Coffee break, East Africa style

I am a bit of a coffee drinker. True to the stereotype, I started drinking the stuff in college. It wasnt too long before it truly came to have a place of importance in my life! I like all kinds. The fancy kinds with the long names and 1,000 calories. The regular kind. the decaf kind. over ice. hot. blended. latte. cappucino. americano. it doesnt matter; i'll take it all. Over the years, it has increased in importance, unfortunately. Now it is an integral part of my morning routine. Evening routine too, actually. Last thing before I go to bed, I grind my beans, measure out my water, and get it all ready to go. When I stumble out of bed in the morning, in a ridiculously bad mood (yes, every morning, unfortunately) I just hit the button and we're good to go. As it brews, I use my BBC app to find out what transpired around the world while I slept, and in a minute I'm ready to head to the couch for my quiet time, with my gigantic mug of coffee. (The mug that, when Patrick gave me, I gave him a bit of an eye roll. Seriously, who is ever going to use this enormous, heavy mug? Its totally impractical. You can barely lift it, when its full! Well, yes, I use the enormous mug. Every. single. day. When it's dirty because I didnt run the dishwasher and I have to use another one, I am sad. Because I have to interrupt my quiet time more often to go refill my mug. But i digress.)

I do not care I get my coffee as long as it's strong. If I'm having a special breakfast, I wont eat it without coffee. If its sweet like pancakes or waffles, I will add milk but not sugar, but most of the time, I will. If I'm having dessert, I often make coffee. (Am i kind of like an old person???) My sweet husband got me an fancy coffee machine a little while ago, so I can make lattes myself. I crave lattes like he craves Dr. Pepper 10. (yes, even high maintenance people such as ourselves can be missionaries ;-) So often in the afternoon, especially when its cold, I will make my own latte, and save myself the ridiculous $4 they would charge me at the coffeeshop. All this is part of my elaborate coffee rituals. When I go away, I have been known to bring the small cans of Starbucks double shots with me, just in case the place. (Can I get an amen from somebody,  anybody, please, who is feeling me right now? Or, in the words of my good friend Beth Moore, "Does anybody know what I'm talking about?" ;-)

The other day, I broadened my horizons in a special way, and experienced the Ethiopian coffee ceremony. (It did not involve a big green sign and the words skinny, grande, and extra shot. Or pumpkin scone. Or any scone.) Some of my neighbors invited us over. We hung out on the back deck/porch/stairwell. I had noticed all the extension cords before, but wasn't sure what they were for. 

The coffee maker begins by roasting her own beans, in a small skillet. (My friend was using a small heating element here. Not sure what would be used in the absence of electricity.)

Incense is very popular, just as it was in Senegal. She had a few different kinds, as well as some potpourri looking things she put directly on these coals. 

I really got a kick out of the coffee grinder, because everything else seemed very traditional. I am sure that in Ethiopia, at least in the rural areas, it is done with a mortar and pestle type deal. But who would do it by hand if you dont have to, right? :-)

next, the freshly roasted, ground beans are put directly into this beautiful little pot. (Every Ethiopian house I have been into is sporting one of these. And I have to tell you, I may get one myself. It worked really well!)

After the appropriate amount of time, filled with conversation (limited, in this particular case!) and snacks the gracious hostess provides, such as popcorn, the wonderful smelling coffee is ready. It is a good thing I like really strong coffee; as you may have guessed, this stuff is STRONG! But she did add a few heaping teaspoons of sugar to the tiny little cup. Its really more like a shot of espresso. Or Arabic coffee. 

Just like Senegal, there are 3 cups of coffee to be had, and each round of the coffee ceremony has its own name. This allows ample time for the real purpose: visiting! There is a small blue plastic tub on the right, with a scoop. She rinsed out the cups in between each round. 

I am definitely out of practice with my cross-cultural experiences these days. The past few months have been a good reminder for me. If you are pursuing a chance to step outside of your regular context, stay in touch. I will share what I've been (re)learning! 

Now, if only I could track down a country that has a 3 step ice cream ceremony. . . 

birthdays and Beth

July 9. July 26. July 31. August 4. That's a busy month for us. Hannah's birthday fell on a school day this year. We are still in the process of establishing our family traditions, and I decided that a birthday is a good reason to cancel school. (As is the first good snow :-). We started with a special breakfast, then Hannah didnt have to do any chores, and she got to pick whatever she wanted to do that day. (My kids are easy to please at the moment. Their favorite activity is still going to the park!)

Followed by haircuts. When the hairdresser found out it was Hannah's birthday, she took extra time to style it really special. She looked like such a big girl! And Caroline got her first haircut. She looks a tad less Mowgli-ish. But still acts like a monkey ;-). 

After lunch we went to the pool. It looks like Caroline is wearing a weighted vest, like the kind I've seen in the gym. I promise I'm not trying to drown her! If I could use a leash I would, though. I have to literally run to keep up with that child at the pool. (Or anywhere, come to think of it.) Its a good thing Charlie stays where I leave him (shallow end), because Caroline requires a constant vigil. She will climb up to the top of the big slide and launch herself off before i can even make it down to the deep end. 

The girls received a birthday package from my Dad and Kim, and Caroline is very excited about her new dolly. Apparently that's its name, too. "where my new dolly?" "want my new dolly!" "NO! MY new dolly" - if someone else makes the mistake of picking up said dolly. 

My mom came down last weekend, and although this is, admittedly, a scary picture of both of us, I had to document. . . 

Beth Moore Living Proof Live! Oh my gosh, I was so excited. (I know many people think the hype is a little ridiculous, I mean she is just a real person. And this is true. So I apologize. But I really was extremely excited!) I think its funny I lived in the south for quite a while, and even Texas itself a few years, yet I had to move all the way up here to do this. I am not much for celebrity idols, spiritual or otherwise. I just have never experienced a Bible teacher who communicates the Word with so much passion. Beth Moore has made it her life's work to challenge every woman out there to seek God with all her heart, understand who He created her to be, and to be that person. Her all consuming love for the Saviour and the Bible is so inspiring and encouraging. (And it did make a tad homesick. All that talk about Lifeway, the south, the IMB. And the "y'all" :-) 

And Travis Cottrell led worship. I always feel like people probably shy away from me during worship, so as not to be affected by my over-enthusiasm. (I grew up very WASP, but sometimes I think I was black in another life. Or Pentecostal? ;-) Being in a large (4,000+) group like that, nobody cares or knows me. Or cares how I worship. I definitely went through the kleenex. No surprise there! It does make me think of being in heaven. 

Caroline loves her piggy back rides. If anyone is even close to her level, or even sitting down, she'll just come over and jump on you, with no warning. 

While my mom and I were gone overnight, Patrick made the most amazing birthday cake for Hannah. It was so good, 3 layers, completely from scratch. Even the icing! (which is the most important part, as everyone knows ;-) 

We hung out at the park with friends. 

And had a "smashing" good time :-). The kids beat on it for awhile, but it took Patrick whaling on it with his man strength to actually get it broken. I wish the battery hadn't run out of my video camera!

Pizza party on the floor. Why picture worthy? Some friends of ours were finally approved to move into a housing unit, and are living in their own place for the first time. We helped them move their stuff (which didnt take very long, as 2 bags of clothes can be carried in one trip) and are helping them track down some more stuff. Which is taking a little longer, but I think pretty soon they will have a nice home. Anyways, this is sitting on the kitchen floor, eating the first supper in the new apartment. (These days, i seem to add another cultural faux pas to my resume every day. Apparently they don't eat pork, and I gave him pepperoni pizza. Some non-Muslims also abstain from pork. Who knew?) 

That's all for now, folks! Next time we'll talk about our school year getting off to a great start!