Jolly Good

I love autumn. The colorful trees, the deep blue sky, the crisp air. The feelings of change. 2007 will be over sooner than we think. I always knew that 2007 would be a good year for me for some reason. And it was. A lot of big things happened. But it's only October, not yet time to reflect on the year. There are still things to come.

Photos compliments of Eva the Beva'.


I haven't told many stories of work lately I believe, so I thought I'd share with you my day. I had a good day at work today. In fact, the day went so wonderfully that I couldn't find it as easy to go home. But truthfully, I was doing more than my job.
The day started as it always does, with me thinking a dose of caffine would help, yet fighting the urge to become a coffee drinker; and scrounging for some edibles in my desk as I didn't have breakfast...again.
After a couple meetings and the usual job stuff I got a call that a client had an interview today! This is always exciting! Infact, I got two calls like that today! For a client to get an interview is a big big thing and almost as exciting as actually getting hired somewhere since it happens that infrequently.
I scheduled time to drive Buja to her interview, so to be sure she would be on time. You gotta love Buja. She is the jolliest Ethiopian woman you will ever meet. I adore her jolly spirit. I can't think of any other word that best describes her... JOLLY. Her English is only so-so, but there's something about Buja and me. I've been working with her for months now and we've really bonded. She trusts me and likes me so much. It's a blast. Even though her English is sketchy, we communicate with eyes and looks and smiles and ... it just works.
So if you can picture Buja, she is around 50 years old, wears a hijab (head covering), she's a bit shorter than me but you know by her frame that she's one tough cookie. When she first meets someone she is shy and looks so scared and unsure, but after a few moments you will find out she has the best sense of humor and loves to laugh at herself. I could go on and on at what a character she is.
So I take her to this interview for a cleaning job, and she is terrified because I told her she would have to be interview on her own without me there with her. Turns out the guy comes over and basically says that she was starting that moment, and never asked her a single interview question. Not only that but he lets me come along to show her the job. This as you might guess makes Buja SOOO much more at ease that I'm with her, and this guy "Butch" is actually glad for it too (when normally my presence usually deters employers as it causes clients to look incompetent). So I'm loving "Butch" for being so cool about it AND of course for hiring my client on the spot, and Buja is happy because I'm there as her security blanket. As lame as the story is becoming due to lack of eloquence, it was the best time. If you ever see her face and hear her smile and watch her make fun of her self in broken English, its hard not to be delighted by her.
I took Buja home (which she is always eternally grateful for not having to ride the bus). She always says, "Thank you, my Sister." She is always calling me her sister, when really I could be her daughter. By the time I drop her off it's already past 5pm (when I usually head home from work), but she invites me into her home. How could I resist. I love this woman. Her apartment is so cute, full of Ethiopian cultural art that she herself made. I commented on how beautiful and uniqe the items were, and she gave me one! It is a dried gourd with colorful beadwork around it and dangling from it... hard to describe, but very cool an unlike anything you've probably ever seen. And ofcourse her and her family shower me with treats and hospitality. She has only herself and her three daughters. I don't know her whole story, but as most cases with refugees I'm sure there is a lot of pain. Yet she laughs and smiles as if there was none of it.
I enjoyed so much chatting with her in her home. And of all the crazy things she tells me, she says that the only thing she'll watch on tv is wrestling. Oh my goodness, I laughed so much. Can you imagine this little old Ethiopian woman loves to watch wresting. What fun. She is such a character.
We exchanged a big Ethiopian hug goodbye (side to side, like the french kind of), and I left feeling so much love for her and so much delight in being able to know her and spend time with her. Of course I am reminded that she is Muslim. And I pray for her. Pray she can use that charisma and contagious laughter and jollyness for the Lord. What can I do but love Buja and pray for her?