Hey Vidai, What an amazing experience. I just started reading your family blog, because our Internet connection in Turkey finally began working. In Istanbul, we also have to go through metal detectors when we go into a mall or any public building. I guess that should make us feel better? Keep your entries coming. This is all so fascinating to read. Sending you an your family lots of love, Ruta
Dear Ones it sounds as though you are really experiencing what we can't even imagine. I am so happy that you are writing about your experiences and know that we are praying for all of you. You will have a great deal to tell us when you arrive home. In the meantime know that we are just trying to picture you and all that you are writing about. Much love and God's blessings to all of you. Sr. Michele
Thanks for Sharing Dear Kulbis Family,
Thank you for sharing your life in Africa. It's great to read about your experiences from the perspectives of various family members. We appreciate your work.....your witness.....all the love and good will you are spreading.
You are in our prayers,
Mike and Marty Kenahan
Very real Lukas and all of you, thanks for taking the time to make your daily life so real to all of us here in the US of A. I feel like I'm able to experience a little of Ethiopia through your wonderful writing.
Ruta - thanks also for the startling, heartbreaking report on women there. So much work to be done.
Take good care - Nancy
Wish lists books: Children's librarian in Ethiopia Here's someone whose organization might help school libraries too? Just announced in Library Journal in Oct. 2008...Ethiopian librarian nominated as one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes for 2008. As someone rightly said: "Librarians, I'm sure will be voting".
Ethiopian-born children's librarian Yohannes Gebregeorgis, with an MLS from the University of Texas at Austin and a stint at the San Francisco Public Library... , has gone home to establish children's libraries via the nonprofit Ethiopia Reads. He even wrote the first bilingual Amharic-English children's book, Silly Mammo.
WOW! Miela Kulbiu seima,
WOW WOW WOW!!! It's been amazing reading your blog, and the pictures are fantastic. I think about all of you and pray often-- yesterday during mass Kun. Saulaitis mentioned all of you and your incredible adventure very beautifully. Hope you continue to face every challenge with a positive attitude!
labas Labas visi--I was in Riverside with Viki last week-end and just got your blog link--it is so interesting and my thoughts and prayers are with your family. Arija is touring Chicago schools and will probably end up there as well--Dana B.
Hiring a mini bus Just a tip - you can hire any one of the minbus drivers. They'll be grateful for the regular arrangement because it means they'll get regular money. Just ask the next minubus driver that takes you to work, and get their number, and let them know where to meet you. You might have to pay *slightly* more than for regular public transport but I'm only talking a difference of about $2 US (if that). Also, the arrangements aren't necessarily binding so you can cancel whenever and the driver will happily move on. Just remember to haggle (a lot!)
Carcass? Kovai, so at what point to you think your dad will break down and buy half a carcass, haul it over his shoulder and bring it home to make some mouthwatering ribs? Your posts are so intereresting; thanks for writing them! You are very missed.. we print of the blog entries every weekend and sit around the kitchen, reading them out loud. Hi to everyone.. myliu.
wow Ruta, it is .. hard to read about the conditions. I didn't image that they would be quite so bad. I think it's easy to romanticize Africa, you know? I was envisioning small light- filled grass hut with giraffes munching on the roof of palm fronds. :~) You are contantly in our prayers and thoughts. Thanks for the updates, we really look forward to them!
Juxtaposition Labas, Kovai. Don't know if you see this on your screen, but the Google ad beside your entry reads, "How to lose stomach fat." Wow, it's pretty clear from your entry why not every culture has this "problem," or even perceives it as a problem!
Keep 'em coming! Labas Kulbiukai!
As jus taip pasiilgstu, net dar daugiau negu paprastai - gal nes jus esat toliau! Man taip idomu skaityti jusu blog, as kasdien patikrinu. Meldziuos uz jus ir bandau sugalvoti kaip as galeciau jus aplankyti! MYLIU!
Lina
house address?? oh kovai!!.. i miss ya man... hahah do you have a address for your house????? if you do can you send it to my email.. ill be your bestest cousin forever!!!!! myliu myliu myliu myliu myliu myliu myliu myliu myliu myliu.....xoxoxoxoxo
-you favorite new Mexican cousin(who if you think about it isn't so far away... =) )
vaiva!!!!!!!
Labas Labas Ruta ir Tadas ir visi vaikai,
Life sounds very interesting so far. It took me so long to realize you had a blog. Ma ir tete kept asking if I have heard anything. Anyway I will teach them how to get to it on the computer. In the men time I am making copies of your adventures. Glad you are doing ok.
Gina
The Kulbis family is spending a year in the capital city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The objectives of our sabbatical include taking direct action to help understand and fight extreme poverty and global inequalities. It is a small drop of aid, but hopefully the seven of us will cause ripples of goodwill.... full info
Ruta Puskorius
non-member comment
Hey Vidai, What an amazing experience. I just started reading your family blog, because our Internet connection in Turkey finally began working. In Istanbul, we also have to go through metal detectors when we go into a mall or any public building. I guess that should make us feel better? Keep your entries coming. This is all so fascinating to read. Sending you an your family lots of love, Ruta