Nostalgia: Take 1
During my last pregnancy everyone in my life gave me extra leeway for everything. I was hardly ever lonely because I was never really alone. Everyone seemed to anticipate the arrival of my baby as anxiously as I did and when he finally did, there was a huge celebration.
My son splashed into a world of so much love!
Sure, I had hard time during the first trimester of my last pregnancy too but I also had a whole network of people who were there for me in every sense of the word.
The only craving I couldn't satisfy was sushi and that... well, I couldn't have eaten anyway. It is not recommended when pregnant.
Here in China, it seems to me I crave something I can't have on the daily basis.
How I miss kitfo, injera, good conversation, and people who listened when I complained for the millionth time about some random pregnancy symptom.
How I miss my favorite Middle Eastern restaurant that, because I was pregnant, made things especially for me in just the way I wanted and always brought extra treats with my order.
How I miss my friends some of whom spent nights with me when my husband was out of town.
How I miss my mother's cooking. There were dishes I simply wouldn't eat unless she made them.
How I miss my sisters who ran every conceivable errand for me because I asked.
How I miss my brother who sat at the end of the couch and massaged my feet when my husband couldn't.
How I miss my father who fretted over every little thing.
How I miss my job! My boss who never bothered me about anything as long as I did my work (and I did), the café waiter who brought all my orders extra fast, and the girls who touched my stomach to feel the baby move....
How I miss my doctor who patiently answered my questions, listened to my fist time mama worries and soothed my fears.
How I miss being annoyed by the noisy old women, strangers, who felt the need to tell me to sit down, to walk slowly, to wear something warmer.
How I miss Ethiopia.
I was loved and I knew it.
I hope you soon have a craving for something that you CAN have.
what I craved most was kitfo and yetetebese kocho .I used to dream of eating kitfo with spoon in a big taba (the taba was as big as yeinjera mitad).Hang in there yemi .Ayzon !
Zgent, exactly, there is something incredible about having your friends, family, and relatives dot on you during a special period of your life. AND this is soooo normal in Ethiopia! I mean, I am not specially lovable in ANY WAY, all this was there for me because I was among family and friends in Ethiopia. Do you know what I mean?
Julie, lol. Nice brothers do rub their sisters feet when they are pregnant:)
Anna, yeah... memory can go both ways eh?
Feven, ohhh how I can relate now!
Sheliza thanks for all the wishes. I hope your pregnancy goes well too:)
I am not pregnant but I miss kitfo and injera too ;)
Congrats on the pregnancy!!! I await the second edition to your blog.
"How I miss Ethiopia, I was loved and I knew it" made me tear because that is how I feel about Ethiopia.
The genuine love, care and attention you receive, the abundance of people around you, the jokes the chewata, the food, the music, the laughter, the joy...
ohhhh how I too miss Ethiopia.