Our First Month

Beauty. Colour. Kindness. Love. Community.

These are the words that come to mind when I reflect on our first month in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. From the moment we arrived, we've been embraced by the vibrant spirit of this city; its history, its people, and its deep sense of community.

 

We’ve taken walks through leafy neighborhoods and along bustling streets, greeted by smiles and the scent of fresh injera. The food has been nothing short of incredible; full of flavour, tradition, and warmth. Our early explorations took us into lively markets, where we admired handcrafted goods, colourful fabrics, and the passionate work of local artisans and vendors. Oscar's 15th birthday was celebrated in style with cake, champagne, Lego, playgrounds, swimming and a movie: "The Fantastic Four"! All his favorite's filled his celebration. 

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One highlight was our visit to Entoto Mountains and the National Museum of Ethiopia, home to the world-famous fossil remains of Lucy — a 3.2 million-year-old artifact found here by relatives of some of the members of our school. Standing in front of her was awe-inspiring, a powerful reminder of Ethiopia’s profound place in human history. The museum also showcased stunning ancient artifacts, traditional art, and we even had the opportunity to see and touch the tombstone of an emperor of Addis. We visited a church set in the mountains of Entoto, a prominent mountain range just north of the city, an elevation of 3,200 meters, and where the tombstone of Emperor Haile Selassie and his wife remain.

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We’ve also had the privilege of experiencing community life at ICS Addis, where families from over 70 different nationalities come together in one shared space. The richness of diversity here is celebrated daily, in the hallways, classrooms, and conversations. One Saturday, we attended a lively school market hosted by the Parent Community that supported local vendors and NGOs. It was a joyful and inspiring event, full of beautiful handmade goods, meaningful causes, and a strong sense of connection between families and the wider community.

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The school band played live music that filled the air with energy, while children ran between stalls with painted faces and fresh popcorn. It was a beautiful snapshot of the harmony that is possible when cultures come together with mutual respect and curiosity.

More than anything, it’s the people who have made this first month so special. We’ve been met with authentic love, generosity, and warmth; from the vendors in the market to the staff at ICS, to new friends inviting us into their homes.

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We came here excited for adventure, but we’ve found so much more: a new sense of home, surrounded by beauty, colour, kindness, love, and above all; community. We miss you Hudson Forest Play and the gorgeous community that continues to build. We look forward to the start of the fall season in the forest of Sandy Beach Park and see the sparkle of childen at play. I have included a few photos below.