It thundered and it rained with no end in site at the time. Businesses do not do good when it rains like this in Addis Abba. Those that have generators are able to continue to do business, but those who do not... well... business goes on hold for them at the time. In the coffee shop where Aki, Nate and I took shelter while providing a quick drink and snack for some children, my friend that I have become close to, Hanna, came to join us. I had called her earlier that day and told her where we would be, and she just happened to stop and take refuge from the passing storm in the coffee shop too. What perfect timing. I seen her and ran to embrace her in long over due hug. Nate was next. She was so excited to see us as we were just as excited to see her. Well I was probably more excited to see her.
The storm had ceased its down pour, but left many of the businesses without generators without power, as the usual case in Addis Abba. So Aki and Nate went on ahead and left to join the rest of the team who was shopping, and Hanna and I stayed to have a cup of Ethiopian Joe and catch up. We spent some time talking about my trip over there and how much fun it was to have a delay for almost 24 hours in Dulles Airport. After our time of catching up we made our way back over with the rest of the team, and there Hanna was able to see friends she had made from last year, and co-workers. Everyone was very pleased to see her.
I told Hanna about the bracelet she had bought me last year and how it had broke, then she asked if I wanted her to get me a new one. I did not hesitate. She laughed and said, "you want me to buy you a new one now?", of course I said yes. After a few stores I walked away with a nice gift from my friend Hanna.
We then all piled into the vehicles and made our way over to this what seemed to me a parking lot, but it was some sort of park with a dedication to the Soviet Union Army during WWII that helped defeat Italy and push them out of Ethiopia. This would be the spot where we would have our soccer game. Adults vs. kids. I was a goalie and they had a goalie that was not even half my size, but seemed to stop more shots than I.
The game was so much fun and energetic. As Simon raced down the field passing to Aki then Aki to Efram, then a shot... denied by the little one. They rejoiced as the adults were denied their goal. Now my turn to deny a shot from the Ethiopian kids, as they raced down passing to one another, then in front of me they shot... score! They scored on the big man. As the game went on I got better at blocking shots, the rest of the adults got better at making shots and the game would end in a 3 to 3 tie. We got off of the field to let this other group of kids who were dressed in their uniforms play.
This is when I got the American Football out.
Simon, Nate, Zack, and I would start throwing this around springing curiosity about what this foreign ball was. In about 10 minutes we started showing them how to throw the ball. They would get so excited when we gave them a high five when they did it right. Each one was happy when I pulled them out of the crowd to try it.
Then I started to show them how to protect the quarterback. What fun. They were just as aggressive as I was. This went on for at least an hour, then it was time for us to pack it up. Spending two hours of with the street kids. The last guy I was passing the ball with went to walk off as he gave me the football back for me to take with me, I then returned it to him to let him know that it was his ball now. The excitement that came over him.
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