CNN Heroes 2011

CNN Heroes 2011 is here! They will be choosing this years winner on December 8:00ET/5:00PT.I love this show. I always admire the candidates as they are doing the work we all desire to do and on a bigger scale. They inspire us to be brave, to follow our visions and show consistency in making a difference.

CNN Heroes has been an inspiration to me starting the Ethiopian Foundation. I secretly dream of the day when I can be nominated for just being on the show. I also envision hosting my own award ceremony as I enjoy the process of nominations and recognition of awards given by "the people" for "exemplary humanitarian efforts". For now, I'll keep my head out of the clouds and keep my hands dirty with Aide Work.

And as usual I have more than one person I want to vote for. If you want to vote for your favorites, you may do so now as voting has commenced.

CNN Heroes 2011-Everyday People Changing The World.

The Ethiopian Foundation Update

We have officially, had our first meeting for The Ethiopian Foundation (TEF) at the most meaningful and historical site, The Martin Luther King Jr. Library. Everyone came with their committed hearts and ideas for raising scholarships for Ethiopian candidates.

Nataniel Fikru, our first candidate, spoke at the meeting. He brought his mother who cheered him on and the members of TEF for her son's consideration as a recipient for our "Text Book Fund". He is a wonderful young man with much plans and hopes for himself and his country, Ethiopia.

The Board Members are a dynamic group of Ethiopians, consisting of two Engineer, two Computer Wizards, a Medical Doctor, a former Member of the UN, a Professor, a Business Owner and myself the Counselor/Therapist. We will be having our first fundraiser in the beginning of December. Stay tuned and thank you for your continued support.

-The Ethiopian Foundation Team

Thank You Blog Expat

I have seen this button before from traveling to other blogs, blog surfing to read the latest on blogs similar to my own. I was curious enough to click and glance and read and admire but it never crossed my mind to join. Maybe I thought they wouldn't like my blog.

Well I saw it again and this time I took a chance and filled out the online registration. I was surprised at how quickly I was approved. I must admit, being a part of a community of expatriate bloggers is a wonderful forum to be apart of. I love that it is international and bloggers are single and some married with children, like myself. Plus it will keep me on the edge, reading and reminiscing of my travels through the eyes of other travelers. Did I mention this will be a motivational site to keep me working towards my future goals for helping humanity?

The latest featured blog is Us! Check out OTTE on Blog Expats. Feel free to vote for us as well. Thanks.

Missing Summer

I miss summer already. It's time to get back to work and I am just not ready. We were able to finally launch "The Ethiopian Foundation" which also made this a great summer. It started with our trip back home to New York. We visited family and our old neighborhood. The kids missed each other so much.

We ate well and visited places of meaning for us. We even caught a movie with my nephew. On our way back to the bus terminal. I gave the boys my camera and these are the pictures they took.

My Youngest

My Oldest

Me

and thirteen pictures of this same sky.

My father in law treated us to Kings Dominion in Virginia. We had a blast and a delicious picnic. These are my boys with my husband, skipping eagerly to the entrance.

The boys had fun on the bumper cars.

Driving around,

Talking daddy into taking a 13 story drop,

All of us riding the crazy roller coaster, especially the Grizzly which took you through the woods.

They tried to win a bear for their one year old cousin, which they won.

We enjoyed our pool for the rest of the summer,

Which closed on Labor Day. See you next year, Summer. Now back to work.

Until we meet again......

Meeting Aster Aweke

I was speaking to a friend of mine, Dawit, about meeting the extraordinary songstress Aster Aweke. It inspired me to write about my encounter with her. It must have been about ten years ago. I had no idea how popular she was.

At that time her manager was an uncle of my husband. She had a concert in Atlanta, the same time as the Ethiopian Soccer event. Of course, we got in free, scouted out our front row area for our dancing and listening pleasure. The hall was beautiful but empty. Earlier, we went to the soccer event and stayed for hours enjoying the food, vendors, and the game.

As we waited, out came my husband's uncle and a very beautiful woman who I assumed was Aster. Sure enough she came to meet us as his uncle told her we were eager to meet her. She is the kindest person and soft spoken. We shook hands and made small talk. She was very gracious and seemed to almost bare an angelic, quiet spirit.

The concert started at 11:30pm. Only my husband and I was on the dance floor for about an hour. I started getting nervous for Aster as there was almost no one in the hall except a hand full of people. She sang powerfully and we kept dancing. I felt she was singing for just me so I kept dancing ; ) People started trickling in about 12:30am and the hall was jammed packed. Everyone was doing the eskista and we joined in.

YES, I am pretty good at dancing the eskista. I have had a lot of practice from all the weddings over the decade. lol. Anyway, Aster took a break and addressed the crowd. She said,(my husband translated) "I was waiting for you and thought you had forgotten about me due to the soccer game." The crowd went wild and said "Nooo. Aster, Aster." They started jumping up and the energy was electric. The band started playing and she sang again.

We danced until 4 in the morning. I found a couch downstairs near the ladies room and fell asleep. My husband and his uncle played catch up while checking on me. The music went on until 5:30am. I was too tired to go home to my bed. On our trip back I bragged about what a great time I had and how I had met THE Aster Aweke.

All That Jazz-Ethiopian Style