There are many differences in Ethiopia from the United States, the culture and lifestyle is very different. I had culture shock for sure, but I’m learning to love it. Here are a few things that stick out to me here!
1. All the children (and some adults) will point at us and say “you, you, you” and “white people, white people.”
2. We ride in these vehicles called a Bajaj. It is a small motorcycle with a seat for two people or four. They are all blue and this country is filled with them!
3. The water and electricity are scarce here. You may be in the shower and the water cuts off, for a few hours or a few days. At night all of sudden it will be dark and the electricity won’t come on for a little bit. Very different from the US…
4. They do COFFEE well here… it’s about an hour long process to make! First the beans are roasted, then they are grounded up, next the water is heated and then it’s all mixed together in what I call (a genie bottle) sorry, I can’t pronounce what it is actually called. Haha
5. Do not wear shorts in public, it is very offensive and is not respectful to the culture. So we all wear pants even when it is hot out!
6. The shoulder touch. It is a sign of friendship when you shake someone’s hand and then you touch shoulders together. It is very awkward at first… but then you get the hang of it.
7. There are SO many donkeys here… they are walking down the street, hauling carts and sleeping in the road.
8. Africa is GREEN! I thought I would be in the desert, turns out Africa is very green and there are a lot of trees, crops and lakes.
9. In Ethiopia we eat with our hands, the food we eat a lot is injera. It is a sourdough bread with lentils, cabbage and a lot of spices!
These are a few things that I am experiencing. Please pray for my team as we have two weeks left in Ethiopia!
