Ethiopian changes.....

I posted about the possible changes in the Ethiopian adoption process during my last post.  Well it seems as though the changes have occurred to a degree that nobody can agree on.  Different website are stating that MOWA is only processing 5 adoptions a day which would push my timeline from 6-8 months to possibly 4 years.  I talked to my adoption agency last week and she said that MOWA is still putting out referrals and processing 25 adoptions a day.  This a a 50% decrease but at least my timeline is only going to be a year or two instead of four.  I am not sure if everyone will understand this post, so basically the process is going to take longer than I had originally thought. 

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jessica

Ethiopian Night Out

So Kelly and I finally went to an Ethiopian restaurant and oh boy was it different.  I have to say that everyone should experience this type of cuisine sometime in their life.  I have previously posted about Ethiopian food, but was still surprised when I had the food in front of me.  Kelly's family and a couple members of my family ended up joining us in our dinner adventure.  Kelly's parents, brother, brother's girlfriend, my mother and my sister Angie handled the experience better than I thought.  The food was spicy and it seemed as though most of it was pureed.  We had appetizers called Sambosa which seemed like a hot pocket and Timatim salad which seemed like bruschetta.  We all order something different to eat for dinner from Kwanta firfir which is beef, dora wat which is chicken, Meskerem special fish which was some kind of fish, and shrimp tibs.  My mother was the brave one who ordered the sample platter which had who knows what on it.  We all had a great time and a lot of heart burn!!!  The strangest part of the evening was not using utensils.  We all did a great job breaking off the bread and picking up the food.  Kelly and I are going to go back and try the food again, maybe we will find something that we actually enjoy eating.  We know one thing for sure, we are going to have to find some America food to eat while in Ethiopia.

Well I guess everyone also wants an adoption update.  I have not heard any good news yet.  I heard a rumor today that the Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA) is going to be making some changes.  These are individuals who review the adoption files and decide if one is ready to adopt.  It has been rumored by other agencies other than mine that MOWA is only going to grant 5 adoptions a day which is a 90% decrease.  Nobody knows what or why MOWA is thinking about making this change.  All I know is that this change seems to make my stomach turn.  Please keep this program in your prayers, there are so many children who need adopting.

Here are a few picture of our dinner

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jessica

Ethiopian Cuisine

Ethiopian cuisine is unique to say the least. My friend Kelly (who is traveling with me to Ethiopia) and I have recently decided to try Ethiopian food here in the states before heading to Ethiopia.  Needless to say neither one of us is thrilled about the possibility of eating sheep’s esophagus!!! Yes that right I said sheep’s esophagus!

One very different characteristic of Ethiopian dining is the lack of utensils. Instead of forks, knives, or spoons, Ethiopians use what’s called injera which is defined as “a yeast-risen flat bread with a unique, slightly spongy texture.” It’s kind of like a thin pancake.

Injera is served on the side. Food is served on one big platter and is meant to be shared by a small group. I hope Kelly and I are considered a small group, I don’t think we want to share with strangers.  It is also known in the Ethiopian culture that one might feed a stranger as a sign of respect. Well I am pretty sure that I am fine with NOT being shown any respect while eating.  Several colorful entrees sit on top of the platter. The platter is lined with a layer of injera as well.

To start, you tear off a piece of the injera bread and use it to pick up a piece of food - traditionally, you eat with your right hand only. The left hand is known as the hand you clean yourself with and therefore it is considered “dirty”.  Sorry for all you left handed peeps out there!  Once you have the desired amount of food, you pop the whole thing in your mouth. When all the piles of food have been consumed, eat the underlying injera which absorbs all of the juices - this is usually considered the best part of the meal.

This might be the perfect diet plan.  Go to Ethiopia for a week and don’t eat.  Kelly it looks like we might be eating ramen noodle for a week.

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jessica

Baby Room!!

 So my mother and I almost have the nursery done.  Thank you mother for helping me!!!  I have new furniture, new paint on the walls, and new bedding.  Kadin wrecked his bedding and furniture so it was time for new.  I am going to put up a white shelve so that I can put up some Ethiopian decorations.  I would also like to put up the baby's name on one of the walls, but I have to wait and see if I am getting a boy or girl.  I have been waiting for 6 weeks now and the waiting really isn't bad.  I have my hands full with Kadin turning 2 and oh boy he is having some terrible 2 moments.  Casey is also coming home soon for her baby shower, so we get to focus on celebrating her baby boy coming into the world soon.  I will try to post monthly any update with the adoption, but most likely I will not hear anything for many more months to come. 

2011

This year should be the year that I get to travel to Ethiopia to pick up my baby.  I received a letter from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that states that I have been approved to adopt from Ethiopia.  I am not sure what I would of done if they said no.  You think this would be one of the first steps in the adoption process, getting approval from the government.  My mother and I are still working on the nursery so I will post picture when we are all done.  My agency is still saying that referrals are coming in from Ethiopia 2-12 month after paperwork reaches Ethiopia.  I have only technically been waiting one month.  I emailed my agency today to make sure everything is still going okay.  International adoption is very unpredictable, agency have closed their doors to singles and even closed down completely.  This means that I would not be able to adopt and I would be out the money that I have already put into the adoption.  Please keep in your thoughts and prayers that Ethiopia remains open for couples and singles to adopt. 

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jessica

The real waiting begins!

I got an email today from my adoption agency that stated "Your dossier was sent to Ethiopia today!  Congratulations!  I hope you and your family take time to celebrate the paperwork portion being completed.  Now the really hard part begins…waiting!" So this means that now I get to sit back and wait for Ethiopia to match me with my son or daughter.  During the paperwork process I had to fill out a form that stated what I wanted my child to be like (skin color, hair texture, age, and they want at least 5 medical problems).  So that makes everyone's adoption paperwork a little different.  I could be the only person who said that I will take a child with orthopedic problems and therefore get a referral soon or I could be one of a hundred who stated low birth weight and end up waiting a long time.  It looks as though my adoption process is still on track for traveling next summer.  I will continue to keep everyone updated on the process.  Please keep this adoption process in your thoughts and prayers.  International adoption is not guaranteed and the country could shut down all adoption or single's adoption at any time.  The farther along I get in this process the more realistic it is that my baby is sitting in a crib all alone waiting for me to come get him or her.

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jessica

no update...

I just wanted to let everyone know that I didn't forget the login and password to the blog!  I just don't have any real updates.  My paper work was sent off 3 weeks ago to get another approval from Washington.  This process takes 4 weeks and once it is approved by Washington then it will be sent to Ethiopia.  I will be notified by the Ethiopian agency once they have reviewed my paperwork and placed me on the waiting list.  I also filled out paperwork for USCIS in order to get approved by homeland security to adopt.  They did get my paperwork and they finally sent me my date for fingerprinting.  I go in a few weeks to get my prints done for homeland security.  I have to have approval from them to bring an orphan into the country.  I don't have any exciting news; just more and more waiting.  My mother and I are going to get the nursery together when I am on xmas break from school.  I will post pictures when it is done.

more later

jessica