Hawassa Pictures

We arrived home around 6pm Monday August 5th. I slept 12 hours, and Tuesday took a 4 hour nap. Jet Lag is for real.  Plus I think I picked up some kind of bug that completely zapped me of feeling human for a day. I went back to work today. Told my boss that my last day of working part-time, of working at Green Country where I have been for 8 years, will be sometime mid-September as we prepare to welcome our baby home hopefully shortly after that.  It's good to be home.  It's also strange to be home in some ways. Such a quick trip, but 9 days away from our boy felt long. I'm still processing. Still sorting through some thoughts and emotions. Life has a way of dumping a lot of things on you at once sometimes. Good things. Hard things. Uncertain things. Redeeming things.
But for now, some pictures, some reflections on just two of our days, our four hour trip to Hawassa Thursday August 1 and our 6 hour trip home the next day. We were grateful to have traveled south, to be near where Isaac was born, same region, very close. We also were able to stop back through Shashamane on our way back to Addis, and got to visit the orphanage where our baby was for the first short time of her life. Heart-wrenching, crazy, wonderful to be there and to have met the social worker Dejene, of the orphanage, Sele Enat. We are forever grateful for this dear man. I thank God every time I remember you...
So, here is Hawassa. Beautiful Hawassa, and some of the scenic drive to and from.

 Herds of livestock dotted the highway, and were often on the highway.

 Green and vibrant, thank God for the rainy season.

 Donkey carts were a frequent sight. Carting large loads and often many people as well.

Friendly game of soccer. 

 View from our balcony. Lake Hawassa.

 Under the HUGE warka tree.

Sunset on the lake.

 Monkeys to a local are like our armadillos. They are everywhere and quit a nuisance.

 Happy early anniversary. SEVEN years!

A make-shift pier.

 At Lewi Resort where I had the best fish goulash!  Fresh fish from the lake. I loved this mosaic.

 The fish market. The legal side, we caught a glimpse of the "black market", 

selling fish out from under their shirts. Sneaky.

 Fekadu said typically the center of the fish market is piled high with fish, the kids earn only 20 birr (just over 1 US dollar) for peeling 100 fish with their teeth. 

 Fried fish. The bread in the bag they call "cd's" b/c they are about the same size and shape as a cd.

 Foosball.

 Robin and her new brothers, Haile and Adamu.

 Chop that fish, so they'd eat this raw. I passed.

 Selling some extras outside the market. Avacados, spices, sauces, breads.

 the "black market" fish market.

fried fish.

 ahhh, a monkey! I can't help but think of the movie Outbreak. 

 Best meal in Hawassa, and cheapest. My traditional "fasting" plate. 

 Baby blue donkeys, or Bajaja. Cheapest mode of transportation just behind walking.

 Our boat we rode in to see the hippos.

Nathan and Fekadu working out some details. Hanging out at the Haile Resort.