Top 5 tips to live in Ethiopia

Tip 1 - Keep up to date with your vaccinations.  You can get so sick and most travel vaccinations are not available .  Especially consider the Rabies series as the treatment is not available and even if it is it is very expensive.  Also Typhoid and Hep A, definitely worth it.
Tip 2 - Have good health insurance but remember it won't guarantee anything in a real emergency.
Tip 3 - You need to be in good health to live here.
Tip 4 - It's more expensive than you think.  Don't come on a very low budget.
Tip 5 - Don't drive yourself you don't want to be in an accident as a foreigner.

1. Be positive and curious
2. Contact someone living here (colleague, friend or acquaintance) to get the most recent updated information
3. Read some good books, i.e. Cutting for Stone to get a flair of the histroy of Ethiopia
4. Bring your favourite things and favourite food
5. Remember that there is a lot to explore in the country, but also tat Ethiopia is very cenntral and you can go almost everywhere in the world. Addis is a real hub and not far away from Europe.

Hi,

I am not and expat yet.But would like to share my experience from an expat friends.

1.Don't give money for beggars..if you want to give buy anything appropriate for the person and hand it over..(like go to the bakery nearest you etc)...other wise they see you as an ATM machine and follows you all the way to ur home.

2.negotiate/deal with a contract minitaxis before you leave (if your taking one).other wise there is a fixed price public minibus and buses(buses are alway full on peak hour).

3.Lock your car and don't leave usefull stuffs inside.

4.if you are a woman,don't go alone in regular bars (at night only)...men will bother you specially if you are white.

5.most ppl stare at you so if you smile back everything will be okay.

Hope this is useful