Our first month

November 18, 2009

Our first month in Canada with Faven has passed. There have been some real ups and downs, and lots of learning about who we are and what our strengths and weaknesses are. Faven is extremely happy, delightful and adaptable; she is also strong-willed, confident, funny, energetic and athletic.

In the last week, we have finally been able to return to many of our favorite foods - Faven is happily eating most of what we make for supper. Breakfast and lunch are still a challenge, but she is a tremendous fruit eater, so that helps. We are still enjoying our share of Ethiopian food, as the Ethiopian community was able to find a woman who would come into our home two afternoons a week, to help out with everything Ethiopian from cooking, translation, grocery shopping - what Faven likes and doesn't like, and some child care, so that I can start to think about getting out on my own. Whew! Faven is enjoying the opportunity to easily speak to another person - the first day Bethlehem (Betty) was here, Faven did not stop talking for four hours!

Over the past week, Faven has moved out of Lauren's bedroom and into her own room, which has meant that Lauren has moved out of our closet! Our two girls are not well suited for sharing a room - Lauren, our ONLY introvert needs some space to call her own, where she can close the door and re-charge if she needs to. (I SO get that!) Faven is extremely happy to have 'things' to call her own, and has smoothly transitioned to her own space. Thankfully, we are all now sleeping fairly well.

Faven and I have started Grade 4 (very part time) at Edgemont School, where both Lauren and Yohannes are currently going. We have found an amazing grade four class that is small (20 kids), is culturally and ethnically diverse and has a teacher and a full time teacher’s aid (who is from Tanzania). We go to school every morning from 0900 - 1030, it is fun! Also, twice per week, Faven has a two hour 'tutoring' block, in our home, with a woman from Ethiopia, who continues teaching Faven reading and writing in Amharic, as well as teaching her ESL and music. Also, once a week both of our Ethiopian born children are attending "Ethiopian classes", which are organized and facilitated by the Ethiopian community - they are learning Amharic, history, cultural traditions and songs. Faven is a 'youth' volunteer in the program and loves it. I fill in the rest of her education, which is mostly about living in Calgary, Canada, what our community looks like, and basic literacy and numeracy - with alot of physical activity thrown in to keep us sane. Two weeks ago, I was able to get Faven registered for soccer, and she is showing her prowess in that area (just like her Mom!). It is such a joy to watch her play, and see how much she enjoys this sport and being with other girls.

For our part, as parents, we are confused and befuddled MOST of the time. All our 'at-home' kids are showing us many, many different behaviors, which challenge our patience and create chaos on a daily basis. However, it is only brief moments that are challenging; as a whole, everyone is handling the change and transition pretty well. We will over the next weeks and months start to build in time away from our crew, and that will go a long way to re-energizing and connecting.

Thank you for walking along with us. Wendy and Ward