"No one cries alone"

Where to begin!? So much has happened, it’s hard to know how to start this one. This is what happens kids, when you put things off you find yourself in a pickle. What is it my Dad always tells me?

“Never put off what you can do today”.

 
It usually followed a discussion about last minute homework (ahh Sunday school nights, you were always fun). Top notch man, Happy Father’s Day once again! 

So, let’s see- on May 30^th the Yaya girls graduated from the program. They finished up their classes, all got straight A’s on their final test (I may have been a little lenient), I gave them one last “Easter Egg” hunt and Xavier was able to spend the last two days of the program with us. It was a pretty awesome week and a great way to say goodbye. Actually a funny thing happened the morning of their last day, and it really hit me how close the girls became.

It was just before lunch and I decided to call my parents- I knew they’d be up (with a time difference of 7 hours) and getting ready to leave for work, so it was now or never decision. Luckily I just caught them as they were heading out the door, and I really just wanted to say Hey- but when my Mum told me she missed me, a couple of raindrops started winding their way down my cheek. And at that very moment Yoorodanas appeared at my door to tell me lunch was ready- she saw my tears and I motioned that I’d be just a minute. She nodded, and looking worried headed back to the kitchen- where she told the girls I was upset. The next thing I knew all four girls were rushing into my room. Alumseye, the youngest, took one look at me and broke down, stumbling and grasping for the wall to support herself. I was in complete shock,

(L-R; Alumseye, Asnaketch, Tigist, & Lamrot)

“…alright Mum, got to go. You won’t believe this. OK. Got to go.” Click.

 
The rest of the girls were confused with who to comfort, with Lamrot at my side, Asnaketch clutching her face and Tigist holding on to Alumseye. After we calmed Alumseye down, we went for lunch where I was goushed like never before, and because I wasn’t being allowed to feed myself I goushed them all back. For the rest of the day if I held Alumseye’s eyes for more than 5 seconds, she’d well up. Of course the girls assumed I was upset because they were leaving, and I couldn’t really tell them otherwise- and well, I’m not saying I wasn’t sorry to see them go, but I usually don't cry at goodbyes. Nonetheless, I’ll never forget that morning. Apparently a similar thing happened to a previous Yaya Girls volunteer, Samantha- and I remember she told me,

“…it’s a beautiful thing…no one cries alone.” Amen sista.

 It’s been a few weeks now, and Alumseye has come back a few times- she still trains with the Yaya coach, which is awesome. Lamrot’s still working at the hotel, and continued to live next door to me for a week or so- but now she’s officially move back to Addis. Yoorodanas comes in the morning to cook and prepare meals for Banchi and myself for the day (gah, we’re so spoilt) - but sometimes Banchi doesn’t come for lunch/dinner so I’m always left with loads of food. I try to pawn it off on hotel staff as they pass by (Inibla!- eat with me), but for the most part it’s saved and used the next day. Actually last Saturday I “hosted” a hotel guest, Matt, a super cool fell runner from Nottingham, and even we couldn’t finish everything.

Just some camels, nbd.

Most days it’s just me and Keiko (my stuffed Orca and top travelling companion), and we (lol) chat with the staff, work on an NGO application to make the Yaya Girls official, gather English lessons from the internet, and have slumblies at Banchi’s. I do miss the giggles of the girls, but for the most part I’m enjoying this down time. I’ve been able to get some travelling in and spent the whole of last week up North exploring Gondar, Axum and Lalibella. Absolutely fantastic trip. If you remember I was nervous to travel when I first arrived, and rightly so- you’ve got to have your wits about you- but once you have them gathered, it’s easy business.

So now that I’ve set the stage for the “Great Trip”, I’ll leave it as that for now and I’ll post an entry about the trip within the next couple days. Maybe even tomorrow if you’re lucky.

Meow x