Hello to our lovely friends at Tesfa’s Shelter!! It is Megan back again this month!
It’s cold and the snow has started to fall here in Canada. Sometimes that can be a bit of a sad season, because the sun doesn’t come out from the clouds very often and it is dark much of the day. But this month, many people are happy and cozy because it is our time to celebrate Christmas.
I think we already wrote to you last year about many of our traditions, but my favourite part of the holiday this year will be seeing our families and friends! I told you about my sweet nephew in my letter just a few months ago - he is walking and he loves playing with toy trucks. He is not talking yet but he does like to make the “vroom vroom” sound of a truck! We got our nephew a Christmas book this year. I can’t wait to read it together! I also have a few books that have been patiently waiting for me to open them for weeks after I chose them at the library. I can’t wait to have some quiet moments to read those books.
I know Ethiopian Christmas happens a few weeks after Canadian Christmas. What are your favourite activities or traditions that come with celebrating that holiday? If you can share a few with us, we will explain to the rest of your Canadian friends - there are more than 100 people thinking of you over here! - so they can also learn about Ethiopian Christmas.
Another new tradition we hope to start this year is playing lots of games with our loved ones, and having a big contest. I love seeing all of you playing board games or using other toys together at the shelter, especially after Grandma Shelley has brought games to share with you. This year, I hope to play several different card games as a family, just as you play your games together as a family at the shelter. Do you use decks of cards? Is that available in Ethiopia? We started our Christmas celebration last night, and in the evening I suggested we play one of the games. It is called Dutch Blitz. It can feel a little bit wild because everyone plays their cards at the same time, instead of going one by one in a circle. But the baby was already asleep and guess what the family told me? They said we could not play it because I would be too loud!! This made me laugh because I know they are correct! And we did not want to be loud enough to wake up that baby!
I can be very competitive. Do you know that word? I think it is a character trait that can be both positive and negative. I know all of you at the shelter are very driven and strong, and that is part of being competitive. But it is not always nice to take a fun activity like a game and make it very serious - games are about connecting with each other and having fun, not just winning, right?
I have always liked to talk to other people, make jokes and ask lots of questions. I wonder if that is why I became a newspaper reporter? My family likes to tease me about something my very first school teacher said about that part of my personality. In Canada most children begin school at age 4 or 5. This is called kindergarten. In my first classroom there was a little desk where children could go to eat something during the day. We called it the “Snack Table.” In my report card, my teacher wrote that I would act like “Queen of the Snack Table.” I do not think she meant that as a compliment! My family still uses that phrase to tease me a bit, especially if they think I am being too bossy :)
I love to hear stories about all of you at the shelter and how you are all helping each other become the best people you can be! You are developing new skills and learning lessons about how to be a strong and supportive family. All of those characteristics will help you in your lives - at school, on the soccer field, with friends or when you start working. We are always so proud of you all. So many friends and even strangers here in Canada are cheering you on and sending financial help to ensure you have the things you need.
It has been a hard year because there are so many difficult things happening in the world - it is so heavy on our hearts to know so many people are struggling. But do you know what has brought such joy into our lives? Writing to you and reading your letters back to us! We want you to know that you are a huge source of light for all of your Canadian friends. One day, you will be a light for this whole world!!!
We love you and think about you very often! We hope you have a wonderful month and a wonderful Christmas.
Happy, happy, happy holidays our dear friends!
With love,
Friends Ink, on behalf of all your Canadian Friends