Memories and Dreams
Please put on your headphones and come with us now, as we share the moments we spent in Ethiopia and learn more about Abby’s story. It is mixed with her recorded dreams, interviews and immersive sound recordings of Ethiopia.
Below you will find an audio file for listening to Abby’s story and below that is a transcription for people who are deaf or hard of hearing followed by a sign language interpretation video with no sound for people who are deaf and prefer to experience the story through sign language.
This is Abby's Dream Journey, a story about the journey of a woman who lost her sight at the age of eight while playing with friends in the fields along the river's edge near her home in the central Ethiopian city of Areka and her visual dreams that help her see her memories of where she grew up.
Abby's narration
When I dream, when my visual happens, looks like I see things like I saw when I was sighted.
Mary Anne's Narration
That's Abby Griffith, born Abebech Yohannis. This is her story.
Abby's narration
And I still see people in my dream in where I was. I can see visual memories and my mother has since I left, she built different house. But when I dream, I see actually the old house when I was little.
Abby's Recorded Dream
Hi, Mary Anne, this is Abby, today is May 27th, 2019. I recording my dream from last night. In my dream I was in Ethiopia with my family. In my dream, we were at old house when I had my sight. They were having a party and my mother made Injera, the fluffy bread and she put a lot of them out and she asked me watch, so nobody takes it before we use it for party. My vision was very clear. They put me like a keeper, keeping things safe, because I can see everything....bye
Mary Anne's Narration
Her visual dreams inspired us to go back to Ethiopia to document where her story began.
Mary Anne's interview question
Why is it important to you for us to make this journey back to Ethiopia?
Abby's response
What makes me happy is that we're going to be like just reflecting back, enjoying the river where I enjoyed when I was sighted and recording voice, sounds, stuff like that specific thing. Good memory for me.
Mary Anne's Narration
Come with us. Back to Ethiopia, where her story began. Immerse yourself in the sounds of Ethiopia as you learn about Abby's dreams and memories through our conversations and her recorded dreams.
Mary Anne in car in Ethiopia
We're close to your mom now?
Abby in car in Ethiopia
Yeah
Mary Anne's Narration
From the moment our van pulled up in front of Abby's mother's house, we were greeted with smiles and as we opened up the van door songs of praise and sounds of clapping began to fill the air.
Mary Anne
Oh, there's so happy people. Oh, my God, I love it. That's going to make me cry.
Abby
Are you recording?
Mary Anne
Yes.
Abby
(Sounds of people dancing and singing) My mom, my family's friends, my sister's friends, neighbors, whole neighbors came around. She didn't even told them she was trying to keep a secret. But they sensed it. They, somewhat because she was getting ready in the house and she's happy. They were like, I think something happens to you. Why are you happy? Why are you doing this? And they just sensed it. They sensed it. She didn't tell them. I ask her this morning, did you invite all of these people, she said no I didn't.
Mary Anne
(sounds of praises and sounds of Abby's sister Marta crying) Abby's sister Marta cried tears of joy.
Mary Anne
When you stepped off the van yesterday and your family was there and they started clapping and cheering, I want to know what that emotion was like for you?
Abby
To be honest, I'm happy because I feel like they welcomed me. They want to see me and they don't like me being far away. They would be happy if I'm with them.
Mary Anne's Narration
We spent a week with Abby's family exploring and recording the sounds of where she grew up and moments with her family.
Abby
(Sounds of people speaking Welayta, the regional Ethiopian language can be heard) Mary Anne, I'm going to make coffee with my family. (Recorded sounds of Abby making Ethiopian coffee while laughing and making up a silly song with her family)
Abby's narration
My favorite memories about me being sighted, before I was eight years old, was running around, going to river, playing, just enjoying myself outside. (immersive sounds of children playing at the river in Ethiopia)
Mary Anne
Abby and I sat down to talk about the day she had her accident.
Abby's response
It was day time, very sunny day and we're running around and we were about to come home and I saw a snake and I freaked out and I trip and fall. (Abby slides her hands up and down her legs as she breathes in deeply) gives me goosebumps
Mary Anne's Narration
While playing tag with friends, Abby tripped and fell, coming face to face with a cobra, it spit venom in her right eye. Within days, Abby's right eye went blind in within a year, she lost her vision completely.
Mary Anne's Narration
We went back to the river to reflect on Abby's memories of the day, everything changed for her at eight years old. This was the first time Abby and her family had been back to the river since her accident.
Abby
It looks like my mother is a little bit nervous, not nervous, but emotional. I can feel it, she's shaking.
Mary Anne
What do you want to do, Abby?
Abby
We can just ask where is it? And she will tell, and we talk but don't ask a deep question, looks like her voice shaking and everything.
Mary Anne
How about if you and I come down tomorrow or something to talk, you and I just a little bit.
Abby
I can do that right now, too.
Mary Anne
How do you feel now that you're back in this spot?
Abby
I feel okay. I don't know. I was emotional earlier when we said snake, so I have, kinda makes me feel weird, but people around here, so I think I feel safe.
Abby
Do you want to know what is sad? This thing didn't exist.
Mary Anne
This thing we're stepping on.
Abby
Nope. Nope, yep. It didn't exist.
Abby's narration
When I was a kid before I lost my sight, what I remember was a lot of trees, bushes. Beside that is river and the sand, very open field. From my mother's house, it doesn't take that long to get to river because there's no houses on the way. Now they have spent houses and that field is all taken.
Mary Anne's Narration
Abby's visual dream memories are important to her.
Abby's narration
I'm glad I didn't lose those. It would be like, sad. I would just forget what I saw when I was little. Seeing like sparkling things, chasing birds.
Abby's narration
I love birds. Oh, my goodness. (immersive sounds of birds begin) I'd love birds. Actually, it's my favorite thing. I still, even after I lost my sight, I am still very loving listening to birds. That's. my good memory (immersive sounds of birds continue)
Mary Anne's Narration
This is neither the beginning nor the end of Abby's story. Just a moment in her journey of her memories and her dreams.
Abby's Recorded Dream
Hi, Mary Anne, I was trying to tell you about my dream. This time I dreamed about walking in the market with my cousin. (immersive sounds of the Areka Ethiopia Market are heard) I was just seeing things and how markets set up. And right before I woke up, I was just looking at fruits, bananas, avocados and oranges. People selling, spread out everything on the ground. It was really fun. Really short, but I enjoyed it. I just wanted to tell you about my dream. Bye. (Immersive sound recordings of the market and Abby's family talking continue)
Mary Anne's Narration
Abby is now 26. Living in Portland, Oregon, and going to Washington State University. To learn more about Abby's full story, go to seeingthroughhearing.com
Singing
Ends with the immersive recording of Abby and her family singing in Abu's backyard.
Abby's narration
When I dream, when my visual happens, looks like I see things like I saw when I was sighted.
Mary Anne's Narration
That's Abby Griffith, born Abebech Yohannis. This is her story.
Abby's narration
And I still see people in my dream in where I was. I can see visual memories and my mother has since I left, she built different house. But when I dream, I see actually the old house when I was little.
Abby's Recorded Dream
Hi, Mary Anne, this is Abby, today is May 27th, 2019. I recording my dream from last night. In my dream I was in Ethiopia with my family. In my dream, we were at old house when I had my sight. They were having a party and my mother made Injera, the fluffy bread and she put a lot of them out and she asked me watch, so nobody takes it before we use it for party. My vision was very clear. They put me like a keeper, keeping things safe, because I can see everything....bye
Mary Anne's Narration
Her visual dreams inspired us to go back to Ethiopia to document where her story began.
Mary Anne's interview question
Why is it important to you for us to make this journey back to Ethiopia?
Abby's response
What makes me happy is that we're going to be like just reflecting back, enjoying the river where I enjoyed when I was sighted and recording voice, sounds, stuff like that specific thing. Good memory for me.
Mary Anne's Narration
Come with us. Back to Ethiopia, where her story began. Immerse yourself in the sounds of Ethiopia as you learn about Abby's dreams and memories through our conversations and her recorded dreams.
Mary Anne in car in Ethiopia
We're close to your mom now?
Abby in car in Ethiopia
Yeah
Mary Anne's Narration
From the moment our van pulled up in front of Abby's mother's house, we were greeted with smiles and as we opened up the van door songs of praise and sounds of clapping began to fill the air.
Mary Anne
Oh, there's so happy people. Oh, my God, I love it. That's going to make me cry.
Abby
Are you recording?
Mary Anne
Yes.
Abby
(Sounds of people dancing and singing) My mom, my family's friends, my sister's friends, neighbors, whole neighbors came around. She didn't even told them she was trying to keep a secret. But they sensed it. They, somewhat because she was getting ready in the house and she's happy. They were like, I think something happens to you. Why are you happy? Why are you doing this? And they just sensed it. They sensed it. She didn't tell them. I ask her this morning, did you invite all of these people, she said no I didn't.
Mary Anne
(sounds of praises and sounds of Abby's sister Marta crying) Abby's sister Marta cried tears of joy.
Mary Anne
When you stepped off the van yesterday and your family was there and they started clapping and cheering, I want to know what that emotion was like for you?
Abby
To be honest, I'm happy because I feel like they welcomed me. They want to see me and they don't like me being far away. They would be happy if I'm with them.
Mary Anne's Narration
We spent a week with Abby's family exploring and recording the sounds of where she grew up and moments with her family.
Abby
(Sounds of people speaking Welayta, the regional Ethiopian language can be heard) Mary Anne, I'm going to make coffee with my family. (Recorded sounds of Abby making Ethiopian coffee while laughing and making up a silly song with her family)
Abby's narration
My favorite memories about me being sighted, before I was eight years old, was running around, going to river, playing, just enjoying myself outside. (immersive sounds of children playing at the river in Ethiopia)
Mary Anne
Abby and I sat down to talk about the day she had her accident.
Abby's response
It was day time, very sunny day and we're running around and we were about to come home and I saw a snake and I freaked out and I trip and fall. (Abby slides her hands up and down her legs as she breathes in deeply) gives me goosebumps
Mary Anne's Narration
While playing tag with friends, Abby tripped and fell, coming face to face with a cobra, it spit venom in her right eye. Within days, Abby's right eye went blind in within a year, she lost her vision completely.
Mary Anne's Narration
We went back to the river to reflect on Abby's memories of the day, everything changed for her at eight years old. This was the first time Abby and her family had been back to the river since her accident.
Abby
It looks like my mother is a little bit nervous, not nervous, but emotional. I can feel it, she's shaking.
Mary Anne
What do you want to do, Abby?
Abby
We can just ask where is it? And she will tell, and we talk but don't ask a deep question, looks like her voice shaking and everything.
Mary Anne
How about if you and I come down tomorrow or something to talk, you and I just a little bit.
Abby
I can do that right now, too.
Mary Anne
How do you feel now that you're back in this spot?
Abby
I feel okay. I don't know. I was emotional earlier when we said snake, so I have, kinda makes me feel weird, but people around here, so I think I feel safe.
Abby
Do you want to know what is sad? This thing didn't exist.
Mary Anne
This thing we're stepping on.
Abby
Nope. Nope, yep. It didn't exist.
Abby's narration
When I was a kid before I lost my sight, what I remember was a lot of trees, bushes. Beside that is river and the sand, very open field. From my mother's house, it doesn't take that long to get to river because there's no houses on the way. Now they have spent houses and that field is all taken.
Mary Anne's Narration
Abby's visual dream memories are important to her.
Abby's narration
I'm glad I didn't lose those. It would be like, sad. I would just forget what I saw when I was little. Seeing like sparkling things, chasing birds.
Abby's narration
I love birds. Oh, my goodness. (immersive sounds of birds begin) I'd love birds. Actually, it's my favorite thing. I still, even after I lost my sight, I am still very loving listening to birds. That's. my good memory (immersive sounds of birds continue)
Mary Anne's Narration
This is neither the beginning nor the end of Abby's story. Just a moment in her journey of her memories and her dreams.
Abby's Recorded Dream
Hi, Mary Anne, I was trying to tell you about my dream. This time I dreamed about walking in the market with my cousin. (immersive sounds of the Areka Ethiopia Market are heard) I was just seeing things and how markets set up. And right before I woke up, I was just looking at fruits, bananas, avocados and oranges. People selling, spread out everything on the ground. It was really fun. Really short, but I enjoyed it. I just wanted to tell you about my dream. Bye. (Immersive sound recordings of the market and Abby's family talking continue)
Mary Anne's Narration
Abby is now 26. Living in Portland, Oregon, and going to Washington State University. To learn more about Abby's full story, go to seeingthroughhearing.com
Singing
Ends with the immersive recording of Abby and her family singing in Abu's backyard.
Below this transcript is a sign language interpretation video with no sound for individuals who are deaf and who prefer to experience the story through sign language.