Back in Addis Ababa

Well, we're back in Addis.  Yesterday after arriving we took advantage of such amenities as a hot shower (or a shower at all, for that matter), bug free bedding, and a huge cheeseburger with french fries before watching back to back testosterone-filled B-grade American movies on TV.

Our trip south was a wonderful adventure.  There is truly too much to write about, so we'll have to update the blog (with pictures) once we get back to the states.  However, here are a few teasers:

• While we heard them in the night, we managed to avoid becoming a scoobie-snack to the jibb, or local hyenas
• We now know how it feels to be international celebrities, minus the flashbulbs, of course
• Dakota has officially become a connoisseur of coffee - especially macchiatos
• Brent has the spear-throwing skills to someday become a great Oromo hunter
• Despite common public conceptions, Ethiopia has lush green ecosystems
• There are many more sealed roads in Ethiopia than the Lonely Planet would lead you to believe, and it really isn't all that difficult to get around so long as you aren't clausterphobic, prone to heat stroke, or have a strong dislike for Ethiopian music at high decibles
• Travis Langen has a long-lost brother in Dodola\
• While small, Ethiopian horses are sure-footed, strong, have lungs of steel, and feel much taller when you fall off of them
• Wooden saddles aren't too uncomfortable with the proper "pillows" for padding
• Paying extra for a hot shower in Wondo Genet doesn't necessarily mean that you'll get a hot shower, or water...or electricity for that matter
• Sometimes, if you want something done right (like tying your bags to the top of the minibus), you have to do it yourself (or risk recoving them from the side of the road)
• No matter where you find yourself in Ethiopia, it won't take long before a true friend asks "You, where you go?", and shares a cup of coffee and a piece of bread with you before helping you find your way to your next destination

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is our next court date.  We don't have to go back to court, but hopefully our Ministry of Woman's Affairs Letter will arrive.  If it does we will officially become Ashagre's and Elsa's mom and dad.

We plan on spending the next few days checking out Addis's museums, sampling macchiatos at various cafes, and doing some souvenier shopping.  We also hope to do some more detective work to uncover the stories of our kids' pasts.