Week One Observations

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been in Ethiopia for a week. I’m preparing for the remainder of the time to fly by as well, but I thought I would share a few tidbits of what I’ve learned and discovered about Addis Ababa so far:

1.       Altitude – Addis is the fourth highest altitude post in the Foreign Service. The airport is 7,628 feet above sea level. The US Embassy is 8,400 feet above sea level.  Coming from a lower altitude is certainly taking a toll on my body.  I’ve noticed fatigue, difficulty sleeping (the hyenas also contribute to this – see #7), and shortness of breath from walking up a few flights of stairs. I guess this is practice for what it’ll be like as an old person. Most people say it takes about 2-3 weeks to adjust to the altitude. Here’s to hoping it’s sooner.

2.       Traffic/construction/driving in general – Wow. See my previous post on life. I ain’t a bettin’ gal, but I can’t help but think how long it’ll be before we’re in an accident. I know that’s awful to say (and think).

3.       Eskinder (our driver) - Per above bullet, I must say one of the best perks of this internship is having a driver while in Addis. Eskinder takes us to work, picks us up in the afternoon, takes us to restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies, etc… basically anywhere we want to go. If we are going to be out late, he’ll tell us the maximum amount a taxi should cost us to get back to the house (taxi drivers like to inflate the price for foreigners). He also helps me with my Amharic pronunciation in the car – and smiles when I attempt to speak Amharic with a slight southern US accent.

4.       Rain (or lack thereof) – The rainy season in Addis begins in June and lasts until August/September. I was warned to bring rain boots and a rain jacket, but thankfully I have yet to use them! It’s only rained for about 30 minutes on 2 different days this week, so I’ve been enjoying the temperate weather.

5.       Injera – Ethiopians eat their stews with Injera – a sour, spongy bread like thing. I’m not a fan of it, but when it’s put in front of me, I’ll eat a bit of it. Because Ethiopia was “occupied” by Italy for several years, pasta and other Italian foods are available in cafes and restaurants. Ethiopians also know how to make a mean macchiato!

6.       Internet – Internet is hard to come by – even at the house. Electricity is often cut off (for no reason), making it difficult to access the web. I’ve only been without my iPhone for a week, but already I realize how much I relied on that thing. Americans (and others in developed countries) have the world at their fingertips. Not so much in Ethiopia. I’m learning to appreciate the luxuries I have in the states…and not spending countless hours on the Internet “just cuz”.

7.       Hyenas – Per a previous post, not only do the barking dogs and altitude keep me up at night, but also howling hyenas! In the movie Lion King I thought the hyenas laughed more than howled….kids..this is the truth!

I’m sure there are more things…but I’m not sure when the Internet will cut out. This list is to be continued….