Dancing Queen

This was taken during our coffee break on the way to Awassa (2nd largest city in Ethiopia). Whenever music comes, Liya just has to dance! 喧騒のアディスアババ（首都）から、テメスゲンの兄弟のほとんどが住むアワサへいく道中、コーヒー休憩したときのビデオ。この旅で、何度リヤの奔放さに驚かされたことか。彼女は本当に無鉄砲というか、決めたらやるまで気がすまない (このビデオでは途中で石を見つけ中断）。そして音楽が流れたら踊らなくては気がすまない。誰に似たのか、かなり自分の意見がはっきりしてます。ちなみに、ビデオ後半で横切るお姉さん、持っている黄色の容器は水汲みようです。家に水道のないところでは、これに水を入れて家まで運びます。

Back from Ethiopia

We are back in our Sweet Home Alabama! The 4-week-long trip to Ethiopia was very interesting, indeed. It will take a while for me to digest, but we already miss Temesgen's family, who helped us tremendously during our stay. It was truly my pleasure meeting them after all these years of hearing about them. Misha and Liya absolutely love their uncles and aunties! And we miss Ethiopian coffee. Photos will be posted soon - stay tuned!
[Photo: Temesgen's brothers aka."THE BOYS"(from left)Temesgen, Nebiyu with Liya,Zerihun,Gezacho(cousin)with Misha,and Habte in Awassa]
1月6日の夜7時、我が家に無事到着。帰りの旅はさすがに長かった！アディスからローマまで6時間、ローマで1－2時間燃料追加休憩、ローマ・ワシントンDCが10時間、DCの近くに住んでいる弟のフレオと待ち合わせて1－2時間ほどお茶した後、ワシントン・アトランタが2時間。そしてここから車で2時間かけてオーバーンへ。子供達は車中で熟睡、私たちもガレージから寝室に直行、数分後にはZZZ・・・。翌日は家を皆8時に出て即仕事復帰。あー、時間たっぷりのエチオピアが懐かしい！4週間あっという間の旅。少しずつ、エチオピアの様子をアップしていきますのでお楽しみに。暖かいシャワーが浴びられるって幸せ！
兄弟の写真：左からテメスゲン、ネビユ、ゼリフン、ゲザチョ（従兄弟)、そしてハブテ

What a day!

I usually have a good life, but oh my goodness, what a day I had yesterday! Let me list all what happened yesterday, I mean within 12 hours.

1. Toyota Carolla (our commuter) lost almost all air from the left front tire, and I was driving when Temesgen noticed! Most likely a leak per mechanic.
2. Jeep Cherokee had a leak from the radiator - estimated cost for repair $600.
3. My cell phone quit showing anything on the screen all of sudden. No accident that I can recall. Based on what I found on the troubleshooting website, this problem is apparently common with this model (Sony Ericsson)
4. My colleague clinician just does not want to commit to work for the first 3 days of Junuary,and still does not want me to ask other clinicians to cover the dates.
4. My boss told me I can not take time off during the semester. Well, she had my time-off request sheet almost for 3 weeks now, and I am leaving for Ethiopia in 3 days! Too bad - they just need to figure it out somehow. I am going.

$600 for the radiator is another ouch for our bank account since we recently spent almost $1000 on our immunizations required for our trip to Ethiopia, which is not covered by the insurance. Plus malaria preventatives. Ouch!

うちのジャック

あいにく今年のハロウィンは、アリゾナで歯科学会があったので私は出張。帰ってきたら、家に怪しげなものが・・・

3月の雪男に続き、このジャックもかなりの迫力。頭の後ろにはフランケンシュタインの手術創のような後があり、ろうそくを灯すと、リヤも怖がって近寄らず。テメスゲンとミーシャの共同作、赤子も黙る我が家のジャックであった。

追伸：このパンプキンはミーシャのお友達、美喜ちゃん一家からのプレゼント。

Sad news continues

My family is again saddened by the news that our best friend, Debra, lost her four-legged daughter, Maggie, for lung cancer last night. Debra adopted her from the local community college where she finished registered veterinary technician course several years ago, and Maggie has been on Debra's side ever since. We will truly miss you, Maggie. Visiting Auntie Debra's house will never be the same without you welcoming at the front door...

Celebration of Life: Dr.Leonard Billups

On the way to the dental conference in Arizona 2 weeks ago, I learned that Dr.Leonard Billups had passed away. He was one of the professors of pathobilogy department at TUSVM, and had battled with cancer for the last 7.5 years. So we only know him with cancer and chemotherapy. At the age of 70, he truly amazed us with his various talents, including being board-certified veterinary pathologist, master-scuba diver, master-gardener, home wine-maker, painter (his drawing of Liya on the right) and digital photographer, as well as with his strong passion for life. I do not know anybody who came back to life like Dr.Billups after each chemo round, and I cannot think of anybody who would try planting pineapples in Alabama. He was truly a phoenix. When we came over to his house this past summer, he had just finished another round of chemo, and he was asking Temesgen how he can be of any help to improve the service of pathobiology at his pool-side while Misha was playing with his grandchildren from Maryland. Such a dedicated academician and researcher. And of course, on his side sat his love of life, Mrs.Billups, with smile on her face.

On this Veteran's Day, I honor his service in VietNam as army colonel and would like to remember his legacy. He will be truly missed.

ボストンへの旅：Trip to Boston Oct 09

On the Columbus Day weekend, we went to Boston to attend the wedding of Temesgen's former post-doc colleague in San Diego, Massimo, and his then-girlfriend, Erin. We also arranged a "poolside reunion" with other colleagues from San Diego time - Marc/Jodi, Ruchi/Joe and Mike, who are now all in Boston area. We also managed to see good friend of mine, Ken-san and his family, at lunch. It was our greatest pleasure to meet their growing families and also to share Massimo and Erin's "THE DAY" of their lives. The wedding was really beautiful and the reception was so much fun - great food, wine and lots of dancing! (well, with a half the guests Italian, what would you expect!?!) Enjoy the photos of our 1st trip to Boston.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

アラバマ・テメスゲン家、旅漬け2009年秋第一弾、結婚式のためボストン入り。結婚したのはサンディエゴで3－4年テメスゲンと一緒に研究所で働いていたイタリア人のマッシモ。同じ研究所で当時テクニシャンとして働いていたエリン（今は医学生）と今回めでたくゴールイン。ボストンの一角、リトルイタリーにあるカトリックの教会で挙式後、すぐ近くのイタリア料理店で食事会。皆が席についた後、照明が落ち、タンゴ風の音楽が流れてきて、あれ？ときょろきょろしてると、エリンがウエディング・ドレスの上に「Pray For Me－My husband is Italian」と書かれたTシャツで登場(0:49での写真）。笑いが弾ける中、新郎新婦のタンゴ風ダンスでパーティーは始まった。ゲストの半分がイタリア人とあって、本当に賑やかで楽しいパーティー！新郎のお父さんと新婦のおばあちゃんが手に手をとって踊り（0:57での写真）、なんだかこちらも心がほんわか。ミーシャも、かわいーい新郎・姪のバネッサちゃんとダンス・ダンス。リヤもダンス･ダンス。老若男女、国籍、言語を問わず、誰もが楽しめる素敵なパーティーだった。

ボストン滞在中には、70歳を過ぎて日本語を勉強している頃に知り合ったKenさんと娘さん夫婦とランチ（写真2枚目）、サンディエゴでテメスゲンで一緒に働いていたマークの家族、ルーチーの家族、そしてマイクと、ホテルのプールで合流。初めて会ったときは、みな子供なしの共働きだったっけ。そして、最後の日には地下鉄にのってハーバード大学へ。「ここで子供達の写真を取りたい」(1:23の写真）いつもは観光地での写真に興味がないテメスゲンの言葉に、どうして？と聞くと、「子供達が大きくなっていつかここに来るかもしれないから」との返事。「まさか、ミーシャとリヤがハーバードに来ると思ってるの!?!」というと、「Why　Not?」の一言。そんなテメスゲン・パパの偉大なる夢を知ってか知らずか、電車を待ってる間にリヤが路線図を指差し、アルファベットを一つずつ読み出す（1:29の写真）。親の知らない間に子供は育ってることを実感した瞬間。母の希望は質素なもので、健康で立派な市民になってくれれば十分。それが人間として一番じゃないかな。