Making a change: First impressions

Laureen Lund

Special to the Gateway

Editor's note: Gig Harbor’s Laureen Lund is in Ethiopia as part of the Denny Wilford Foundation. She will send periodic updates about her impressions and work while she’s in the country.

If you'd like to leave a comment, here's a link to her post on our blog site, where comments are enabled.

Here’s her first update:

First Impressions — or the Biggest Surprise

It’s green — my expectation did not include green. Flying in as we approached it was like looking at sleeping dragon from a fairytale … a giant green sleeping dragon with grooves in its skin and emeral green body lying peacefully.

Smog — as we got near the airport and the populated areas, a thick pink haze lay over the sleeping dragon and then we were there.

Beautiful people — never have a seen a more attractive population. They are truly beautiful, and sincerely happy and kind and helpful.

Driving from the airport to our hotel was interesting. It made me think of pictures I have seen of India — cars, motorcycles and people everywhere, no stop lights no cross walks … pedestrians everywhere with no regard for them at all. I saw three donkeys and a boy with a goat amongst the cars, trucks and crazy drivers.

My brain screams for sleep after 30 hours of travel. I am content in my room and ready to shut off my brain and all my sensory overload. We begin the business we came here to do tomorrow; meanwhile, I sleep.

5 a.m. — I awake to the sound of the electronic noise across the city as the Muslims are called to worship. It reminds me of the LaHar warning I heard once in Orting … it lasts about five minutes and then back to sleep for a while. Coffee … where is the coffee? I need it bad this morning as the moth balls have taken over my brain.

Now our work begins. More soon.