AIESEC AAU, ETHIOPIA RECEPTION BOOKLET

ETHIOPIA A LAND OF TIMELESS APPEAL

LCVP ICX: Leselam Dellelegne [email protected] MCVP ICX: Michela Gerbaudo [email protected]

AIESEC AAU, ETHIOPIA RECEPTION BOOKLET

ETHIOPIA A LAND OF TIMELESS APPEAL

Message from AIESEC Ethiopia: Thank you for showing interest in having an internship opportunity in AIESEC Ethiopia. We also look forward to having you. We hope to make your stay a memorable one. This reception book has been prepared to give you a broad overview of Ethiopia as well as tell you what you can expect from the land of opportunity. People here are curious about other cultures and very eager to share their cultural experiences. We wish to learn from your cultural and subsequently professional experiences. If you find yourself in a company or project, please strive to ―Enjoy participation” of all other AIESEC activities as it becomes a key learning point for all of us. Have fun and enjoy this life changing experience

RECEPTION ACTIVITIES, AIESEC Ethiopia has planned a lot of great activities for the interns to enjoy; these activities are both fun and intuitive, you will see the Ethiopian culture first hand and enjoy living in diversity. These activities include: Ethiopian Dancing classes, Cooking classes, Midnight Addis, Addis tour( treasure hunt), and more.

LCVP ICX: Leselam Dellelegne [email protected] MCVP ICX: Michela Gerbaudo [email protected]

AIESEC AAU, ETHIOPIA RECEPTION BOOKLET

ETHIOPIA A LAND OF TIMELESS APPEAL

History Ethiopia is one of the oldest independent nations in the world. It has long been an intersection between the civilizations of North Africa, the Middle East and SubSaharan Africa. Unique among African countries, Ethiopia was never colonized, maintaining its independence throughout the Scramble for Africa onward, except for a five-year period (1936-41) when it was under Italian military occupation. During this period, the Italians occupied only a few key cities and major routes, and faced continuing native resistance until they were finally defeated during the Second World War by a joint Ethiopian-British alliance. Ethiopia has long been a member of international organizations: it became a member of the League of Nations, signed the Declaration by United Nations in 1942, founded the UN headquarters in Africa, was one of the 51 original members of the UN, and is the headquarters for and one of the founding members of the former OAU and current AU. Geographically Ethiopia is located in the east central Africa, bordered on the west by the Sudan, the east by Somalia and Djibouti, the south by Kenya, And the north east by Eritrea. Ethiopia is sub-saharan Africa‘s oldest state, and its Solomonic dynasty claims decent from King Menelik I, traditionally believed to have been the son of the queen of Sheba and King Solomon. The current nation is a consolidation of smaller kingdoms that owed feudal allegiance to the Ethiopian Emperor.

Historical Sites: Axum: Ethiopia‘s most ancient city is the site of many remarkable monolithic stone Stella, or Obelisks. The three most important are decorated to represent multi-storied buildings. The largest obelisk (35m tall, 500tons) is the biggest piece of stone ever cut by humanity anywhere in the world, but today lies broken on the ground. Near it stands a smaller but nevertheless most impressive, 24m high obelisk. A larger obelisk was taken to Italy on the personal order of the Italian fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini, in 1937, but now it has returned to Axum. A two hour drive from Axum, takes the traveller, past truly fantastic mountain scenery, to Yeha. This is the site of a huge and most impressive temple, thought to date from around the sixth or seventh century BC. The journey LCVP ICX: Leselam Dellelegne [email protected] MCVP ICX: Michela Gerbaudo [email protected]

AIESEC AAU, ETHIOPIA RECEPTION BOOKLET

ETHIOPIA A LAND OF TIMELESS APPEAL

takes the traveller past the site of Ethiopia‘s historic victory over Italian colonialists, at the battle of Adwa, of 1896, the greatest victory of an African over an European army since the time of Hannibal. Bahar Dar: Bahar Dar, a settlement on the southern shore of Lake Tana, is the most convenient center for visiting the famous Blue Nile Falls, locally known as Tisisat, or smoke fire. Bahar Dar port likewise provides access, by boat, to a number of historic lake side churches, and monasteries near and far. Gondar: Gondar, which Emperor Fasilidas founded as his capital in 1636, is the site of numerous castle-like palaces. The city was Ethiopia‘s capital until the reign of the would be reforming Emperor Tewdrons II. Although predominantly Christian, the town inhabitants included many rich Muslim merchants, and Falashas. Beside the famous palaces, there is the so-called Bathing palace of Emperor Fasilades, which is used for the anual Timket, or Epiphany celebration. Harar: The ancient walled city of Harar was for many centuries a major commercial center. Trading with the Ethiopian interior, the Gulf of Aden ports, and many eastern lands, it had its own language, Harari, or Adere. It was furthermore renowned for its remarkable handicrafts. Harer, a town of mosques, minarets, and holy shrines, is visited for its unique housing, the colorful dress of its inhabitants, and its stout old walls, the city‘s two museums, colorful markets, and at night, the ‗hayena man‘, who can be seen and photographed feeding these hyenas. Lalibela: Lalibela, a medieval settlement in the Lasta area of Wolo, is the site of eleven remarkable rock-hewan monolithic churches, believed to have been built by King Lalibela, in the late twelfth or early thirteenth century. These notable structures are carved, inside and outside of the solid rock, and are considered among the wonders of the world. Each building is architecturally unique, but all are beautifully carved, and several of them decorated with fascinating paintings.

LCVP ICX: Leselam Dellelegne [email protected] MCVP ICX: Michela Gerbaudo [email protected]

AIESEC AAU, ETHIOPIA RECEPTION BOOKLET

ETHIOPIA A LAND OF TIMELESS APPEAL

ADDIS ABABA NIGHT LIFE Addis Ababa nightlife is a mixture of beautiful girls, Cocktails, Loud Music, Casinos and cinemas. The nightlife in Addis Ababa starts at around 11:00 p.m. till dawn. The clubs and bars of Addis Ababa serve the national drink of Ethiopia, tej, which is alcohol made from honey and tela. You can also find all the international brands of beers and spirit like Guinness and Johnnie Walker. Some pubs and bars offer live band performances. The bars range from high end bars like Gaslight in Sheraton hotel to casual ones but full of fun like Memo. Though Gaslight resembles a Western disco, be sure to observe the dress code by leaving your sneakers and jeans at home. Platinum at Mikeyleland Road is great night spot. it is known for great music and dancing and VIP bar upstairs. Dress code is enforced as well: no jerseys, no jeans, no sneakers Platinum is open Thursdays-Saturdays. Flirt Lounge and Club Deep should be on your list of great night spots too .You can get the perfect mix of upscale comfort, plus a variety of drinks, at the Black Rose (including Jack Danniels, my favourite!). It has also a strict dressing code that does not include sneakers and jeans. But there some other casual chilled lounges like the Meda sports bar and Grill. If you are the one who loves dancing then club Memo is the place for you, with its huge dance floor and latest tracks that will keep you on your feet the entire night. If you are a jazz fan then you should be at the Black Rose on Thursday nights. Club Illusion is very popular, with inexpensive drinks, great music, and a hopping dance floor. For more dancing without the glam, try Memo, or go there to enjoy a drink in the outdoor courtyard. At the Meda Sports Bar & Grill, relax at the spacious bar and catch a game on television. Guests can also enjoy a more intimate setting in the downstairs lounge, or partake in a meal in the upstairs loft. When placing your drink order, consider trying tej, the national drink which is brewed from honey, or tela, which is like a beer. Another delicious choice is a juice spritz—fruit pulp served in layers, usually avocado, guava, banana, papaya, or mango. This delicious concoction is served in a glass and eaten with a spoon. LCVP ICX: Leselam Dellelegne [email protected] MCVP ICX: Michela Gerbaudo [email protected]

AIESEC AAU, ETHIOPIA RECEPTION BOOKLET

ETHIOPIA A LAND OF TIMELESS APPEAL

Addis Live - near Atlas Hotel traffic lights...on EU road on the right is also highly recommended. Visitors should take in some night spots where Ethiopian music is played. The Habasha Restaurant on Bole Road has a lively atmosphere and good dancers. For azmari music, traditional music played on traditional instruments, such as the single stringed violin, without amplification, try Taji Bait on Micky Leland, near the Axum Hotel end. The area of Kasanchis has many azmari bait, it's possible to do an "azmari crawl", going from one house to another. Though Night life in Addis is about cheap drinks, noise music and above all, very beauutiful ethiopian girls. Ababa gets moving around 11 pm, and goes on all night. Apart from Kasanchis, check out Meskal Flower Road, the whole of Micky Leland Street, and for disco, the Dome next to Concorde Hotel.

Time and calendar: Ethiopia uses the Ethiopian calendar, which dates back to the Coptic calendar 25 BC, and never adopted the Julian or Gregorian reforms. The Orthodox Religion

One Ethiopian year consists of twelve months, each lasting thirty days, plus a thirteenth month of five or six days (hence the "Thirteen Months of Sunshine" tourism slogan). The Ethiopian new year begins on September 10 or 11 (in the Gregorian calendar), and has accumulated 7-8 years lag behind the Gregorian calendar. Thus, for the first nine months of 2007, the year will be 1999 according to the Ethiopian calendar. On 11 September 2007, Ethiopia celebrated New Year's Day (Enkutatesh) for 2000. In Ethiopia, the 12-hour clock cycles do not begin at midnight and noon, but instead are offset six hours. Thus, Ethiopians refer to midnight (or noon) LCVP ICX: Leselam Dellelegne [email protected] MCVP ICX: Michela Gerbaudo [email protected]

AIESEC AAU, ETHIOPIA RECEPTION BOOKLET

ETHIOPIA A LAND OF TIMELESS APPEAL

as 6 o'clock. Note: Airline timetables are based on the 24-hour clock and use the Gregorian calendar.

What makes Ethiopia Unique? Society and Culture The People Ethiopia is a multicultural and multi-ethnic country Ethiopia has a diverse mix of ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. It is a country with more than 80 different ethnic groups each with its own language, culture, custom and tradition. Religion is a major influence in Ethiopian life. Nearly half the population belongs to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church but there is also large Muslim population. Others adhere to an ancient form of Judaism. The feast of the Epiphany ("Timkat") is the largest festival of the year. Etiquette People are addressed with their honorific title and their first name. ―Ato", "Woizero", and "Woizrit" are used to address a man, married woman, and unmarried woman respectively. 

LCVP ICX: Leselam Dellelegne [email protected] MCVP ICX: Michela Gerbaudo [email protected]

AIESEC AAU, ETHIOPIA RECEPTION BOOKLET

ETHIOPIA A LAND OF TIMELESS APPEAL

Currency - the currency of Ethiopia is the Birr (ETB)-(Image) Time – Ethiopia is +3 hours GMT.

FOODS Injera; a spongy unleavened bread made from teff grain, is the staple of every Ethiopian. All food is eaten with the hands, and pieces of injera are ripped into bite-sized pieces and used to dip and grab stews (wat ) made of vegetables such as carrots and cabbage, spinach, potatoes, and lentils. The most common spice is ―berberey‖, which has a red pepper base. Meat, specifically beef, chicken, and lamb, is eaten with injera on special occasions. Beef is sometimes eaten raw or slightly cooked in a dish called kitfo. Traditionally, this is a staple diet. COFFEE CEREMONY The coffee ceremony is a common ritual.

The server starts a fire and roasts green coffee beans while burning frankincense. Once roasted, the coffee beans are ground with a mortar and pestle, and the powder is placed in a traditional black pot called a ―jebena”. Water is then added. The jebena is removed from the fire, and coffee is served. FASTING PERIODS 14 During Christian fasting periods, no animal products can be eaten and no food or

LCVP ICX: Leselam Dellelegne [email protected] MCVP ICX: Michela Gerbaudo [email protected]

AIESEC AAU, ETHIOPIA RECEPTION BOOKLET

ETHIOPIA A LAND OF TIMELESS APPEAL

drink can be consumed from midnight until 3 P.M. This is the standard way of fasting during the week, and on Saturday and Sunday no animal products may be consumed, although there is no time restriction on the fast. Muslim fasting is also observed during the Ramadan. However this does not bind on every citizen or foreigner. DRINKS Honey wine, called ―tej”, is a drink reserved for special occasions. ―Tej‖ is a mixture of honey and water flavored with ―gesho” plant twigs and leaves and is traditionally drunk in tube-shaped flasks(image). High-quality ―tej‖ has become a commodity of the upper class, which has the resources to brew and purchase it.

ECONOMY The economy is based on agriculture, in which 85 percent of the population participates. Most agricultural producers are subsistence farmers living in the highlands, while the population in the lowland peripheries is nomadic and engages in livestock. Gold, marble, limestone, and small amounts of tantalum are mined. Holidays The Ethiopians love to celebrate, whether important events in their history, major landmarks in the religious calendar or simply special family days.

LCVP ICX: Leselam Dellelegne [email protected] MCVP ICX: Michela Gerbaudo [email protected]

AIESEC AAU, ETHIOPIA RECEPTION BOOKLET

ETHIOPIA A LAND OF TIMELESS APPEAL

Language Ethiopia has many indigenous languages (84 according to the Ethnologue, 77 according to the 1994 census), most of them Afro-Asiatic (Semitic, Cushitic, Omotic), plus some that are Nilo-Saharan. The official language of Ethiopia is Amharic, a Semitic language which is spoken by about 27 million people (2.7 million expatriate). Amharic is written with the ―Ge'ez‖ script, which derives its name from the ancient Semitic ―Ge'ez‖ language. The second largest language in Ethiopia is the Oromo language, a Cushitic language spoken by about 30% of the population. The third largest language in Ethiopia is the Tigrinya language, related to Amharic but mostly spoken in northern Ethiopia in the state of Tigray. English is a working language as well as the most widely spoken among the youth and is the medium of instruction in secondary schools and universities.

TEMPERATURE The modern capital, Addis Ababa, is situated in the foothills of Mount Entoto at an elevation of around 2,400 m (8,000 ft), and experiences a healthy and pleasant climate year-round. With fairly uniform year round temperatures, the seasons in Addis Ababa are largely defined by rainfall, with a dry season from Oct-Feb, a light rainy season from Mar-May, and a heavy rainy season from Jun-Sep. The average annual rainfall is around 1200 mm (47 in). There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day, meaning it is sunny for around 60% of the available time. The dry season is the sunniest time of the year, though even at the height of the rainy season in July and August there are still usually several hours per day of bright sunshine.

Closing remarks: Here in AIESEC Ethiopia, we value the learning and cultural integration of individuals as well as promoting the integrated learning experience of everyone. As such your presence in this country is an opportunity for us to get to know your country and for you to experience the unique Ethiopian civilization. LCVP ICX: Leselam Dellelegne [email protected] MCVP ICX: Michela Gerbaudo [email protected]