Melkem Meskel 2013

International School Addis Ababa does a spectacular job celebrating Ethiopian Meskel, the finding of the one true cross in the Ethiopian orthodox religion.  It's a big celebration around the city with large tee pee style bonfires lit on every corner.  For a family with small children, it's just too hard to get to Meskel square in Addis Ababa to see the official celebration.  The crowds are just too much.  Being able to attend with the children for a family friendly Meskel at ICS is wonderful.  I was even prepared this year with dresses made for the girls.  What a treat!

Last year, I was wowed by the entire tradition of Meskel, the dancing, the chanting and the burning of the demera.  I attended the celebration with Addie and my camera.  This year, with Ashlynn and Arabella in tow as well, I had less opportunities for amazing photos but many more precious memories.

My favorite moments were when Bella and Ash were able to sit with Addie and her class to watch the dancing and eat popcorn (a very traditional Ethiopian treat).  Addie amazes me with her compassion for her two younger sisters.

When everyone gathered to watch the burning of the demera, things got a little hairy for me.  Arabella especially hates loud music or speaking over speaker systems, so when speakers were moved to within 5 feet of us and the huge raging fire burned and the wine blew ashes on us; I had a sobbing 4 year old and very concerned 2 year old.  We all rushed up the hill away from the smoke and ashes which allowed us a moment to regroup and calm some fears.

All in all, the girls did really well.  Bella's still not a crowd lover but Addie and Ashlynn really enjoyed the entire thing.  As did I!

Melkam Meskel Ethiopia!

Addie and her best friend

St. Gabriel's choir

Back to School

I'm a bit late on getting a back to school blog post up, but here it is anyhow.  This summer completely flew by for us.  The almost month we spent in South Africa was the culprit and I'm forever grateful.  Rainy season can be tedious with three little ones at home but this summer sailed by.  Both Adelaide and Arabella were ready to get back to their school routines.  Addie is such a sweet and patient big sister but after all the time at home with Bella and Ash she admitted being ready to get back to her friends and days without, as she puts it "Addie do this, Addie get that, Addie help me...".  Hmmm, I know how she feels.  I was ready to get back to our school year routine as well.  Summer was great but it had to go.

Addie started a week earlier than her little sister and it was nice that her and I had a chance to go to International Community School (ICS) just the two of us the day before school started and scope out her class, set up her hot lunch account and calm her nerves. The first day she was ready for drop off and thrilled to see her friends again.  Her teacher, Mrs. Wendy seems nice and we're hoping the year goes well.  It's been much easier for me to ease into the crack-o-dawn bus pick-up and making lunches than last year.  I did relent, and allow hot lunch twice a week.  Now I only pack three days and a snack the other two.  She's happy and so am I.





Bella was even easier getting back to school.  Head To Toe preschool has been her favorite place in Ethiopia.  She went last year and she's there again.  Another year older, a different teacher but for the most part the same kids and the same things.  It's her last year in preschool before she heads to elementary school with her big sister.  I'm eager to see Bella's development this year.  Last year from the first day to the last of preschool she was a different kid and I'm certain it will be same this year.  Bella's such a fun little girl with an immense amount of character and I love how Head To Toe nurtures these things.


Ashlynn will be 2 in October and won't start preschool until next year.  Thank goodness, I have one more year with her at home.  She's so independent and we hear "I do it!", "me too", and "mine" a lot.  She's talking better than Bella was at three so I'm certainly not worried about her development.  If anything, having two older siblings is helping her to grow faster than anything else.  When her sisters leave for school we sit down together in the morning and eat a two egg omelette together.  I have coffee and she runs around with her dolls under her arms.  She watches Elmo or Dora (two favorites), gets dressed, asks for crackers insistently for the next three hours and plays.  I try to get some "work" done online or baking if it's one of those days.  She always pops in the kitchen at the perfect time to dip her finger in the cake batter or accept a chocolate covered beater or spoon.  She's my little sidekick and I love it.

So here we are at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year.  The girls are thrilled, so am I and we're ready to enjoy this last 11 months in Addis.  It's going to be a great year!

Ethiopian Meskel Celebration

Meskel is the holiday celebrating the discovery of the one true cross of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian religion.

In the fourth century, Queen Helena had a revelatory dream that the smoke of a bonfire would lead her to where the one true cross was buried.  She ordered the people of Jerusalem to bring wood and build a large bonfire, or Demera and burn it with frankincense.  The smoke rose and fell to the spot the cross was buried. Meskel is celebrated every year with a feast and burning of a Demera.  Small yellow Meskel flowers decorate the ceremonies.  The ash from the Demera is used to mark a cross on the foreheads of the Orthodox followers.

The International Community School Addis Ababa has a wonderful celebration every year that I was glad to participate in this year with Addie.

There was a dramatization by the third graders about Meskel, dancing, singing, coffee ceremony, traditional bread and popcorn,

gorgeous traditional Ethiopian dresses (as well as gorgeous Habesha women)

and the burning of the Demera. 

I think I was most impressed with the children's participation in the event of our host country.  There was so much diversity and as I watched and photographed the kids, I was offered a real example of how amazing this overseas experience is for my children and for us as a family.

she's in kindergarten!

Adelaide started kindergarten at International Community School Addis Ababa this week.  We attended an orientation on Monday with her then on Tuesday morning she got on the bus all by herself for her first full day at school.  She was fine.  I was not.

When she returned home for the day she was tired but energized about her first day.  She thought Miss Vicki was "gggrrrrrreat!" and when I asked what she liked about her she said it was because she is "like a Grammy".  Miss Vicki has been teaching kindergarten or first grade for 37 years.  I got that warm cozy feeling when I met her and apparently, so did Addie.  The first day was fun, she said.  They read a story, drew, had recess where she got to meet up with her preschool friends and play.  They had lunch and snack and well, it was a good time.

She was pretty drained from the long day (on the bus at 7AM home at 1:45PM).  The first two weeks they get off at 1PM.  The regular day ends at 2:50 PM!  Which is an insanely long day for my five year old.  I was smart and had a snack waiting for her when she got home yesterday.  I think that's going to be key!

I am so proud of her for taking this big step in stride.  I had no doubt she could do it with grace.  It's just her style!  I on the other hand, am contemplating how just last week I couldn't wait to get her bored little self out of my hair and after just one day I am missing her.  She's gone all day!  She's the leader of my little girl pack and it's strange having her away so much. I'm sure I'll get use to it.

Here's to the next 12 years of school for Adelaide.

Her first full day of school.  Ready for the bus complete with her reading material for the long ride.