People, Language, Customs, Internet

Probably the most exiting thing in Ethiopia especially to whom which havent visited Africa yet. Firstly I must note about one, a very negative thing in Ethiopia - hysteria around foreigners (white people?). I havent meet elsewhere (maybye at Cairo's pyramids) so many hustlers and beggars. Especially children (boys) are very active and their first, sometimes second word (after Hello) is "give me money". In towns we "carried" with us a bunch of children and the rest around were shouting to us. The worst situation was in Lalibela and Gondar then Adis and Debark. Relatively calm was Bahir Dar and Debre Zeyit. But it depends case by case and somebody can have a very different experience. Outside of towns situation is much better, children just shouting "Hello" even across the whole valley. In Simien mountains childrens were sometime scarred when saw us. But we met also a lot of very nice and friendly people. In mountains a real exotic themes came which cost us a lot of films. We took with us a lot of ball pens and baloons, both gifts were extremely welcomed by the locals. Hit #1 were pens. Children needs them in the school. Surprisingly even adults were happy with them. With baloons there was a lot of fun. Some sweets/muesli bars we gave very seldom. Never money !

We were in areas with amaric language. In Gondar and Simien area you can feel influence of italians and we often heared and also used as greeting "Ciao". But "Hello" is "salam". The name for tea is "chai", same as in czech :-). It was surprise that a lot of children speaks English quite well and in towns there is no problem to conversate in English.

Very often the next element of conversation after "Hello" is "What is your name". Few times children checked us if we remember their manes. It is very bad if you forgot name of the person whom you talking to.
During coffe ceremony the guests are served first. After all finished their cup immediatelly starts second "round". It is very fast action and dont be surprised that you will sip 4th coffe in 10 minutes. In the purest areas dont add suggar to coffe otherwise quite a lot. The taste was much better than imported home and even non-drinkers liked this !

We tested in Adis and Bahir Dar. The fee is 1-1,5B/min. In Adisu is Internet office just beside the Czech Embassy (close to Ethiopia Hotel) or in Telecom Building or in hotels (expensive). We were there insaturday and speed was O.K. Then we checked again during the week and it was horrible (same in Bahir Dar). My tip: try weekend or before 8 a.m. Otherwise is worth to agree on payment per e-mail than per minutes of web browsing.