Mornings can be chilly in Ethiopia. I stepped out of my sleeping bag and took a walk in the crisp atmosphere, which heightened my senses to the beautifully-hued landscape and rich sounds around me.
Later, I joined the producers from Wete Ambela again and went to their dry mill. The African terraced beds, built on a gentle slope over a vast area, looked just like the iconic images of coffee farms in Africa. Although the farm was inactive due to the end of the harvest season, we were given thorough explanations as we explored the site.
What struck me was something Elias said, “I feel happy when the people in the surrounding community are able to produce coffee with joy.” Our happiness is shaped by others, and creating happiness for those around us is probably the true meaning of happiness. Elias’ words gave us a glimpse into what happiness truly means.
Later, I had the chance to plant coffee seedlings.
I have been traveling to coffee-producing countries for years and have participated in harvesting and processing, but planting seedlings was a new experience for me. As I planted heirloom seedlings into the Ethiopian soil with my own hands, I felt an intense urge to come back to this place again.