Phone Conversation

I love hearing that little voice come over the phone, "Hello? (pause) Hello?" And as soon as I hear that little girl on the other line, everything, (the year long wait, the struggles in making this all work, and even the despair of leaving her) all fades away. The conversation isn't long - but it's just so comforting to hear her voice and to hear her ask questions in Amharic and being able to reply and hopefully bring a little comfort to her that, yes, I haven't forgotten about her. Yes, I do still love her and miss her dearly. And yes, I do care about how her day goes and what keeps her busy all day.

I hadn't spoken to Bamlak for, gosh, many months. Maeza's cell phone was no longer working and there wasn't any other way to gain contact with Bamlak until her phone was working again. Maeza answered her phone after only 2 rings and knew immediately that it was me. She picked up and asked, "Bettina-yay?" "Yes, Maeza! Indaynesh?" A laugh came over the line, as it always does when I speak Amharic and then I heard her telling the girls next to hear to go and get Bamlak, immediately.

She spoke for only a few moments to let me know how school was going (very well, but difficult, and she's still LOVING it), and then Bamlak was there. We only had a few exchanges as she was having difficulty with the delay in the phone but we were at least able to say I love you and miss you to each other. Maeza came back on the line and said, "What do you want to know about Bamlak? Ask me anything" She is so sweet!

So I found out the following:
1. Bamlak went to the doctor last week for an eye problem, but she is doing well now.
2. Bamlak hates going to school everyday and begs Maeza to stay at Kechene all day so she can play. Bamlak won't say why she hates school, but Maeza thinks it's just because it's not a very good school and that she continues to learn the same things over and over again because they (all children her age) are put in the same class for 3 years. My first reaction was to ask if the teachers hit her but she replied no. Maeza gave me reassurance that they do not hit the kids at Kibebetsehay, they just aren't very good teachers.
3. Maeza continues to take care of Bamlak, in fact she was the one to take her to the hospital for her eyes. I love this girl!
4. Maeza continues to talk about me everyday and reassures her that I will return. Again, I'm so grateful for Maeza.

Hopefully, my next conversation with Bamlak will be next week and I can call her to say, "Hunnie, I'm coming in x many days. Maeza has x many pieces of candy in a jar. You can have one each day. When the jar is emtpy I'll be bringing you home forever!" (She loves the "one piece of candy" game, we did it every time I had to go out of the country for work or out of town for more than a couple days, with the except of this return to the US) Wow!! This is all so surreal that she really could be coming home so soon. I say "home so soon" because it truly seems to be happening! For real! Wow!

So surreal. So exciting. So nervous. So happy. So grateful.