We're Back! (Tom)

We started coming to Ethiopia in 2008 when we adopted Daniel and have been back regularly since, primarily for mission work. We had to take a break starting in 2020 because of COVID and then civil unrest, especially in the part of the country in which we worked (which is ongoing). 

I've written in previous posts how familiar Addis Ababa feels and also how interesting it is to see through eyes of someone who has never been here. Traveling through Addis to our hotel on Thursday was fun, as I tried to make sense of where we were and search for familiar landmarks. Daniel and Tamenech were transfixed by what they were seeing. They've commented about how different it is than what they're used to, which is 100% true. However, I look out the windows and see how much better the city is than we first came. There are new highways, new high rises, new parks, new hotels, and also so, so much more traffic. (I will reassert that I will never, never drive in this city...)

I'm told, though, that while Addis Ababa appears prosperous, there is still a huge problem with poverty and starvation, some in the city, but especially outside of Addis.

The purpose of this trip is to have Daniel and Tamenech meet their birth families. While we're here, Yonas, our guide and long time friend, has created an itinerary for us that also allows them to understand the history and culture of their birth country. Our last two days have provided that opportunity.

On Thursday, we visited "Freedom Park." Until recently, Addis had no urban parks. One of the first initiatives undertaken by Abiy Ahmed, the newest prime minister, undertook when he came into power was to correct that. He cleared out hundreds of people from a slum, moving them into apartments in a different part of the city, and created an amazing park. The landscaping is amazing, with thousands of flowers and well-manicured lawns. There is a small pond with fountains, cafes, and sculptures. It was paid for by the Chinese government, who provides significant infrastructure support to Ethiopia.

Daniel's birth mother is standing between him and Tamenech.

Daniel, his birth mother, and her sister (Daniel's aunt)

 

 

Yesterday we visited another new urban park, this one called Unity Park. The prime minister took part of the presidential grounds and converted into a rolling oasis of sculptures, zoo, aquarium, shops, and cafes. The original throne palace and banquet hall are on the grounds, along with Ethiopia's national archives. We spent three hours walking the grounds. As is the case with Unity Park, the grounds are immaculate and the landscaping is stunning. The zoo had been in another part of Addis and from what I understand,  the conditions were quite squalid. The new zoo looks to be a huge improvement, although we did feel sorry for the giraffes and zebras as it looked as they could still use much more room to wander. Along with those animals, we saw white lions (quite majestic), meerkats, and baboons. In addition, Ethiopia is the only country that has the black-maned lion (the national symbol) and a couple of them were in the zoo as well (although sound asleep)!

One of the most interesting parts of our time at the park was the history we got about Ethiopia from ancient rulers (including the Queen of Sheba) and the first emperors of modern Ethiopia, through the dark times in the 1970s when the communist government ran the country (called the Derg, it was truly an awful time for Ethiopia as thousands of citizens were jailed, tortured, and killed). We walked through the buildings mentioned earlier and several museums that showed artifacts (including ornate crowns worn by the emperors).

 

These new parks, along with the buildings, highways, and other infrastructure improvements have transformed Addis Ababa into a hustling, bustling, (and crowded!) modern city.