Bati Kitchen Resturant-NYC

Of all the things my husband wanted to do for Father's Day, there was no other predictable response except to dine out at an Ethiopian Restaurant. We had visited once before when it first opened and they did not have a liquor license. It was the Saturday before Father's Day and we were hoping to see a college associate whose a sweet young lady and works there while finishing up her biochemistry degree.

It is a quaint little restaurant located in Brooklyn, NY called Bati's Restaurant. The food was even better than the first time and they currently have their liquor's license. The Tej was great although my husband thought a bit weak. The mood and atmosphere is conducive to great conversation and has such a great mixture for customers. Although the restaurant is small, the service is very good with a calm atmosphere.

I love supporting our communities. One fun way is through visiting restaurants that we love. Taking time to even visit their site, make comments, and spread the word!

A Father's Day Tribute

Tomorrow is Father's Day and my girlfriend is helping me to make a collage for my children to present to Mike. They have the cutest pictures attached to Ten Things I Love About My Dad.

1. I love daddy because he plays with me. (They role play around the house enacting the characters of Star Wars. (Guess who they always make me?)
2. I love daddy because he takes me to Target.
3. I love daddy because he took me to Addis Ababa and met family and his favorite friend, Fluffy (The dog).
4. I love daddy because he lets me wear two different socks. (From my youngest).
5. I love daddy because he takes us camping every summer. (For a week! I get to do whatever I want. It's my heaven on earth for a 7 days : )
6. I love daddy because he helps me with my homework.
7. I love daddy because he bought us our Wii.
8. I love daddy because he takes care of us. (I love him for this also).
9. I love daddy because he helps me to catch fireflies.
10. I love daddy because he is cool. (I second the motion. He is one of the coolest dads around).

A New Ethiopian Program

Mike met one of his uncles this weekend. They met at a family gathering and found out they would be meeting up at the a big event later that evening. They talked for a long time as Mike was so intrigued with what he has been doing. I was dieing to get into the conversation but knew he would tell me later.

When later came he gave me the details. Apparently his uncle has a very stressful job but found the time to apply for a grant and was recently approved. The grant is paying for a program where Ethiopians in DC travel to Ethiopia and for native Ethiopians to travel to DC. It is a foreign exchange of Ethiopians to and from Ethiopia. How awesome for Ethiopians who live in DC to travel to their country and to give back in some way. How amazing for Ethiopians to visit DC to be educated and empowered.

I love stories like these because so many people want to do these acts of virtue. It is the example of people like Mike's uncle, which shows you, that you can do it. I'll keep you posted on the development of this new program. Please, follow through with your dreams.

Surprise Them and Yourself

I will be speaking for my Alma-Mata High School Graduation! I have always wanted to to be the Keynote speaker at my former HS but waited three years until I was ready. It is one of my impossibles on my impossible check list, which I believe everyone should have. On June 28th I will be able to check it off. I am so psyched and nervous at the same time. I entered my candidacy and now I feel like what have I gotten myself into.

I felt if anyone should do a graduation speech it should be me. I have been to so many. I even found a way to go to a graduation where I got in but didn't know anyone. That's how much I love them. They are so inspiring. Anyway I will try it out on you first. Tell me what you think?

My Speech

To the graduating class of 2010, when you leave here today you will have many obstacles. After graduation is when the real work begins. There are two sure things I want to speak about today. Failure and Success. First you are expected to Fail. People will judge you by your name, where you grew up and even the color of your skin. But you surprise them. When elephants are trained in foreign countries they are made to wear shackles that will cut their flesh if they try to escape. After some time they believe they cannot get away. The shackles are then substituted for a red string. Although, they can leave, in their minds they are held captive. Do not let anyone label you that you can't do something and worse of all do not label yourself. In your mind you have no limitation.

Secondly Success is all how you view life. Travel, go make a difference. I learned this from Fatima who I held at an Orphanage and then died three days later. She needed insulin and there was none in the country. Our organization had insulin flown in that helped so many others. She taught me how precious life is an how precious my life is. A very rich man took along a very positive companion who always says, "This is good". (Anyway the story is funny and illustrates the point for positive thinking). That even in difficult situations you should be able to see the good. So remember to surprise them, surprise yourself, make a difference and everything is good. All the best in everything you put your hands to.

Well, wish me luck and I hope you were inspired as well. I'll let you know what happens.

Young Man in Addis

We met up last week with a friend we had met while in Addis. He is an American of Phillipino decent. He was in NJ on furlough visiting with family. He is a volunteer with the Peace Corps and has been working in Awassa, Ethiopia the last two years and has one more year to go. He has learned a good amount of the language (Amharic and probably some Afaan Oromoo). He has been doing Network Administration work at the University. He told me he wants to do a cross continent, from East Africa to South Africa, bike ride after he finishes his stint in Ethiopia. He's thinking of extending his mission in Ethiopia also after his biking adventure. It seems he's 'smitten' by the country. I am totally amazed by his courage and sacrifice. People like him are very rare. He has a good education and comes from a good family. He could be in a good job with a family in the US, but he's decided he wants to do something different, something more with his life. He could've have gone to work or help in the Philippines! Instead he decides to go to Ethiopia. He couldn't have chosen a more ill-fitted location. At least it may seem to others. He has adjusted to life in Addis and the country side. I am amazed at his attitude about some of the situations he's been in and some hardships he's faced. He takes it with a stride and understanding. I hope to be able to keep in touch with him while he's there. He's planning to get a wireless card for his laptop so he can get on the Internet. I don't know if he can get online in Awassa. In any case I was totally amazed by this young man, out on an adventure, making a difference.
-Mike

rice

What if for all your life, two times a day, all you had to eat was rice? What if you never had a starch version such as pasta or potatoes. Just rice. No other starch, no meat, not even children's "dreaded" vegetables. Maybe around the holidays a small goat was donated to feed your family, which is once a year. But the next day you were back to eating rice.

One day, A new Director of the orphanage was chosen. I think they should have kept the former one as he was a former orphan. Anyway two weeks into new management and the orphanage had no rice for lunch nor dinner. (Just when you think it could not be worst). A few of us drove around looking for a market that sold kilos of rice. Well we finally found one, using the monetary donations given through Hope worldwide; the children would not go to bed hungry. From that time on the Director was more responsible.

Although this may be the saddest post I have ever written so far. I have witnessed this form of starvation first hand at the orphanage. What amazes me is that I have seen teenagers in the orphanage. Once they go out, before curfew is over, they get left overs at the local restaurant for a feast they have never tasted. But for the younger ones I sent the cook out for the day and had to feed an orphanage of 200 + staff. I made pasta and mixed veggies into it. I seasoned it really nicely and added red onions for boosting the immune system. For them this was a feast. For me I had no idea this was such hard work. But it was worth seeing them slurping it up, spinning and twirling the spaghetti in the air; hitting each other as though they were playing tag before eating it. What did I expect? Nothing different. They did not know what Spaghetti was or what it taste like. Translated: "Petrina, what is this" the children said. I responded, "Pasta". "Pasta nice, make for us again" they said.

The next time you get a chance to give money to the poor, someone homeless on the street, plegdges being requested from a reputable organization, especially those overseas, do what you can to be supportive. Giving really goes a long way. That for a day they were able to eat and for a few days they had PASTA and for the holidays they had their fill of meat. For that time, at least, they did not have to eat rice.

Purpose

I had an opportunity to volunteer today and I just had to share this story with you. I was helping out with a group of second graders. In the class are some amazing children. As you get to know them and their stories you feel so impacted. There is one boy whose mother told me the story of his birth. But today I learned more about him. He is quiet by nature but is well spoken and enjoys telling you about all his favorite hobbies. Well turns out he should not be alive but for some reason he is. You see, his mother had about twenty pregnancies. Yes I said twenty. Honestly at two maybe three I would have been so distraught. But her perseverance is to be admired and commended. What would make her not give up? Even after ten pregnancies, she didn't say, "I guess I am not suppose to have children". At fifteen pregnancies I would have been in a depression that I could not come out of. Her husband is to be commended as well. Finally she gives birth to a premature baby boy; whom I would have named Miracle.

That is not the end of this amazing story. The doctor tells the mother, upon delivery, he will die in a few hours as he has some complications (I think with breathing). The mother asks to take her son home since he is going to die, she would rather him be with family. The next day he is alive. The day after that he is alive. I was spending time with him and his second grade peers and thinking I can't wait to see all the great things he is going to do as he has a purpose on this earth. His teacher says he is one of the top readers in his class and speaks of God often at his own initiative. Of course this got me to thinking about my purpose and that everyone has a purpose to fulfill. We are to flourish and make the most of every opportunity. The opportunity for me to volunteer today was good for my heart. At least for today I fulfilled my purpose and was filled with purpose.