How do you rate Addis Ababa as an expat destination

I will rate out of 10

Accommodation -

I will rate out of 10

Accommodation - 7,there are better houses and flats affordable especially in Ayat,Bole etc
Recreation - 4,I don`t see much yet
Children education - 3,schools are very expnsive especially international schools but,yah of course where else can you take your child to?
Communication - 3,you cannot freely socialise,the locals hardly speak English,I speak to my maid in sign language.

Inflation is soaring and you can hardly get international or global products
Well,that`s my eperience so far?Others may see it differently

Out of 10, I would rate accommodation 5- there are facilities but finding one is challenging as there are no/few formal real estate brokers available. Recreation 3- mainly limited to 4-5 star hotels and the Lime Tree, education 4- available but limited to few, expensive international schools.

It is very Good for Distnation thank you.

Hello suave,
I hope that you have been given answers to your question.

Regards,
Harmonie.

Hello expats, i rate addis 7 in totall cos i know the city very well and i am doing broker to house,translator and guide to the city so if u have a problem then just email me solbig222@yahoo.com or call me 0111114420
welcome
solomon

Hi Sauve,

I would rate addis at about a 6 so far. For an African capital there is good access to most products, foods and luxuries that you would get at home. There is a good night life, jazz clubs etc. The people are very friendly and helpful and if you have time to spend outside of Addis (which I haven't yet I'm afraid but am hoping too) there is so much to see and do.
Hope this is helpful, I don't have children so I can't comment on schools.

Hello Sousoudodi!

You should start a new topic on the Addis Ababa forum.

Thank you,
Harmonie.

I've been in Addis for 6 months and I find it oppressing.  Panhandlers, pickpockets, prostitutes and pimps proliferate.  I never go outside with more than a few birr in my pocket and never with my wallet.  I mind my own business and have been threatened with bodily harm on more than one occasion for not giving money to young men.

Jabs > what a negative first post !

Me too, I am not so optimistic about the place!!!

Sousoudodi wrote:

Me too, I am not so optimistic about the place!!!

Hi
I know that this thread is now several months old but I thought I would revive it because my husband and I maybe moving to Ethiopia  later this year.

Sousoudodi, I just wondered if your opinion had changed since you last posted.

Thanks.

Kirinyaga, Not at all, it is even worst and terrible!!!!

No shopping malls, the places, shops, restaurants and city are very dirty> Entertainments and products are very limited> Restaurant (toilets) are very discusting.

Very limited super markets with no varities at all (no hyper markets / Mcdonalds', KFC, carreffour or similar - nothing).

Light disconnects several times and always (I brought my electric appliances from outside and now most are being damaged because of the electricity issues being up / down / disconnecting)

The wheather is relatively cold the whole year (specially at night, moderate in morning), severe rains in summer.

I feel my kids are being stupid soon coz of lack of modernaization and low standard of living in the country, even if they are being in international schools, the culture and life style itself is horrible!

Sousoudodi wrote:

Kirinyaga, Not at all, it is even worst and terrible!!!!

No shopping malls, the places, shops, restaurants and city are very dirty> Entertainments and products are very limited> Restaurant (toilets) are very discusting.

Very limited super markets with no varities at all (no hyper markets / Mcdonalds', KFC, carreffour or similar - nothing).

Light disconnects several times and always (I brought my electric appliances from outside and now most are being damaged because of the electricity issues being up / down / disconnecting)

The wheather is relatively cold the whole year (specially at night, moderate in morning), severe rains in summer.

I feel my kids are being stupid soon coz of lack of modernaization and low standard of living in the country, even if they are being in international schools, the culture and life style itself is horrible!

Sousoudodi,
Thank you for your very prompt reply. I see that you have also posted on a thread about schools in Addis. I don't have any children of school age but I am a teacher and therefore I will try to find a job when I arrive in Addis.

Perhaps you could send me a private message about what you think about the schools you have visited.

Thanks.

@Sousoudodi it's unfortunate you're basing yr rating on unavailability of the junk food chains like KFC and McDonalds! There's plenty of supermarkets all over the city where you can find pretty much anything in Addis & an awesome selection of organic items I have to say. Shopping at Fantu Supermarket, Bambis, Dembel City, Novis, Adams Pavillion and many more smaller neighborhood groceries, and I pay way less than what organic stuff costs me back home.

I have brought with me a few appliances like my hair curler and I've not had any issues/damage - I use the small converter device. I have to say the power outage has improved a lot in recent months, it used to be quite frequent when I first came over a year ago, it used to be almost every week if I recall correctly.

Of course Ethiopia is no more near perfect than other developing nations I visited (dirty restrooms in some establishments etc etc) but to say the international schools (which are the best in the country) are making yr kids stupid?? I have gone to college with Ethiopian students who even went to public schools in Addis and except English being their second language, they were some of the highest scoring bunch not too mention Ethopians are the most friendly ppl I have to say!

Over a year now since I been here and the average yearly temperature of 20+ degree centigrade(very heavy rain and a bit cold during June - August) but no where near "cold" and my friends and I simply love the near perfect temperature.

I'm being told the expat community is growing very rapidly in Addis, apparently it used to be only a handful during Haile Selase and previous years.

So in short, you're painting a very inaccurate picture here. I hope other expats also comment and share their opinion.

Cheers!

Ethio,

I didn't rely my rating on junk food availability; I said even these chains of restuarants (which is the minimum) aren't available so how about big ones. Besides I have been to all the super markets you have mentioned and all these are not hyper markets and availability of items are very limited and expensive (a spread cheese bootle costs around 100 Birr which exceeds $6 while I used to buy it from other country not more than $2 or 2.5$ and that's if you find it - Nescafe you can hardely find a bottle), the country is absolutely undeveloped.

Regarding electronics, you are talking about a small machine while I am talking about a big fridge, 8 kilos automatic machine and 6 burners stove) and electricity is horrible, in my place it used to disconnect daily, now is a bit less.

Regarding schools, (it seems u misunderstand what i have said), i said EVEN if they go to international schools, the culture and life style is highly affecting them as electronics specially for kids, CDs and other games aren't affordable besides there are only two international schools (1british and 1 american) in a big country like that where monopoly impacts the price, they are extremley expensive and you don't have options.

It is my point of view and I didn't mention anything which isn't true or incorrect.

Sousoudodi you are really home sick. Go home and take a very good rest and come back after two years or three and you will see the good things in this city...

Yes, this country is underdeveloped, but fast growing and catching up. According to The Economist, the most prestigious and authoritative newspaper trusted by global investors, Ethiopia is the third fastest growing country in the world next to India and China. This is fact. The UN report also reiterated this last month. African Business, the pan African magazine published in London also witnessed this.

Other good things about this country: Weather is one of the best; people are friendly; security is not an issue (and truth to be told, Ethiopian women are the most beautiful in the planet).

As Sousoudodi indicated, Ethiopia will be the next New York or Switzerland in 10 years.

Cheers for all in Ethiopia and Africa-from Cape town to Cairo!!!

Melaku, i won't reply to your last post as i am well behaved also I totally don't care about these silly comments.

Regarding the country, it is my opinion and won't change and not realted to any issues, it is my personal point of view and we are here to share personal views and u can't prohibit me from sharing my experience!!! I am not eating from your country's luxury, I am an international employee!!

By the way Sudan also is an Arabic country so if you don't like arabic people it is better for you to be back to your paradise country.
Enjoy your life!

Sudan especially Darfur, Nubia, Kordofans and Costal people are an African country. They have been bombarded for believing so. I always wonder when people say there is racism in Europe and America. We know what you do with our people. You insult and look down all Africans. About Ethiopia, you have been (Egyptians) hating us and supporting all kind of decent to distabilize the country. This is for the simple reason of Nile. It is in your social psyche to hate this country. Is it not surprising we have existed for more than three millinia irrespective of your hate campaign. That is why I am extremely suspicious of your propaganda and hate language. How dare you insult children who are learning in high or lower school. What kind of hate is this? Please to be kind and loving you do not have to go around the world. Look in to your heart. If you give love you will get it back ten fold. If you hate, beware it will take over you. My friend let me tell u, you are not the one who speak about Sudanese people. they are the gentlest people I ever see and the kindest! You do not have that! Have u ever heard of an Ethiopian or Sudanese or other African Suicide bomber! Not a single one. U are so cruel that u do that! Do not tell me it is for your religion. We have more than 30 million Muslims and no one do that! Not even a single soul! It is a genetic issue in you. Do some soul searching. OK. If u believe in the most high, u shall not kill ok. He can kill. This is my OPInion. No other nationality will write like this. Like you. Bye International Worker and stop vomitting!

that's not me who insult others and talk badly to peolple or share bad words coz i am confident of myself and the series of your messages can prove that to eveybody and I will never say a single bad word to you same like what you have done.

This page isn't for discussing your discrimination feelings and if you wanna do so, you can seek a political site for so..

Hi

Thank you all for your postings since I revived this thread a couple of days ago. Obviously, opinions will differ because we are all individuals.

Suave, I have unintentionally changed this thread from rating Addis out of 10. I should have asked if the rating had changed and started another thread.

Hi guys

I'm traveeling to addis soon, could you give me some advise on hotels and entertainment venues please.

Joe

Hello Joe.

You are a bit off topic.

You should start a new thread on the Addis Ababa forum and ask more precises questions.

Thank you,
Aurélie

Thanks Tee, you are brilliant and I have the same personality like yours, as I don't mind at all to share any negative items I notice in my country. But here I was discussing about Ethiopia based on the topic above. Believe me there are lots of improvments required YET.

Actually I couldn't stay more there and I moved with my kids, although my husband is still there for his work but really I couldn;t afford it.

Thanks.

Mr Tee,

Who have a problem with improvement and which system does not need improvement? But are u sure Ethiopia is third from the bottom? What are your standards of measure to make it so? In the last 21 years Ethiopia has changed more than it has in the last 100 years. Child mortality has decreased, there are no sucide bombers (there is no safety concerns), 1000s of world class hotels are being built, WE ARE BUILDING Nile dam to make power available, we are meeting the millinium development goal in some key indicators, universities are being built in 100s,massive roads are being built through out the nation, public finance is rising, people who go hungry are fast declining, Ethiopian airlines is one of the leading carriers in the entire continent, Ethiopia's GDP is number one in the entire East Africa (read it and please talk facts), tourist destinations are sprawling, Addis Ababa is now the leading city in the content. For your information Addis Ababa's GDP is better than 23 African countries (Including Eritrea, Dijiboti combined), Foreign Direct Investement is rising in the past six years, the flowering industry is booming, Manufacturing and service industry are leading the economy (showing transformation)....the list is impressive and it will go on. My friend Ethiopia is rising and the claim that it is a tail of Africa is absolutely biased and unfounded. It is the third fastest growing non oil economy! That is the true Ethiopia. We shall rise!

Mr Tee,

First you have to change your perceptions of things. Let me replay to you one by one:
You wrote
"haven't made a dent in the growth of our country yet."

My take:
"Results from the 2011 EDHS data show a remarkable decline in all levels of childhood mortality. Infant mortality has declined by 42 percent over the 15-year period preceding the survey from 101 deaths per 1,000 live births to 59 deaths per 1,000 live births. Furthermore, under-five mortality has declined by 47 percent over the same period from 166 deaths per 1,000 live births to 88
deaths per 1,000 live births. Even though not to the same extent, the neonatal mortality has also decreased over the 15-year period preceding the survey by 31 percent from 54 deaths per 1,000 live
births to 37 deaths per 1,000 live births. Mortality trends can also be examined by comparing data from DHS surveys conducted in 2000, 2005, and 2011. Infant and under-five mortality rates obtained by these surveys evidence a continuous declining trend in mortality. Under-five mortality decreased from 166 deaths per 1,000 live births in the 2000 survey to 88 in 2011, while infant mortality decreased from 97 deaths per 1,000 live births in the 2000 survey to 59 in the 2011 survey. On the other hand, even though neonatal mortality rate decreased from 49 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 39 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2005, it has since remained stable at 37 deaths per 1,000, as reported in the 2011 EDHS" This survey is done by an independent American survey team. There is what we call DALY=Disability adjusted Life Years. It measures the lives saved in years and the quality of life that one enjoys by a health life. This life saved are dear once for their families and us. We value it. Do you think this is telling a child the wrong thing or do you think it is not a priority for Ethiopia?

Similarly:

roads does not add up to happiness? So to hospitals? I do not perceive things as you do.

You wrote:
calling myself "Ethiopian" is tantamount to calling myself, "look at me I am a beggar!"

My take:

I have never considered myself as such! Today 10 million Americans are on food aid and America is the largest debtor. But Americans do not consider themselves to be beggar. My friend your country and the entire US is where more blacks go to prison than colleges; where a country called Israel can make it go to war at any time than its voters, 10000 suicides happen, your country is a country guilty of killing 100,000 Iraqis despite its people will, is based on the blood of 10,000,000 extermination of Red Indians (that amount to the Holocaust, your country is guilty of turning many countries into blood shed (with the soviets) during cold war, the list will go. My friend If you are lead by the saying of the mainstream media you are brain washed. Do you know who controls the media, governments, multinationals and so on? I am not conspiratorial theorist but I am not naive itself to slash myself as a beggar and sainting others.

To some it up my country is as good as others and there are many bad things as there are else where in the world. To date I did not saw any country that satisfied its people needs and I did not saw a government that can be taken as a model.

Ethiopia is what it is and we are deeply proud of it. I am proud of my country and I do not consider any culture to be superior than us or inferior. We have attributes that makes us the envy of many. I do not agree and will never agree with a thinking that tarnished my country. We have lived for 5 thousand years and will do so for the next many years! When you travel to America you will confirm to that country and that is the international travel and tourism principle. If you expect a country to be changed to your liking Ethiopia is the last place to do so. A people and country should not be scolded and harassed for what they are because that is their identifying mark. That is what makes visiting another nation and country interesting....

Dear Tee,

I applause you for the civility in your discussion! That is a very good character in you.

You may think the US is the model and that is why people go there. How can anyone from US can mention dictatorship (leaving Bush in in texas), torture (Guantanamo), threat to the world (USA), genocide (USA- THEIR OWN INDIANS), nuclear world threats (USA and Israel). The US must be blind and totally stupid not to recognize that it is their govt that commits the greatest crimes ever and it is a farce to persuade me to say that is the best model. Dick Gregory (an American) said " I do not know why America always thinks she has to run all around  the world forcing people our way of governance at the barrel of the gun. When you have got something good, you do not have to force it on people. They will steal it."

There is an international labour movements and many Greeks, Irish, British and others (where there is democracy) move to the US simply for economic reason. My friend there is what they call an international brain drain and it saps the best from South country in to the affluent and rich North. That is how I see it. About communism here I want to answer your question by question: Who brought communism to Ethiopia? The answer is simple and very simple. It is the same elites you have mentioned: Haile Selasie send thousands to the west to teach them so that they could come back and change their country.What this group did was to learn Markesism and Leninism and turn their country in to a bloodshed 36 years ago. My father was one of them and I do not think their idea was right then.

My friend more than half of the world live in dictatorships and I do not think there is a government "by the people, for the people and whatever". There is a very strong anti establishment movement and popular resentment in the US and western countries than countries like Ethiopia and China. As far as I am concerned US model of democracy works for us. The most liberal of the Us politician and thinking is frighting for many European and the right is almost like nazis in many European politics. Ayn Rand and her philosophy are as dangerous as the communists. We do not have the best government or any thing near to that and yet I know we have many attributes than others.

We should look into ourselves and design what is appropriate to us. Remember just 75 years ago the west has the worst form of government in human history, 100 years ago 3 million Swedes have to travel to the US to flee starvation at home (so do many many Europeans in the past 100 years), China was the worst place to be 50 years ago (Starvation killing millions), so do India. But slowly this countries changed into what they are. We should not taken away by things. My thinking is we should devise a system that is appropriate for us. In my eyes in the last 20 years we have been better off and we will change the things that should be changed and will see a better future. I am optimistic about Ethiopia.

OMG!!!! I think this post turned from personal point of view about facilities available in a country, to political and defensive views which is totally out of the topic.

WE were dicussing facilities and means of entertainment which is very rare to find in Ethiopia. Even we have to order and ship everything we need for our kids from abroad including clothes, cheese and other food items and this is fact, lack in technology, food, and means means of modernization is extreme and that's a very below basic level of life style.

Thanks all.

SousoudodiYou have said:
"Me too, I am not so optimistic about the place!!!" in a replay to

Jabs comment of "I've been in Addis for 6 months and I find it oppressing.  Panhandlers, pickpockets, prostitutes and pimps proliferate.  I never go outside with more than a few birr in my pocket and never with my wallet.  I mind my own business and have been threatened with bodily harm on more than one occasion for not giving money to young men."

You further said:
"Kirinyaga, Not at all, it is even worst and terrible!!!!

No shopping malls, the places, shops, restaurants and city are very dirty> Entertainments and products are very limited> Restaurant (toilets) are very discusting.

Very limited super markets with no varities at all (no hyper markets / Mcdonalds', KFC, carreffour or similar - nothing).

Light disconnects several times and always (I brought my electric appliances from outside and now most are being damaged because of the electricity issues being up / down / disconnecting)

The wheather is relatively cold the whole year (specially at night, moderate in morning), severe rains in summer.

I feel my kids are being stupid soon coz of lack of modernaization and low standard of living in the country, even if they are being in international schools, the culture and life style itself is horrible!"

Specially you comment of "my kids are being stupid soon coz of lack of modernization and low standard of living in the country....the culture and life style itself is horrible..." you see  you are insulting my country and our culture. You were supposed to comment on amenities but you are insulting us because of our culture and you are saying your 'kids are being stupid soon coz of 'lack of modernization and low standard....you are insulting the people and their country and I am saying to you and to you that that is very wrong and It did not missed its point. I am saying you are wrong because you are speaking out of hate. That is the point MRs Egyptian.

I don't hate anybody and even don't wanna go further in this type of discussion, either you talk properly and stick to the point or I would rather even don't bother my self to respond.

This is my opinion and will never change at least during the time being or when I notice a real change in that place, at least when I am able to go and live there with my husband and kids, and also when prostitutes and hockers stop surrounding us when they see my husband (as if they say a treasure box, lol) the country is terrible and having very few international schools in a country with hundreds of embassies is horrible. Lack of food, clothes and other products or activities is miserable.

We have our neighbours and oweners of our house and their relatives (all of them are Ethiopians), and they are respectful and friendly, And they share same views like mine and others, they are owners of one of the water companys there. But they are still suffering because they can't provide their kids with things they need although they can afford to buy them but they are unavailable. They have to travel to the states regularly or to china or elsewhere to buy them what they need and ship them food, same like what we are doing as well as other people.

People are there to judge.

"If asked to identify a country with a thriving sex industry, ubiquitous exposure to pornography and rampant homosexual sex, most would point somewhere in the Western world. But what about Egypt, Iran or Saudi Arabia? These would be equally accurate answers, according to John R. Bradley, author of “Behind the Veil of Vice: The Business and Culture of Sex in the Middle East.”

"A report released by the US State Department has cited Egypt as a transit point and destination country in the trafficking of human beings, either for sexual exploitation or forced labour. Entitled Trafficking In Persons (TIP) the report says, "virtually every country in the world is affected by the crime of human trafficking." Annually, approximately 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders and millions more are enslaved in their own countries. The common denominator of trafficking scenarios is the use of force, fraud or coercion to exploit a person for commercial sex or for the purpose of subjecting a victim to involuntary servitude, debt bondage or forced labour.

Some 3,000 men and 5,000 women have been smuggled into countries which lie on Egypt's eastern borders, through the Sinai Desert to work as prostitutes. The report described how women are sold and forced to work up to 18 hours a day. On average, women receive only three per cent of the money they earn from prostitution, the report said. Many are raped and beaten.

According to the report, Egypt is a transit point and destination country for women trafficked from Eastern Europe to Israel and Gulf countries for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The women generally arrive in Egypt by air and seaports as tourists, and are subsequently trafficked through the Sinai Desert by Bedouin tribes." Alharam citing credible sources

"A total number of 90 females were investigated with an age ranging from 15 to 30 years. Thirty per cent were illiterate, while 40 % were primary educated and 20 % college graduated. The motive for practicing this work was to earn money for basic needs of living. Conclusion: These data highlight that women struggling with illiteracy, lower social status, and less economic opportunities are especially vulnerable to work as sex worker as they were left with few options to earn money. Recommendation: We recommended an action for HIV prevention in Egypt based on the patterns revealed in these data. Full medical assessment for sexworkers is mandatory to allocate any source of infection and provide treatment if needed. These recommendations are provided to the ministry of justice."
Society of occupational medicine (Egypt)

Sousoudi the Egyptian:

First your beloved country officially believes in stoning people alive and there is no point in discussing about protistitute with you:
"One month before Mubarak’s downfall, a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center found that a majority of Egyptians support stoning as a punishment for adultery, hand amputation for theft, and death for those who convert from Islam to another religion.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article … z28cRN2w7l
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook"


Second let me tell you that prostitutes do not become so by choice. As a matter of fact it is the men who should be termed so. I assume that by claiming to be offended by protistitutes in Addis Ababa you are saying that there are no protistitutes and brothels in egypt, where you are from. Let us see who is stuck behind the times. Labeling women as “prostitutes” — a clear attempt at stigmatization — simply because they do not conform to overly prudish cultural norms should not be acceptable. Perhaps there is an element of envy in these slanders?  I want to invite you to definition of protistitute in egypt your homeland. It is an interesting read:
"It was 2000 and I was at a dinner party in Cairo. I was sitting with Malak, a belly dancer, and we were eyeing up a young woman who had large oval eyes thickly lined with black kohl and a wide mouth painted salmon.. . . Malak looked her up and down skeptically, and then she said to me in a low voice, “She’s a prostitute. Look, obviously that vulgar man thinks so too, because he wouldn’t dare put his hands all over her like that unless he was sure she was a prostitute.”

. . . It took me a long time to understand what Egyptians meant when they said “prostitute” . . .  But it wasn’t until I could finally shed my own cultural preconceptions about prostitution fundamentally being tied up with money and sex that I finally understood what my Egyptian friends meant. . .

. . . they imagined that Saudis came to Egypt to drink, visit prostitutes, and do everything else that was forbidden back in Saudi Arabia. . . . If I said that I was going to such-and-such a nightclub to observe, and that nightclub was known to be a hangout for Gulf Arabs in the summer, my friends would all try to dissuade me: “Don’t go there, men will harass you. They’ll think you’re a prostitute.” . . .

. . . when suddenly he said to me, “Look, Lisa, a case study.” With the fork he pointed in the direction of two women with short hair who were sitting at a table in the corner. “You really think they’re prostitutes?” Case study had become our code word for a prostitute because of my academic interest in the subject. Lina looked over and agreed with Ayman. “Definitely case studies.”

“I just don’t see it,” . . . Ayman just shrugged, but Lina made an attempt. “It’s a lot of things—they way they look, the way they dress, their makeup, their attitude, the expressions on their face, their body language . . .”

. . .  you don’t look like a prostitute. First of all, you’re always with the same people, in a mixed group of men and women. The worst they might think is that you’re the girlfriend of one of the guys in the group, but we don’t sit close together or touch, so they probably wouldn’t even think that. Second of all, your makeup isn’t like those women. They’re wearing thick black kohl all around their eyes, top and bottom. Third of all, your clothes are more decent—you cover up more than they do.” “Okay, maybe tonight I’m covered up, but sometimes I show more skin.”

. . .” Okay, look, I found one thing that I can point out about those women. You see that one that’s wearing the short sleeveless dress? Look, you can see her bra underneath the arm-holes. And the hem keeps turning up and showing her slip. Put the two things together and you can see that they aren’t used to dressing up and looking comfortable in elegant clothes.”

. . .  “You see that woman with the long wavy black hair sitting at the end of the bar?” The one wearing the skirt with the long slit up to her thigh?” “Right. This woman is well known for being very wealthy and loose. Her father died and she inherited a lot of money and she has her own apartment and she has sexual relationships with men just for pleasure. She’s a prostitute.. . . it’s obvious by the fact that she has her own apartment. A respectable woman does not live alone. . . ”

. . . Eventually I realized that the reason I was struggling to understand the concept of a prostitute had everything to do with my own preconceptions about sex and money. I thought of prostitutes as women who had sex for money. But as I reflected on my friends’ relationships and the role that money played in them, I remembered that all of my Egyptian female friends took money from the men they were dating or married to. It didn’t matter whether they were rich or poor, or even whether the men could afford it. No matter what, their boyfriends, fiancés, or husbands paid for evenings out, for doctor visits, and often for luxury items such as jewelry and designer sunglasses. When they married, men paid women a large bride price, a sum of money up to $10,000 that was hers to spend as she liked. Married men usually gave their wives stipends, even if the wives had their own jobs.

In short, it was not the injection of money into a sexual relationship that defined it as prostitution. . . . Nor was “prostitution” even necessarily about sex, since a woman could be labeled a prostitute when there was no proof that she was sexually active at all. For example, sometimes Zeid and Lina would have disputes over whether a particular friend of Lina’s was a “prostitute” or not. Zeid, for example, claimed that one of Lina’s childhood friends was a prostitute because she drove around alone after midnight. . .

Note: language issues are covered in the article, such as the use of the English word prostitute to distinguish certain meanings from those carried by Arabic words."

Further you have a revo to bury half of your citizens. My friend you will beg to be an ethiopian within few years. The talibans are in control in your country:

"One month before Mubarak’s downfall, a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center found that a majority of Egyptians support stoning as a punishment for adultery, hand amputation for theft, and death for those who convert from Islam to another religion.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article … z28cRN2w7l
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook"

The same source further says:
"As a hint of what might be in store for Egypt, consider the city of Alexandria.
Once it was a cosmopolitan summer resort famous for its secular, carefree atmosphere. Now it is about the least fun place to live in North Africa.
All Muslim women in the city are veiled — among the young, often for fear of otherwise being labelled a whore.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article … z28cRqqG84
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook"

Hey, I don't have time to read all this hassle and actually I didn't and I won't.

Besides this post is for discussing opinions about Ethiopia and standard of living there mainly for foreigners to share their experience, So you need to be more polite accepting others point of views and for the 100 time stick to the main topic and don't go beyond further.

Moreover, I don't mind at all as an Egyptian if you would like to share all your negative comments about Egypt in another topic within the Egyptian forum, not in this topic (it is not a personal topic for you to discuss your hates, feelings of discrimination, or inferiority).

Still my opinion didn't change!!!!!! My experience is terrible in Ethiopia and I didn't like my life there and thanks god I was able to afford going to another place, but unfortunately many people can't afford this.

Cheers.

Hello.

To note that the thread title is How do you rate Addis Ababa as an expat destination. Can you please avoid going off topic and stick to the initial subject?

Thank you,
Aurélie

Thanks Aurelie cause it has gone a way far off topic.

It is hard to make neutral comments when you are not really an expatriate (i.e. Melaku)..
Anyways in terms of living conditions I find Addis Ababa not so bad especially compared to other capitols on the continent that I have lived in. However, when I first lived in Addis Ababa 1986 and later in 1997, I actually enjoyed it more then. Less traffic, less pollution and less nationals being affected by the bad from the western countries.
Food in restaurants is decent though definitely not that great. There are some good restaurants in the city, though as mentioned toilets and proper sanitation remain problematic and service is rather poor and inconsistent. However I can find about everything in the markets and stores to prepare whatever I want at home.
Entertainment and activities are OK also. There are plenty of gyms, there are movie theatres. And drinking inexpensive cold brews in ‘small holes in the wall bars’ can be quite OK to me. Prostitutes have always been plentiful in Addis Ababa but it is not like they are going to attack you; definitely less aggressive than those in Nairobi. I am not a bachelor any more but when I was, I would rate the Ethiopian women 7 on a 10 scale, far better than most but certainly not in the top countries. However, that is quite a subjective matter. Hotels and resorts outside of Addis Ababa are certainly on the rise but also are the prices…way higher than they should be. And the tourist & 4WD car rental business is really out of hand. It is much much cheaper to rent a better vehicle in the USA.
Safety is a big plus for Addis Ababa though it is not as safe as it use to be. But hey, it is a large and rapidly growing city. I personally have been physically attacked two times at night though, it was late and on streets that my good logic should have told me not to be on at that time. I really enjoy dancing to Ethiopian music in the mostly non-expat visited clubs.
Housing is not bad. You just have to look around a lot and have a good idea of what are the better areas of the city that are convenient for you and your work. Contrary to an earlier post, there are plenty of neighborhood brokers in the city though a lack of proper real estate agency services.
After having worked in 11 African country capitols, Ethiopia would to me rank as the second best. I love the country’s people, national food, culture and music…though I have to admit that I am not so impressed by the newer generation of young Ethiopians who in general have seemed to have lost some of the values of the older generations.
Addis Ababa unlike some other African capitols (i.e. Nairobi) requires one to go outside the expat circle and mingle more with the locals to get a full feeling for the country and unique culture..

Dear all,
Lonely Planet, the global travel guidebook company, has named Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as one of the world’s best cities to visit in 2013.

Lonely Planet placed Addis Ababa 9th in a top 10 cities list in its Best in Travel 2013 publication.

What is your opinion?

I will rate it about 5 out of 10. The people are nice, weather is nice, Yes it is getting developed. Dear Suave you are right even I am planning to visit some places here. I will start with trekking the mountain behind my guest house. u can see in my pictures

Firstly, I'm not sure that Ethiopia should be rated as an expat destination at all.  It is my philosophy that you choose to live somewhere based on an appreciation for that specific culture, perhaps in combination with a lack of appreciation for your own. 

I will, however, try to express my subjective opinion with regards to Ethiopia, and what I believe is good and, on the flip-side, not so good.

Firstly, Ethiopian people are wonderful.  Yes, even the beggars and prostitutes.  I agree with an earlier comment that prostitutes should not be so disrespected and it is indeed the men, often expat men, who create a job opportunity there. 

I enjoy massage occasionally and have previously spoken to owners about why they allow their businesses and workers to be cheapened and they always explain that their intentions were not to allow that kind of thing at first,but soon it was simply being demanded, and economically it was impossible to continue without it.  This is an example of demand creating supply.

I have had the pleasure of talking and working with a number of ex-prostitutes who are now struggling to create a better life for themselves and their families.  Often they are supporting brothers, sisters and parents too, and thus there is a huge amount of pressure on them.

The beggars and in particular the children are very playful and polite.  If you can speak Amharic and don't allow prejudices to get in the way of communication, then you will see that many have wonderful characters.  I personally choose not to give money to beggars, but always leave with a smile and a laugh.  Violent crime is very rare and probably one of the lowest for a capital city in the world.

Of course, I don't want to paint too pretty a picture.  In Addis there are a lot of beggars and some do linger for a frustratingly long time.  There are also a lot of pick pocketers, but if you are sensible you can reduce the risk of being targeted or indeed losing too much.  Even when i know what they are doing often I ignore them, because I know that they won't get anything from me.  I have lost my cool a few times, but that is just part and parcel of standing out in a developing country.  I actually live in Hawassa, where the issue of beggars and thieves is virtually non-existent. 

Food: If you like Ethiopia food then you;re on to a winner.  I'm not the biggest fan of enjera, and being predominantly vege I do struggle with local food.  Having said that, although it takes a little while to find the good spots, there are plenty of decent restaurants, with clean bathrooms.  You just have to know where to look.  In Hawassa the fish is great and the vegetables are cheap and plentiful throughout Ethiopia.  Even back at hom eI eat quite simple meals; pasta, veges, fruit, yoghurts etc and I have no problem finding what  I want in Addis or Hawassa.  Cooking at home also saves a lot of money.

Electricity and water used to be bad but seem to be improving rapidly.  In Hawassa we have maybe 1 power cut a month for an hour or so, and water it on a rotation, so every now and again we miss out for a morning.  In Addis too, things seem to be improving.

Social Life: It depends what you want really.  If you want to party, you certainly can in Ethiopia, and there are plenty of things happening.  If you are more chilled, like myself, then there is still the cinema, pool houses, table tennis etc.  If in Addis I would certainly suggest getting out at weekends to explore the incredible countryside.  You don;t need to go far, even a walk up Entoto can offer the much needed relief from th city.  Again, in Hawassa I am lucky, I have the lake and mountains, a great gym and swimming pool (Haile - 600 ETB/month)and table tennis by the lake is one of my favourite activities.  I am even joining Sheshemene's cricket team.

Weather: The climate for me is pretty perfect.  I personally find it hard going in Addis, with the altitude and pollution in combination with the traffic currently.  I use public transport and it can take a while to get from A to B.  I actually enjoy the cooler evenings.  In Hawassa it is hotter but fresher and more relaxed, so I don;t notice the heat so much.  The nights are a little warm here.  In Addis, the rainy season is a bit muddy and nasty, but again here in Hawassa the ground is sandy and thus dries quite quickly.

I am a writer and it is cheap, which allows me to pursue more interesting activities.  Internet connection is not great, but I have no problem here and wi-fi is good at hotels. I am marrying my Ethiopian fiance next feb and we are also looking to buy a house here in Hawassa.  It is politically stable when compared to the majority of other African countries and we can only hope it stays that way.

I just hope that some of the neighbours become more stable and thus soon we will be able to go for a quick coastal holiday to Mogidishu or Berbera, perhaps even Eritrea.  With the roads improving, too it will son be just a two day trip to Nairobi.

I love Ethiopia.  It has its flaws like any country, but largely it deals with them in a positive way.