Sunday, August 2, 2009, 10pm

   Our very kind host, Ato Mulu, invited us to his home today for coffee. Lesson to self: that means something very different in Ethiopia than it does in America. His beautiful wife greeted us when we arrived and brought out two baskets covered with a cloth and two hot pots. Unfortunately, we did not know food was involved, so we had just stuffed ourselves at the hotel before we left. We sat down on the couch and they removed the cloths from the baskets and put huge rolls of enjera (the traditional and most common Ethiopian food) on our plates. Then scooped on the sauce, and the spoonfuls of beef tips. Our eyes grew bigger as we saw the amount of food we were expected to consume. And wondered how our weak stomachs would handle the new food. The food was delicious and slowly, bite by bite, we worked our way through the food. At one point I told the wife how delicious the meal was. "If it was delicious," she said, "you would eat it all." No pressure. :) As we nibbled on our food, she prepared a coffee ceremony for us. She sat on a small stool made of cow skin at a very little chest on the ground. She brought out a very small charcoal fire and began by washing the coffee beans with water over the warm plate. For about an hour, we sat and talked, and watched her washing, roast, and grind the beans, all by hand. Then she made us the most rich, wonderful coffee we've ever had. No filters, but not a single ground in the bottom of our cups. Typically they sit for three rounds of this, but they allowed us to just have two since we were so full. It was such a wonderful experience. They gave us wonderful Ethiopian scarves that resemble the Ethiopian flag. It was exciting to see into their lives and daily living. They are such hospitable people here. She said they would have coffee again that night with their neighbors, They sit and sip coffee, just enjoying each other's company and sharing life. We left with wonderful memories and very full stomachs.

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