Selam age 14
Selam turned 16 on September 19th. We received her picture and fell in love with her on August 5, 2008. She was 14 years old at the time. We knew that she had to be home with us before she turned 16. There were some unusual delays but we made it. Grant, her American brother, and I went to Ethiopia on July 8, 2009. We arrived home in ND on July 29, 2009 with Selam. She was home 7 1/2 weeks before the adoption deadline of 16!
Selam has never had a birthday party and was very excited. She asked many times about blowing out candles. One day she wanted to practice and I said, “Oh, NO!” She then commented that her cousins practiced 15 years or more already. Good Point!
We invited all of our friends in the area and anyone who we got to know through support of the adoption process. Forty people came to the house. Selam was very gracious and met everyone. We practiced American greetings often. Instead of being overwhelmed by the crowd and the gifts, she was ecstatic.
We put trick candles on her cake and she and her nephew got to blow to their hearts’ content. She finally figured it out and laughed and laughed: ferenji! This means anything or anyone foreign to Ethiopian culture. Believe me, it is a word that she uses on a daily basis but always with a smile and usually a shake of her head. The kids played volleyball and soccer. It was one of the hottest days of the summer.
In the evening, we let her call her friends and her grandmother via Skype. Her uncle has a cell phone so he brings it to Grandmother. Selam is always a bit melancholy after visiting with her. Apparently, there is food available but neither she nor her blind daughter are able to prepare it. They are often hungry. Our goal is to hire one of Selam’s friends to cook for the week and bathe Grandmother once a week.
Selam called her girlfriend and we talked to her and to her mother. She is 18 years old and works at the orphanage for less than $30 / month. We gave her mother money for her two daughters to go to school and enough to cover the lost salary plus 200 Birr/month. They asked if they could use any money for food! Of course! They bought powdered milk and vitamins for the 2 1/2 year old son and it is the first time that he hasn’t gone to bed hungry. It takes so little to make such a big difference. 200 Birr is equal to about $20.
Selam also called Fikere, the man who was the director of the orphanage for 10 years while she was there. She was one of his first kids. He has a wonderful program for about 75 orphans at this time. All of his kids are in school and if they don’t pass their 10th grade exams, he makes sure that they get vocational training. He has oxen and farm land for them. They grow a large garden. Some get set up in a small business. Unemployment in Mekelle where they live is >70% even if educated.
Living with and loving Selam has been an amazing experience. Pictures are posted on the Post dated September 19th, as I had some difficulties.
Thanks for sharing! She is such a beautiful person inside and out!