Ethiopia Camp

I'm not really even sure where to begin with this one.  It's hard to sum up my feelings about camp. 

For starters, I knew the boys would easily make friends and love time playing.  That's just their jam.  I also knew from looking at the camp schedule that there would be plenty of family time and activities for family time that the boys would love.  Pretty much anytime they get to have a blast with dad, the day is going to be a win.  Both of these thoughts proved to be accurate.

I really just wasn't sure how they would respond to the Ethiopian culture and language side of things.  When we get together with a large ET group in Lubbock, Ollie hates all the hugs and kisses.  Neither of the boys has been adventurous in eating traditional food.  Neither of the boys are particularly grateful (read: don't like) when another ET family gives the boys hand-me downs of traditional clothes.  What would it be like at camp?  Would they be annoyed at cultural aspects?  Feel pressure to be something that they don't (yet) strongly identify with? Feel embarrassed to try new things?  Or would it be the opposite, love the ET culture and love trying new things?  I really had no clue.

When we checked in on the first afternoon, the answer was obvious.  They seemed empowered.  The atmosphere was amazing.  90% or more of the kids looked like them.  80% of the families looked like theirs with white parents and Ethiopian kids.  If the parents weren't white, they were Ethiopian, Ethiopian-American, or African American.  The kids jumped right in and tried to play traditional ET games, started making friends, and started noticing that everyone who ran every activity was Ethiopian.  It rubbed off on their mindsets quickly.  When we were walking through the registration line, we were asked "where are you from?"  Obvious answer:  Texas.  However, Seth choose to reply: "Ethiopia!!!!"  This got lots of laughs and about 15 "me too's!!" 

In short, it was cool to be Ethiopian.  There was an immense shared pride in Ethiopian culture and all things Ethiopian.  I immediately wanted every single Ethiopian family or Ethiopian adoptive family I knew to be there sharing the experience with us. 

Between whole group activities and family free times, the kids were also grouped by age and had mostly college-aged Ethiopia-American teachers/counselors.  They had fun exploring cultural things and dipped their toes into language, dancing, and cooking, but also had art, played soccer, and went on hikes. Meanwhile, the adults had sessions on race, racism, black male role models, language, ET wedding traditions, Addis, and supporting economic growth in Ethiopia.  Educational, empowering, fun, let me tell you, camp had it all. 

Free Time:

Playing "Pepsi" an Ethiopia Street game, kinda like bowling, baseball and dodge ball all rolled into one.

Dividing teams for soccer.

Seth's first time on a horse!

Ollie's first pony ride!

Gotta have a bounce house, of course.

Jumping in!

 

Shopping at the market

 

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Campfire Night:

Seth roasting a marshmallow. 

 Ollie, in a typical I'm-almost-five-and-don't-need-anyone-to-tell-me-what's-going-on fashion, saw other kids roasting theirs, ran over and got a stick, stuck a marshmallow on the end, ran over to us and ate the marshmallow off his stick without sticking it in the fire.  

It was hilarious, and Ollie did not want to hear that he forgot the roasting part.  

Whatever mom.  Just whatever.   

Seth, joining in the dancing.

Live Music

Dancing crowd

 

Kids stretched out playing as far as the eye can see in every direction from the campfire.

 

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Classes:

Seth was in Camel group.

Calling all camels! 

 

Ollie's class performing the song and dance they learned.

Seth's class performance.

Teenage group showcasing their dancing.

 

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Food and Friends!

 

BBQ!

Abel and Seth, two peas in a pod.

Twins!

Lucky Charms, quite possibly Ollie's favorite meal of the trip.

Hannah, Ollie, Seth, Helen, and Abel

Ollie and Seth both got way into the food declaring a love for injera, but no love for lamb.  I agree.

More of Abel and Seth

 

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Banquet Night:

 

Aren't we cute?

 

Waiting for dinner.

Scold me if you come to my house and this has yet to be printed and framed somewhere.

Handsome!

Gah.  This kid is too cute.

Preparing for the group picture.

Once we got to camp, the boys changed their tune about wanting to wear traditional clothes.  This night was so much fun seeing everyone dressed up!

ET selfies!

Headed back to our room after eating and watching all the dancing.

 

A great experience for sure!  Spread the word and we can hopefully meet up there next year!

Fun with Fairfax Folks; Farwell Summer Festivities!

Okay, so I was just trying to see how long I could make that alliteration.  You got me. 

But it's true!  We have had the best summer!  Summer travels galore and our most recent trip was no exception to the fun!

We got up waaaay too early on a Tuesday morning, excited to get to see Joyce and Steve.

Here's Seth on the first flight, looking as tired as Jon and I felt. 

Here's Ollie, crazed with excitement.  Early mornings can't bring him down! 

The boys had fun traveling and did a great job.  Ollie looked out the window, squealed with excitement (complete with his hands on his cheeks), people watched, and finally napped.  Seth had questions on all things air craft related and asked the pilot his questions upon exit that Jon and I couldn't adequately explain.  He played with toys and colored to his heart's content in his sticker book. 

Ollie, cracking me up by keeping his crayons in his shirt pocket.

Waiting in Dallas for our flight.

 

And this is how you look later that afternoon after getting up at 4.  

 

But then we got to see Joyce and Steve!

 

Steve: "Here's my two new favorite people!"

 

We checked out Burke Lake Park with Joyce and rode the train.  Two thumbs up!

 

Best Picnic lunch ever.  Gummy penguins and cookie butter was involved.

 

 

Seth snapped some pics as we were waiting for the carousel. 

 

More happy faces!

 

And of course, geocaching, hiking, and playing in water.

 

I grew up so close to my Aunt Joyce and Uncle Steve and loved going to see them in the summers of my youth.  I was very glad the boys finally got to meet Steve and of course it was great to catch up with both of them.  There was definitely an element of nostalgia being in their house again. 

 

 

After swimming and a couple nights in our hotel...

 

 

we said goodbye for a few days....

 

and spent the next four days with these people!! 

 

 

Sunday

When I woke up this morning, the very first thing that popped into my head was, 'how can my baby  be turning FIVE this month?'  Sweet Ollie, always enjoyable.  You know it's gonna be a good day when he is your very first thought. 

The boys have been delightful bff's all summer.  They start almost every morning holed up somewhere together.  Reading books on Ollie's bed, or playing their classic room game.  This game is quite elaborate, and first involves making zones/habitats/terrains in the carpet by pushing down the cushy fluff into distinct lines in the middle of their bedroom.  I never can figure out where it is ok to step when returning laundry to their room or hanging a clean shirt.  ("Jump over that, mom!!  Ahhhh, you're stepping on the game!!!")  All I know is that the wood floor is always water, thus an octopus has sat in the hall for the bulk of the summer.  Then they spend time picking out their players.  Cars, action figures, animals, and EMT/fire crew are assigned to a boy.  Then the playing begins.  Sometimes it sounds a lot like house, with a daddy and a son.  Sometimes it sounds like they are re-creating battle bots.  They are both very loyal to the idea of "pause".  When one of them runs to the bathroom or is asked to do a chore, they both yell, "PAUSE!" and then the waiting boy doesn't touch a thing while the other is gone.  It kinda reminds me of risk in that regard.

Seth has begun to get excited about returning to school, but mostly I think it is because new things have been purchased that won't be used until school.  (Lunchbox! Crayons! Shoes! Pencil Box! Big-Kid Sized Scissors!) Seth also talks about wishing the days would go by fast so he can be 16 and get a job and drive a car, and thinks the days will go by faster if he is busy with school.  He's probably right. 

Speaking of Seth wanting a job, he reminds me of a young Eli with his entrepreneurial spirit.  Any other parents have any ideas on this front? Tips on age appropriate ways a kid like this can develop?  He's probably a little too young to go house to house asking for mowing jobs (although his would disagree), and how many times can you have a lemonade stand?  Should we just let him set up one weekly?  We have recently gone through our toys and are going to sell a bunch of things (hopefully) at a consignment sale, so that was a win/win.  When he asks how he can have money, I say boring and lame things like, "by saving!"  Any and all tips and advice on this topic would be appreciated.

We have spent our week by excitedly getting ready for our big trip to Virginia!  We are going to see my Aunt Joyce and Uncle Steve (which we have now started calling Momo's sister Joyce and Steve because of way too much confusion with my Aunt Joyce and their Aunt Joy).  We leave Tuesday and are going to be able to spend about a day and a half with Fairfax folk before heading to an Ethiopia Heritage camp!!  Yay!  Hopefully there will be much fun and culture to report!