THANK YOU!

Yesterday I went to the post office and had 3 slips of paper for packages. I had to go back this morning and get them. So I walked up to the post office near my house, handed the clerk the 3 slips along with my ID (which I had to go make another copy of because of the whole "Sierra, Lauren"/"Lauren Sierra" fiasco last time). After I paid the women, she had me come around the corner to get my packages. They were huge. I looked like an idiot carrying them but felt like a kid at Christmas. I got to my house, laid the boxes out and tore into them. The first two were packages from my mom... she sent me some clothes and shoes. I planted my face into the clothes and inhaled deep. It smelled of home and that just made everything that was homesick in me disappear.
The 3rd package was from the Brown Family. Wow. 3 books, cheez-its, trail mix, 2 packs of twizzlers, an outrageous amount of koolaid, skittles, pasta sides (6 of them... cheddar broccoli with the small noodles are my favorite), a CD, and a singing card... when I opened the card it still worked!! I couldn't believe it! The words were so kind. I keep every card taped to the inside of my closet door and every morning look at them. So, Brown Family, your card is taped up and I think of you often.
I just wanted to say thank you to anyone who has sent me mail. It takes time, I know. Writing a letter to me from this far away or sending me a package means more to me than I can possibly explain. It's tangible. I can smell things and taste things and put cloth between my hands and read your handwriting with a card between my thumbs and pointer fingers.... it makes everything hard go away for a time and it's like I'm carrying you through the streets I live in. SO THANK YOU!

Ten things about my life in Ethio...

1) I went to a local soccer game and it was, by far, the craziest sporting event I have ever been to.
2) One of my students wrote a paper about her family. The last sentences say, "we have no father and mother. both are died. we love each other"... I keep it in my journal.
3) One of my co-workers has satellite and we watch "So You Think You Can Dance" every Tuesday night after cooking dinner with one another
(okay... I might not cook, but I bring stuff... I'm like my momma).
The season is from last year but it's new to all of us. It's our time as a team to really get away for a little bit. This Tuesday night is the season finale. Who will it be? Katie, Joshua, Kourtney, or Twitch??
4) I have an Ethio family here who takes very good care of me... and longs to someday meet my family.
5) My Ethio family is Dagi's family. Dagi is doing great and can't wait to meet some of my friends who might get to visit. She turned 18!
See picture.
6) I went to get a package the other day and they wouldn't give it to me because my drivers license says, "Sierra, Lauren" and my package said, "Lauren Sierra". They said the package wasn't addressed to me.
15 minutes of explanation and a photo copy later, I got my package.
7) My internet connection is awesome. See picture.
8) KIDS! See picture. One of my roommates guaranteed I could fit a couple in my check in for under 50 pounds... I know that's terrible but sometimes you just have to joke to get past the reality of it all some days.
9) Everything is done in community. You eat off the same plate and to do so is to commit to friendship. The food is so dang good, too...
despite its appearance. See picture.
10) One time, I accidently took money from a beggar. My roommates like to hold it against me.