Ethiopia factsheet for adoption travel

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Related Resources
•Cross-Cultural Parenting
•Ethiopia Adoption Resources
•International Updates

What You Need to Know

Check Adoption Travel Resources for more information.

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Country name:

long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
short form: Ethiopia
abbreviation: FDRE
local short form: Ityop'iya
local long form: Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik

What the people are called:

noun, singular: Ethiopian
noun, plural: Ethiopians
adjective: Ethiopian

Ethnic groups:

Oromo (40%), Amhara and Tigre (32%), Sidamo (9%), Shankella (6%), Somali (6%), Afar (4%), Gurage (2%), other.

U.S. Embassy

Embassy of the United States of America
PO Box 1014
Entota Street
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel: (251) 1-550-666
Fax:(251) 1-551-328

Web site: http://usembassy.state.gov/ethiopia

Canadian Embassy

Canadian Embassy
PO Box 1130
Old Airport Area
Weredea 23, Keble 12, House 122
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel: (251) 1-713-022
Fax:(251) 1-713-033

(no Web site)

Money:

1 Ethiopian Birr (Birr) = 100 cents
(currency conversion)

Time Zone:

GMT +3 (What's GMT?)

Phone/Internet info:

Country Area Code: 251

There is an Internet cafe in Addis Ababa.

Mobile phone coverage is very limited, but is available (GSM 900 networks). International calling cards may also provide a way to contact (calling to or from the U.S.). You may want to consider renting a compatible phone and service plan.

Major languages spoken:

Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic, other local languages, English (major foreign language taught in schools)

Alphabet:

The written language is significantly different than English letters: See it here.

Major holidays:

Public holidays 2004

* Indicates Coptic holidays.

Note that Ethiopia still uses the Julian calendar (divided into twelve months, each with 30 days, and then a thirteenth month with five or six days at the end). Also, Muslim festivals are timed according to various phases of the moon and the above dates given are approximate. Finally, during the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eil al-Fitr, normal business may be disrupted.

Common names:

Behind the Name: African continent names
Behind the Name: Arabic names
20,000 Names From Around the World: African Names
Girls' Names
Boys' Names
20,000 Names From Around the World: Arabic Names
Girls' Names
Boys' Names

~Nancy Ashe

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