress. We have been packed out and will be heading to the States for a month or so, then on to our next post.  I have comments to make but will require some down time            .D.

It’s been a hectic last few weeks as I went to Port Louis, Mauritius to install some new equipment.  We worked some long tiring hours.  Terese came with me and was able to spend a lot of time on the beach and along the shops near the docks.  She deserves it and very much enjoyed it, plus there were a few days I was able to spend with her.

One day at noon, another co-worker and I went with Ayten to a small restaurant serving local food.  Ayten is one of our RSTs – the local security guys we work with.  He is a short round man with a bubbly mind, which makes it a task to talk to him at times.  Worse than talking to my daughter in her teen years.

The RSTs like to eat at that restaurant because the food is plentiful and cheap.  Sitting with Ayten will always yield an interesting discussion.  I like to talk with him just to see what’s in his mind.

We got into a discussion on religion.  He’s an Orthodox Christian but doesn’t adhere to the fasting and the rituals.  He said he will eat pork when he wants, but his wife and kids do not.  So, I asked him a hypothetical question I like to ask ornery people.  What follows is the conversation.

Ayten let me ask you something.

Okay, okay.                                

When you become very old …

Yes, yes.        

…  and you die.

Oh, no, no, no!         

Ayten you have to die sometime.

Okay, okay.

When you see Saint Peter at the gates of Heaven …

Yes, yes.

… what will He say to you?

Ayten leaned way back in his chair and threw his arms wide open and exclaimed, Welcome!  Welcome, my friend!

I cannot think it would be far from the truth.

When I got home, I had a day to prepare for another trip to Djibouti where I am now.  We had some outside repairs to perform, and luckily the cloud cover kept most of the direct sun off of us, but with the heat it was like working in an oven.  But I do have one day to sit out by the pool and relax before going back to work in the morning.  So, I’m sitting in a small coffee shop at the hotel and jotted these thoughts down now that I have a chance.

The next month will be very busy as I still have one more trip to make while we are packing out.  So, more later when time permits.

 Kick butt.  D.

I added a new section.  Look on the left under Page One, and click on the Something to Think About

Last Sunday afternoon, while at my secluded spot on the 6^th floor of the Boston building, I started hearing yelling and honking in the streets below.  My first thought was a wedding party driving by, which is not uncommon.  But within the hour, it became louder and continuous.  So, I asked the little waitress, Zanesh, what the ruckus was, and she said Ethiopia beat South Africa in football.

Many Americans do not fully comprehend World Football, commonly known as soccer in the States.  But it’s big business.  I’ve watched a few games on TV, but just could not get into it.  It would be like non-Americans watching NFL football.

Before leaving the club, I watched the hysteria on the streets below, which has now drawn people into the streets.  So when I left, I took a back way home, because the traffic on Bole was traveling at the revelers pace.  See picture below.

All the way home, at every intersection, hundreds were cheering and waving Ethiopian flags.  Most of the vehicles were driving with their flashers on.  So, since I was in “Rome” …  I turned my flashers on too; and as I passed the crowds, I waved like I was part of the celebration.  Once I was safely out of the commotion, I headed straight home where it was safe.

It’s been a busy few weeks and promises to get even more hectic.  Heading out for a two week trip in the next few days, then when we get home, start cleaning up and throwing away.  A team will come and pack us out next month and we need to be ready.

Sat with Hiwot a few minutes tonight and started talking about names.  As I mentioned before, her name means Life.  She said, when her mother was pregnant with her, she had Pre-eclampsia.  I think that is how it’s spelled.

The doctor told her mother that they will have to take the baby or she herself will die.  Her mother said, No, I give my baby life.  They told her, it will be either her or her daughter, but not both.  Even the Grandmother said, I want daughter, not grandchild.  Everyone was trying to get Hiwot’s mother to remove her so her mother will live.  Then Hiwot told us, When they argued with my mother, I came out!  So, her mother gave her the name of Life, since both of them lived.

We had our dinner party last Saturday with the four RSTs, my boss and several others from the office.  I cooked six chickens, but we ran out of food.  Everyone came, including those who said otherwise.  None-the-less, everyone had a good time.  One of the RSTs, (Solomon) brought his son and his niece.  So, I gave my camera to his son, because I really didn’t have time to take pictures.  I don’t know if the camera was set wrong, or he just couldn’t stand still long enough to take a picture, but they all are a little blurry.  Below is what I picked out that will be worth showing.

Michael, our friend and gardener, helped with the cooking.

Ayten with his daughter

Shawn and his son, Daniel.

Me getting to hold a baby.  –  Everyone had a good time, and we enjoyed seeing everyone’s families.                            More later.  Kick butt.

I went to the Italian food place on the hill and visited with Hiwot.  If you remember, she had HIV tainted blood shot into her eyes and was now having to take heavy medication which was making her groggy.  She was looking much better and seemed okay.  As it is with her, she started telling me what all was happening with her lately.

She went to her doctor, who became angry when he found out she was taking the medication she had.  Whoever it was who gave it to her, had given her a shot first then had her taking these high level pills.  Two at first.  She was so out of touch, she told me, she couldn’t read the cash register at work and was walking like “a drink of beer”.

Her doctor told her she should not be taking both the pills and the injections, and then proceeded to chew her butt out for not questioning whoever it was that gave her all the medication.  She lost a week of work and would wake up with her arms numb.  He told her not take the pills and go to the police station and tell them someone was trying to kill her!  He then told her, after a few more days, she would have become paralyzed!!.

Wow!  This is one of many reasons we do not go to a local doctor when we are ill.

Luckily, the little thing is back to her normal self after not taking the pills.

We will miss her most of all.

This is a long read, so I elected to post it in a .PDF file.  If you decide to print it out to read, since it tells a very hard and personal story, please destroy it afterwards, as a respect to a very good man.  You will find it on the left under Page Two, under My Most Unforgettable Characters.