Le Dilemme
I’ve been thinking for months that I would fly Emirates to Ethiopia, but I’ve been poking around online for fares, etc. as I await news of my embassy date and I noticed something that has made me question my first approach. Emirates was perfect when I was flying with Oscar, and without question I think it’s a better airline than any of the other choices flying into Addis. However, it seems it’s possible to fly through Paris. Normally, I wouldn’t be idiotic enough to leave an airport on a layover. Unfortunately, though, no matter how I design my trip, I’m laying over somewhere for a considerable period (whether that’s DC, Amsterdam, Dubai or the City of Lights).
Both flights depart at about the same time and arrive back home at about the same time. On the return trip, I’d leave Addis 4 hours later for Paris than for Dubai, meaning I’d have a normal layover there instead of the 8 hours in Dubai (so Paris is the winner that direction). On my way to Etta, I’d have a 13 hour layover in Dubai, and I’d bypass the free hotel and just pay for a room at the in-terminal hotel, meaning I’d do nothing but sleep. Smart, no? On the Paris route, I’d have an 11 hour layover, and I’d bypass the hotel option entirely and head into the city (requiring me to both exit and then enter airport security). I’d slam some Ambien on both the way to Paris and again on the overnight flight to Addis. The flight from Paris gets me into Addis almost 5 hours earlier in the day, so I’d get to meet Etta a little earlier.
This is my struggle. The grown up answer to this question is that I should stay in Dubai and sleep, but this is my first taste of freedom in over two years. This will be my first day I’ll be away from Oscar and the last opportunity at something like this for a long, LONG time. . . not complaining, just noting. I almost feel like I need to do something with it that is more significant than sleeping. I do know that in a few months I’ll look back at this and think that there is nothing more significant than sleeping, but for now, the prospect of wandering around Paris for a few hours, seeing some sites seems like a lot more fun.
I have a whole slew of reasons that make taking the Paris option sound reasonable – (a) I won’t be taking much carry-on luggage with me on that leg, so it wouldn’t really be inconvenient; (b) there are more flights from Paris to Addis (either direct or indirect) than there are from Dubai, so if something happens to my scheduled connection I’d have more options; (c) “it’s the journey, not the destination” and (d) (my favorite) because of my socio and political mores, I’d prefer not to travel through the UAE; I’d rather my daughter and I not spend our time and money in an area where women are not afforded the same rights. I know, ultimately, I know I should take the adult option and sleep, but I thought I’d share my daydream with you.
Shhhhh…..
We can keep this (30% off at the G@p this weekend) just between us. I, of course, won’t be using this coupon. Well, maybe for just a few basics. I mean, 5% of sales will be donated to charity, so that’s good, right?
Holy cow
I just looked at the calendar and saw that if I get the embassy date I think I will, I will be on a plane one month from today on my way to Etta. I guess I should start talking to a travel agent.
I am not going to lie, my fingers are frozen right now. One month.
What is happening to me?
I’ve gone a little overboard with the shopping lately. It’s a bit of a vicious cycle. I buy clothes for Etta and then I feel like I’m overlooking Oscar and turn around and get him something. Today, it was this:
That’s right. What every two-year old needs. A Mustang convertible pedal car in his favorite color, red. Granted, it is his birthday present (if I manage to hide it properly in the basement for the next four months – as if that will be possible) and it was on sale for almost half off on gilt, but let’s face it, it’s sort of an extravagant purchase. That’s only because Etta’s wardrobe is getting out of control.
I went out to lunch with a friend for the first time in eons on Friday. We might have had a few glasses of wine, which required us to spend some time ambling around in the rain (thankfully my friend never goes anywhere without an extra umbrella and a selection of cashmere scarves, one of which she wrapped oh-so-Parisianly around my freezing cold neck) before I drove back to the office and she back to her little ones at home. I’ve been great about not going out and spending tons on clothes. I tend to do my damage online, with the requirement that everything I buy is significantly on sale (at least 40% off – usually more). Great rule, but I find myself gravitating towards boutique items for Etta for her lounge-wear. Now, I’m no longer satisfied with only Baby Gap, which is (along with J Crew (clearance sales)) my mainstay for Oscar.
I did a little damage on Friday shopping with K, but it could have been worse. I hung tough and bought nothing at less than 50% off (but that’s 50% off Luna Luna Copenhagen prices, so still more than I should have spent). I’m drawing a line in the sand now, though. I think I’m through shopping. I might need a few onesies and a couple bows (my new obsession), but I’m clamping down on the rest of it. I will not go buy the $42 ballet slippers in that pearly gold. I won’t. She’ll be around 6 months old when she gets home. She doesn’t even need shoes.
I’ll leave you with a few of my recent, more reasonably priced, purchases.
Now what?
Thank you all for your sweet comments and wishes for our newly expanded family. For those of you who remarked, either here or on FB, about this all seeming like it flew by, you have no idea how accurate you are (well, with the exception of the four-day period immediately preceding the court date, which was torture). How fast was it? Well, when I accepted my referral I told myself that I was not going to start whining about getting a court date until 6 weeks after my referral. I put reminders on my Outlook calendar to notify me when each week had passed. This morning I looked at my calendar for next week and saw the reminder for next Tuesday – “Week 5 Finished”. . . and yet, I’ve already passed court and am waiting for my Embassy date. Unbelievable. What’s surprising to me is that three families, including mine, went onto the baby girl wait list within about a week of each other. We received referrals right before Christmas, January 8 (I remember because this made me #1) and then one month later on February 8 and yet we all passed court within two days of each other. Bizarre how that ended up working.
What happens next? Apparently I am waiting for Etta’s birth certificate and Ethiopian passport, which will then be delivered to the Embassy, along with a bunch of other docs, I imagine, in order for our Embassy appointment to be scheduled. We’ve been told end of April/beginning of May, but who knows? I think 6 families with my agency passed court this week, so hopefully we’ll have one or two nice travel groups.
In the meantime, I’ve put together a little gift for Etta that will be taken to her by a super generous and sweet mom with my agency. She’s leaving to pick up her son in just a couple of weeks. Another friend is just returning from Ethiopia right now with her daughter. She loved on Etta and took tons of pics and some video, so I can’t wait to get the details from her.
I’m also working on her American name. She is currently named Dink Alem, which means amazing world. Obviously, I love the name, but using the word “dink” in a house with a child from Vietnam does not seem appropriate. I’m 99% sure I’m naming her Gabre Ella Grayson (Gabre is an Ethiopian name), but I’ve changed my mind before, so . . .
So, that’s where we are. I’ve already started packing. Pathetic, I know, but it gave me an opportunity to take out Etta’s pretty little clothes (not that I’m taking many of those with me to Ethiopia – we all know the risk of giardia and blow-outs; I’m thinking we’ll take the basics and save the pretty stuff for home). I’ve been buying bows and headbands for my beautiful big bald baby and am even thinking about moving the crib into my room to get Oscar used to the change before I leave for Ethiopia.
Wait, did you get that? Yeah, “before I leave”. Not we. The accelerated timeline I am now on is not going to allow me to have much time in country. I just don’t think it makes sense to fly Oscar more than half way around the world, subject him to jetlag and then turn right around and subject him to another 33 hours of travel in which he can’t sit on my lap because the girl in all of those pictures is already on it. I hate the idea of leaving him at home, but I think it might be the smarter choice. Especially since reading the blog of a family who just traveled with their toddler son who passed out a day or two after arriving in Addis. He’s fine, but it really served as a reminder of just how exhausting travel can be. Of course, I’ve changed my mind on this twice already. . .
Introducing Etta – We passed court!!!
Turns out my dad’s birthday was lucky for us after all. It’s been a bittersweet morning, though, since the friend I really wanted to travel with did not get the same good news as I did. Hoping she gets the good word very quickly.
One
Do you think there’s a doctor around here who would put me on a Valium drip from now until about noon on Wednesday? PPO, not HMO. Does that help?
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Etta’s Hats
Where I’ve Been
