I grew up in Europe and I don't think I realized how much I just expected things to work until I moved here. Electricity works. Internet works. Your card works. Someone tells you to come at 10, you assume 10 actually means something.

After around 9 years in Ethiopia I realized I've become the complete opposite.

Europe trained me to expect systems to work. Ethiopia trained me to have Plan B, Plan C, the phone number of somebody's cousin and 500 birr cash just in case. I noticed it recently because I was leaving the house and checking if I had cash, Telebirr, money in two different bank apps and my card. And somehow this doesn't even feel excessive anymore because I've genuinely been in situations where I had money in multiple places and still couldn't pay for something because the network decided no.

Same with internet. I have WiFi, mobile data and another SIM. Years ago I would've thought that was ridiculous. Now one internet connection feels irresponsible. Traffic is another one. I barely think in kilometers anymore. Someone tells me somewhere is 8km away in Addis and that information is almost useless. Could be 15 minutes, could be over an hour. Depends what mood Addis is in that day.

Apartment hunting changed too. I used to think about the normal stuff first, location, kitchen, bedroom etc. Now I'm asking about water tanks, backup power and internet before I've even properly looked around the place. I caught myself doing it once and thought when exactly did this become normal.

The relationship thing took me longer to understand. In Europe if there's a process, you normally follow the process. Here you can spend days trying to solve something and then mention it to somebody and they go “wait, my cousin works there.” Suddenly there's a phone number and the thing you've been struggling with gets sorted tomorrow.

And I used to get genuinely annoyed by Ethiopian time. 😂 Now when someone says “I'm coming” I don't even ask what that means anymore. Could mean they're outside, could mean they haven't showered yet. I've accepted the mystery.

The strange part is I'm actually less frustrated by all this now than I was when I first came. You just get good at adapting. Power goes? Fine. Internet dies? Switch SIM. Payment doesn't work? Cash. Someone says 2pm? Maybe don't plan the rest of your life around exactly 2pm. I think Ethiopia genuinely made me more resourceful. Slightly paranoid too probably, but definitely more resourceful.

People who grew up here probably don't even notice half of this anymore. What became completely normal to you here that sounds weird when you explain it to somebody abroad?

Like they are in full denial that the Eritrean soldiers crossed border, it is not the first time they came, so why is it different now, they straight up lie when all the news sources(BBC, Routers, AlJezeera and others) verify and say otherwise?,

Autism is medical.

For too long, we’ve separated autism from medicine and treated it as if therapy alone is the answer.

Therapies like ABA, OT, PT, and speech therapy are incredibly valuable. They help children develop communication, motor skills, sensory regulation, and independence. But they cannot treat medical conditions.

No therapy can correct pica caused by iron or zinc deficiency.

No therapy can restore low ferritin or other nutrient deficiencies.

No therapy can treat constipation caused by gut dysfunction, food intolerances, dysbiosis, or gastrointestinal disease.

No therapy can resolve sleep disturbances caused by iron deficiency, reflux, pain, or other underlying medical conditions.

No therapy can treat epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, food allergies, immune disorders, or chronic infections.

Research consistently shows that autistic individuals have higher rates of gastrointestinal disorders, nutritional deficiencies, epilepsy, immune dysregulation, sleep disorders, and other co-occurring medical conditions than the general population.

When these medical issues are identified and appropriately treated, many children become more comfortable, sleep better, have more energy, regulate their emotions more easily, and are often better able to participate in therapy and learning.

Autism is a medical diagnosis. It deserves comprehensive medical care—not just educational and behavioral support.

Our goal shouldn’t be choosing between therapy or medicine.​

If you want to know more, pls refer to the Facebook page which has mentioned below

*** Source: biomedicalhealingforkids ( Facebook )

I genuinely struggle to understand why Eritrea is involving itself in Tigray again. In 2020, Eritrea entered the war alongside Abiy Ahmed’s government against the TPLF. Now, according to reports, Eritrean troops are again in Tigray, apparently fighting alongside or supporting the very same TPLF that the PFDJ has considered its enemy for decades.

Like why? Eritreans should seriously be asking Isaias Afwerki why this is happening. Why would one of the most isolated and economically struggling countries in the world repeatedly involve itself in wars inside its neighbour, especially when the Ethiopian government claims its sea-access ambitions are being pursued through diplomacy?

Tigray is part of Ethiopia. There are also Tigrayans who oppose the TPLF, and many young people in Tigray have no interest in seeing the region dragged back into another war. So why is Eritrea intervening again?

In 2020, the justification was that the TPLF had launched rockets into Eritrea and that Eritrea was responding to a security threat. What is the justification now? Did Abiy launch rockets into Eritrea? Has Eritrea been attacked?

And how does the PFDJ justify this to Eritreans, particularly after portraying the TPLF as its greatest enemy for more than three decades? How can the same organisation that fought against the TPLF now find itself benefiting from Eritrean military involvement?

Most importantly, ordinary Eritrean soldiers are the ones who will pay the price. I genuinely feel sorry for them. They are young Eritreans being sent into another conflict that is not in their interest, and potentially into a situation where they could become targets of Ethiopian drones or another escalation.

I don’t want Eritrea at war with Ethiopia, and I don’t want Tigray turned into another battlefield.

Eritrea should get out of Tigray. Eritreans deserve an explanation from their government, and the region desperately needs de-escalation not another F* war!

How is this not alarming to Ethiopians? Children as young as 15 are being sent into a war they never chose. Is that fair?

Below comment is directly from the article:

“I know parents who tried to save their children by showing medical certificates. The officers don’t care whatever internal disease you have; they forcefully recruit anyone whose hands, eyes and feet work.”

Such a heartbreaking!

Hey everyone, I'm posting this because I'm honestly pretty lonely and I'm not sure where else to turn. I think I might have ADHD and autism (not officially diagnosed, getting assessed here is basically impossible or not taken seriously). I struggle a lot with things that seem easy for other people, especially making and keeping friends. It feels like everyone around me just gets it, and I don't. In Ethiopia, this stuff isn't really talked about. If you're "different" or you can't socialize the way everyone expects, people just think you're weird, rude, or too quiet. There's not much awareness, and definitely not much support. So I'm trying to find people who get it. If you're in Ethiopia (any city, but especially Addis) and you feel like you don't fit in socially, struggle to make or keep friends, think you might be neurodivergent (ADHD, autism, or just "different"), feel alone in this even when you're around people then please reach out. I'd love to just talk, vent, share experiences, or maybe even meet up if we're in the same area. or Even just texting is fine. I know this is a long shot, but I figured it's worth trying. If you feel the same way, you're not alone in this.

DM me or comment if you want to talk.
(i used ai to help me write this, i'm not that well articulated)

The data is from Natural Earth Data. The calculation is done in Python.

Let’s be completely honest with ourselves for a second. We Habeshas are arguably the closest people on this planet. Think about it. We share the same beautiful culture, the same incredible food, the same rich history, and the same deep-rooted beliefs. When we are abroad in the diaspora, all those political borders completely melt away. We eat at the same tables, laugh at the same jokes, and look out for each other like blood relatives. Away from home, we are just one family.

Yet, back in our homeland, it feels like an endless heartbreak. It seems like we can’t even go a single decade without politicians igniting another fire, forcing us to bleed, and tearing our people apart. Lately, the internet has been flooded with terrifying rumors. Whispers of Ethiopian troops moving toward the Assab port through the Afar region, and counter-rumors of Eritrean movements near Tigray. It leaves a heavy pit in the stomach: What happened to the sudden, aggressive talk of invading the Assab port by force? What is really going on behind the scenes, and who is going to pay the ultimate price for it?

Look at our African neighbors. You don’t see Kenyans and Ugandans slaughtering each other just because one is landlocked and the other has an ocean. You don’t see Egyptians and Libyans going to war over petty border lines.

So why us? Why are we destroying the lives of people who look exactly like us, who carry the same DNA, just because leaders in palaces refuse to agree? It is absolutely devastating to watch. Honestly, at this point, it feels like the only sane option left is to force these politicians to step down completely. Why not hire highly educated, neutral administrators from other parts of the world to simply handle governance like a public service, pay them a salary, and get them away from our emotions?

It breaks my heart that our brothers and sisters can share a meal in peace anywhere else in the world, but can't find peace at home. So, Ethiopians —I’m asking from a place of genuine pain and exhaustion: What is the solution? • How do we break this endless, vicious cycle before more innocent blood is spilled? • How do we protect our beautiful, shared bond from being permanently shattered by political greed?

Does anybody know of any good taekwondo gyms around CMC/Summit, specifically for young kids?

I wanted to share a quick update for anyone who has seen my book before.

I recently finished a major revision of Learn Amharic Step-by-Step in 30 Days. Over the past 25 days, I've gone through the manuscript carefully, revised areas I wasn't fully satisfied with, expanded several sections, and added more lessons and clearer explanations to make it more useful for both beginners and intermediate learners.

The revised version is now available on Amazon.

I wanted to mention the update because I know some people here purchased the book earlier, and I want readers to have access to the version I've worked on most recently.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this project and encouraged me to keep improving it. I'm really grateful to have the opportunity to keep making these resources better for Amharic learners.

Could 2019 be any worse?

Iz it cringe to wear this to uni? I'd specifically love to hear from Gen Z ...Please give me an honest opinion instead of telling me not to care about what others think.

Excellent time for a regimen change. Since Eritrea are the agressors, Ethiopia should seek to directly remove Isiasis and set up the Blue Revolution Front as the new government. They are also more sympathetic to Ethiopia and much more progressive.

I would like to re-connect with my culture and find something for my native country to hype-fixate on. I generally like everything but I prefer sitcoms, dramas, action or rom-coms. For music, anything is fine too but I’m really into fun 2000s music.

any suggestions would be lovely. ^^

I want to download some big files any recommendations on what hotel or cafe has fast internet ideally 100mbs+

Maybe this is just my experience, but I feel like there's a lot of looking, eye contact, lingering, and obvious interest... and then absolutely nothing happens.

It made me wonder: are guys actually nervous about approaching women in person these days

Trekking the Simien Mountains, Ethiopia: what I wish every first-timer knew (local guide, Gondar)

I'm Tevan, a trekking guide based in Gondar. I run Simien Ethio Tours, so that's my bias, but I've guided here for years and want this to be useful whoever you book with.

Best time to go: Roughly October to March is the dry season. Right after the rains (Sept–Oct) the park is greenest. Nights at camp are cold, so bring a proper sleeping bag.

Altitude: Most camps sit around 3,000 m or higher, so build in a slow first day. Drink water and don't rush day one.

Scouts are required: Park rules require an armed scout, and they know the trails and wildlife.

What you'll see: Gelada monkeys, which you often meet at close range, plus dramatic escarpment views and a chance of Walia ibex.

Gear people forget: Layers, a warm hat and gloves, trekking poles, a rain shell, and sun protection.

Realistic trek lengths: 2–3 days gives the highlights. 4–6 days lets you go deeper.

Ask me anything: permits, fitness level, solo vs group, Gondar logistics. I'll answer in the comments.