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Ethiopia may feel like a different world to you when you arrive. It is
easy to become critical of the differences. Every country has its
own problems, but you will gain so much more from the experience if
you remain open and flexible.
We
really think this is unnecessary, but we have been asked by families
who have recently traveled to Ethiopia to remind our families the
importance of being polite and respectful when traveling to Ethiopia.
Your behavior is a reflection upon your agency (Children?s Hope
International), your country and most importantly, yourself.
TIME
DIFFERENCE
For
convenience, you may want to wear two watches. Keep one on your home
town time and adjust the other to the actual time.
WATER
DO NOT DRINK
THE TAP WATER. Drink only boiled or bottled water. DO NOT USE THE
TAP WATER TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH. You may want to place a washcloth
over the water faucet as a reminder.
ELECTRICITY
In Ethiopia
220 volts AC, 50 HZ is standard.
If you take an appliance, take a universal mode or a voltage
converter. Ethiopia has its own type of
socket. Take an adapter.
PHONE CALLS
E-MAILS /
INTERNET
You may want
to set up a ?portable-free? email account (Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.)
from your home computer before you leave. Before you leave enter the
email addresses of the people to whom you want to correspond in your
account?s address book. You will then be able to choose those
addresses from the address-book ?pick list? anywhere in the world.
Internet service is available in the business centers at the hotels
and at the House of Hope and many cities have internet bars.
BE AWARE THAT CONNECTIONS ARE VERY SLOW AND UNRELIABLE.
METRIC
COVERSIONS
Centimeters to
inches ? centimeters divided by 2.5 = inches
Kilograms to
pounds ? kilograms multiplied by 2.2 = pounds
AIRLINE
INFORMATION
Please allow
enough time to check in for your international flight. Refer
to the information sent to you by the international travel agency.
If you are prone
to motion sickness, ask for a seat over the wheel or wings. The
tail section gets the bumps. Keep air vents pointed toward your
face. Relax. Ask your physician about anti-nausea medication.
LUGGAGE
In case your
checked luggage does not arrive with you, pack necessities in your
carry-on bag. The carry-on bag should include all of your important
documents and a change of clothes. You will be able to survive
until the luggage is delivered. Cameras, adoption paperwork,
prescription medication and valuables will be safer in your carry-on
luggage also. Keep your travel documents (passports and airline
tickets) organized and easy to access. Make copies of your passport
and visa and keep in a safe place IN YOUR CARRY-ON LUGGAGE.
Some people like
to put a heavy, colorful strap around their checked baggage for
security and for easy identification. Attach strong, well-marked ID
tags to all luggage and also put ID tags inside.
When packing
luggage, don?t pack all of the child?s clothes and supplies into one
bag. Mix parents? and child?s belongings together, packing half in
one bag, half in another. If one bag is lost, you will have enough
clothing and supplies to survive until your other luggage is found.
LUGGAGE WEIGHT
RESTRICTIONS
US Domestic and
international flights allow two (2) checked bags per person up to 50
pounds per bag, and one carry-on bag per person (no larger than
14?x9?x22?). For any recent changes, please check with your
airline carrier.
WEATHER
Ethiopia is not excessively hot - but
it can be cool in the evenings. You will want to take a small,
collapsible umbrella. Check any of the major search engines for other
weather information.
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