Special Tea

Well today is Friday. It's been a few days since I left home and it feels a little like forever and at the same time like I still have so far to go. Probably because I literally do have so far to go. We start our driving adventure tomorrow. It's a two day drive to get from Addis Ababa to Dibate. I think the paved road ends about 3 hours (or less) outside of Addis. This is unbelievably my fourth trip to Dibate and Guba. Seems kind of nuts really.

I'm looking forward to seeing some of the same people I've met before. That's always exciting for me. To remember people's faces and stories and meet them again, find out how they are doing and what is changing for them. I'm trying to focus on those positives when I accidentally slip out of the present and think of the future. If I think about anything else, it's kind of all overwhelming.

Thus far, I have completely avoided Ethiopian food. That will end tomorrow, this I am acutely aware of. Hmm actually, maybe I can stretch it to Sunday. I've had pizza, spaghetti, the fruit smoothie juices of my dreams (that probably counts as Ethiopian) and pancakes. Tonight I'm supposed to go for Indian food with my old boss who happens to be in town for work as well. I am not looking forward to getting reacquainted with my old friend Shiro - but it's going to happen so just go with it, right? I have peanut butter as a back up. 

As I think I mentioned before, I have a cold and it kind of really sucks. I'm going through tons of kleenx and toilet paper because of it. I guess there are worse reasons to go through tons of toilet paper...but I digress. This morning, my colleague proposed I drink some special tea. We took a break and instead of my usual macchiato (oh my god I've only had one macchiato today - ahhhhhhhhhhh) um, I had the special tea. It has honey, lemon, ginger, tea and alcohol of some kind. It was so good. There was about 2 tablespoons too much honey it but it comes layered, like my beloved spris juice, so you just don't stir it all the way and it stays not so so sweet. I'm hoping I can get another one as it did help and I didn't notice the booze.

Well that's it for now. I won't have internet for a week, which is kind of freaking me out because I've appreciated all of your support. And I have work to do that would benefit from ye old interweb. Nevertheless, onwards and upwards. Gotta prep for a meeting with some Dutch guy from a University we're partnering with. And by prep I mean, blow my nose 55 more times.

Did I mention I'm drinking about 4L of water a day? I'm not exaggerating. Oh and my colleague told me to relax so maybe it's time for a quiet meditation.