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Published: October 16th 2009
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Wow, it appears it’s been months since I’ve last posted. You excuse me. Most of these posts have been on my computer but I haven’t had time to post them. As opposed to earlier when my lack of posting was brought on by laziness and overall pessimism and gloom, now my lack of posting can be caulked up to too much work! In the last month, things have really started to pick up around here. Now that the Cow Barn is slowly moving along, a bunch of other small projects are cropping up. But that’s not the point of this post. The point of this post is to relay the enjoyment that was my birthday this year, October 1st.
So for about a month I’ve been casually dropping the fact that my birthday was coming up to numerous friends, their responses always the same: let me know a week in advance. The proved especially relevant when my friend Sentayehu reprimanded me when finding out the day of: “But I told you a month ago!” “I told you to tell me a week before!” Either way, Sentayehu adapted and at the end of the work day invited me to his organization’s
office for a coffee ceremony. Sean and a visiting Mike came with too.
When we got there we were immediately struck by the sheer beauty of the setup: flowers arranged in an AIDS ribbon, kindling for a bonfire, general coffee ceremony tools, a sign that read “Happy Birthday to Mr. Adem”, and two candles: a 2 and a 4. Oh, and he had a boombox set up to play the latest in Ethiopian booty tunes. After the compulsory 30 minute delay, the party got underway with some coffee, some dancing, and some bonfiring. After the second cup, the music was silenced and Sintayehu said a few words, first in Amharic and second in ¾ English. He was very appreciative of my attitude. Finally, he finishes with, “Adam, it is your birthday, will you sing for us.”
Not knowing that this was culturally required, I had prepared neither song nor dance for such an occasion. Quickly thinking on their feet, however, Sean and Mike suggested something of the Celine Dion genre. I obliged and began by leading a medium beat group clap. Then I started:
Love can touch us one time
And last for, a lifetime
Na na na na na na
Go on
Not knowing anything beyond the first two lines I jumped into the chorus:
Near, far
Wherever you are
I can see that the heart does
Go on
Once, more
You opened the door
Na na na na na na na
Go on
Obviously the crowd went wild at my impromptu accapella session. Next victims: Sean and Mike. “Please sing for your friend, to make him enjoy.” Fortunately we had all been watching the newly acquired, last season of Scrubs, and Sean and Mike regaled us all with the “Steak Night” song and dance performed midseason by J.D. and Turk. The Ethiopians being especially impressed by the coordination of dance, gave props where they were due.
Finally, after the program had finished, Sean, Mike, Sentayehu and I traveled uptown to where my and Sean’s coworkers were, to have a couple of brewskies (not of the home made variety). My coworkers immediately hit me with their present: a new cultural Ethiopian shirt. I was so excited that I nearly ripped it up while trying it on. It’s a little small, but I assume that my consistent weight loss will eventually render the tight fitting shirt perfect. This was the second gift received during the day, the first being from Sintayehu’s organization: a classy wall ornament I currently have hanging in my house.
The night reached completion at another local bar where we implored the dj to put in a recently constructed cd of American tunes. It was much better than their normal selection of American music, including 50 cent, the previously mentioned Celine Dion, and Michael Bolton. Girl Talk was a little foreign to them, and they inquired whether or not we had mixed the music ourselves. We figured they didn’t know the difference and our answer: yes. Copyright infringement!
Oh, and one final note, a birthday gift from my parents: a ticket home for Christmas! If any of you reading this will be in the Minnesota area between December 13th through December 29th let me know. Really excited for some bacon and cheese. And roads! And snow! I have to stop thinking about it.
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