part I
i wrote this email to my friends about three weeks ago about my experience in Ethiopia. for what it worth, i thought the bernos community would like to hear about some of the things I experienced.
enjoy. any feedback/questions/comments are welcome.
————–
it’s been some 18 days since I got to addis and this will be the first time i’ll break silence about my experience here thus far. here is my unvarnished look of addis ababa.
so far, my experience had been somewhat mixed. not so great, not so bad. somewhere in between. for starter, if i had a chance to come back again, i would not fly British Airways 
I never got my luggage esKahun. only after 17 days, yesterday, i received one of the luggages but the stuff inside was wet. it appears that BA just left the luggage in london rain. some of the cloths were ruined. the other two luggages are yet to be found; assuming they will find them intact. most of the stuff i need for my work was in one of the missing luggage. i have been a sitting duck. it is frustrating!
i have been calling the BA service desk, but no avail. they are unhelpful. All they were ‘trained’ to say was ‘tinish tibeQu ato Mikael, yimetaLotal’ Ethiopian Airlines is no better, but bihonim sayishal ayQerim. They will a at least bring your luggages in about 5 days Consider that excellent customer service — Ethiopia style! *dinQem service. ashmur intended*
(update: perhaps, there is a silver lining to this. I finally received all of my luggages on my last day in Ethiopia. That is after 50 days. As I expected the stuff in it was completely ruined. They left both luggages on rain and everything in it was moldy.)
SO,
RULE #1: DO NOT FLY BRITISH AIRWAYS BY ANY MEANS! Enen Yaye Yiketa! If you already booked your flight, change it, or proceed at your own peril. Trust me, you will regret it! It will ruin the whole trip. When you change your flight, make sure you tell your agent why you changed it and advice them to tell their customers about the problem at the time of the sale! It’s by part their responsibility to be forthcoming about such issues.
RULE #2: Remember Rule #1.
(More about this case in the coming days, there is a civil action law suit that is being filed by 27 of us)
another fascinating thing i witnessed is people’s attitude towards salesmanship. betam yiletetalu. they would like to feel that they are doing you a favor. i was in a store the first week i got here to purchase a computer RAM — of course, what else — and the lady who was helping me told me to go to the other side of the store and ask the guy how much the price was. She had the RAM on her hands. i was so surprised. I dared to ask erso min sertew libelu new’ yene emebet, but quickly reminded that it would not make a difference. who can handle their “ateKara.” i left the store disappointed. this happens almost everywhere, gas station, supermarket, cafe… bicha minu Qitu, hulu bota. i have avoided Sheraton so far, esti, will check it and update the customer experience on my next series.
i’ve also noticed that the gap between the rich and the poor become so pronounced. it will literally blows your mind. whatever we hear in the states wont do justice without seeing what’s been happening on the street. granted, there are betam conflicting views about “growth” but i felt the disparity is even more apparent when you try to compare things. for instance, there are many new buildings, constructions and asphalt roads, but for that, there is also many many more poor people on the street, poor neighborhoods with no running water and old shacks that use to stand tall. by my account, more people are struggling to make ends meet than ever. i witnessed it personally. more can be said on this, but for now, i think anyone who told you otherwise about growth in ethiopia is at best a grasping dilettante or at worst an idiot!
——–
i did not get enough time to reflect back on several things, but for now, this will give you an indication of my mindset. i’ll look through my diary and write several series about this. i think the story needs to be told. i think people should give unvarnished look of the “ethiopian in ethiopia experience.” at the dawn of the new millennium, please keep in mind that your “experience” should not stop at the walls of sheraton, or the streets of bole. there is more to see, there is more to be observed.
Published by August 5th, 2007 in Advice, Noteworthy and Series.
Mike,
If things were as bad as you say they are why did you stay in Ethiopia 50 days? This sounds like a propaganda from either Eritreans or vocal opponents of the Ethiopian government hankered in Washington DC (Dirty Corner).
selam,
I just came back from addis a week ago and my experiences were pretty much the same as yours. I was very disappointed at the so called “Cafe Generation.” When we could have been doing so much, we seem to spend hours in one or two cafes. Daily! And most of the waitresses I came along had the face of “min abash felegsh”. Since you are a guy, you are less likely to experience that.
.mike…
thanks for writing about ur experience! would love to hear some narratives!…personal stories to portray daily life in ethio/addis…(bernos bravo on yet another novel idea!)
never heard of the “cafe generation” before but its so descriptive justme…tell me more!
Nice article .mike and yes you should fly none other than ETA when traveling to Addis.
As far as the experience in Addis I had a different take on it when I was there. My rule of thumb when traveling is have no expectations and accept the country for what it is.
The Sheraton is overrated. I mean come on people how often do you go and hang out at a 5 star hotel abroad for drinks and dinner? So go see it but don’t make it the main focus of your vacation.
About the luggage most airlines will pay up to 1,250 us dollars for missing luggage so I hope at least you collected that much. Funny enough I read your article and look to the right of this page and what do I see? This ad for Luggage Delivery Worlwide was this intentional or a coininkdinky?
Bgye, This is part I so I’m sure there’s more to follow
[quote comment="66117"]Mike,
If things were as bad as you say they are why did you stay in Ethiopia 50 days? This sounds like a propaganda from either Eritreans or vocal opponents of the Ethiopian government hankered in Washington DC (Dirty Corner).[/quote]
lol. okay, that was a first.
the reason why i stayed 50 days was because
1. the first 18 days was ruined by british airways
2. the project i was working on took 1 extra week than i anticipated.
i hope that feeds off your ego for now. and for the record, i’m too naive to know enough about politics
Now that is a pile of bull shit. I knew you are full of it.
eshi, ch(i)mp. no argument there.
what are you again? egzer?
*pun intended*
Damitew,
why don’t you take his resons?how low are you going down?
Do you personaly know mike?
I would be surprised and may be disappointed if Ethiopia has a customer service comparable to the US…fake. Hey, don’t take it out on the employees. I am sure they have not received any training how to effectively take your money and more. Or profile you and sell you more things with “are you sure you found all that you are looking for?” or “do you want to open a credit with us and even save more?” and “have a nice day while struggling to pay your debt…”
I know what you mean though, could be better.
Mike – thanks for sharing your experience and the provocative insights.
Air flight problems can always make trips a nightmare – add Delta to your no-fly list – especially coming out of O’Hare Chicago and if you’re anywhere near Nigeria pass on Nigerian Air and take a donkey taxi. I definitely empathize with you about your luggages – as a women – I would have been heated – a proverbial Biyatch.
In similar fashion – my last trip to Ethiopia after a 10 year absence as also a shocker altering my previous Derge era memories and present expectations. Sticking to Addis Ababa – I also wondered about Ethiopian customer service persons failure to exhibit the Western style “consumer is God” servile behavior served with a management enforced “smile.” Maybe it’s that they need a longer time to be conditioned into “smiling” Yes Masa House “N_s” (Fill in the Blank). If you ever visited a Souk in Damascus, a Bazaar in Tehran or an open air market in Lima selling hand made carpets you are greeted with the same “barbaric” behavior of coolness you see in Addis Ababa’s Mercato – why is that?
Kudos to you for avoiding Sheraton
I personally refused to visit despite some friends instance simply b/c it represented such an affront to the preposterous claims of “growth” – yeah – buildings go up while people go hungry in Addis (no need to reach out to a national famine imagery). This world class super hotel is represented as the ultimate in luxury and yet is surrounded by a sea of impoverished, hungry, homeless and beautiful children of Addis.
In the original layout of Addis Aste Menelik II’s gebi was located at the center of the emerging city, traditionally at its highest point (hence the term Ketemma), as a symbol of the centrality of the Emperor embodying the power of the state. The remaining sefars formed around this or that nobility reflecting the Feudal like nature of Ethiopian society. In today’s Ethiopia – the location of Sheraton at close proximity to this center – reflects a society suffering the rule of money. So, life in Addis – where you live, what sefar – is solely based on money – map it onto a picture of this new flower and you’ll see the golden gated communities surrounded by ever larger dark spots filled with the bright lights of the city. The people in these “dark spots” are the one’s you’ll see on the road sides selling, pushing produce, working as guards, maids, raising these “economic growth” buildings and making the city run.
After my return from ET I was reading this book by Mike Davis called Planet of Slums in which he claimed describes the super-nova like explosion of cities in the global South of which the fastest growing are in Africa. With apologies for the long quote – in his own words:
“The world’s highest percentages of slum-dwellers are in Ethiopia (an astonishing 99.4 per cent of the urban population), Chad (also 99.4 per cent), Afghanistan (98.5 percent) and Nepal (92 per cent). The poorest urban populations, however, are probably in Maputo and Kinshasa where (according to other sources) two-thirds of residents earn less than the cost of their minimum required daily nutrition.” (M Davis, 2006)
As someone accused you – I wish you were an Eritrean Ethio-Hater that way despite our chit-chat the reality of peoples life in Addis would have been much much better. The strength of our generation is in part based on our capacity to empathize with those who are not as fortunate but as important is the courage to be critical about our own society. Otherwise, like an ostrich with its head buried in sand – we will suffocate in our imposed tunnel vision.
Damn this was wayyy to serious I’ll have to go to Perezhilton.com and get back to reality!
First of all Enkuwan Beselam Meleseh…
Please wondim tell it like it is the good and the bad. We should be willing to hear, be able to stomach and accept the bad, the unfortunate as much as we want to glorify the good. The veils of deep pride should not blind us and keep us in the dark from the truth of the day-to-day lived experience of those who are not fortunate enough to know an alternate reality.
Celebrateye, I agree with that to a degree, i.e. the scale will tip way to one side if we compare a developing country to a developed one and judge everything based on that comparison. We have to have a realistic expectation, having said that though I feel it is selling ourselves short to just say ‘it is what it is and I accept it for what it is’ because such acceptance , to a degree, is a form of defeat (i.e. believing things will never change) or settling for something you know should change and can get better. You know what I mean? I feel that will slam shut doors to any remarkable change especially when we are speaking of our country and the so called growth that some rave about.
Afe kurt yebeleleshe! You turned me on
(I can almost feel the eye brows raising lol) Seriously though I think my sister here put what I attempted to say ever so eloquently! Ager wedadenet does not require one to be blind. Let’s just keep in mind that stories are subjective and refrain from the ambagenen ‘akaki zeraf’ as though we are being attacked. No amount of ‘akaki zeraf’ can muffle the truth. Let us hear our brother’s experience of good and bad and those of you who have experienced a different reality that refutes his assertion or can off-set what is said, present yours and let us, the ones who haven’t been back home in years, tour land mama via your stories and empathize, rejoice and/or help wherever we can.
Let us also not forget that some of these stories are voices and speak on behalf of those who are unable to speak for themselves. I know many of us (including my self) distanced ourselves from the politics of our community because we feel so damn helpless to bringing or contributing towards any fast change. Perhaps our willingness here can be a step one towards that process, no? May be?
Mike
I also felt the same about Ethiopia when i went to visit. Most people I knew have changed into a fake bunch of losers. I couldn’t relate to anything they talked about because they were so materialistc.They became so superficial.
I related so much with the poor in my neighborhood. They were so nice to me. They welcomed me. I stayed over in their homes and I was happy so much happier than I was with some relective who thing they have it going on. I was so shocked that the poor oh my their lives have gotten so much worse since I left twelve years ago. It makes me wonder what is happening to all the aid donations . On the other hand a very few people live in huge mansions with so much luxury. It made me wonder how in the world are they living like that in third world nation. In fact way more luxury than when I left 12 years ago. It makes me suspect the very few who live in luxury are doing so through corruption of the poor.
Most of the Aid donation goes straight to their pockets.
Most might think this is going out of line. But that is exactly who i feel. Because it is proven when you look at the times that people got rich. It’s only recently when we started getting so much aid. So the poor are suffering while the very few are in luxury.
[quote comment="66205"]I would be surprised and may be disappointed if Ethiopia has a customer service comparable to the US…fake.[/quote]
I too don’t agree with the “consumer is God” notion…there comes a point where your principles and self-honor should kick in when consumers abuse their rights. However, I think it is foolish to say US customer service is fake. Whether it is management forced or otherwise, the ‘smile’ and courtesy you get while spending your money is in the very least professional as opposed to throwing your plate in your face and ‘kunter, kuntering’ if you dare say ‘yene ehit mitmitaw betam beztowal betam yekirta gin meblat alchalkum’.
Come on now really
What puzzles me is we are known for our ‘hospitality’ by the rest of the world yet we can’t extend the same courtesy towards one another. Don’t get me wrong there are some of us who abuse yeand ager sewenetachinin and demand things we wouldn’t dare ask somewhere else. I recognize there are flaws from both side of the aisle. But I tell you my friend, I will take the management enforced or whatever smile over the ‘afer deme beyi’ gilmicha of my beautiful sister
You live in the most materialistic country in the world, USA, and yet you bicth about how some Ethiopians in Addis are materialistic?? Are you on crack..
Tamiru I bet you think you are being so Patriotic don’t you? Instead of the name calling (which btw doesn’t make any of the point you hope to make), instead of that why don’t you tell us your experience and share your knowledge of something different other than .mike’s or kiki’s story? Wouldn’t that be more furitful than the bitch’n you seem to be doing? Niggah?
[quote comment="66279"]Mike
I also felt the same about Ethiopia when i went to visit. [/quote]
Somebody jacked my nick
Please use another to avoid confusion.
YD, I nominate you the Bernos Princess as I love your stylish ways and just overall cheerfulness and humor. I wish you would write us an article or two as a gift to your people for the Millennium. Now it would be cruel if you said no
I feel ya girlfriend but there are some places in Addis that I’ve been to where I received customer service better then the US. Actually many places and it’s not at the Sheraton or the Hilton. I mean people are nice and courteous so if we come across a few that are nasty we shouldn’t generalize (that also happens in the US) I’ve been to places that are like “a whole in the wall” types of cafes and stores and I was not by any means disappointed.
So change is taking place, slowly but surely. Until then we should still enjoy those places that tell us, “go to the other side of the store and ask the guy how much the price was”.
I was overall very happy with my visit to Addis. Yes I was touched by the poor on the street but I did what I could to help and beyond that I’m not doing anyone any good to mts, mts all over the place and know that I’m going home, on a flight, where these people only dream about. So I say go with the flow and enjoy every bit of its “undeveloped ways”
oops almost posted a reply to the wrong thread
.mike, thanks for sharing. i hope you’ll be writing about the Ethiopian experience too (if you stepped out of Addis)?
regarding your luggage nightmare (sounds like a huge nightmare), it’s very well known here in the uk that British Airways’ baggage system has been in meltdown for several months now. it’s so bad that it was voted top airline (globally) for lost luggage just a few days/weeks ago.
anyway, it’s best to adopt the “checkin baggage is lost baggage” mantra and always have travel insurance to get some recompense incase shyt that this happens.
Aye yene konjo, unless you fancy some expert rendition of the diaper how to dos
am not sure I have a topic in mind that is oh so oringinale. That is why yesewu kit kit eyetektelku yangeten yemawera 
Now hush and enjoy me 
Min largishe yene choma
I wish my sentiment was that of yours. I have reached bitter understanding that if the very basic necessity and freedom of a human is taken away or somehow is far from reach (be it due to socio-economical and political mishaps) from people, then what is a country but a piece of land, a body of water and mountains? Even with such bleak out look a part of me that refuses to die wants to live to see growth and development of any kind in my hager. I believe it is possible to see something far more greater and beyond its ‘undveloped ways’…provided we can start with an honest dialogue of both tiru and the displeasing.
) see help comes in many forms, just because you and I can’t throw a regime of totalitarian, just because we can’t eradicate poverty with a magic wand, or just because we can’t make shenshin out of freedom for everyone to wear…it doesn’t mean we should be forbidden from honestly discussing about the problems that exists… perhaps in that exchange we can come up with some sort of solution that will bring some sort of, even temporary, relief until the likes of my father (welaje) live to see the fruit of their struggle that has consumed their entire existence…CHANGE, EDGET.
See I think you can enjoy what’s enjoyable while po poing what should be trashed out. That is all am saying…I mean we have far more troubling phenomenon going on than the bad customer service… that is just the tip of the ice berg. As for the Ethiopian first aid (Mts, mts
p.s. I’ve never supported him (in fact I think cynicism is what he often met when it came to his political aspiration) but I sincerely hope he lives to see even kintat emiyahle part of his ideologies take effect in the country and the people he obviously deeply loves. Let us raise up in admiration and appreciation of those who never got support but kept on chucking for what they believe in, regardless of what it may cost them. Here, here.
Good point yonas, Ethiopia is not limited to Addis Abeba.
Perhaps mike’s experience may/or not be limited to what he witnessed in Addis but there is a whole lot of Ethiopia
and Ethiopians to go around and round. Look forward to hearing more from mike and others.
i think some of you are going a little too quick to “figure” out how the next narratives will follow. my experience in ethiopia has gotten better as i got use to the “system”, which I will write about on my following series.
in my humble opinion, the name calling is uncalled for. it’s a bit amateurish. i think kids who do not know how to talk straight should stay in their basement with cartoon channel on rather than here with adults.
yes, i went outside town and i’ll chronicle that experience as well.
Mike,
I like your honest remark about what you found in Addis. IMO, you are right that we need to be able to see ourselves criticaly before any change can happen in Ethiopia. Don’t hold back from talking about things that need to change because you are afraid that some will not be pleased to hear it.
Glad you are back safe. Hope you found everyone well, including your grandparents.
Hello watch you language everyone,
the N word is discusting and we will delete any comments with that word… and if it continues to happen, we will block ip’s…
alem, gudu, from toronto canada, we would really like to resolve our issues, ena please email me at nolawi.petros@gmail.com…
I would like to understand why you are upset and are set on trying to ruin our anonymous posting… please thanks
.mike, hope you’re settled back to your home base and continuing life as usual. Good for you on the civil action law suits….I wish you all the luck. Sometimes when things like that happen, we seem to only write about them on the blogs.
Nolawi,
I have nothing to say to Ethio-hating bernos lebash.
[quote comment="66487"]Nolawi,
I have nothing to say to Ethio-hating bernos lebash.[/quote]
that is fine, why don’t you leave us alone then?
i will help with that though, i have blocked all the computers you log in from! bel have a good life!
[quote comment="66205"]I would be surprised and may be disappointed if Ethiopia has a customer service comparable to the US…fake….
…I am sure they have not received any training how to effectively take your money and more. Or profile you and sell you more things with “are you sure you found all that you are looking for?” or “do you want to open a credit with us and even save more?” and “have a nice day while struggling to pay your debt…”
[/quote]
^^true!
hi, do you think the mis-hap with your luggage kind of put a dumper on the rest of your experience?
I too would be disapointed if customer service in ethio was uniform, semi robotic and targeted at getting every penny in your purse as it is in europe & us. My last trip was some 18 months ago now, and I found it quite refreshing…and for the most part good service, although very different to what i was used to. there’s ofcorse ample room for improvments but i do hope they retain their… how to put this.. realness.
as for the disparities between the rich and poor, that is not unique to ethiopia or indeed an african nation. it is part of the devlopment process for economicly growing nations in the current global political climate. there’s similar problems in india and even china… pokets of affluence have to be created to keep in motion the development process.
just to add some of my observations, interesting investments on key infrustracture, reforms in the education system, while in south ethiopia; infomed and upwardly mobile geTer farmers (yep no lie!)
and yeah the hedious dile-up internet one would probably be quicker using the postal service.
The audacity to compare Ethiopia with the US is just foolish. You seem to forget that 90% of us left our country for better opporunity and economical reasons. But comparatively from few years ago, the country is heading the right direction.
meeraph summed it up in short
[quote comment="66492"]
just to add some of my observations, interesting investments on key infrustracture, reforms in the education system, while in south ethiopia; infomed and upwardly mobile geTer farmers (yep no lie!)
quote]
hey guys, long time ago, a 17 yr old girl came from ethio to south carolina… i met her about two months after she came to the country…
she was in boonies in high school and met some white friends and she didn’t like the way the acted sometimes
she told me that a girl friend of her told her that she couldn’t hang out because she was not in the mood.
the girl told me that if one of her ethio freinds in ethiopia had said that she wasn’t in the mood, that she would have slapped them
so cultural difference is cultural difference
lets not over exaggerate issues
Hahahaha…….Believe it or not, I know a girl who had the same experiance and said the same thing to me, but now after yrs and yrs…if u look at her now……she’s the moodies of all…….LOL
I agree, British Airways must be a avoided at all cost. My experience with their flight was terrible. You should avoid it even if they offer you free flight. They also use the oldest possible plane they can find to fly to Addis.
Once you are there, you can search local Ethiopian site using http://www.ethiotime.com
.Mike, thanks for sharing your experience….looking forward to hearing the rest of it.
Damitew, if you have been to Ethiopia in recent years, could you please share your experience? I think that would be way better than jumping to calling people names (which does nothing to show if there’s a different/uplifting experience)…aymeslihim?
Hello .Mike,
I too had the same experience with British Airways. As a matter of a fact I may have run into you at their counter at the Airport.
Out of seven luggages none arrived with us and only two arrived the first week. They were the only once that made it intact. The remaining four came three weeks later socked wait and molding and the last one never made it and it is declared lost.
The worst part was the amount of time spent on the phone, which almost always is busy or never answered as well as time spent at the airport seeking resolution to the issue. Every trip to the airport takes a minimum of two hours invariably without rendering any results. At least I had made 15 trips wasting about 30 hours of my vacation time.
The folks that worked for the BA are very polite but had no authority to do anything, I mean anything at all. The usual response is “We understand and we are very sorry” “We have sent message to Heathrow to expedite your luggage” “we are waiting to hear from London” etc…
I was feeling bad for them as I was witnessing the abuse they were receiving from fellow BA passengers that had experienced the same problem. They were pretty much sitting ducks with no place to hide…
As far as my experience in Ethiopia for the most part I was very impressed with the amount of positive development. Notice hear I said Ethiopia not just Addis Ababa. I had a chance to visit many places outside of Addis and overall I have found the country moving forward. Of course for a country like Ethiopia that is behind in all aspect of development there is more room to go forward than back.
The one negative is the escalating cost of leaving. I find that to be a big treat in particular to the urban dwellers.
.mike,
O.K. I hear what you are saying. In the last few months a couple of friends of mine came back from Ethi, one for business and another for a visit.
I have shared with them about their experience, from travel to their stay. One observation I have made is ‘we see what we want to see’. And each person has an inclination to grasp what touches his/her as “his/her reality”. But, that doesn’t mean that is the “only” reality.
Not to philosophize on things, but some people come back from Ethi and will tell you all the ‘glamorous’ things, the improvements, the restaurants, the night life’s, the beautiful houses …
Others will tell you all the negatives, all the “should be, could have been” ’s . But it is your (the reader, the listener’s) responsibility to have a balanced view.
So .mike, share us what “you observe”, of course anticipate for lost of questions and …ummm shall I say “reactions”
wow…i agree 200%, in really 100%. I, myslef was in ethio. and was very disappointed by how ppl live….thanks for the diary
Mike,
thanks for sharing. I feel your pain, yet, I will challenge you respectfully.
I am waiting for the 2nd phase before commenting on your expectation of “customer service and attitude” and also will share my visit, my first ever, since i left. so, what is it like to go back after a bit over 15yrs?
who is the one that sees about what you said:
“… i think anyone who told you otherwise about growth in ethiopia is at best a grasping dilettante or at worst an idiot! “
Pazio & Kilomammo touched base. But, for me as an AddisAbaban my concentration of analysis and whys? will be as to how is it that Addis Ababa had to be so decayed and overwhelmed with people & smog this bad within 15 yrs span? How so?
why its’ vibrant was to be so dismantled and being covered up by here-N-there few tall buildings? but why? what is behind this force of decimation? I care less about politics, but it pains me when schools that nurtured & made us (especially the marginalized) who we are today, look like an ashtray of a lazy smoker. it just pains me.
As citizens, as kids/teens, how were we? Were we brave responsible independent kids with clues about Addis’ surroundings.!? If we had so good knowledge of it, how was it, how was our cultural norms, and moral values, how was our mind-set, so how was “customer-service” and attitude?
are we forgetful of our way-of-life, that survival-of-the-beast or just in-denial of what it feels to be denied of that individual dignity in your own land by your own one?
How does one expect to feel/act when life appears to be so darn bleak especially when one’s surroundings flush all sorts of Heavenness that one can see but can Not feel or touch !?
I will share my views. Thanks again!
No problems with British Airlines last month to A.A.
Very little stays the same in this expanding world of capitolism. The very one’s that complain are the very ones still celebrating the luxuries and privileges of such.
There is no such thing as a static ideal. As usual, I may not provoke a response, because I’m not in the in-crowd here. But the beauty about blogs (unless your literary contribution is immediately retired or blotted out), there is someone who will always share the common sentiment.
right elim if they don’t refute they must agree…
which goes hand in hand with…
no news is good news,
” Ato Mikall” 1st of all i looool about ur title ,,,”Ato”
Miky ,,, Mikyey fendetew ,,, u can enjoy ethiopia ,,,ethiopia is this accept our county like wht it is ! Don´t forget we have History and we are 7 milions old age Home ,,,so let us talk good parts of lief kkk
A tired person looks for quarrel ,,just try to forget ur baggag,,,and enjoy ur time with ethiopian culther .
ohh i forget one point ,,, u don´t tell us about ur naive cracters we are read it kkkk
if i think about u i die with kkkkkkkk
just do it where did you get “7 million old age home”
I mean “7 milion*” ??? I lost you in the first line.
History has nothing to do with what Mike has to do. read the topic again please ……
I do agree that BA is the worst in client service. Whenever I go back home, I always expect the least. There would be no way to compare the degree of comfort and people’s approach to the one I get used here. The only thing that I complain about is the attitude and lawlessness of vehicle driving. It is horrible ,terrible and for most part scary. I had some confrontations against some punk “yetaksi shuferoch”- After they yield you to cross the road, they come straight to you expecting that you should walk as fast as you can or run for the life. I guess we all get used to it after a while. The rest is something I can deal with.
the very first time i experienced ethiopia to its fullest was when i had the opportunity to work there for a year. i spent five months working with farmers in a place call Tach Gayint. this is the real ethiopia. a place that has not been tainted by westernization/globalization.
where most people saw backwardness i saw history alive. thier inquisitiveness and their lack of hesitation to say i’ve never seen that before or heard that before was so refreshing coming from a world where not knowing is considered a weakness.
even through the hardships that they experience on a daily basis they can still see the positive side of life. they invite you into their home and share with you what little they have. if ever you get the opportunity to spend some time in the real ethiopia, do. you wont regret it.
yeaddis guday is different. but what we need to realize is that it is Ethiopia. it’s not Europe or the U.S. so why expect the same thing? would you go to China and expect U.S customer service? the best thing to do is make the best of all your experiences. and we must also realize that development takes time. especially when it’s “development” according to the west, but i’m not going to even get started on that. peace
i think most comments are construed to comparison and not the underlying issue of “service”. i do not think i was trying to compare the service of the west to that of ethiopia’s. how can i? it’s an apple and orange case.
what i was suggesting was the general concept of sensible salesmanship. the fact is, sales people in Ethiopia feel like they are doing you a favor when trying to sell you anything. you can attribute the root cause to several things–under payment, lack of incentive, hectic work schedule, etc– but that does not mean we should put a blind eye to the issue.
on the issue of development, i feel people drew their own conclusion without reading the whole experience. what i was trying to reflect was the shock factors when i get to ethiopia. for what it worth, i strongly beleive that the next 30 or so years will be about africa. the next 900 new consumers will be created in africa. the next “big thing” is happening in africa. undoubtedly, there is a huge opportunity from east to west, north to south. self-sustainable technologies and renewable energy will be at the forefront of this movement as well. so there is an growth opportunity, it’s just i did not see it on the ground yet.
.mike I think its lack of competition in addition to scarce goods. Where but in a monopolistic enviroment do you see a business owner careless or unwilling to improve. It may be so the small business in Ethio have a monopolistic power over a specific area similar to the korean business person in the ghetto. And the customer doesn’t really have options regardless how ill he is treated because of many contstraint…
[quote comment="67392"]
what i was suggesting was the general concept of sensible salesmanship. the fact is, sales people in Ethiopia feel like they are doing you a favor when trying to sell you anything. you can attribute the root cause to several things–under payment, lack of incentive, hectic work schedule, etc– but that does not mean we should put a blind eye to the issue.
on the issue of development, i feel people drew their own conclusion without reading the whole experience. what i was trying to reflect was the shock factors when i get to ethiopia. for what it worth, i strongly beleive that the next 30 or so years will be about africa. the next 900 new consumers will be created in africa. the next “big thing” is happening in africa. undoubtedly, there is a huge opportunity from east to west, north to south. self-sustainable technologies and renewable energy will be at the forefront of this movement as well. so there is an growth opportunity, it’s just i did not see it on the ground yet.[/quote]
mike, i feel your frustration and i agree with you that there is great opportunity in ethiopia. i think the frustrations that a majority of people feel with a business venture in Ethiopia is that they feel like the pioneers. there are many obstacles to success and many reasons for it being that way. change will come when an example is set by someone. maybe you?
[quote comment="67404"]mike, i feel your frustration and i agree with you that there is great opportunity in ethiopia. i think the frustrations that a majority of people feel with a business venture in Ethiopia is that they feel like the pioneers. there are many obstacles to success and many reasons for it being that way. change will come when an example is set by someone. maybe you?[/quote]
Emebet that partially answer the many question that we all have. Being a pioneer has an implication that you have a desire to keep on going despite obstacles and challenges. I guess understanding the problem is important. But, continuously asking the question, “how can we reach our goal and achieve what we aspire to do?” is a vital point. Not just TALING ABOUT THE PROBLEM!
See, you are not required to list ALL the problems in Ethiopia and tackle one by one. Since, you are not God, this doesn’t work. At the same time if you don’t have a “desire” to implement something, the challenge seems so overwhelming. It is like land mining but you don’t know WHAT to look for.
So, my motto is have/find an interest and a desire (a company, a project …), then find out what stands in between you and your dream. Join hands with others (who can help you overcome the challenges – not just TALK about problem!), on the process you might even learn something.
yes pazion. “don’t talk about it, be about it.” ethiopian entrepreneurs need encouragement, not just stories of disappointments that are to come. and you are right, if you put your mind to something the only thing that stands in your way is you. creating some sort of network of people who are in the process of or have already started a project back home is also a great idea.
when is the second part coming?
Oh how I missed that emebet. Whether we like to admit it or not, those of us who have seen one too many of the brown envelope (Ato bill) and run around to fulfill the insatiable kurs of its pit, that part of us have changed, perhaps tainted might be fitting.
I miss that part of us that used to like to share, however little it may be. I miss that part of us that gauge the eyes of the afla injera seated in a circle around the shabby mesob and megorares with fikir and a sense of kinship. I miss that part of us that welcome the crowdedness rather than dread it. I miss that part of us that saw light in dikdik yale chelema.
I am talking from my own personal experience, I’ve changed. Not because I am under some misguided notion that I have reached some summit of self actualization that separates me from my fellow citizens. I just have and so is the person next to me. Who is to be blamed? I don’t know but I know it just feels a tad bit different. Shit the first two years of my existence in the Western was a shock to me…my own people, yagere lij yegorit eyayechigne selam selat simen abera zegtagne sithed, I found my self asking endie how come the ferenj next to her is saying ‘hi’ to me just for the mere eye contact but one of my own marches by me after sizing me up? Of course this is not to say it is so all the time and in places like DC the community seems closer than where I was. …oh well who knows… now I see with half tainted eyes and cynical sentiment.Mts.
What is intersting though is the fact that there is that undying, untold bond that keep us looking for a cluster of our own…the niche. Places such as this blog & its business would not have been what it is had it not been for that persistant bond.
Mik. Very interesting story and to be hones with you I have NO problem flying BA, Eygypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines. Rumor has it Ethiopian Airlines has the BEST service to Africa! My guess is that like one of the comments said “Avoid Nigeria Airlines, you better take a donkey taxi” LOL I agree, there is Zinb flying inside the plane!! So, there is no compareson on service… Give me a break, Any flight to Africa is always an issue. I flew Al-Italia 2 yrs. ago and my 2 laguage was lost 4Ever!!
So Mik. it’s a matter of chance and luck to get there safe with all your belonging. You should count your blessing, and give charity so that Endetemerq by less fortunates…
I beleive life is too short to worry about your little boxers and jeans missing, while your Ethiopians childerns going to be hungry everynight!!!
You know what I call it DESTINY!
Botty-Chama (PS Yes, my comment smells like my name)
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