Good to see you again

The project director met us in the airport lobby as we exited from the
arrivals area and we headed out to the parking lot where I saw Dereje,
our driver, sitting in the car. I waved and he waved back and got out of
the car to shake hands and bump shoulders. In Ethiopia, friends often
greet each other this way, by bumping opposite shoulders, sometimes also
followed by kissing each others cheeks (a seeming European import, but
people I've spoken to insist the custom developed in Ethiopia naturally
as well). Later, when we arrived at the Chez Glo guesthouse, the staff
met us at the entrance and it was hand shakes, shoulder bumps and cheek
kissing all around. It was nice to be greeted by so many friendly smiles.
After a shower and a change of clothes, we headed off to the water
technology center. It was nice to see so many familiar faces and people
said it was nice to see me again so soon, since originally I wasn't
slotted to return until October. I grabbed one of the open offices at
the end of the hall and set up my things.
Thus far, it has been a rare opportunity for me to return to the same
foreign country twice, and I found the second impression of Ethiopia to
be even better than the first. The people here are sincere and
welcoming, and I quickly fell into a familiar rapport with most of them.
Yesterday was a slow day just to settle in and get over the jet lag, so
I enjoyed getting a coffee in the cafeteria and talking leisurely with
some of the instructors. At the end of the day, although my body was
ready to rest, my spirit had been lifted.