A lil bit of Habisha in a lil corner of India

A few nights ago our kids Ryeika and Neeira had their annual day in school. This is a much anticipated night in the school calender. Every class puts on a show and remarkably every single child gets up on stage to either narrate, act, sing or dance. The auditorium is filled with parents cheering, many have tears streaming down their faces as they watch with pride and joy.

For me it was all that more special. As I watched Neeiras second grade class take the stage I was filled with nostalgia for a land I left six months ago but fierce pride for, in the next twenty minutes they brought a little piece of Ethiopia to India.

It all started a few months ago when Neeiras teacher invited parents to come and tell the kids a moral story set in their home country. I decided to tell the kids an Ethiopian story called' The Perfect Orange.' Though not technically my home country, it is the land of my birth and I had just had the privilege of having lived there for the last three years. So I thought it would be extremely interesting for the children to listen to a story set in an Ethiopian village. Armed with all the shamas and gabis in my wardrobe, I went to school that afternoon and the kids had a great time dressing up like little habisha kids. Most importantly they loved the story. It is a story of a little village girl called Suhai who is generous and humble. She gifts a perfect orange to the Great king Nigus who is so overwhelmed with her sincerity that in return he gives her gold and riches. And then theres the evil Hyena king who is so greedy and is taught a lesson by Nigus. The teachers too loved the story and decided to perform the story for Indus day.

And so there I was in the audience, waiting with baited breath as Ethiopia came to life and a few hundered people were introduced to Injera and wot, Hyenas and Shamas. Our little corner of India became Habisha for the next twenty minutes and was I proud !

I now truly understand all the many theories on third culture children and global families. This is how we bring the world closer. We always carry a part of where we have been with us and are proud to share the kalidisscope of cultures with those we encounter. So my Ethiopian friends....I thank you for sharing your culture with me, for your love and warmth. When I left I promised to carry a part of you wherever I went....Well I do, with pride and delight. I miss you dear friends.

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